Chapter 86 - The Cove of Ghosts
The sun rose over Shewa like a smoldering ember, its heat stretching out across the dry land as Khisa and Tesfaye coordinated the final wave of travelers heading to the coast. Quietly, deliberately, they sent them in waves—no group larger than ten, no one following the same route. Carpenters left first, disguised as fishermen and wandering tinkerers. Then came the sailors, acting like exiles in search of work. All were given strict instructions: speak little, listen much, disappear into the crowd.
At Assab, Biruk and the Three Shadows—Zuberi, Simba, and Wasike—had already begun their silent work. They were ghosts among the living, drifting from dockside taverns to merchant yards, always watching, never watched. It was during one of these silent walks that Biruk found it—a narrow path choked by thorny shrubs, leading to a rock face that opened into a hidden inlet.
A perfect cove.
When he showed it to the others, Zuberi’s eyes widened. "This... this changes everything."
"Prince Khisa needs to know about this immediately." Biruk said.
Wasike squatted at the water’s edge, dipping his hand into the sea. "No one would ever think to look here. We can hide three ships, maybe more."
They wasted no time. A pigeon was sent immediately, bearing the message in tight, coded script: Cove secured. Good cover. Begin movement.
"Do you think, we can win this? Prince Khisa has led us through some very hard times, but this is different." Simba said.
Zuberi sighed, they have all been through so much during their training period, although they are home sick, they were suddenly thrust into a war.
She grabbed Simba’s shoulder, offering silent comfort, "Prince Khisa knows more than anyone the stakes here, he put the whole world on his shoulders trying his best to make sure our kingdom and us are not used and sold off.
We took an oath, Simba to be the shadow that guided Nuri’s path. To be the shield and sword for our families back home and Prince Khisa.