The tall Princess fell forward, her knees and palms making a dull thud against the hard African soil. Lurching and heaving, she puked green-yellow bile onto the parched, cracked ground.

"In three days," she said, without looking up, "you will die in the snow."
"Three days after that, you will kill me."
"After another three days, I will forgive you."
"And three days after that, you will apologize."

The Princess then stood up, wiped her mouth and began walking away, leaving me holding her spear and clothing.