“But I can assure you, that I won’t return to our cave without some prey. Is that clear?”

“If storm comes, you won’t return even with prey.” Threw Simmi, but Kota nudged her in side. Arguing with sandy-furred seemed to be useless.

“Is that clear?” repeated Raia.

“Yes.” Confirmed pride, as if obligation of queen’s sister was obligatory for all Golden Ones. “But now, to go sleep.” Instructed and jumped down from the stone.

“He will kill us.” Whispered Kota, when sandy-furred was passing next to her.

“So be it!” replied Raia, coming to her sister. “Come with me, my lady. Maybe king has changed his mind.”

And she guided Niva to royal cave, leaving confused lionesses in main hall. Sisters entered chamber and came to lying ruler. They stopped over Dhalimu, hearing his slow and regular breathing. Finally Niva whispered.

“Come. He is sleeping.”

“Go, my lady. I will bring him more brush for bedding.” Said sandy-furred.

After about quarter of searching of acacia brush, she returned with her load to cave. She passed through main hall, went among sleeping pride then entered king’s chamber. She made a first step in, when...

“I’m not sleeping.” Said Dhalimu.

“Forgive, my lord. I was just...” whispered lioness.

“I know what you was doing. Thank you.” Replied lion and raised his head. „Look at me.” Ordered and when sandy-furred turned her stare on him, said with tired voice. “You don’t listen to me.”

“My lord!” yelled female.

“Silence! I know that is happening. You are constantly purling against me. You prove your laziness and sloth. That can’t be hidden before me.”

ow we will prove that. You will be proud of us.”

“I don’t believe you.” Replied Dhalimu. “Lionesses aren’t loving me... They even don’t fear me! I have to growl every order to be heard. And that isn’t right...” added with sad and unexpectedly soft voice. “We should to live as a concordant pride, obedient and strong. Why it isn’t going that way, Raia?”

“It is going that way, my lord.” Assured him lioness. “All is going to be better. Today some accident happened, but it was just an accident. Tomorrow will be better. Will be... perfectly!” Shyly she reached with jaws for branches she had brought and started to put it under monarch’s side. When she had in mouth no brush, she was speaking. “We are ungrateful and stupid, my lord. But we are still learning... Some day every Golden One will see how many you did for our pride. That day we all will be obedient to you, my lord. Some day... But now sleep, my king. Tomorrow you have to awake and take care of us.

 

[“It’s time to sleep” song. Tune is merry, airy but in last lines of verses turns to be more disturbing.]

[Raia is still bending over Dhalimu, fixing his bedding with paw and jaws. She starts to sing and king, like a tiny child, seems to fall asleep due to that.]

Sir, close your eyes and rest at last

The day was long but now it’s passed

Let gentle blow of wind summon your sleep

[Lioness slowly leaves lying lion, quietly and careful not to awake him. She goes to cavity of chamber where is the only source in Golden Cave. She carefully fills a gourd with water and brings it to ruler.]

Just sleep to raise again on day

 And warm us all with sunny ray

Like sun from sky you will  peace for us keep

[When it’s obvious that Dhalimu fell asleep, Raia slyly bends down and licks monarch’s paw. Then she goes away from bedding, still looking over her shoulder on lion and still singing.]

Sleep my lord, in hard times too

[“It’s time to sleep” song. Tune is merry, airy but in last lines of verses turns to be more disturbing.]

[Raia is still bending over Dhalimu, fixing his bedding with paw and jaws. She starts to sing and king, like a tiny child, seems to fall asleep due to that.]

Sir, close your eyes and rest at last

The day was long but now it’s passed

Let gentle blow of wind summon your sleep

[Lioness slowly leaves lying lion, quietly and careful not to awake him. She goes to cavity of chamber where is the only source in Golden Cave. She carefully fills a gourd with water and brings it to ruler.]

Just sleep to raise again on day

 And warm us all with sunny ray

Like sun from sky you will  peace for us keep

[When it’s obvious that Dhalimu fell asleep, Raia slyly bends down and licks monarch’s paw. Then she goes away from bedding, still looking over her shoulder on lion and still singing.]

/span>

Nothing would stop our faith in you

Every burden, every grief

Will fade like day with your relief

[She goes through corridor to main hall, passes pride-mates, stopping for a moment before her sister. She looks on her with expression of envy on face.]

Chorus:

Cause in your warm, royal embrace

We see the Circle’s loving face

 And its round going through us all

So close, well known like is your call

But now all worries bury deep

It’s time, my lord, to sleep

[She moves further. She exits the Golden Cave and goes into moonless, but starlit night. She is walking on Acacia Valley. Zoon-in on face: in her eyes we see reflections of past events – king, hitting Niva, expulsion of Taka, recent scene in main hall. But Raia shakes off her head to dispel that visions.]

Second verse:

And even if some a false tone

Would disrupt peace within your home

Tomorrow you will play that tune again

[Then a next vision – Dhalimu from times of coronation. Raia is going in acacia valley, but suddenly scene is changing – lioness is walking in daylight, next to Kota, after sister and Dhalimu. Procession goes to the end of alley, on the border of desert. New ruler growls proudly, Raia barely repressing joy. But a look on Niva disturbs her delight.]

Once more you’ll build a perfect choir

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