Page 35 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

trying to swing at his father with the wooden sword. Off balance he fell facedown into a mud

patch.

“Looks like the Prince of Mud to me!” GoGo said.

“Muuuuud!” Omar cried.

“Come to Mama,” GoGo said.

Omar ran into her arms spattering the mud onto her face. GoGo grimaced. “Omar!”

Seeing his mother covered in mud dried his tears quickly and the little prince laughed.

“Now you are the Queen of Mud!”

They all laughed . . . Alone in the dark cell, GoGo held out her trembling arms for Omar,

but he faded away. She cowered into a fetal position. Her heart was a desolate canyon now and the

memories of love and family were just echoes. They smashed against the rocks and were lost to

the wind.

#

The next night fell over Timbuktu and brought with it more burning and destruction. Outside the

city, Omar and his men had stockpiled camels, horses, and scavenged supplies stolen from the

Moroccans next to a large tent hidden beneath a rock outcropping that looked like a dune known

only to Omar and his men from years of exploration and adventure. Two royal guards worked

quickly to keep the Sahara wind from blowing away anything not tied down. Inside, Omar, Sooth,

Daka, Zuba, Cane, and the eight remaining royal guards gathered in the tent.

“Any word on my mother?” Omar asked.

“Nothing,” Sooth said. “But I noticed the guards at the jail have been replaced with

Moroccan soldiers. A valuable prisoner must be there.

The queen!” said Daka.

“By the gods I hope you are right,” said Omar. “What about Ramoth? Has anyone seen

him?”
“I saw him—giving orders to the Moroccans,” said Zuba.