“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.”

“He’s with God now.”

“If we asked Him, would he send Daddy home?”

“I wish He would, sweetheart.”

Adhama watched her for a moment, then reluctantly turned and led the others away. Padding slowly across the worn ground, she paused as they began to enter the tall grass and looked back. Amara looked after them with the desperate look of a gazelle in a death grip. Ambia was perched atop the kopje again, eyes glinting in the reddish glow of the sunset, a warped smile on his face as he watched them go. His gaze met hers, and his smile widened into a grin.

Cursing silently to herself, Adhama slipped into the deepening shadows of twilight, praying fervently they would find something soon-- soon enough to spare Amara.

Ambia lay silently, watching as the grass rippled in a purposeful wave as the huntresses moved through it, heading away to the west. He began grooming a forepaw idly, listening to the low drone of Amara’s voice as she spun a tale of N’ga and Sufa to the cubs. Her voice quavered, and she was having trouble remembering it straight. Absently, he began running a forepaw through his mane, smoothing the fur and untangling the burrs from it as he continued to watch the grassy field across from them. Finally satisfied, he yawned hugely, then rose. Shaking himself, he turned and leapt to the ground, pacing slowly over to where Amara lay with the children.

The lioness heard the pad of feet near her, she blinked and looked up to see Ambia standing next to her. “Sire?”

He smiled down at her. “Indeed. It’s so nice to know at least someone around here respects my authority.” He eyed her keenly. “You DO respect me, don’t you, Marrie?”

“Well, yes, of course--Sire.”

“Of course. It’s heartening to see respect from one so young.” He cocked his head oddly and smiled. “So young, and so pretty...”

Amara felt her stomach knot with fear. “Not that pretty. I’m just young.” She purposefully coughed.

“VERY pretty, he amended softly. “I’ve been watching you. You move like tall grass in a gentle wind. Everything about you is exciting, even the way you tell stories. I think you would be a good mother.”

“Thank you,” she said tensely. She did not like the way the conversation was going.

“Beautiful and gentle. Good qualities in a prospective queen, I’d say.”

“Me? A queen?” She rose in fright.

He nodded and moved to stand beside her, his heavy body brushing against hers. “And why not? It’s as simple as pledging to a King.” He looked directly into her fearful eyes. “I know I can be a little abrupt at times, but I have lived a hard life. The world makes me hard like flint. You could take off the rough edges. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? We could all get along like one happy family. Once in a while we could slip out and make love under the moon.”

Amara was young, but not entirely naïve. She understood his terms clearly. And while she could never love him, she could marry for love-- the love of Adhama, the other pride sisters and the helpless cubs that peeked at her from the cover of the tall grass. “So it comes to this,” she thought. “Aiheu, if I must do this thing for my friends, help me to tolerate him. Please?”