"The line for queen is right over there. It looks like you'll have some stiff competition."
"I don’t want to be queen. I'm standing in THIS line."
"Really?"
Her smile quivered and vanished, and she looked away quickly. "You find me unattractive?"
"Oh no, it's not that."
"Is it Ambia? Has his touch made me unworthy? Togo, I have to know."
"It's just--I've been number two all my life. Nobody's ever preferred me before--for anything. This is so strange."
"I find that hard to believe. You’re so much handsomer than your brother." She smiled shyly. “My name is Amara.”
Togo smiled. "Hey, you're all right. My name's Togo."
"Yes, I know. That's a pretty name." Tears came to her eyes.
“What’s wrong? Why are you so sad?”
“I was saving myself for you.” Her jaw trembled. “Ambia forced himself on me.”
“Oh gods!”
“I either came to him, or he would have killed little Saieti.” She looked away. “What will I do if the cubs are his? I mean, we weren’t together long, but it could happen.” She reached over and nuzzled him. “Could you still want me? Could you want the cubs?”
“You poor thing,” Togo said, wiping her eyes with his paw. “What a thing to say!” He nuzzled her in return. "Amara, I want you. I’ve wanted you ever since I saw you beautiful, frightened eyes full of tears. I wanted to kiss those tears away and make you happy.” He half whispered. "You will be their mother, and that is all that matters to me. That and the chance they might be mine.” He smiled and put his paw on her left shoulder. She purred softly and rubbed him down his whole length, then nuzzled him passionately.
"Hey Togo!" Kombi shouted. "Help me make up my mind!" He was surrounded by five amorous lionesses, clearly in his element.
"Have a race or something," Togo said. "Can't you see I'm busy now?"
Togo nuzzled her, and she lay her head against his mane and walked away, leaning on him.
Without seeing him, Kombi was rubbing the lionesses and giggling. "Where did he go, anyway? You'd think he wasn't interested in girls!"
CHAPTER: SAD TIDINGS
A couple of days after Togo and Kombi’s mantlement, Uzuri began to watch the eastern border, hoping for news of her sons. “Come on, Ugas. Why the secrecy??”
All of the lionesses had been strictly charged to escort Adhama to Uzuri’s spot the moment she appeared. It seemed likely that she would be the messenger.
Rumors had circulated about the goings-on. Uzuri was none too free with her information, and while most of the lionesses knew that Togo and Kombi were going to see Ugas, not one of them fully understood the situation.
“He had no sons,” Ajenti said.
“I think he wants someone from our pride,” Isha told her. “I have my own personal reasons for believing that. Good reasons.”
“Not as good as mine,” Ajenti said with a sly wink. “What do you think, Sarafina?”
Fini sighed. She had been moody for the past few weeks, and this business with Togo and Kombi only renewed her melancholia.
At that moment, Habusu came among them, very excited. “I saw them!”
“Who??”
“Togo and Kombi!”
“Good news??”
“The best! Where’s Uzuri??”
The hunt mistress had retired to her cave, trying to get a little rest. Then she would go back out to the eastern border and wait again. The strain was telling on her. It was also taking a toll on her hunting--two days hunting yielded only a small duiker and a thompson’s gazelle. Very slim pickings for a pride of full grown lions and their cubs.
Habusu practically bounced up. "Guess what, Uzuri! I just saw Togo and Kombi!"
"You did? Where??"
"Right next to the Pride Lands! They took over the eastern kingdom when Ugas died. How about that! Now you can sneak down and see them whenever you want."
"Yes," she said, her heart almost stopping. “I see.”
"I knew you'd be thrilled."
"Yes, of course." Uzuri's jaw began to tremble, and tears filled her eyes. “Thanks.” She looked away before he could see her cry.
Ugas’ voice came back to her across the void. “I’m old, and when I’m dead, all the tears in the world won’t bring me back.” For a few moments she was paralyzed with grief and guilt. But as soon as soon as she could move, she hurried across the savanna for Rafiki’s baobab. It was the only place she could safely express her feelings.
Rafiki was scrying the future. Without even looking up, he said, "Come in, Uzuri. I've been expecting you."
She looked at the bowl of water. "Just how much do you know?"
"I knew you would come by."
"And how about Ugas. Is he?"
"Yes, he is." Rafiki fondled her cheek and wiped a couple of half-dried tears from her eyes. "So you found out today, did you?"
"Habusu told me." Trying to keep her composure, she sat stiffly, her jaw held so tightly that her chin could not tremble. "I want you to help me. Ugas, my husband, must be mourned.”
“Of course.”
“I want you to come with me. My heart is heavy, and I have no one I can tell. I need someone, Rafiki, as once you needed me."
“What an honor,” he said, giving her paw a squeeze. “Uzuri, Ugas was my good friend. He spoke often of you. He would ask me about Togo and Kombi. Too bad he never met them--his own sons."
"It was too bad."
Rafiki wanted her to release her pent-up grief. It tortured him to see her like that. "Where do you want to hold the ceremony?"
"Our special place. The bank of the stream that runs along the border of our kingdoms. There is a patch of reeds there. We would meet there at times."
"I know."
"He told you? Did you know him that well?"
"Very well. I’ll keep your secret, but you must keep mine. I have a little something for you."
He reached in a gourd and pulled out a lock of golden fur. "I brought this back for my shrine." He watched as she sniffed of it and took in the old fragrance.
She stroked the lock of his mane. Her eyes welled up with tears and she bent to face the ground. "Ugas! My beloved Ugas!"
Rafiki put his arms around her neck and held her to his heart. "Uzuri, how it breaks my heart to see your grief. I know what it’s like to lose a mate. I will pray for you day and night."
"You're a good friend. I knew you would understand."
Rafiki gave her a little squeeze and patted her shoulder. "You were always a queen to me. You always will be."
Uzuri sniffed and dried her tears with a paw. "Until high moon." She took her grief and locked it away inside, then walked out of the baobab with what dignity she could summon.
CHAPTER: ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE
Rafiki knew Ugas well. Too well to think that there would be no problems caused by his death. Habusu had unknowingly unleashed a thunderbolt into dry grass, and the news would spread like a brush fire.
Isha quietly poked her head inside the baobab. “Rafiki, do you have a moment?”
“Yes, dear.” He looked into her large, sad face. “I bet I know what you’re here for.”
“You’re very perceptive,” she said. “Did Ugas tell you about us?”
“That he did. He always called you ‘blossom.’”