Page 86 - Microsoft Word - FANG EMPIRE - NOVEL.docx

Sooth was ever vigilant and kept Omar away from Sygnosis for a full day and night . . . and even

another night for good measure. GoGo attended to the prince and preferred to bleed the new lambs

herself. She would not allow them to be slaughtered. Omar’s life was spared, so too, she declared,

shall be the lives of the lambs. As the mystic eye of first-sight closed and the new Azulite was no

longer in danger of thralldom, Sooth and GoGo allowed Omar to venture beyond his cave. He

exited and walked through the rock tunnels barefooted. The royal guards were filled with dread

and backed away.

“They fear me,” Omar thought.

“He is still thy prince!” GoGo said.

The royal guards quickly bowed and did not rise until he had passed.

Daka, Zuba, Cane and Raki waited anxiously in the large cavern that served as the throne

room of the rock palace. Although GoGo had refused to sit upon the makeshift throne constructed

for her by the men, the veneration they felt for her made the garish icon of royalty pointless.

“She walks upon a throne,” the warriors were heard to exclaim. “If King Kanja had

possessed even half her strength . . .”

Two hours had passed since Sooth had asked the men to gather in the throne room to greet

the prince.

“Where are they?” Raki said.

“They are where they are,” Daka said. “Yours is not to question.”

“Will he be the same man we knew?” Cane asked Zuba.

“I have never known a vampire other than Sooth and I have always thought him odd,”

Zuba said.

“Three vampires among us . . . I have not had one good night’s rest,” Cane said. “What of

you?” he said to Raki.