My earliest memories are of playing in the valley, other cubs running at my heels. I enjoyed my life in the valley; I was free and had plenty of time to be myself and run about, and I had many friends. Of course, I had no idea I was a princess.

My mother was awfully secretive about her past and would only tell me that she was a daughter of a King in a land far away. This was enough for me; my mother was a princess, a lioness of noble birth, and I was too.

I would tell my friends often, and they would laugh and make fun of me. I let them, of course. They amused me in their futile attempts to hurt me.

Life in the valley was good, and I lived there until my adolescence, when a series of events took place that would change my life – for better or for worse, I did not know.

*****

I was but a young cub when I found myself wandering the Caves. The Caves were a network of tunnels beneath the valley that the pride would have used, should they come under attack. But the valley was a less heard-of part of the world now, and was ruled by an Emperor somewhere to the North. In its heyday, the valley would often be invaded for its precious resources, such as its many rivers and abundance of prey. When that happened, the elders, cubs and younger lionesses would flee through the Caves and emerge in the hills, far from the valley.

I remember the one of the many entrances to the Caves being a mountainous hollowed-out rock, with a large arch where bats would hang during the day. As I took my first steps inside the Cave, one of them screeched and they fled their perches, swarming the shadows. I jumped, and hesitated, but I kept going.

The shadows were large and would jitter like an antelope ready to flee. I remembered to stay in the lighter parts of the tunnel, lest the shadows swallow me up. Then there was a dead end.

The tunnel all of a sudden stopped, and I felt suddenly cold, and alone. I looked around to find the exit, but there were no lights and I could barely make out my paws on the ground.

Then I heard a growl.

I turned to look behind me, and saw a shape lifting off the ground and sidling slowly towards me. I could see the gleam of its eyes as it glared at me. I crouched and whimpered, terrified.

Then it laughed.

It came close to me. “Don't worry, little cub. Old Bibi wouldn't hurt you.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Who are you?” I asked, in an attempt to sound brave. Of course, this was a futile attempt. My voice was squeaky with fear.

“Why, I'm but an old lioness who likes to wander the Caves,” Bibi said softly. “And who might you be?”

I had many questions on my mind at this moment, like 'Do you live here?' and 'Why are you in the Caves?'. But I only said, “My name is Aliona.”

“What a lovely name,” Bibi said, her voice drifting off a little. “Do you live in the valley?”

“Yes. Do you?”

There was a pause. I could swear that the old lioness was frowning, but of course, it was so dark, I had no way of knowing. “I come and go. Whether I live in one place or not is not for me to decide.”

I was so young at the time, I didn't know exactly what she meant, so I decided to change the subject. “Do you know how to get out?”

“Don't you?” Bibi asked, her voice laced with small surprise. “You came in here. Can you not leave the way you entered?”

“I don't know the way,” I murmured, “and it's dark.”

There was another pause. “Why don't you stay, and hear a story?”

“A story?” I was uncertain at this point. Bibi seemed like a nice lioness, and a very motherly one at that, but I was afraid that her stories would frighten me, or otherwise keep me away from home so long that Mother and Father would worry.

“Don't young cubs always like to hear stories these days?” Bibi asked. “I know a great many.”

I hesitated. “Okay. What kind of stories do you tell?”

“All sorts of stories,” Bibi replied. “I have one I think you would very much like to hear. Sit.”

I sat, my ears pricked.

“Once, there was a kingdom, far to the East. They were once part of an Empire, and many Kings of surrounding kingdoms loved the King there. He was a good and wise King, and loved his people. He had a daughter, and once had a son, but that son was believed to be dead. He banished the supposed killers of his son, and named his daughter the heir to the throne.

“The King was very protective of his daughter, and some would say to a fault. When she once met a child of the exiles, he would kill the cub, had he not been stopped by the cub's mother. When his daughter grew up, she married the cub that she met in her childhood, and the King was forced to come to terms with that.

“But then the King's son returned, and took his rightful place on the throne. The son was also a good King, but his sister was angry about having been usurped. She became friends with the new King's friend, and they fell in love. She then left her mate to be with the new King's friend, and left the land forever. But the old King followed them, and tried to stop his daughter's new mate from stealing her away. He was killed in the process, and his daughter and her mate were never heard of again.”

I shuddered. “That wasn't a nice story.”

“No?” Bibi sounded surprised. “But it's a true story, my dear. If you can't handle the truth, then you are very weak-minded indeed.”

I narrowed my eyes at this. How dare she? “I am not weak-minded!”

Bibi laughed. “So you say. In any case, would you like to hear another story?”

I shook my head. “I'd prefer not to. Mother would probably be worrying about me.”

“Of course, of course,” Bibi murmured. She then tapped my shoulder and pointed to what looked like a large opening. “Follow that and you're on your way out.”

I began to trot over to where she was pointing. The light of day was beginning to ebb into my eyes. As I looked back, I saw her eyes gleam. “Remember, if you want another story, you know where to find me.”

*****

The sun was still high in the sky when I began to make my way over to Mother, who was sunning herself on her favourite rock, next to the Hollow, a small dip in the valley that provided shelter from harsh winds and rain. This was where we slept, and during the day, the young males of the pride would sit, working shifts to protect the Hollow.

Mother lifted her head as I approached, smiling. She had bright red eyes, unlike my own blue, and beautiful golden fur that had the look of polished sunlight. She bent her head down to me as I sat beneath her rock. “Hello, dear. Where have you been today? The other cubs told me that you didn't play with them today.”

I struggled to find words. “I went looking around the Caves.”

Mother's eyes widened. “The Caves? Mufasa's mane, what were you doing there?”

“Exploring,” I said simply, eyes narrowed slightly. Were the Caves all that bad?

“Little flower,” she said, using her pet name for me, 'little flower', “the Caves are only to be used in a time of need,” Mother sighed. “Why did you want to go exploring?”

I looked down. “I don't know. I was just bored of playing with the others, I guess. I've heard from the older cubs that the Caves are haunted, so I wanted to see if they were right.”

Mother stared down at me, with a look that suggested she wasn't particularly happy with me. “Haunted? Tell me you don't believe in that nonsense.”

I glared at her. “I was just playing! Didn't you play when you were my age? Didn't you get in trouble with your Mother and Father?”

The look that crossed Mother's face then was one I shall never forget. Her eyes seemed to shine with tears, and her jaw was dropped, shaping her mouth like an 'O'. It was as though she wasn't looking at me, but through me.

“Mother?” I asked, shocked at her response. “Are you okay?”

She straightened and sighed. “Yes, little flower, I am. I'm just glad you're okay.”

I smiled and leaped up onto the rock, laying beside her. “And Mother?”

“What is it, little one?”

“I met a lioness in there.”

There was a pause. “Did you now?”

“Yes, an old lioness named Bibi. She told me a story.”

There was another pause. “Did she now?”

I nodded. “She was really friendly, if a bit rude.”

Mother looked down at me sternly. “Little flower, I don't want you going in the caves again, even if there are kindly old lionesses who tell you stories. Okay?”

I pouted. Stories, I felt at the time, were an important part of life, and even if Bibi's stories were disturbing, they held some significance. “Fine.”

Mother smiled and nuzzled me. “Good. Now, come, little flower, it's time you had a nap.”

The last thing I remember, before I drifted off in Mother's protective embrace, was a pair of gleaming eyes staring right at me from the entrance to the Caves.

*****

A few days had passed since my encounter with Bibi. Father, who had been away, visiting the Emperor who ruled to make an arrangement, had returned. I rarely eavesdropped on my parents' conversations, but this time, I felt I had to.

Father had left the Hollow late in the night and trotted off, away from the rest of the pride. Mother had got up and followed a few minutes after, which awoke my curious side. I followed them to a small rock some distance from the Hollow, and I waited in the tall grasses, downwind of my parents. Father looked around for a moment, sniffing the air, but he didn't notice me.

“Why are we out here, Iba?” Mother asked, holding an obvious distaste for all the secrecy. “All I wanted to do was talk about what Aliona's been doing in the Caves.”

Father sighed. “If the pride heard about the Caves, they'd want to know why someone's been using them, even if for exploration.” He looked down. “After the collapse, they're very worried about another cave-in, and they don't want any more deaths as a result.”

I had to try very hard to hold in a gasp. Cave-ins? Deaths? It was then that I saw why Mother was so stern about my going there.

Mother nuzzled Father. “You worry too much, love.” She then looked around. “But then, so do I. Aliona told me that she was talking to an old lioness, a lioness who told her stories.”

Father snorted. “Nonsense. There were no survivors, you know that.”

Mother looked at him intently. “I'm serious, Iba. She seemed so... positive, so sure that there was someone down there. Can we not talk to Ushirikina? Get him to send some lions down there to check it out?”

Father narrowed his eyes. “He wouldn't, you know that. He's too wary of the Caves, even if they've saved the pride more times than he'd care to count.”

Ushirikina was the leader of the pride, serving under the Emperor to help him govern our ways. He was very paranoid, and extremely worried about the condition of the Caves. I used to fear him, but when I got older, I realised he was extremely misunderstood by the majority of the pride.

Mother lowered her gaze. “I know, dear. But I just can't help thinking... What if one of them did survive? What if we just didn't look hard enough?”

Father growled. “Kiara, I won't have you talking like that. You're beginning to sound like the elders,” he murmured, adding, in a lower voice, “superstitious old crones.”

Mother narrowed her eyes. “What would you have me do, then? Just sit idly by while our daughter makes a discovery that could change the pride?”

“You speak of it as though it matters.”

“It does matter though!”

Father shook his head. “I believe that this conversation is over.”

Mother growled. “You're just as much of a coward as Ushirikina is.” And with that, she turned to make her way back to the Hollow. I would have followed, had I not seen the eyes gleam at me from the Caves.

*****

As I grew older, I would often forget about Bibi and her stories. The older cubs had grown small manes, but I was still too young to be considered an adolescent. Mother was often called to hunting patrols, and Father, as one of the oldest and more experienced members of the pride, often went on small trips with Ushirikina, sometimes to other kingdoms.

It was on one particular day when I felt bored and restless. The other cubs were out playing and I refused to go with them. Sparring really wasn't my thing, and neither was sunning myself on a rock, talking about days gone by.

So I decided I would visit Bibi.

The Caves were silent, and the bats that once hung in the arch were gone. A chilling breeze crept through the valley, sending shivers down my spine.

I kept walking through the Caves, concentrating, focusing on anything that would give me a sign. Then a shape lifted off the ground.

“So you return,” came a hiss.

“Is that you, Bibi?” I asked, my voice wavering.

“Of course it is. Who else?” Bibi laughed, and I saw her sit, the shadows darkening the gleam of her eyes. “Come, have a seat with me, child. Would you like to hear another story?”

I nodded. “Of course, I'm terribly bored.

“Well then, pay close attention,” Bibi murmured. “For this one is dark, as well as true.

“There was once an Emperor in the East, whose people loved him, and whose neighbours revered him. He had a young daughter, a Princess, who would be Empress when he abdicated. The Emperor also had two nieces, whose father had been executed by the Emperor for treason.

“When the Princess was older, she fell in love. Her mate was good to her, and loved her very much. But the Princess' cousins killed her father, and later, her lover.

“The Princess became Empress, and birthed a son to her late lover. He then grew up, became Emperor, and was murdered by his half-brother, who took over his throne and ruined the land he ruled.”

I felt chills run down my spine, crawling through my bones. “Another horrible story.”

Bibi smiled grimly. “But all of it true.”

*****

Bibi's stories were disturbing, and even more so was the fact that she claimed they were true. As I grew to be an adolescent, I began to think more of the stories. I would ask Mother and Father about the stories, but Father didn't know them and Mother denied their truth. I worried that they were hiding something, but what were the chances of that?

It was about the time of my Msako Sherehe, the Hunt Ceremony, when I met with Bibi again. The Msako Sherehe is when the young lionesses of a pride will gather to celebrate their coming of age, and will hunt for their first time, bringing back all the prey they can catch. The pride will then hold a feast, and will celebrate for a week, before things return to normal.

Bibi was happy for me, and offered to tell me a story about an old lioness who once went hunting. I agreed to hear it, for there was nothing that could possibly be bad about a hunt, right?

“This lioness,” Bibi began, “was a former Queen, whose son was now a loved and respected King. Her mate had died when her son was but a cub, and she had been lonely for so long. She felt that she needed to hunt, to celebrate her son's ascension to the throne, and so she tracked a young antelope far from her home.

“When the time came to strike, she fell short and landed behind the antelope. But the antelope decided it would not fall prey to this lioness, and kicked out with its back legs. The impact shattered the lioness' jaw, and she wandered alone for hours, trying to find help.

“She found her home, and began to walk to it, but was found first by hyenas, an old enemy of hers. She begged for her life, but the hyenas were merciless, and ate her alive.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That's disgusting.”

“Only if you look from the lioness' perspective,” Bibi pointed out. “For the hyenas, it was a great victory, the vanquish of an enemy.”

I shook my head. “I'm not a hyena.”

Bibi laughed. “No child, you're not. But that doesn't mean a thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just because you're of a different species doesn't mean you must be enemies of the hyenas. Just like the hare has no reason to hate the jackal.”

“They steal from us, poach prey and murder our cubs.”

“They must, to survive.”

I said nothing, for I was outdone. Bibi was right, there was no doubt, but could I truly agree with her on her claims? “Another story. One more, and I must depart.”

Bibi smiled. “As you wish.

“There was once a lioness, beautiful and kind, who lived in a valley. She had no cubs of her own, but she adopted orphans from all over the land and cared for them as though they were her own. Her leader approved of what she did, as did the rest of the pride.

“One day, a rival pride came to invade, and all of the lioness' adopted cubs were slaughtered. Then, the pride was forced to retreat through a tunnel, and the lioness was one of the last to go through the tunnel, set on avenging her cubs. The rest of the pride had already fled, but the lioness had nothing to lose.

“When she finally retreated, and was halfway through the tunnel, she heard the crumbling of rocks. She stayed put, afraid. What was happening?”

Bibi sighed and drew in her breath. “The tunnel collapsed and the lioness was crushed. Some say she still wanders the tunnels, crying for the cubs that were lost to her long ago.”

There was a silence. I looked into the eyes of the old lioness and I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. I looked down. “That story... It was about...”

“It was about me, child.”

My breath caught in my throat. “Y-you're...”

“Some call me a ghost, others call me a monster. I just say I am dead, and that's that.” She smiled. “Reach out, touch my face.”

I lifted a paw to put it to her shoulder, but it disappeared, fading into the ethereal light that was Bibi. A tear trickled down my cheek. “I'm so sorry.”

“Don't be, child,” Bibi murmured. “Now go. I don't expect to see you again.”

“But--”

“Hush, child. Go.”

I turned my back, racing out of the Caves. Before I left though, I turned round, expecting to see the gleam of Bibi's eyes, staring into my own.

I saw nothing.

*****

I became isolated after that, locked in my mind, not connecting to anyone. Mother and Father were puzzled, but they didn't understand that I had lost a dear friend. When I did speak, it was to answer questions and comment on something, but nothing other than that.

I had passed my Msako Sherehe, and all the huntresses were proud of me. I was a natural when it came to the hunt, and Mother expected much of me.

It was a while after my last conversation with Bibi when a strange lion, about my age, came running into the Hollow. His fur was dark red, but his eyes were bright green. He locked gazes with me for a moment, and smiled. He said nothing, and retreated deeper into the Hollow, but I could tell by the way he looked at me that had taken an interest.

I followed him, and found him talking to Mother. She was looking intently at him, with a look on her face that suggested hurt or anger.

“Lord Kopa requests that you, as a former lioness of his pride and a relative of his, visit the Pridelands to give congratulations to his son, King Mfalme, who has ascended to the title of King,” the lion was saying.

Mother narrowed her eyes. “What would Kopa want of me, Kivuli? He knows of my connections to our father's death. Is he a fool?”

“Our brother is no fool, Kiara,” Kivuli murmured. “He wishes to make amends.”

Mother sighed and lowered her gaze. “Tell me, Kivuli, dear brother, how is Kovu? How has your father fared since I left him?”

“Father is very distant, dear sister, and speaks of you often,” Kivuli said softly. “I think that in his heart, he is still in love with you, even though he pledged allegiance to our mother.”

My eyes widened. Kivuli was my uncle, albeit my half-uncle, the half-brother of Mother. And from what I'd heard, it appeared that he was the son of Mother's former lover, and that Mother and Kivuli shared a mother.

“And how is our mother?”

“She disapproved of Kopa's decision to invite you, but she accepted him.” Kivuli sighed. “She is so old though. I fear that if the wind blew too strong it would simply knock her over like a tree in a storm.”

Mother smiled softly. “You speak fondly of her, brother. I am proud of you for becoming such a strong young lion.”

Kivuli bowed his head. “My thanks, sister. Now, should I return home and tell Kopa of the news?”

“You may stay, if it be your wish.”

“No, sister, I think I'll be off. I wish to make it home before nightfall, and this valley is far from the Pridelands.”

Mother nuzzled him. “Be safe then.”

“I will.”

Kivuli left Mother and climbed out of the Hollow. I followed, interested. When we were both out, I jumped in front of him and faced him. “What were you doing, talking to my mother like that?”

Kivuli looked shocked. “Your mother? I'm s-sorry, I didn't realise.”

I smiled kindly. “Don't be so startled. So, does that make you my uncle?”

Kivuli laughed softly. “I suppose. What's your name?”

“Aliona.”

He smiled, and I could tell he was fascinated. “Pretty name. Mine's Kivuli.”

“What were you telling my mother?”

“Only that the new King of her homeland has requested her presence for his coronation ceremony.”

“Wow,” I breathed. “What an honour.”

He laughed. “Yeah. Lucky for me, I'm the King's uncle, as well as yours, so I get to go as well.”

My eyes widened. “Wow, I'm happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

There was a pause, and I could tell Kivuli was struggling for something to say. Then, he looked me in the eye and said, “Hey, you know, if you want to go to the ceremony, you could come back to the Pridelands with me.”

My ears perked up and my breath caught in my throat. “You mean it?”

He nodded. “I'm sure my father wouldn't mind.”

I smiled. “That sounds great!” Now, don't judge. I was young and headstrong, and even though I didn't know Kivuli or the land he spoke of, I was eager to visit this strange new place.

Kivuli smiled too. “Good. I'll let you talk to your parents about it, and then we'll be off.”

*****

Father was very sceptical of Kivuli and said no to my pleas, but Mother was kind and said yes, as long as I stuck with him and didn't get tangled up with strangers. I smiled and bid them farewell, knowing I would be seeing Mother soon anyway, and departed with Kivuli.

The journey was long, and we only just made it before the sun crept down behind the horizon. The first thing I noticed about the Pridelands was the abundance of prey. There were so many herds here, and many of them were friendly and cooperative.

Then there was Pride Rock.

It was tall and towering, a massive stone structure with a promontory and a cave, and passage to the top where I wagered you could see the whole world. Kivuli told me that a long time ago, the first Empress fought her sister atop the rock, and it crumbled, becoming its current shape.

Once I was on the promontory, Kivuli told me to wait. He went inside the cave, and when he returned, he was not alone. Beside him, three lions and a lioness walked. The first lion had a golden pelt and dark green eyes. The second had a darker gold pelt, and blue eyes. The third had a dark brown coat and a fearsome scar that ran down his left eye. The lioness had a russet pelt, and the violet eyes, which had a kind look about them.

The dark lion glared at me. “Who is this, son?”

Kivuli cleared his throat. “Her name is Aliona. She comes from the Western Vale.”

The first male smiled. “Ah, Aliona, I have heard of you. How is your mother?”

The dark lion growled. “Please, Kopa, don't encourage her. You know I'm in a foul mood.”

Kopa sighed. “Your feud with Kiara is of no concern of mine, Kovu.”

Kovu scowled, but said nothing.

“My mother is fine, thank you for asking, sir,” I replied. “I take it you are Lord Kopa, former King of the Pridelands?”

Kopa smiled. “That's me.” He gestured to the darker gold lion, with the blue eyes. “This is my son, the King Mfalme, and,” he gestured to the lioness, “his mate and Queen, Avem.”

Avem smiled and padded up to me. “Pleasure to meet you, Aliona. Me and my mate welcome you to our home, and hope you enjoy your stay.”

Mfalme smiled. “It's a pleasure having you here. We enjoy catering for guests, and as King, I plan to be more lenient with the borders.”

I nodded. “Very wise, my King, but also very risky. Can you be sure to trust any newcomers that stray upon your lands?”

Mfalme laughed. “It's a risk I plan to take to better aid the rogues in need of shelter or a home.”

Kovu then growled low in his throat. “Mfalme, my boy, if you don't mind, might we get to the task of sending out invitations to our sister kingdoms, such as the Eastlands, or the Grasslands, being as members of our royal family share their blood? And might we also invite the Rebel Sentinels, my uncle's former pride?”

Mfalme nodded. “Of course, Kovu, of course. We'll get to that. But right now we have a guest, and we must see to it that she is catered for.”

Kovu curled his lips in a snarl. “As you wish, my King.”

As Mfalme led me on into the cave, I felt that I should be wary of Kovu. He seemed submissive and obedient, but also very rugged and harsh. Would I be able to trust him?

*****

A few weeks later, after I had become settled in the Pridelands, other lions began to arrive from other prides. There were the tawny-furred hunters from the Grasslands, and the dark, heavily-accented warriors from the Eastlands. There was also the quiet priests from the North and the lean monks of the South. A few other lands I had not heard of, like the Sentinel Valley and the Stormlands, but I tried to stay friendly and interacted with the representatives of the other prides.

There was one lion, though, that caught my eye.

He was Dhoruba, and his fur was red-brown. His eyes were bright green, like summer grass, and his mane was dark and rugged. With him was a dark brown lioness, possibly his mate or his sister. Dhoruba was also very quiet, I noticed, and did not speak often, not even to his companion. He was interesting, and I planned to speak to him during the time that he would spend in the Pridelands.

In any case, I noticed that Mother didn't show up. This was probably Father's fault, but it was fine. I'd be all right without them, or so I thought. The coronation ceremony was to be held in a few days, and I had been given permission to hunt and do as I please.

I noticed that Kivuli would spend most of his time with me, giving me a tour, sparring with me or just chatting. I could tell that he wished to be closer, and I was close to him, but I felt no other affections. My eyes were on Dhoruba, and I would not stop until he was mine.

On one of the days while we were awaiting the ceremony, I noticed Dhoruba sat on a rock. I was far from Pride Rock and had planned to hunt, but as soon as I saw Dhoruba, my heart raced and I had an idea.

I would speak to him.

He was quiet, and had his head lifted to the sky. His eyes were closed and his breathing was slow. Perhaps he was in deep contemplation, thinking, planning. I tried to walk up quietly.

“I know you're there, lioness.” Dhoruba lowered his head, eyes now open with an amused gleam to them. “What do you want?”

I struggled for words, but found my voice. “I was hunting, then I saw you all alone. Are you all right?”

Dhoruba smiled. “Couldn't be better. And you?”

“I'm...” I felt the fur around my cheeks grow warm and I lowered my gaze. “I'm good, thanks.”

There was a silence, and I could tell Dhoruba was aware of my intentions. He hadn't stopped looking at me, and even though I wasn't looking directly at him, I could feel the bright green of his eyes, burning deep into my fur.

“What's your name?” He got off the rock and seated himself directly in front of me, his smile faint and laced with thinly disguised amusement. I felt suddenly embarrassed.

“My name is Aliona,” I said simply. “I know that yours is Dhoruba. I heard your companion speaking of you in the cave.”

“My... companion?” Dhoruba asked, eyebrows raised now. “Awfully vague.”

I giggled nervously. “The lioness who arrived with you. With the dark brown fur.”

“Ah,” Dhoruba said, lifting his head and nodding. “Lingana. She's my sister.” He laughed once, much more a sound of approval than of mirth. “She does speak highly of me.”

I smiled, while inside, breathing a sigh of relief. His companion was his sister, meaning he was mine for the taking. “So, what land do you hail from?”

“I come from Sentinel Valley,” Dhoruba replied, obvious pride seeping into his tone. “My father was King there, before he tried in vain to kill the King of the Pridelands. Now his closest friend, Mwokozi, is ruler. He'll be arriving later in the week, for Mfalme's ceremony.” The pride left his voice and he looked down at me. “And where do you hail from?”

“The Western Vale,” I replied. “It's far from here, but it's nice and secluded, a lesser part of a larger Empire.”

He nodded, satisfied with my answer. “Some here have taken to calling you a princess. Why would that be?”

My eyes widened. “A princess?”

He waited. “Does this title shock you?”

I shook my head. “My mother is Kiara, daughter of the late King Simba. I suppose, because of her blood, I can be considered an heir to the throne.”

He smiled. “I take it you've grown up without the luxuries of royalty.”

“How did you guess?”

He shrugged. “The way you speak, the modesty in your tone when you speak of yourself as a princess. It adds up.”

I laughed. “I suppose so.”

There was a silence and I looked away. I could still feel Dhoruba's eyes, their bright green gaze. And I could see his smile from the corner of my eye.

“Say, Aliona,” he murmured, “would you mind spending some more time with me? Perhaps tomorrow, or after the ceremony?”

I turned back to him, beaming. “Of course! I'd love to!”

He laughed. “Then I shall see you tomorrow, at Sun's Height, yes?”

“Sun's Height,” I echoed. “Got it.”

He nodded and turned, padding off in a different direction. I smiled after him. My life was finally going to get better.

Or so I believed.

*****

I spent much more time with Dhoruba after that. He would accompany me on walks and join me on hunts. He was not much of a hunter himself, but I was eager to teach, and he was eager to learn. He was also very willing to open up around me, while he was very reserved and quiet around others. I felt like I had a very special connection with him, like no other lion could have.

The day for the ceremony finally dawned. The last of the arrivals, including Dhoruba's King, Mwokozi, arrived that morning, weary and worn from their journeys. Mfalme and Avem were painted with juices from fruits, all done by the ageing Mandrill Shaman, Rafiki. Because I was a member of the royal family, I was also lightly painted, and was able to sit somewhat closer to Mfalme, next to Kivuli. I could tell he was please with his opportunity, but I could care less about my seat. Dhoruba was sat somewhat opposite me, and would often glance my way, smiling. I would return his smiles, and sit patiently for the ceremony to begin.

When it did, Rafiki clambered to the top of the promontory, his staff in hand. He stood in the centre of the circle of lions and chanted in another language, then called Mfalme and Avem to his side. He took a gourd from his stick, cracked it in two, then ran a line of the juices over Mfalme and Avem's foreheads. He then led them to the tip of the promontory, and they roared to announce their reign.

Then it was our turn.

The roar would swear fealty to the King, as guests in his service, as fellow monarchs sworn to aid him. This was a time of peace, of understanding, of new life.

I roared, and Dhoruba roared too. The world seemed to stand still as our voices merged, becoming almost one. After the roaring was over, I smiled, feeling like our connection had sparked something new

Then Mfalme returned to the mouth of the cave, Avem at his side, then sat with her.

“My people,” he called, “my friends, my fellow Kings. Today is a fine day, a day I never truly thought would happen. My elder sister, Anasikia, would be Queen today, but alas, she fled the lands when we were but young adolescents. But never mind; she is happy now, and the life she has now is what she prefers to ruling a kingdom.

“Come now, let us celebrate, let us rejoice, for you are all welcome here in my kingdom while the ceremony lasts. Come, feast, hunt and make friends.

“But there is one last task before we depart, before we hunt and feast. I must choose my Majordomo, my Head Spy, the Right Paw of the King.” He smiled and faced me. “I welcome to my service Aliona, cousin of mine, who has been oblivious to her true heritage, her bloodline, till now.” I stepped forwards, eyes wide, and glanced at Dhoruba, who smiled.

I have no idea why I was picked, even now. Perhaps the King wanted to give me a chance, to give me importance and fame. Perhaps he wanted someone with my traits, with my intelligence and rashness at his side. I do not know.

“Aliona,” the King said, “do you accept my offer, my request to have you at my side, as my confidant?”

I hesitated, but then I bowed my head. “I do.”

“Good,” Mfalme replied, smiling. “But as my Right Paw, you must not share your your tasks with other lions, not even your family or friends. Save for one.”

I tilted my head. “I'm sorry, my King?”

“You must pick a Confidant, someone to share your burdens and tasks with,” Mfalme said, smiling faintly. “He or she will be the one who you work with, who you partner with during the tasks I set you. He must also be your mate, to father the cubs that will serve my descendants after your service is over.”

I paused.

My instinct was to pick Kivuli, for that was what he would want, and he was also a member of the royal family

Then I thought otherwise.

“I pick Dhoruba, son of Nuka, to be my Confidant.” I glanced at him, smiling.

Mfalme raised his eyebrows. “He is truly your choice?” When I nodded, he went on to say, to Dhoruba, “Dhoruba, do you accept Aliona's request, to be at her side and to father her cubs? To serve me and share Aliona's tasks?”

He smiled and bowed low. “I do.”

My heart raced, and I mouthed, “Thank you.” He nodded, and I could tell he was pleased with being picked. Mfalme then smiled and turned to the rest. “Go now, hunt and feast and celebrate. Let the ceremony begin!”

*****

A few days after the ceremony, I discovered that Kivuli had been avoiding me. No longer would he be there when I woke to take me hunting, and no longer would he smile when I passed. I had a feeling he was hurt by my decisions, but I couldn't see how. Just because I'd picked Dhoruba as my mate didn't mean he couldn't be my friend.

I didn't have much time to be reflecting on my actions, though. Dhoruba often kept me busy, taking me hunting and teaching me politics and affairs of other kingdoms. If I was to be Right Paw of the King, I must be intelligent and well-informed. Many of the King's tasks would be to visit other kingdoms or to spy and report back. It would be a dangerous job, but I would always have Dhoruba at my side.

One day, a while after the ceremony, I received a visit. I was in the cave near Pride Rock, the one that the fabled King Scar would use. It had been cleared of any filth or dirt and myself and Dhoruba had taken to living there, away from the bustle of Pride Rock.

Dhoruba was speaking with the King on the subject of law and order, and I was laid outside the cave, bathing in the sunlight. I heard the padding of paws and I lifted my head. A lioness was running towards me, her eyes narrow. “My lady, my lady!”

“What is it, pridesister?” I asked, not unkindly.

“There's a lion here requesting to see you,” the lioness said. “It sounded urgent.”

“What was his name?”

“He wouldn't say.”

I sighed. “Bring him to me.”

She nodded and left. The wait was not long, perhaps a few minutes. A large lion with a mane paler than his body fur came trotting up, his dark eyes lighter in the sunlight. It was Ushirikina, leader of the Western Vale Pride.

“Aliona,” he murmured softly, his age evident in his voice, “I bring terrible news.”

My eyes widened. “Please, come into the cave.” To the pridesister who had just arrived, I added, “Bring us some of the leftovers from last night's kill. They should still be fresh.”

The lioness bowed her head and headed for Pride Rock. Ushirikina limped into the cave, the scars on his foreleg ailing his gait. I had not noticed his limp or his scars before. Perhaps they were fresh.

We sat near the back of the cave, where it was coolest and where the old lion could get out of the sun. He didn't look me in the eye, which worried me. Was he afraid?

“Now, the reason I have come here is to report the death of a pride member,” Ushirikina said softly. “Namely your father's.”

I remember the intense grief that overwhelmed me, the pain that rushed straight to my heart. I lowered my head, teeth gritted and fought hard to stop the tears that threatened to roll down my cheeks. I took a deep breath. “He was a good lion, and shall be remembered for his bravery.”

“Indeed,” Ushirikina replied solemnly. “I also wish to further explore the cause of his death. I believe he was murdered.”

This shocked me, and I lifted my head. “What makes you believe that?”

Ushirikina paused. “In fact, I am almost certain that someone murdered him. Would you care to hear the full story?”

When I nodded, he sighed. “A while after you left, I was informed of some problems with our sister lands, the other lands in the Empire. I decided to take it upon myself to resolve these problems, but I asked your father's advice and counsel. He offered to come with me, and I accepted the offer. Two is always better than one, I say.

“When we got to the land, we discovered it empty and decided to explore further. There were no prey animals, and the only signs of life was a pack of jackals that followed us to some extent. We soon found where the pride would have lived, and found it strewn with bodies and bones.

“We were horrified by our discovery, and decided to flee as soon as possible. Before we could, though, we were stopped by a group of about nine or ten lions who said to us, 'They died in the name of Tau, first of the Leonine.'” He looked at me. “You know of Tau?”

“Yes, Ushirikina,” I replied. “Tau is the son of Bophelô, Lord of Life, who was sent to the mortal world and many sons and daughters, whose ancestors later became great leaders of lion kingdoms. Many followers of that belief also believe that we are all descended from Tau, although this has yet to be proved.”

Ushirikina nodded. “You are very well informed, child. In any case, I tried to plead mercy from these strangers, but your father would have none of it. He set about fighting them, and I tried to join him, but one of them set about my leg.” He lifted his foreleg, the one with the scars. “I could tell that your father wasn't going to win, so I pulled him from the battle and tried to run, but they stopped us.”

He sighed, his face becoming a mask of pain. “They said to us, 'The pride were killed in the name of Tau, but you shall die in the name of the DraKhyze.' Now, before you ask, I have no idea what a DraKhyze is. I imagine he or she is a leader of a larger group that associate themselves with murder in the name of the Gods.”

I looked at him intently. “What happened next?”

“I blacked out,” Ushirikina murmured, as though he was ashamed. “I don't know what happened to your father, but I believe they killed him. As for me, I think they believed me to be dead after they'd wounded me, so they left me. I managed to return to the pride, but I remember none of it. Your mother nursed me back to health, but she says I was muttering nonsense like a mad lion.”

I stayed silent, then narrowed my eyes and glared at him. “You want me to investigate this, don't you? You want me to get payback for you, for what they did to you. You want me to do your dirty work for you!”

He looked shocked. “Now, I never said that!”

“But you do, don't you?”

“I...” He paused. “I am old, Aliona. And you are Right Paw of the King. You are strong. And besides, if this DraKhyze turns out to be a threat to the pride, your King may need to do something about it. Who better to send than his Right Paw and her Confidant?”

I sighed and lowered my head. “I'm sorry, Ushirikina. You're right. My grief has taken over my actions. Forgive me.”

He nuzzled me softly. “Child, you don't need forgiveness for what you said. You were very accurate in your voicing of my intentions, I'll admit. But I don't wish that you should come to harm, child.” He smiled at me when I lifted my head. “I brought you into this world, Aliona, when you were but a writhing newborn desperate to feed from your mother. I waited by Kiara as the pain took over her, and I watched as you came into the world. I sat by as you grew and became strong, and I will say to you this: I believe in you, I believe that you will overcome this.”

I smiled. “Thank you, Ushirikina.”

He nodded. “I believe it is time to go back to the Vale. I shall tell your mother that you offer your condolences, yes?” When I nodded, he turned to leave.

I watched him go, and sat, as though in a trance, in the same position until Dhoruba entered the cave, a broad smile on his face. “I trust your day went well?”

As he sat down beside me, all I could do was bury my head in his mane as I wept.

*****

I remember the days that followed. Dhoruba was extremely protective of me and would ask that I never leave his sight. Mfalme was informed of this 'DraKhyze' and the dangers he or she posed. Guards were put up around the borders and messengers were sent into our sister lands, spreading the news of the murders.

Mother came to visit the Pridelands, and would only speak to me and Kopa. Kovu avoided her, as did the terribly aged Nala. I would often sit with her and talk with her, but she was very distant now. I remember some of the words she said to me, like, 'Oh Little Flower, how proud your father would have been' and 'Oh my Little Flower, just think what your father would say if he could see you now.' I worried for her health and her sanity.

Tensions also grew in our neighbouring lands, as border guards were set up on their borders to rival our own. I do believe that the other Kings saw our actions as a provocation, and I feared for a war.

Most of all, I worried for the kingdom and what would happen if this 'DraKhyze' came into power. What would happen to us? What would he do? How powerful were they?

And even though I knew the odds of survival were not in my favour, I swore an oath to avenge my father and destroy the DraKhyze.

Even if it meant my own death.

*****

To be Continued

-----