Page 75 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

GoGo began to weep.

“And he will never again see his beautiful face in the mirror.” These things and more you

have told me of the Undead. I am his mother. I cannot condemn him to living death.”

Sooth walked over to GoGo and she fell into his arms. He embraced her tightly, for Sooth

loved her as surely as if she were his own family. Daka, Zuba, Cane and Raki entered the room.

Upon seeing the queen’s grief, they bowed their heads. They knew the decision had been made

and the end was near. Omar Khan, the prince of Timbuktu, and their great friend, would not live

through the night.

GoGo looked up at Sooth sadly. “You will bite him, bleed him, drain him of blood until he

dies.”

Sooth did not answer.

“Sooth,” she said softly. “The noble prince would rather die from your bite than from the

archer’s arrow, from your loyal fangs than from a bow brought upon us by betrayal.”

Sooth was deeply moved. “As you command.”

That night at sundown, Sooth and the warriors bathed and oiled Omar’s naked body by

candlelight, made more difficult by the arrow piercing the prince’s chest. The hurt in their hearts

was etched across their faces as they carefully, even lovingly, turned him each way. They wrapped

his loins in kafan cloth, but left his arms, legs and chest bare. Earlier that day, Cane and Raki had

cut a long hollow in the bed and mattress so that the arrow would pass through and Omar’s back

would lay flush so that his final rest would be face up in dignity. They placed his hands across his

chest holding the hilt of a jeweled-handled sword of Mandinka royalty.

GoGo stood outside the mountain, at the opening to the cave and stared across the Sahara

at the setting sun. She whispered, “My son is also setting.” Her eyes filled with tears for Omar.

“It is not thy time . . . not thy time. Did my arrogance bring this fate upon you? By calling

you the arrow that flies and never falls, did a mother’s pride cause you to fall prey to an arrow

yourself? Fate, thou art female, do you not favor my Golden Leopard? Karma, hear me! Thy

prince is true and noble, be not finished with him. Bring him back to me as a bird, as a great bird