The aftermath of the battle felt strangely quiet, as though the very air itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next storm to arrive. Ochieng had always believed that victory would bring a sense of relief, but as he walked through the camp, surveying the wounded and the dead, he felt nothing but the crushing weight of regret.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the battlefield as soldiers tended to the wounded. His thoughts drifted back to Gloria. Her words echoed in his mind—each one a sharp reminder that the path he had chosen had led him into a labyrinth of his own making.
The silence was shattered by the sound of footsteps behind him. Ochieng turned, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword, but it was only Tielen, his loyal right-hand man, who approached with a look of grave concern on his face.
"Master Ochieng," Tielen's voice was low, his expression unreadable. "There's something you need to see."
Without a word, Ochieng followed him to the command tent, where a small group of trusted officers had gathered. The atmosphere inside was tense, thick with the kind of anticipation that comes before a revelation—something ominous was unfolding.
One of the officers, a grizzled veteran named Jeff, looked up from a map spread out on the table. His face was pale, his hands trembling slightly as he spoke.
"Sir, we've received intelligence. There's a traitor among us."
The words sent a chill down Ochieng's spine. A traitor? After everything they had been through, after all the battles they had fought side by side, how could someone betray them now?
"Who?" Ochieng's voice was harsh, the disbelief evident in his tone.
Jeff hesitated, his eyes flicking to Tielen before returning to Ochieng. "It's someone close, someone you trust. It's…" He paused again, a shudder passing through him. "It's Maggy."
Ochieng's breath caught in his throat. Maggy—his closest confidant, his ally in the darkest of times. The thought that she could be a traitor was incomprehensible. His mind raced, but there was no immediate denial, no instinctual belief that this was a lie. The truth had a way of cutting deeper than any blade.
"Are you certain?" Ochieng demanded, his voice shaking with barely contained rage.
Tielen nodded grimly, his face hard as stone. "We've intercepted messages. She's been in contact with Gloria. They've been planning something."
Ochieng felt the world tilt beneath him. Gloria and Maggy, together? Was nothing sacred anymore? His heart pounded in his chest as he fought to maintain control. Betrayal, it seemed, had a way of creeping in when least expected.
Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the tent. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fury. He had to confront her, he had to know the truth. His footsteps were heavy as he made his way toward the camp where Maggy's quarters were located. His thoughts were a tumult of emotions—anger, betrayal, pain—but above all, there was a sense of helplessness. How had he missed it?
Maggy was sitting outside her tent when he arrived, her back to him. She was gazing into the distance, her posture relaxed as though nothing was amiss. But Ochieng knew better. He could feel the tension in the air, the heavy silence that pressed against him as he took a step forward.
"Maggy," his voice was low, steady, but filled with an undercurrent of menace. "We need to talk."
She turned slowly, her eyes widening in surprise at the intensity of his gaze. For a moment, there was no recognition in her expression, only the barest flicker of uncertainty. She stood, her hands brushing against her tunic as she squared her shoulders.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Ochieng," she said, her voice soft, almost innocent. But Ochieng could see through it. He knew her too well. The lies were there, just beneath the surface.
"Don't lie to me," Ochieng's voice grew harsher, more demanding. "I know about the messages, the meetings with Gloria. You've been planning something behind my back, haven't you?"
Maggy's eyes narrowed, a flicker of guilt flashing in her gaze before she quickly masked it with defiance. "I've been trying to protect you, Ochieng. You're too blinded by your ambition to see what's really happening. Gloria—she's not the enemy. You are."
The words stung, but Ochieng's anger flared. "You've chosen your side, then. You're no different than the others who have betrayed me. I trusted you."
"I never wanted to betray you," Maggy's voice cracked with emotion, her eyes pleading as if there was still a chance to change his mind. "I just… I couldn't watch you destroy everything we've worked for."
Ochieng's heart twisted. He wanted to believe her, to believe that there was some deeper truth to her actions. But the doubt, the betrayal—it was too much.
"I'll deal with this later," Ochieng said coldly, turning away from her, his mind already calculating the consequences of her actions. "For now, stay out of my sight."
Maggy didn't speak again as he walked away, but her eyes burned into his back, a silent plea that went unanswered. Ochieng's mind was a whirl of confusion and fury, but the coldness in his chest was starting to take over. The price of power, of trust—it was steep. And Ochieng was beginning to realize just how much he was willing to pay.
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