She looked again at the beautiful vista of the Pride Lands. She had been born here, raised to maturity, learned her craft on these plains. It had been her pride and pleasure to serve three generations of kings as the hunt mistress, her skills respected and unmatched by any lion for miles around. She would be laying that down and passing the leadership to another younger set of shoulders. Misha was a quick student, and one day she would be Queen. The question was not whom to pick but how to break the news to her. It was a heavy responsibility for one so young, but she was the same age Uzuri was when Kiva had anointed both her cheeks with the blood of her prey and kissed her.
At first Kiva was relieved to lose the burden, but Kiva was alone. Her brothers had left after a commoner’s mantlement, and she had no mate or cubs of her own. Shortly after losing her position, she began her decline into depression, bad health, and eventually death. Uzuri had always thought she had died of grief. But that would not happen to her, she determined. Not to Uzuri....
CHAPTER: THE TRUTH OUTS
Togo and Kombi were flush with optimism. They believed that they would not be leaving the Pride Lands, and that some way, somehow, Tanabi did not want to rule the Pride on his father’s death. That one day they would stand on the promontory of Pride Rock and proclaim the new kingship.
They had promised their mother to keep strictest silence about the arrangement, but they went to a few of the attractive young lionesses and spread the wonderful news that two of them would marry the most eligible bachelors in the land. Each of them promised to keep it to themselves, but gossip started to circulate.
“Why doesn’t Tanabi want to be King?” Isha asked. “Is there something wrong with him? Has he lost his nerve?”
“Not our Tanabi,” Ajenti said. “He’s plenty brave enough. Maybe he has a weakness--one that he’d rather talk about. The poor boy!”
Barata drew close and whispered, “Fact is, I think he has weak eyes.”
“No!” Ajenti said, taking in a gasp. “The poor boy! How bad is it?”
“I’m not sure,” Barata said. “He bumped right into his mother the other day.”
“I thought that was an accident,” Isha said.
“It was. He didn’t deliberately do it. But Nala said, ‘What’s wrong with your eyes, son?’”
Ajenti bowed her head. “The poor boy!”
“Hi,” Tanabi said, nodding at the lionesses.
Ajenti came right up into his face. “It’s me, Ajenti.”
“Uh, yeah. I know.”
“Taking it easy, dear?”
“Well, I guess so. I had a little unexpected free time today. I thought I’d go to the water hole and just kick back.”
“You’re so brave,” she said, giving him a big kiss. “You’re so much like your father.”
“Thanks.” Tanabi shrugged, then walked away.
“The poor boy!” Ajenti said, a tear running down her cheek. “I wonder if he’ll go completely blind?”
It wasn’t long before Habusu came to see Simba. He fell before him and said, “Haven’t I loved you as much as Togo and Kombi?”
“Yes, son.”
“And longer? When they were still playing pranks on you, wasn’t I good to you?”
“I know who my friends are,” Simba said cautiously, but with a warm nuzzle. “What would you have of me?”
“Can’t you fix it for me too? The way you did for them? I don’t want to be King any more than Tanabi did. I just want to live here in peace. Please don’t send me away into the big world!”
Simba nuzzled him again. “I did not ‘fix’ anything for anyone. They will receive their mantlement on time. My boy, don’t cry. Rely on Aiheu, and keep to the path of righteousness, and you will find a home of your own. That is the duty and the privilege of a male lion.” Simba nodded gravely. “I’ll be right back. There are a couple of people I need to see.”
Simba encountered Togo and Kombi near the watering hole. They started to nuzzle their King and benefactor, but not when they saw the look on his face. “Boys, we need to talk.”
Uzuri was asked to join the group by Zazu. “I’d hurry if I were you. He’s really upset.”
“Oh gods,” she said. “What have they done this time??”
CHAPTER: BAPTISM BY FIRE
“ADHAMA!!!” Ambia shouted. The cry sent a flock of birds into a panicked flight. “Adhama, get up here!”
The lionesses looked uncertainly at one another. “What are we going to do??” young Amara cried. “Why won’t he just leave us alone??”
Adhama padded up behind her and nuzzled her. “Easy, sister. I’ll handle it.” Adhama closed her eyes briefly, sighed, then slowly made her way up the rough slope of the kopje, muttering a prayer as she went.
The last few weeks had become a living hell for the lionesses as they struggled to cope with Ambia’s fickle moods and whims. And most of that ill will was directed to Adhama whose leadership qualities and proud bearing made her a threat. He looked for every chance to humiliate and intimidate her, especially in front of the others.
She heaved a small sigh as she reached the top of the kopje where he lay, waiting. “Yes, Ambia?”
“You will address me as SIRE!” he snarled.
“Oh, yes, I forgot. You’re supposed to be some sort of King.”
Fury blazed in his eyes. With a low grunt, he cuffed her nearly senseless with one massive blow. Adhama shook, tears streaming down her face as blood welled from a cut lip. “I’m hungry,” he growled. “You’d do well to find me something fresher than your dry wit.”
Adhama ran her tongue out and licked the blood from her lips, feeling the sting. Her eyes narrowed. “So you can outfight a lioness,” she said, frightened but indignant. “I knew there was SOME reason you called yourself King. What would you do when another male comes around? Will you hit HIM like that?”
With an inarticulate roar of rage he surged forward, sending her scrabbling off the kopje in an effort to keep from falling. “GET OUT! Find me some dinner before I hit you with my claws out!!”
Trembling, Adhama’s turned away from him and headed down the rock to gather her hunting party. She detailed two of the older lionesses to stay behind and baby-sit the cubs.
“No,” Ambia said.
Adhama blinked and looked up to face him. “What?”
“Take those old cronies with you.” He jerked his head at Amara. “Leave her here to watch the cubs.”
Amara’s eyes widened in fear, and she looked pleadingly at her pride sisters. The two older lionesses returned the look helplessly. And Adhama felt sorry for the pretty young female. She was just coming into her first season, and there was no doubt what Ambia had in store for her. But to refuse him would be to risk terrible consequences. Adhama moved to her side and nuzzled her ear. “It’ll be okay, hon.”
“Addie, please take me with you!” she whispered hoarsely. “Oh gods, I don't want to stay here with him! I beg you!”
“Easy, hon. He’ll leave you alone. Just pretend you’re sick. We’ll pray for you.”
Amara trembled for a moment, then nodded, swallowing convulsively. “O-Okay.”
Ambia shouted again. “Adhama, I meant TODAY, not next week!”
“All right!” she snapped. Adhama turned and looked at Sh’aari again. “Aiheu abamami.”
Amara nodded jerkily, unable to speak, them moved away to where the cubs lay frozen with fear. “Come on, kids. Want to hear a story?”
The cubs huddled against her, trembling. “Marrie, don’t let him hurt us!” one of them whispered.
“Don’t worry, honey tree. I’ll protect you with my life.”
“I wish Daddy would come home.”