A Dragon for a Debt

By Jobic Chakalisa

The chieftain's corpse comes through Hangalaa's River Gate, and the merchant agent Sefu sets a blackhide debt token on the bier with dock witnesses watching. Shango takes the chief's stool on wet stone. The council answers with a seven-day decree. The contract demands the royal dragon as collateral. If Shango answers with force, the elders can name him unfit and the docks can starve the city. If he yields, he rules on consortium terms.

Drum-curfew snaps down. Checkpoints choke alleys. Prices jump with every dock bell. In the Keepers' Yard, Nyota-the only handler who knows the dragon's feed by smell and touch-sees a bitter dose worked into the ration to make the blood-bond "fail" on the Stone Steps. Palace keys vanish. Kito is framed. Badu offers "safety" and tightens ritual control.

Shango has seven days to choose: hand over the chain and keep a throne that isn't his, or defy the decree and watch Hangalaa slowly starve to death.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GN4DD1ZD
• ISBN13: 9798232850784
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Jobic Chakalisa
• Length: 294 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"