“You are a rather handsome lion,” she said with resignation. “I’ve never been with a male before. Be patient with me.”

“I can be patient,” he said with barely suppressed excitement. “Patient within reason. Be my Queen, Amara. Tonight, and for always.” His shaggy head nosed her flank.

“Ambia--I--“

“Yes, Amara?” He nosed her again. “You’re shy. I like that. Don’t worry--I won’t hurt you.” Passionately, he rubbed up her side and then put his paw on her shoulder.

She tried to purr. Only a deep rumbling came out. Tears started down her cheeks. “Please God,” she silently prayed, “let this work. Show me a sign that he’ll honor his promise. Spare my family.”

Trembling with passion, he said, “Before the gods, before the stars, before the assembled host I swear to give you my protection, my love, and my comfort forever.”

He waited a moment for her answer. Instead she stared at him, frozen like a stone.

He said, “Answer me, my love.” He nuzzled her face, then worked his way back until he reached the base of her tail. He reached out with an adventurous paw and fondled her intimately.

“No!!” She screamed and jumped on top of a small boulder where she crouched, sobbing hysterically and cowering in fear. “I can’t! I tried, but I just can’t!”

“Come down here!”

“Leave me alone! Go away and leave me alone!”

“You lead me on, then say no?? Do I look like a fool to you??” Ambia snarled, then sprang up on the rock beside her, cuffing her viscously. “Ungrateful WITCH! I’ve been out there in the hot sun of the desert and done without. I’ve paid my dues like any other lion. Now I’m going to get what’s coming to me! You will come when I call you. Sooner or later, you will grow to enjoy this, but you WILL be my queen, understand??”

“What do you think you’re doing??” Adhama cried.

Ambia spun to see Adhama and her hunting party behind him. “Whatever I wish,” he growled, jumping down to confront her. “What are YOU doing here?!”

“Bringing you dinner as ordered, YOUR MAJESTY,” she said. Sh’aari padded forward and dropped the carcass of a small gazelle at his feet.

He glance at it, then snorted. “About time!” Seizing the animal, he padded away towards the kopje, leaping up and moving forward.

There was a cub resting in his favorite spot. He dropped the carcass and shouted, “What are YOU doing here??”

“Oh gods!” Sh’aari cried. “Saieti, get DOWN from there!” The lioness padded forward, looking at the kopje above where her cub sat, crying pathetically.

“Mama I’m SCARED!” The cub cowered away from Ambia, nearly slipping off the edge. “Help me, Momma! He’s MEAN!”

“By gods I’ll SHOW you mean if you don't get OUT OF MY SPACE!” Ambia roared and swung a heavy paw down, scoring the stone with his claws as the cub fled, screaming hoarsely.

“I’ve had a trying day, Sh’aari! Keep your brat out of my way if you know what’s good for you!”

Sh’aari snarled deep within her chest as Saieti huddled against her, shuddering. “You touch her again, and I’ll.....”

“And you’ll what??” Ambia arched his neck and sat up. “You want to tangle with me?? Huh?? Come here--I’ll go a couple of rounds with you? Want to take a poke at me, Sis?? HUH??”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Oh wouldn’t I??” He leaped down and cuffed Sh’aari viscously, sending her sprawling. “We’re going to lay down some rules here. Rule one: nobody better be laying where I want to nap!” He cut Saieti’s flank with a claws-out swipe and she huddled down, shrieking with pain.

“Rule two: what I want, I get.” He pushed through the shocked lionesses to where Amara stood. He dipped his maned head and rubbed up her side, crossing behind her and repeating the action on her right. Amara closed her eyes, digging her claws into the earth as she felt the loathsome scrub of his body against her.

“Rule three--Nobody better break rules one and two. Three little rules--do you think you can remember that??” Ambia settled back on the top of the kopje and closed his eyes. “When I wake up, I want to smell dinner. REAL dinner, not some lame tidbit fit for jackals!”

Sh’aari whispered, “I have to find the King’s sons. I’ll go to Simba and ask about them.”

“No,” Adhama said. “Stay here with your daughter. I’ll go.” Adhama nuzzled Saieti who was still sobbing uncontrollably. “Honey Tree, I’m going for help. Don’t tell anyone, OK? You’re going to be all right.”

CHAPTER: THE MISSION

Amara fought down her disgust and fear, trying to hold Ambia’s attention while Adhama made a mad dash out to the border.

Adhama, who was no younger than her dead brother, panted at the exertion as she ran and ran and ran. Lionesses often chase down prey, but they will break off pursuit if they don’t quickly overtake their target. She had to run like a gazelle, long and hard.

From time to time she glanced over her shoulder. Good--there was no pursuing lion. Amara’s ploy had worked. And finally when it seemed her old heart would burst, she saw the stream that marked the boundary of the pride. A couple of springs through the cold water and she would be on Simba’s land.

Only at the margin of the water did she slow her pace, stepping from stone to stone but still getting her legs wet--she hated that. And gaining the opposite bank, she breathed in deeply and let the air rush out her mouth and nose. The first obstacle was overcome.

Still she was not entirely safe. As she entered the Pride Lands, she shouted, “Aiheu abamami” several times as she went, and before long two lionesses came out of the brush.

“Sarafina, Isha, help me!”

“Adhama?? What’s wrong??”

“I must see the King at once. It’s an emergency!”

Not long afterward, Togo and Kombi showed up for guard duty and training. Simba stared at them with somber intensity and they felt something awful was afoot.

“Whatever it was,” Kombi said, “we didn’t do it this time.”

“I’m not upset with you,” Simba said, giving his shoulder a sympathetic pat. “My dear son.”

The strange lioness fell before them. “My Lords! You are our only hope!”

Togo nosed her carefully. “You’re crying! What’s wrong?”

Simba shook his head. “This is your Aunt Adhama. You are indeed her only hope. Your father is dead.”

Togo and Kombi took in a collective gasp.

“Ugas never met you,” Adhama said, rising from the earth. “But he cared for your mother a great deal, and he tried to arrange a meeting with you before death took him. Now you must come back and rule in his stead. This is what you were born to do--it was your destiny.”

“If you insist,” Kombi said casually. “Mom told us already. You don’t have to cry. We accept. We’d be delighted. Honored too.”

“You don’t understand. It’s not that simple.”

Kombi sighed. “With us, it never is. What’s the catch?”

“Your family is being hurt by a rogue lion. Lionesses, cubs, people that your mother knew and cared for. People that your father loved very much. You must help us now. He is terrorizing us.”

“Is he big?” Kombi said apprehensively.

“We’ll do it,” Togo said quickly. “I don’t care how big he is. He can’t push you around like that.”

Adhama fawned on him, kissing him and nuzzling him as tears streamed down her face. “Oh thank God!”

“I’m so proud of you,” Simba said. “I’ve always thought of you as one of my sons, but never have I been more proud of you than I am this moment. Togo, my dear son, God be with you.”

“Hey, we’re in this together,” Kombi said, patting Togo’s shoulder with his paw. “That’s it, a joint effort--fifty fifty!” He readied himself for the kiss that never came.

Simba said, “One day I’ll hear great things about you two. You must be given your mantlement quickly. You’ll be leaving as soon as you’re blessed--there’s no time to lose.” He looked at Zazu who was sitting near the entrance. “Go bring Uzuri here, and tell her nothing about the reason.” He looked at the brothers. “You must say nothing of the emergency to her. Ugas asked you to come early, understand?”