him. As a shaman he is bound. He has a special gift. The ancestors know what they’re doing when they give an animal the special techniques to be a shaman.” Baraka was about to speak but Etana added, “And about your sister-in-law… If Akase is a good lioness and a good mate to Arif, and I know she is, then she should respect and not pressure him. It won’t do them any good.”

            “How did you know that?”

            “I hear things, Baraka. Without my eyesight my hearing is better than most.”

            He smiled faintly, chuckled weakly, and then nodded slowly. Her words about Arif made sense and he accepted the fact that Arif didn’t speak to him or their parents but what of Akase? It was clear that she was kept out of the loop. Baraka knew that his brother couldn’t tell his own mate what was going on and Akase was pressuring him to talk. Baraka’s ears fell. He feared that if Akase kept begging that Arif would blow. Baraka didn’t want that. He didn’t want to see his brother angry. There had been snippets of his anger in the past but nothing serious. Arif had everything he could ever want: a good position in the Pridelands, a mate and cubs. Baraka didn’t want his brother to jeopardize it. Was this secret something that could threaten that? Or was it something that only a shaman was supposed to know? If the second question was true then the king had to agree with Etana. His sister-in-law should step back and leave her mate alone.

            Baraka shrugged. He hoped his brother did something soon.

            Etana noticed how quiet Baraka had become. She stepped away from him to stretch her tired legs. A second later, he, too, stepped forward. She heard him and turned.

            He bit his lip and smiled, his eyes genuinely moved. “Thank you. I just hope you’re right…”

            She smiled back and heard Baraka walk ahead. The smile fell from her face. “As do I, Baraka… as do I…” she said to herself when he was out of hearing range.

            “Kahuni,” the king said with authority in his voice.

            The cheetah immediately stood up. “Yes, my king?”

            “Are there any more problems?”

            Kahuni swallowed. “Yes, sire…”

            Baraka sighed. This was going to be a long day. The last meeting took two hours. “Alright, let’s carry on.”

            The cheetah bowed and started to walk. Baraka followed but turned to Etana. She also followed. They walked side-by-side and Baraka found himself feeling better. He gave a side glance at her then shook his head.

            Etana felt his eyes upon her but didn’t speak. Her paws touched the ground as she felt a shiver across her body. She felt that something was going to happen and the results would not be well in anyone’s favor.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

“What brings the Princess out here and away from the hunting party?”

            Akase sighed. The question couldn’t be avoided. They had done nothing but walk around the Pridelands for an hour in silence. “I… I was feeling sick,” she answered, hoping the break in her voice wasn’t evident. It was only half truth anyway.

            Hasira nodded. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Does Arif know?”

            Akase’s stomach churned and she turned her face away. Why was Hasira here if only to ask personal questions? “No…” she said at last. “He left for Rafiki’s home early this morning.”

            “So he doesn’t know?” Hasira shook her head. “You’d think he’d care,” she muttered but Akase didn’t see the glint in her eyes.

            “He does care!” the princess insisted. “He’s just… busy at the moment.”

            “Busy enough to be at the Tree of Life at all hours of the day but not enough to check on you when he gets home? I thought I knew your husband better than that.” Her voice was soft.

            “What do you mean?” Akase asked, turning back to Hasira. Her eyes narrowed. “Arif is a good lion, a good father and a good mate. I love him dearly.”

            “Do you really?” Hasira wondered aloud. Akase snarled quietly. “I mean, it’s clear you do, I’m just saying that…”

            “You think I don’t love him? I do. I left the Eastlands for him.” Akase’s ears fell. “Being a shaman must not be easy.”

            Hasira scoffed. “You think that with him being a miracle worker that it’s keeping him from you? What makes you think there isn’t more to it? He grew up with three other lionesses for God’s sake. He could’ve fallen in love with any of them.”

            Though what Hasira said was true Akase nodded her head thoughtfully. “Yes, he could have, but he didn’t.”

            “And that shows he has good taste. You’re an exceptional lioness, Akase. Arif chose well.”

            Akase wasn’t sure to take the statement as a compliment so she stayed quiet.

            They continued to talk, mainly of how different Arif had become the last few weeks. Akase was surprised and slightly disturbed at Hasira’s words.

            “Doesn’t it seem strange that your husband is acting so strangely around you, his parents, and the king, his own brother? And all within the appearance of that blind rogue and the black lion?”

            Akase let a soft growl emerge in her throat. “It started before that. And Etana saved your sister’s life! You should be grateful.”

            Hasira rolled her eyes. “Yes, my sister is alive, but Baraka should have let Arif and Rafiki do their jobs as shamans and not let some stranger enter our den and his den to take care of her. God only knows what else she did besides this so called healing.”

            “Dailia says she’s alright.”

            “My sister let a rogue ‘heal’ her. How can she be fine?”

            “She’s alive, isn’t she?” Akase asked in irritation.

            Hasira groaned. “Alright, alright, don’t get snappy!” She huffed. “But still, doesn’t surprise you just a little?”

            “No, it doesn’t. Etana and Takata’s arrival and being in the pride is not related to Arif’s sudden change. As I said earlier, he’s probably just worrying about work.”

            There was a silence between them as each lioness was wrapped in her own thoughts.

            Finally Akase spoke. “I know you don’t like Etana,” she started but was cut off.

            “That blind rogue doesn’t know how to live in a pride,” the other lioness growled. “And he… He spends his mornings with her.”

            Akase bristled. The statement could’ve also applied to her as well. She herself had been a rogue once but Hasira had no quarrel with her. And Akase knew who Hasira meant by ‘he’. Baraka, their king and Akase’s brother-in-law… Akase sighed and looked at the ground. “Baraka is king, Hasira,” she said quietly. “He can do what he wants and spend time with who he