looking quite amusing: arbiter, although much smaller than king, was clearly dominating with body constitution over lean lionesses. He was taller and maybe even one and half weighty as she. But from his, not her, neck was floating a two streams of blood. Maybe not serious, but painful reminders of recent fight.

“Raia, leave him alone.” Ordered ruler. “Taka, go up!” he pointed a path on Golden Massif top.

“NO!” called both Raia and Kota. Each one was afraid about her beloved lion.

“That must be ended, here and now.” Said Taka, slowly following Dhalimu.

“You know the laws!” added king. “You can’t interfere. If we die both, throne will go to... e...” he looked on Taka with questioning stare.

“According to the tradition of Golden Pride, feminine succession is not allowed if there is some male descendant. But I guess, there I not, because apart of Dahabu, who is already king, there are no Golden relatives in Lions Lands. I think that Mtanga, as a mate of Amali, cousin of Dhalimu, should assume the throne.”

“Well, excellent! Just in case: be ready to bring here that Mtanga.” Smiled king. “Taka, Taka, Taka... some times you prove to be really useful. I will kill you with genuine regret.”

“Your generosity, your highness, is beyond my reason.” Snorted arbiter with irony. “But let’s go.” And they both started again into path’s direction.

“My lord...” whispered Raia.

“What you afraid of, you stupid weeper?” growled Dhalimu. “I will kill him in a minute!” Kota gasped. “Soon I will rid off of that haughty claimant.”

And he went to path with perfect calmness, leaving lionesses in alley. Raia followed him with her stare, until he disappeared behind rock-corner. Then she shook her head, blinked her watery eyes, looked on Kota and said seriously.

“My friend... hug me, probably for the last time. Most likely soon one of us will come to hate the other.”

Golden-furred obediently went closer and nestled to Raia’s side. She whispered something unclear and froze by sandy-furred side. They remained that way for long minutes, until stops on rock-path fell silent. King and price got to the top. Lionesses came few steps back, looking each other in eyes.

“I will miss you, Raia.” Said Kota with grave voice.

“I know...” replied sandy-furred. “BuoNormal">“Dhalimu, we will deal it on our own.” Gasped Taka.

“My lord, let me kill him for you!” begged loyal subject. It was looking quite amusing: arbiter, although much smaller than king, was clearly dominating with body constitution over lean lionesses. He was taller and maybe even one and half weighty as she. But from his, not her, neck was floating a two streams of blood. Maybe not serious, but painful reminders of recent fight.

“Raia, leave him alone.” Ordered ruler. “Taka, go up!” he pointed a path on Golden Massif top.

“NO!” called both Raia and Kota. Each one was afraid about her beloved lion.

“That must be ended, here and now.” Said Taka, slowly following Dhalimu.

“You know the laws!” added king. “You can’t interfere. If we die both, throne will go to... e...” he looked on Taka with questioning stare.

“According to the tradition of Golden Pride, feminine succession is not allowed if there is some male descendant. But I guess, there I not, because apart of Dahabu, who is already king, there are no Golden relatives in Lions Lands. I think that Mtanga, as a mate of Amali, cousin of Dhalimu, should assume the throne.”

“Well, excellent! Just in case: be ready to bring here that Mtanga.” Smiled king. “Taka, Taka, Taka... some times you prove to be really useful. I will kill you with genuine regret.”

“Your generosity, your highness, is beyond my reason.” Snorted arbiter with irony. “But let’s go.” And they both started again into path’s direction.

“My lord...” whispered Raia.

“What you afraid of, you stupid weeper?” growled Dhalimu. “I will kill him in a minute!” Kota gasped. “Soon I will rid off of that haughty claimant.”

And he went to path with perfect calmness, leaving lionesses in alley. Raia followed him with her stare, until he disappeared behind rock-corner. Then she shook her head, blinked her watery eyes, looked on Kota and said seriously.

“My friend... hug me, probably for the last time. Most likely soon one of us will come to hate the other.”

Golden-furred obediently went closer and nestled to Raia’s side. She whispered something unclear and froze by sandy-furred side. They remained that way for long minutes, until stops on rock-path fell silent. King and price got to the top. Lionesses came few steps back, looking each other in eyes.

Meanwhile lions climbed on top without a word. Steep sloped of Golden Massif were over hundred meters high, but then it turned in flat plateau. Rock-square had in the widest place about two hundreds and fifty meters. In north-south axis it was a bit shorter: about hundred and fifty meters long. Although that most of area on plateau was rough and scatter with cracks there was enough room for fight. King and price chose a plat square in centre of massif. Nearby, on one of the borders, were lying remains of Niva’s body – then just a skeleton, cleared from flesh by previous sandstorm.

“Have you killed her?” asked Dhalimu.

“WHAT?!” yelled shocked Taka. „Of course that I haven’t!”

“That’s good.” Murmured king. “So you will die quickly and almost painlessly. Ready?”

Black-maned nodded his head and took a defensive position. He based a weight of his body on front-left paw, ready to block enemy’s blows with right. “It won’t work if he strike on me with all his mass. But at least he won’t get me in fist blow.” He thought and took a deep breath. He lowered his head, ready to dodge and was looking on adversary with careful stare. And Dhalimu was standing straight, as if he was ready not for fight but for some royal ceremony. Disrespectful attitude towards enemy was clear and in that Taka put all his hope.

“Many of move, shun and run. I’m trying to lure him closer to the edge and maybe...” but in that moment a stronger blow of wind awoke king from reverie. Dhalimu roared dreadfully and asked.

“Are we going to fight?” and seeing nod of Taka, added. “You first, usurper!”

“So there will be no touching speeches?” asked black-maned, slowly coming to enemy. “You don’t want to know what I’m for?” when he got the range of firm pounce, he started to circle adversary. Dhalimu didn’t move an inch.

“Probably the same, what wants every stray.” Replied king. “The power. Or just Kota. But she is the part of my pride and will be a queen. I won’t let her go with some rouge. Fight, if you can.” Added a bit impatient. “And if you can’t... just jump from here.”

Taka breathed in deeply, still circling the ruler. He was waiting, but for what he couldn’t tell. Front-right paw, ready to strike, was aching with demand to be careful. Taka wasn’t scared but he was thinking intensively. “That is impossible to win with him. But I must!”

He pounced suddenly, unexpectedly even for himself. In some moment his muscles outran command of brain and before prince understood it, he was floating in the air in Dhalimu’s direction. He didn’t even try to hit. He just bounced with paws on raised block of enemy, hoping that extended claws would do some damage. He had right – one of the claws plunged in the fur of brown-maned. But he didn’t continue that attack – he instantly jumped ahead to land two meters behind enemy. He rushed further, expecting an immediately Dhalimus’ reaction and he had right. King pounced after him and landed on rock ground two second after Taka shunned. “He is fast!” thought arbiter marvelden Massif were over hundred meters high, but then it turned in flat plateau. Rock-square had in the widest place about two hundreds and fifty meters. In north-south axis it was a bit shorter: about hundred and fifty meters long. Although that most of area on plateau was rough and scatter with cracks there was enough room for fight. King and price chose a plat square in centre of massif. Nearby, on one of the borders, were lying remains of Niva’s body – then just a skeleton, cleared from flesh by previous sandstorm.

“Have you killed her?” asked Dhalimu.

“WHAT?!” yelled shocked Taka. „Of course that I haven’t!”

“That’s good.” Murmured king. “So you will die quickly and almost painlessly. Ready?”

Black-maned nodded his head and took a defensive position. He based a weight of his body on front-left paw, ready to block enemy’s blows with right. “It won’t work if he strike on me with all his mass. But at least he won’t get me in fist blow.” He thought and took a deep breath. He lowered his head, ready to dodge and was looking on adversary with careful stare. And Dhalimu was standing straight, as if he was ready not for fight but for some royal ceremony. Disrespectful attitude towards enemy was clear and in that Taka put all his hope.

“Many of move, shun and run. I’m trying to lure him closer to the edge and maybe...” but in that moment a stronger blow of wind awoke king from reverie. Dhalimu roared dreadfully and asked.

“Are we going to fight?” and seeing nod of Taka, added. “You first, usurper!”

“So there will be no touching speeches?” asked black-maned, slowly coming to enemy. “You don’t want to know what I’m for?” when he got the range of firm pounce, he started to circle adversary. Dhalimu didn’t move an inch.

“Probably the same, what wants every stray.” Replied king. “The power. Or just Kota. But she is the part of my pride and will be a queen. I won’t let her go with some rouge. Fight, if you can.” Added a bit impatient. “And if you can’t... just jump from here.”

Taka breathed in deeply, still circling the ruler. He was waiting, but for what he couldn’t tell. Front-right paw, ready to strike, was aching with demand to be careful. Taka wasn’t