Comoros, so I've heard - ' Rileigh blanched, looking awkward. 'Your mate's not a sensitive subject, is he? Only . . . '

'No! No! Not at all!' Romy placed a paw on Rileigh's shoulder and shook it, in a friendly gesture of feigned exasperation. 'I want to get one thing straight with you and everybody else - I miss Com alot but although he may be gone, I never want his name forgotten. You may speak of him, and anyone can, around me especially, ' said Romy smilingly but not without a tear running down her face. 'But back to Tamura . . . ' Romy's smile faded as she recollected Tamura's tale: 'I found the poor girl when she was very, very young, wounded on the edge of the desert; she'd been attacked by jackals. We guessed her parents were also attacked, but didn't survive.' Romy shook her head. ' You know, when we told her she was adopted, at that age, the main thing she was disappointed about was she wasn't going to inherit my mother's long fur!'

Rileigh laughed. 'Poor Tamura. And her poor, poor parents. Who could they have been, I wonder?'

Romy stiffened. She looked over at Tamura, among the lions she had grown up with, all laughing at what appeared to be comedy tale Bamoma was telling. Some deep foreboding twisted about in Romy's gut, as she noticed slight triats in Tamura's appearance, traits that recalled a certain couple of lions . . .

BOOK 4: Bonds - Born and Broken

CHAPTER IV

'Mama! Kelly's had her cub!' Tamura cried.

Four days had passed by since Romy had gone inspecting the lookout posts.

Romy had freshly returned to the Stone Camp from helping the Whitebacks settle in on the eastern border, an area they had agreed to guard as it was closest to their own home. She had gone in her father's stead, as he was off leading a patrol, and Empress Safi was resting in the Royal cave, recovering from a recent scuffle with rogues.

Romy broke into a huge smile and nuzzled Tamura as her adopted daughter announced the wonderful news.

'Oh, at last!' Romy said. She followed Tamura to Imammu and Kelly's cave, one of the three worn into the sides of the camp, given to them especially for the birth of their offspring. 'She was so late!'

'Well, I've heard warthogs have longer pregnancies when they have less piglets in them,' panted Tamura in a matter-of-fact voice. 'Whereas the more babies they have, the shorter the pregnancy . . . '

Romy gave Tamura a half-shocked look. 'Now, I'm not sure what to think of you comparing Kelly to warthogs! I hope you haven't been giving her those facts!'

Tamura looked embarrassed. 'No! I . . . '

Romy laughed. 'But what's your point, dear? How many cubs has Kelly - oh, I see!'

Romy and Tam had just come to the cave. Kelly was there, lying in the warmth of the high noon sun. She was twisted around and licking a small bundle curled up by her side; one little golden cub.

'Only one,' smiled Kelly at Romy, eyes tired but gleaming with pleasure. 'He's such a fit boy, though.'

'So I see!' Romy cooed, as the newborn, who was wriggling healthily until the caressing of his mother, gave a loud squeak - something which sounding like it would one day be a tremendous noise and a proper roar. 'Congratulations, Kelly!'

'Has he a name yet?' asked Tamura, excitedly.

'You asked me that five minutes ago, before you fetched your mother,' chuckled Kelly. 'No . . . I've decided to wait for Imammu and we'll choose a name.'

'You mean Imammu hasn't seen him yet?' Romy gasped. 'Where is he?'

'He's with your father's patrol. They were away since the early morning, as you know and - '

Kelly wasn't able to finish. A cacophony of hideous snarls cut her off.

Romy and Tamura spun around and faced the entrance of the Camp, to see a large group of strange lions flowing through it. They were thin, sinewy lions, dusty-grey or brown in colour, mostly because they were covered in dirt; they looked freakishly ill and bore strange red markings on their faces. They slunk swiftly into the Camp and began to spread out, some heading towards the Den, others making their way to the gully caves; their teeth were bared and their eyes narrowed into sinister slits.

As soon as she saw them, Romy ordered Kelly and the cub back into their cave and yelled: 'Tamura, guard them!' She then charged towards the nearest of the intruders, roaring a warning to the members of her Tribe currently in the Den, and she knew there a good few. She screamed one word at the top of her lungs. 'Ambush! Ambu-u-u-sh!'

WHAM. The single foe she had pinpointed, who had been standing somewhat awkwardly to one side of the gully, was pushed to the ground easily. This was a red-marked lioness, dark brown under the filth and dirt. Her watery, ill-looking eyes stared. As Romy stood over her, pressing down on her ribs, the pale lioness coughed convulsively in a feeble way and tried to cry out. Romy snarled in her face and cut at her with a paw, knocking her out.

No sooner had Romy done this, she heard a roar from outside the Camp; seconds later, a number of her Stone Tribe rushed into the gully, headed by Obbler, newly-returned from the patrol. The Emperor thundered down into the Den like a mad wild stallion, snorting through his nostrils, kicking up dust. Immediately behind him was Imammu, then an old veteran called Muscle and finally Emillia.

Romy crouched, ready to spring to help her kin; but before she moved another hair, the intruders suddenly began rushing out of the camp again; they appeared to have realized they were outnumbered. Romy watched in bewilderment but with much relief as the foe retreated, shooting off like startled gazelle. In minutes they were all gone from sight or sound - all, that is, except the brown-furred lioness, who was still lying prone on the ground. She was harmless for the time being, completely unconcious; but Romy remained standing over her hostage for safe measure. She looked over at Kelly's cave. Tamura was peering from the opening, smiling reassuringly; all were safe inside.

'Father!' Romy cried, as Obbler re-emerged from the Den, the breath dripping raggedly from his mouth. He limped towards her. 

'Arrest Bamoma Gabon and Rileigh,' he rasped.

'Father?' 

'Arrest those traitors!' Obbler snapped. 'Immediately, Romy! No . . . I see you're busy.' Obbler snarled down at the concussed enemy lioness. 'Imammu, you go!' The Emperor whirled upon the male lion behind him. 'Find that treacherous Bamoma Gabon and his mate and bring them both to my cave!'
 

* * *

Bamoma and Riliegh were found rehearsing verses at an eastern acacia grove. Captured without being given a word of explanation, they were hustled uncermoniously to Obbler and Safi's cave, surrounded by Imammu and five other guards.

The Tribe rulers were waiting - Obbler lay on his grass bed, near exhausted after the routing out of the intruders from the Camp; Safi sat cleansing his few but unfortunately serious wounds, which included a severe gash to his forehead. The Empress herself looked tired, being already injured herself and after having defended herself alone against four of the attackers from the depths of the Royal Cave where she had been caught unawares.

Bamoma seemed calm in the situation. Nobody in the tribe had ever witnessed the Bard to be even remotely irritated by anything. 'What is the meaning of this, my lieges?' he asked, sounding innocent, standing shoulder to shoulder with his mate. 'What have we done?'

'''Nothing'' is what you have done!' snarled Obbler, coughs interjecting his words. 'Bamoma Gabon and Rileigh, I have reason to believe you are traitors. Scoundrels!' Obbler roared this word. 'You didn't lift a claw to help against the recent attack of Lagiza's barbarian lions.' The Emperor gestured at the brown-furred, red-marked lioness who had been dragged - still unconcious - to the gathering and who now lay at Romy's feet nearby.

Bamoma and Riliegh exchanged glances full of what looked like genuine confusion. 'Lagiza? Barbarians? We had no idea there was an attack, sire, we were at the acacia grown all day-' began Bamoma.

'Hah!' Obbler rasped. 'A likely story. The enemy's scent was detected brushing the grove - and recently. You could not have missed them as they came towards the camp, without a doubt. But your lack of action against the invaders also reinforces the possibility of a more serious factor that I have discovered . . . You did not tell me that your grandfather was one of Jafiya's friends.'

'He is?' Bamoma cried. 'This is news to me!'

'Indeed,' snorted Obbler with scorn. 'Not long before the attack, my patrol spotted your grandsire exiting the Stone Lions territory - before meeting with a lion I know to be an accomplice of Jafiya and Jet. Kudan is his name. My lions gave chase but unfortunately did not catch them before they disappeared into the northern desert. Now, you yourself are an ally of Jafiya's, staged to act as a bard and spy upon my pride; and obviously to help Lagiza, who is in league with Jafiya.'

'We would never - ' Bamoma's mane was beginning to bristle. Riliegh's face was the epitomy of shock; sparks of anger were flickering in her eyes.

'You both will be kept in confinement,' declared Obbler. 'Briefly, until I have extracted information