XI. The time of Heroes

 

„Kauli, I’m going.” Announced Taka on morning. Python lazily opened his eyes and lowered his head from acacia to hang over black-maned.

“I know... I didn’t sssssleep... just resting.” Explained, as if that was a shame. “Good luck, boy. I believe you will sssstand it like a male.”

“Thank Kauli, for all.” Replied arbiter. “I’m not sure if we would see again...” Seeing anxiety in snake’s eyes, added. “No. As I said, I won’t challenge Dhalimu. But I could be rid off for good from Golden Sands.”

Python crawled down on back of lion and took his place on black-maned’s neck. He gently clasped it, what was a kind of snake’s farewell. When Kauli went down on sand, Taka without a word climbed up on valley’s slope and set off in Golden Sands direction.

“Take care of him.” Hissed former chamberlain. He pointed his head on desert, but in mind he recalled Sparthi and Zira. “You were always sssspecialists in hopelesssss cases. He needsss your help.”

The morning was calm – even the slightest blow of wind wasn’t disturbing its silence. “But such a inertia is the worst.” Thought arbiter. “Sandstorms are coming after a silence. I sense that something is in the air... something dreadful. A change.” “Yes. A change for bad.” Whispered a malicious voice in lion’s head. “Don’t fool yourself – you are going only to bid farewell to Kota.” He speeded up to outrun dismal thoughts.

To the Golden Cave he came before midday. He was greeted by silence so he stopped uncertain on Acacia Alley, waiting for any move inside. Finally he roared quietly, however being careful no to sound as a claimant. But not Dhalimu went out to greet the guest. From cave came Raia.

“Taka...” she murmured quietly. “I hope you have some serious reasons to be here.”

“May I enter the cave? King will decide if I’m worthy to be your guest.”

“Good...” decided lioness. “But first promise me, that you won’t violate the laws of guests.” Taka with some doubts bowed his head, accepting that obligation.

“Don’t be afraid, Raia.” Said, coming to sandy-furred. “I know what I’m allowed to... and I know what is the best for those whom I love.” Then he noticed that lioness fur on face is wet due to tears. “What has happened that she gave own water out?” thought instinctively. “Raia... what is going on?”

“Go!” she hurried him with breaking voice. When he was passing her, she added quietly. “When you get know, you will cry as well.”

Taka entered the main chamber to see pride and king still sleeping. Lionesses seemed to be half-dead – wandered saw a numerous cuts on paws and muscles swollen after h 

„Kauli, I’m going.” Announced Taka on morning. Python lazily opened his eyes and lowered his head from acacia to hang over black-maned.

“I know... I didn’t sssssleep... just resting.” Explained, as if that was a shame. “Good luck, boy. I believe you will sssstand it like a male.”

“Thank Kauli, for all.” Replied arbiter. “I’m not sure if we would see again...” Seeing anxiety in snake’s eyes, added. “No. As I said, I won’t challenge Dhalimu. But I could be rid off for good from Golden Sands.”

Python crawled down on back of lion and took his place on black-maned’s neck. He gently clasped it, what was a kind of snake’s farewell. When Kauli went down on sand, Taka without a word climbed up on valley’s slope and set off in Golden Sands direction.

“Take care of him.” Hissed former chamberlain. He pointed his head on desert, but in mind he recalled Sparthi and Zira. “You were always sssspecialists in hopelesssss cases. He needsss your help.”

The morning was calm – even the slightest blow of wind wasn’t disturbing its silence. “But such a inertia is the worst.” Thought arbiter. “Sandstorms are coming after a silence. I sense that something is in the air... something dreadful. A change.” “Yes. A change for bad.” Whispered a malicious voice in lion’s head. “Don’t fool yourself – you are going only to bid farewell to Kota.” He speeded up to outrun dismal thoughts.

To the Golden Cave he came before midday. He was greeted by silence so he stopped uncertain on Acacia Alley, waiting for any move inside. Finally he roared quietly, however being careful no to sound as a claimant. But not Dhalimu went out to greet the guest. From cave came Raia.

“Taka...” she murmured quietly. “I hope you have some serious reasons to be here.”

“May I enter the cave? King will decide if I’m worthy to be your guest.”

“Good...” decided lioness. “But first promise me, that you won’t violate the laws of guests.” Taka with some doubts bowed his head, accepting that obligation.

“Don’t be afraid, Raia.” Said, coming to sandy-furred. “I know what I’m allowed to... and I know what is the best for those whom I love.” Then he noticed that lioness fur on face is wet due to tears. “What has happened that she gave own water out?” thought instinctively. “Raia... what is going on?”

“Go!” she hurried him with breaking voice. When he was passing her, she added quietly. “When you get know, you will cry as well.”

eavy effort. “They are hunting for that idler!” thought Taka angrily, turning to Dhalimu. Ruler was sleeping calmly with airy smile on face. But he opened his eyes as first, alarmed with loud breathing of newcomer.

“What, the rabies, you are doing here?!” he greeted him warmly.

“I’m coming from my brother.” Announced Taka, putting in that as many conviction as he could. Dhalimu was eyeing him up and down for several seconds then growled.

“Get up, you lazybones! We have a guest!”

Lionesses instantly stood up, although most of them with heavy effort. Wandered gasped seeing tired muzzles of females, in desperate try to immoderately fulfil that order. Kota noticed him at once. An expression of disbelief but also of cubbish joy burst on her face. But a second later she turned her stare to the ground not to betray her emotions to the king.

“No, sir. Let them sleep...” whispered Taka to Dhalimu’s ear.

“No, let them greet my guest and messenger.” Replied ruler. “If Dahabu sent you, you are representing him and you have to be treated with honour. I won’t let my lionesses lay in presence of royal envoy.”

“Sir Taka!” exclaimed sleepy, but delighted Baka. “What a surprise!”

And in one moment the cave got back to live. Lion was amazed that tired lionesses saved so many joy and serenity. And what was even more amazing – his presence was greeted as a holiday. “They count that would change something... They are so wrong...” thought dismally.

“Lord...” finally whispered Kota, looking on king. “Can we water our guest?” ruler just waved his paw indifferently so lioness stoop up and said. “Follow me, sir.”

They exited the main chamber and went to the source. When pair disappeared from monarch’s sight behind a corner, Kota almost pounced on Taka, hugging with paws and licking tenderly. Lion with pleasure surrender to those caresses, but after a while froze.

“He will see us.” Whispered.

“Taka... I can’t stand any longer. Said lioness. “I was so scared when you went away... But right, we’ll have our time later. Now you have to drink.”

Few minutes later when Kota and Taka returned to main chamber, a meal was waiting for the guest. King himself, according to the old custom, was rationing out the portions of meat. Arbiter noticed with shock stares of lionesses. Golden Ones were looking on adaks with clear hunger in eyes. But there was no regret on theirs faces but a silent consent. The guest had his rights. “I’m eating theirs last preys and they are glad of that!” he thought, enraged. “And Dhalimu will probably send them on hunting today.” But he ate whole prepared portion. He could offend the host.

“Right. So what brings you here?” asked brown-maned.

“I send the greetings from Priderock. From king Dahabu.” Replied arbiter. “And I wish, on behalf of my brother to condole your pride after death of your queen.” Lionesses instinctively bowed theirs heads and merry murmur fell silent.

Raia shivered. Words of black-maned awoke in her some vague premonition. “How it could be? How he got know about Niva’s death? No one sent that message to Prideland... no one sent that message... anywhere!” She looked carefully on faces of pride but no one other felt anxious about that. “Well, maybe it isn’t so important... But I would feel better if I knew how he knew about queen’s death.” Even in mind she still wasn’t ready to name Niva her sister. The burden of old envy was too heavy. “Maybe... but no! that is impossible. Taka wouldn’t killed her. For what? For Kota to became a queen? Or... who knows, what he thought? Maybe he expected that I would become a queen and I beg king to allow for relationship between Kota and Taka? Ow, Stars! I hope that I’m wrong. But if I’m right, Taka is merciless rascal!” Instinctively she extender her paws and moved closer to monarch, ready to defend him any time.

“Moreover, I’m not just an arbiter but also a historian of Lions Lands.” Taka continued. “I thought you wish to hear some tales that I had got known during my journeys.”

“My lord?” asked Baka with hope in her voice.

“Good idea.” Agreed Dhalimu. „Go Taka, tell us something interesting and we will rest before hunting.”

Arbiter breached in and recalled from memory all tales of his ancestors and thought. “Yes, your highness... I will tell you how was the fate of rulers who didn’t know how to rule. If I can’t hit you with paw, I’ll try to do it at least with song.”

“Probably all of you already heard the tale of Scar and Zira. That is long story, long because it overgrown with myths and distortions. I’m a descendant of both lines of family – both of Simba and Scar. That why I’ll try to show you the drama of the Great Drought as objectively as I could. Listen!”

And he started the tale. He told them about lives of his grandparents and great-grandparents, reign

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