Evening all.
This was a difficult chapter to write – but I think you will like the result. That said, this is a long chapter, over 10,000 words...
I really should cut down on some of the length.
Since this book is now longer than Both "Flood" and "Tremors", and it is about a third of the way done.
Hopefully, the chapters will stabilise.
Are chapters of this length acceptable? Or would you prefer if I split chapters of this length to two chapters of half the length?
But firstly, the review responses:
Author:
I am glad you like Kiava. He is certainly becoming more competent. He isn't yet a flawless leader. Interestingly, at least for me, his flaws are very different to Danyal. Kiava doesn't suffer from a lack of esteem. He is more than willing to accept his birthright. Where as Danyal, is much less sure of himself. Dispite both having slain one the Shai'tan. As for the Emperor... Interesting theory. Marsade certainly isn't trustworthy. And he does appear to be backing Asamode over the Emperor... I wonder if anyone here has wondered why this is the case? What makes Asamode a more suitable ally?
Lord of Beef Dip:
Kiava does value Mercy, especially because the Shai'tan don't.
Not all of the characters have the same philosophy. Vitani for instance, lives in the morally grey areas. Kiava on the other hand (somewhat like myself) sees the world in black in white. That is not his naivete, but a philosophy that will be elaborated on. But essentially, he will never sacrifice the moral high ground – because what is the point in fighting, if you become as bad as those you fight?
Sandydragon:
Awesome to hear from you again.
The Emperor posses no magic of his own – although this method of communication is a pretty nifty trick Marsade has achieved. The basis is in a protection-type magic, with a blood magic trigger – resulting in him becoming aware of whenever Ben-Kai-Ra's blood is spilt. Since nothing can hurt him, he knows that the emperor wants to talk and so projects his own image through the same link. Pretty useful.
His anger and paranoia will become a hazard eventually, though for now, he is completely in control and if Asamode thinks he will have it easy, he has another thing coming.
How is everyone? As I have said, this chapter should have large ramifications for the rest of the book...
Chapter 10: Bitterness
The day wasn't yet light by the time Sara's eyes blinked open for the first time that morning. The den was dark still and the heavy sounds of breathing were the only sound. The ungodly hour meant nothing to her these days, although she would have gladly slept until noon. Regardless, she began the day as each day had begun since the Shai'tan's conquest of the Pridelands. There was work to be done and it started at dawn and ended at dusk – later if you were on watch duty, though Almasi and Danyal had refused to allow cubs on the night watch thus far. There was always something to do. Koron and Inti had taken to hunting or training, with or without Almasi's permission. Although, Sara had joined in on the sparring on occasion, she cared for her mother too much to deliberately defy her wishes, even though they seemed unreasonable at times.
Once upon a time, she might have objected to such an early rise, but now it would have seemed futile, even childish. Like many in the rebellion, she had a job to do and that was irrespective of her age. On top of that, Sara remained simultaneously both a Pridelander and one of the rebel former slaves.
This of course, put her in a rather unique position when it came to promoting the cooperation of the two groups and despite Sundar's initial concerns, Sara had become immensely proud of the former fighters. They had, against expectations, begun to adapt to Pride life. Slowly perhaps, but more every day, many of the larger predators were hunted alongside the Asiatics, though there was more competition to it than she would have liked. The problem was not in simply getting them to work together, but forming the bonds of friendship and trust to allow such cooperation in times of stress, without conscious thought. That had been a difficult task. Of the slaves, Sash had been supportive so far, but the jaguar sisters were still self contained and solitary as they had been the day they had arrived with what Sara was now mentally merely referring to as The Pride – regardless of species.
Jahi's arrival had been a chance to change that. Her brother had made himself busy, ensuring that Jahi and his family were recognised and welcomed by their fellow slaves. Since Jahi and his family had no connections or links to any group, it had been Init's hope that Jahi could be a common link between the Asiatics and the slaves. Unknown to both groups, yet working with both groups. Unfortunately for her brother, the slaves had thus far treated Jahi with scorn, suspicion, even malice and Sara couldn't bring herself to blame them. She resented the former servants of the Shai'tan, despite acknowledging that they hadn't committed any of the atrocities that Rish'ut's wilddogs had. It was the idea that they might have and not had any moral misgivings over such an action that troubled her.
Koron, albeit cynically, had told her it was merely an icy response to Jahi's previous behaviour. Jahi's actions might have been forgiven by the vast majority of the Pride, but they had not been forgotten by any of them and certainly not by Sara. It was easy to despise the leopard for what he had done. It was easy desire ruthless vengeance against him. They had done as much to Seba.
Seba.
She hadn't thought about the wildcat in some time. He had deserved what he had received of that she had no doubt. But if they had been prepared to execute him, should have not have done the same to Jahi? What would have happened if Seba had returned days later, begging for forgiveness? Would Danyal have granted it to him? What about Harrin and the dogs who had captured them and killed so many of their friends and allies? Would they be accepted, if they had renounced their allegiance to the Shai'tan? After everything they had done? Where did the line end? When did forgiveness give way to weakness? Compassion turn to naivete? Mercy to madness?
She didn't know.
That troubled her.
Sara shook herself, trying to make sense of it. Her sleep had been restless, filled with such thoughts. She knew that Jahi was nothing like the dogs. She had already admitted to the King that Jahi had not been present in Golgorath and that he had not personally inflicted any pain or brutality upon her or her friends.
She shuddered at that memory. Sometimes, it felt so long ago and others, only days ago. The dark, the heat, the searing pain. Hunger, fear, anger and pain. Lonely bitterness and the fear that her family had forgotten her, or given her up for dead. The horror of the prospect, the very thought seared her even now. She shook herself again. She was safe now. Her family were here. Danyal was here. Koron and Inti and her mother and Damu and Vitani and all of the others were close by. Only a few paces away, in this very den. There was nothing that could be done to her here. She didn't need to fear shadows or the ghosts of memories.
Opening her eyes once more, she recovered her composure. The day was young, but there was work to be done. Work that could no longer be put off. She forced herself up and looked around the den. The rebellion was several animals beyond the size of a typical lion pride now and it housed many different animals. The lions and lionesses of the combined asiatic and Pridelander prides, lived in two distinct dens.
They were not quite caves, for they had only one solid wall, with the rest exposed to the elements. It granted them shelter but little in the way of security. For that purpose, there were also at least a pair of animals on sentry at various points throughout the night. The dens were merely dugout caverns, under the the overhangs of giant boulders and despite their time here, she could not conjure a familiar sense of home to them. Danyal had claimed one to himself, marking it within the first few days of claiming the throne and looking over, Sara could see the young lion now slept alone, curled atop a slight platform in the centre of the den. Sara was certain it had been Vitani's idea to imitate the raised dais of Simba's den back in the ruins of Pride Rock. At his feet, Sundar, Lukaan, Vitani and Almasi slept nearby. It was no coincidence that their greatest warriors had taken positions around their King even as they slept. Most of the youngest of the slaves slept there also, though Sara had her own suspicions that it had been Danyal's condition for allowing such a blatant show of force. In the second den the other lionesses, Damu and the older slaves. At least the slaves who did sleep in shelter.
Between the panthers, leopards, cheetahs and wildcats there were plenty among them who preferred to sleep under the stars. Koron was one of those, (and was why she had not seen him around them) and had blasted Danyal with an intensely withering look when he had suggested that Koron might prefer to sleep within the shelter offered by the cave. Sara could sympathise with him. The cells of Golgorath had been cramped and reeked of both blood and waste. They were claustrophobic, tiny places and to have spent as long in there as Koron had would have left anyone with an aversion to stone walls and ceilings as they slept.
She left Danyal, Inti and the other sleeping members of their tentative rebellion and finally left the den. She nodding to the sentries as she passed them and made her way to their small supply of water, to take a drink and clear her head, before doing anything else. Five-Stones was not famed for its large water sources, but there were enough small pockets they could drink from them healthily for a few more weeks before they would need to find a permanent water source. Although it had not occurred to Danyal yet, Sara had no doubt that Vitani had already taken full stock of their situation and come to the same conclusion.
When she raised her head from the water, she heard the soft tread of a creature behind her and turned. It was one of the leopards who had travelled with Jahi. He was watching her tentatively and looked anxious when she turned to him.
"I am sorry." he said. "I didn't mean to sneak up on you." He told her. Sara shrugged.
"No worries." She said and resumed her drinking. When he made no motion, she lifted her head. "There is no line, there is plenty to drink, for now, if you wanted some, no need to wait for me to finish." He said. The leopard nodded in thanks.
"Much obliged." He said and joined her, watching her still.
The leopard was not fully grown. It was difficult to gauge his age, from his size, seeing as how much smaller leopards and cheetahs were in comparison to lions. He still outstripped her in both size and age though and she guessed he was aged somewhere between Inti and Helio's age, younger than Danyal, but far closer to his age then hers. He took a drink, finished, and didn't move away.
"Can I help you at all?" Sara asked. The leopard looked uncertain.
"Umm... My name is Talib... My friends call me Tal..." he said. Sara said nothing. The leopard looked uncomfortable, despite being over a year her senior. He seemed nervous around her, as if expecting her to snap at him – which, in fairness, she was tempted to.
"You are one of Jahi's family. I saw you come with him. Kiava was generous." She said, stopping herself from calling Danyal by name only at the last moment. She hadn't been as sloppy in weeks. It would not do to let herself slip up. Tal nodded, smiling at the reference to the King.
"We... didn't dare hope, but Kiava was true to his word. When we heard the rumours that Kovu's Son had survived, we couldn't not try to join you, whatever the dangers. Truth be told though, I had been frightened. Even if we survived the trek here... we didn't know how he would... you know. I thought for a moment he was going to have had us killed..." Tal said. Sara tried not to grimace at the thought. She wouldn't have objected to strongly, or that passionately if he had.
"Please. Kiava would never do that." Niether would the real Kiava for that matter. It was preposterous to think Danyal would even for a moment entertain the idea. Even so, Tal smiled at the reassurance.
"You sound awfully certain of that. But we didn't know for sure." He admitted. Sara thought back to the young leopards. They had seemed older than this one, but even so, Sara couldn't imagine Danyal ordering the execution of any of them. He was no murderer.
"Yeah, well, I know him. He wouldn't have executed you for it. Or even turned you away. I'll admit though, I was surprised with how well he treated Jahi. There were plenty who wouldn't have minded..." She said frankly. Tal seemed unsurprised at that remark, but did twitch slightly.
"You know the King well? You?" he asked in confusion. Sara frowned.
"He was there when I was born and as I grew up. Of course I know him." She said. Tal shrank back.
"I meant no offence! Honest! I was just surprised." He said. Sara finished drinking.
"Well, now you know. I grew up around him. That doesn't mean he doesn't surprise me once in while though. Letting Jahi stay for instance." She said and turned to leave. The leopard's eyes widened.
"Wait!" He said quickly as she turned to go. Sara blinked.
"What?" She asked, trying not to give in to a rising irritation.
"I am sorry. Its just... Well... yesterday, I was talking to the... the other slaves..." he began.
"Former slaves..." Sara corrected him. And let us not forget the reason why they were slaves.
"Yes. Well... they said that you were in Golgorath... the Citadel of the Shai'tan, for several days, but no one would tell me more than that. That was why I was surprised to hear you knew him well... I thought you came here with the slaves. They wouldn't speak to me, or Jahi." Talib asked carefully. Sara winced.
"I came back with the slaves. But it is true... I was a prisoner of the Shai'tan for... a time. As were most of the other slaves. We were put their by dogs, jackals and other blasted servants of the Shai'tan and made to fight over scraps of meat like maggots beneath a rock. We were beaten, starved and tortured." She said, her eyes flashing angrily. To hear him complain of the slaves not talking to him... what did he expect? A Welcome party? "So I sincerely apologize, but if they are treating your father with suspicion for the time being, they are hardly the ones to blame for that. You made your choices. What do you want?" She asked. Tal looked taken aback at her bluntness, but he bit his lip on whatever he wanted to say on the subject.
"I wanted to know. If while you were in Golgorath, while you were there, did you ever encountered my parents?" He asked. Sara blinked in surprise.
"Parents? You mean Jahi is not-..."
"No. He is not my father. He is not my family at all." Tal said, sounding irritated now. "Jahi found me after I had been injured by a wilddog raid... my parents were captured for defying the ban on unsanctioned hunting. Jahi was sent to investigate their den for other thieves." He turned to one side and displayed four rugged lines running down the length of his back. Dotted twists. Unmistakeable bitemarks. Deep scars. They would have bled heavily. "He didn't turn me in. He kept me hidden after they wilddogs moved on and then let me travel with him, asking nothing in return. When asked, he simply claimed that I was his youngest son and no one argued. He saved my life." And now his own eyes flashed in anger. "So, please allow me to apologize if I respond to his treatment with a little frustration for the time being. Not everyone has a choice. Not everyone is so generous with their blood." He snapped. Then swallowed, thinking perhaps he had gone to far, bowed his head to the cub, something Sara had seen Calin do when apologising, which she found odd.
"Forgive me, lioness. But I did not come to discuss Jahi, nor our treatment thus far. We are grateful for the mercy we've received and the generosity of your King. Beggars such as ourselves should not presume to demand respect, when pity and compassion are rare enough to find these days." He said. Sara paused, feeling slightly guilty and also revising her opinion of the leopards.
"Why was it you sought me out?" She asked, seeking to divert the conversation. Talib sighed.
"I just told you how my parents were captured by the wilddogs. I don't know what happened to them. I was hoping that they had been taken to Golgorath. Did you see them there? Did they escape with you? Or did... did they...?" He asked, not wanting to go on. Sara suddenly felt a stab of pity and berated herself for her hard heartedness towards to the young leopard. She shook her head.
"I didn't see many leopards in the Black Tower. Large Felines were not that common – though we managed to save all we could find there... We didn't manage to rescuse a single prey animal that was being held there during our escape. There were a pair though, one an older female and one younger male, that survived the pits in Golgorath. The female was recaptured during the escape. She died atop Golgorath when the Emperor slaughtered all of the ones they had recaptured in vengeance for our escape. Golgorath is empty now. The Blood games are over now." She let that sink in. At least, no one else was being tortured there.
"And the other one?" Talib pressed. Sara sighed.
"He was killed during Asamode's attack on the Glade. That was the last battle we fought before escaping here. We lost a third of our number there and he was one of them. But I don't think either of them were old enough to have cubs." Sara added quickly. Talib sighed.
"They were rather young when they had me. It caused a bit of stir among the leadership of the Leopard Tribes... The mating ceremony was rather quick once it emerged my mother was pregnant, or so I am told." Talib said. Sara shook her head.
"No. It wasn't them. I can't remember their names, but Koron would." She admitted, feeling guilty about it. But so much had happened since then and she had never known them well. "Young though they might have been, they were not that pair." She added, still wishing she could remember their names. Inti would have been disappointed in her.
"I should not have hoped... I need to know what happened to them. If they were not within Golgorath, then they'll have been murdered by now. I wish I knew where they were buried. If I could get there someday... Anyway... I fear that they were executed and left to rot in a ditch in the middle of nowhere." Talib said sadly. Sara winced.
"I am sorry I cannot be of more help." She said honestly. If her own mother had been killed, it would have been terrible, but not to know how or when or where or why, would have been even worse...
"You should speak to Koron if you think it will help, but if your parents are dead, then they are not buried at Golgorath. Which is for the best, either way. Better for them to rest among the plains and savannahs of the Kingdom. Better that they sleep beneath the open stars, then in the dark of Golgorath."
"Was it really that terrible there?" Talib asked tentatively. Sara shuddered at the question.
"I still have nightmares about it. Sometimes during the day." She admitted, but without elaborating into further detail. Talib gave her a sympathetic nod. Then he stood up.
"Thank you for your assistance, lioness. I shall not bother you longer." he said formally as he moved away. Sara paused, as he walked off. What was it about leopards, and their formality? Danyal was slowly breaking Calin of his habit – but even he could surprise her sometimes.
"Sara." She called after him. "My name is Sara. And you were no bother to me. I am sorry for my rudeness." She said softly. She had obviously misjudged the youth. Thinking she should offer more than that, she spoke quickly before he left her sight. "If... you want to talk some more later, come and meet my brother and Koron. Although I'd understand if you don't want to." She offered, thinking back to her bluntness earlier. Talib was clearly a good leopard and Jahi had saved his life. Had she really presumed to be so arrogant as to judge him based of one decision? Would others judge her based on her decision to kill Seba? Or judge Danyal on his decision to take the throne when it rightfully belonged to Kiava? It was madness to judge them for their actions without knowing the context of the choice. She wondered if Danyal kn-
Who was she kidding? Of course, Danyal knew. Likley, he knew first. Of course Danyal had seen through it in a moment. She had simply been slow, as ever. A few paces behind, again. She almost groaned.
"I'd like that..." Talib said quietly, but smiled. Sara nodded.
"Tal? Please try and have patience with the Rebels, if they seem a little... hostile for now. Everyone is still a little raw. That battle that I mentioned, where we lost a third of our number?"
"Yes?"
"We lost so much because of a single traitor. Someone we thought we could trust chose to turn against us and as a result, many of our friends and allies died, including Vitani's mother, and Ghareth and Harten." She said.
Talib didn't recognise the names, but he was sensitive enough to know that they were important to them from her tone.
"Was the traitor caught?" He wondered aloud.
"Yes."
"And did Kiava execute him?" Talib asked.
"No." She said. I did. But she didn't say it aloud. Talib nodded.
"Don't feel that you need to explain your actions towards us. As I said earlier, I will not have it said that we were ungrateful. We will take what little compassion is offered." Talib said.
"But even so-"
"I know, Sara. I am no stranger to scars. But some people's do not show as visibly as mine. I would be a fool to expect theirs to heal overnight solely for my benefit." He pointed out, giving a smile, before bowing once more and leaving her standing alone by the waterhole.
She was left standing there for a moment. How odd. But the morning was getting on, and she needed to find the other rebel leaders today. She made her way back to the den. With Ras and Rei otherwise engaged, it had fallen to Inti, Koron, herself and the two Jaguars, Karina and Darina. The others were up now and the sentries had swapped during her absence. She could see Inti and Koron together when she approached the den, and she knew for a fact that Darina would be spending her time this morning with Sash, the only panther cub left. That only left one person.
"Has Karina left yet?" She asked one of the sentries, whom she saw was Forn, their resident wilddog. The wilddog stamped the ground in salute.
"Yes, Lady Sara. She was speaking to the King at the time. I believe they travelled east," He barked and pointed. "They won't have moved far from the group, but I think that they wanted discretion." He added. Sara nodded.
"Thank you, Forn." She said and departed in the direction he had pointed.
The grass in the area surrounding their hideouts was rather long and considering her own height, could be whip-like if she ran too quickly, so for now she moved at a leisurely stroll. She was in no hurry for now. She remained in this state when she finally encountered Danyal. The young lion had awakened and was already in deep conversation with Karina, as Forn had guessed. The Jaguaress, displayed deep red marks on her hip and down one leg; wounds suffered from the Battle of the Glade. She was lucky not to have suffered a worse fate.
"No, Karina. The answer is No!" Danyal reiterated, with some exasperation. Karina shifted.
"Your majesty, I am begging you to reconsider! I can't just lay around all day, I need to get up and about and doing something!"
"What you need is healing. You are still injured form the last attack. Apart from which, I am not planning on sending anyone on hunting-raids into Imperial Prideland territory, least of all one who is suffering from such a sustained limp!" He said firmly. Karina winced at the comment.
"My King, I promise I shall not fail you again!" She said, sounding almost pleading. Danyal started and blinked.
"Fail me? I don't see your injury as your failure, Karina, but if I gave you orders that resulted in your death, I would see it as mine!" He said."You are not to undertake such activity while you are recovering from your injuries! You remain one of our best fighters, I've seen lionesses with a fraction of the tenacity that Inti has described you as possessing, but Sara also described you as being a very quick thinker, who has smarts as well as brute strength. If that is the case, tell me honestly, would you be of any assistance whatsoever to this pride if you managed to injure yourself even further on a pointless run into dangerous territory?"
"You were quick enough to trust the Panther's with their mission!" Karina snapped, not answering the question.
"Ras and Rei were instructed to scout the area from here to the Zulu, only! Not to take the offensive action that you are suggesting, which for the record, I would be hesitant to initiate if you were fully healthy. Furthermore, their skill sets made them ideal scouts." he said, not unreasonably, but also sounding irritated by the continuing argument.
"So I am useless to you, until I can fight again?" Karina asked acidly. Sara winced. Ouch. But was unphased, in fact he barley raised an eyebrow.
"Don't be foolish. You and your sister are not only some of our best fighters, you are Sara and Inti's most trusted lieutenants and I trust their judge of character. Aside from which, you and your sister are the only ones out of any of us who have encountered the final two Shai'tan." He said. The Jaguaress looked confused, So Danyal simplified it.
"I defeated Sekmet. And Zira appears to have defeated Rish'ut. Amun is missing as well, but that still eaves at least four Shai'tan. From what Zira told us, we know a little of Mortread and likewise we know even less of Asamode. We were fortunate not to have fought them in the glade without anything else to go on." He said, counting off the Shai'tan on his claws as he listed them.
"Then the other two..."
"When we finally come to fight Raeveal or Leviath, you will be essential and that means I cannot afford to risk you simply because you are growing bored of the healer's work!" He said sharply, but no unkindly. The jaguaress looked partially mollified at that but sighed.
"As you command, Your Majesty." She said, leaving. When Karina had departed, Danyal sighed, looking anxious. Sara nearly went after Karina, but hesitated for a moment. Danyal sighed, and began to mutter curses to himself as soon as Karina was out of earshot. Sara waited a moment, before announcing her presence.
"Danyal." She said and he jumped, turning around, before smiling.
"Ah. Hello Sara." he said. The young lioness hopped over to him, smiling.
"You handled that well. Karina usually doesn't sit still for anyone. But I didn't know she was as eager as that to prove herself." She pointed out, as the two lions made way back to the den. Karina had wanted to make her request some way away from the others, just in case it had been denied, or Danyal had taken offence.
"She and her sister have never had anything even resembling a family life. The Pride offers something new to it, and she is desperate to help protect it. Desperate enough to do something stupid while injured. In truth, I sympathise her. She's suffered a serious injury that means she can't hunt for the time being. She walks with a severe limp that will likely never heal entirely for the rest of her life. I know how it feels to be dependant on others. The helplessness can hurt more than the injury..." He pointed out. Sara glanced at his scars and stopped. Part of her didn't want to ask, but after listening to him speak, she knew that eventually, she would need to. She took a deep breath.
"Danyal..." She said slowly. The young lion turned back towards her. She hesitated.
"How did you defeat Sekmet? When the dogs took us, I saw her. You were pinned to the ground by Sekmet's claws." She said. Danyal regarded her for a moment, before sitting down. He glanced at the injury on his left claw arm.
"Sekmet was... Arrogant. She could have killing me when she had the chance. But I had insulted her. Rejected her so very generous offer." He said bitterly. For a moment, Sara was confused, before understanding dawned.
"Oh. She had asked you to join the Shai'tan. Like one of their dogs."
"Not like a dog. She offered me power. She seemed to think that I'd leap at the chance to be made a Lord. Someone with power and status in their Imperium. If I swore loyalty to the Shai'tan, that my cubs would rule kingdoms." He said, making a frown as if he had tasted something sour.
"Why would she do that?" Sara asked. Danyal shrugged.
"At a guess? The Shai'tan might well be allies, but I will bet you anything that there is huge competition between them. A single Shai'tan can't possibly control all of the land in the Imperium, not even a fraction of it. Not if they are expected to fight on the front lines at the same time."
"If they did..."
"If they did, then the Imperium would disintegrate. I think that in the heartlands, on the continents, across the seas, there are more creatures, like the Shai'tan. Not Tigers and not as powerful, but loyal and cunning. Good regents must be hard to find so I guarantee you that the Shai'tan snap up promising individuals whenever they get the chance. We know of a few... Abyss, the Serpent-Lord, was merely a pawn of Sekmet... but when she was killed, Jahi tells me that he joined up with Amun when the Shai'tan went to the Shadowlands. Likewise, the dog Pack-Leaders that Vitani and others discovered while scouting around Golgorath, would have been forced to attach themselves to another Shai'tan, or risk being sidelined in favour of new favourites. I guess Sekmet had hoped I'd help cement her standing among the Shai'tan..."
"So far not a single Shai'tan has a lion loyal to them. A few nomads and rouges might pay respect to the Imperium and the Emperor, but none of them are attached directly to a single a Shai'tan, or involved in the fighting." Sara said thoughtfully.
"That is my guess at anyrate. Or rather, that is how I would organise an Empire. Perhaps, if we kill Ben-Kai-Ra, they'll need an imposter to rule his Empire? Kiava can have his kingdom back." Danyal joked. Sara smiled, but then hesitated.
"You told Sekmet that you wouldn't do it." Sara remembered. Danyal winced.
"Yes. Quite forcefully actually. I made it clear that I would rather die. She was going to oblige me. Slowly. Fortunately for me, Vitani arrived just in time to spare me death, but not agonising pain. Vitani fought Sekmet for a time and when it looked as though Sekmet would overpower her, I grabbed at her and dragged her over the edge of the cliff. Sekmet was impaled upon the spires below and I struck the rocks, shattering my back. But I survived. Barely." He said, though his eyes flickered to a deep injury in his flank, one of many where the skin remained twisted and knotted and scarred.
"All of that because of me." Sara whispered quietly.
For a moment, Danyal frowned in puzzlement eyes widened in pure horror. For a moment he seemed stunned. Then he did something Sara did not expect in the least. Danyal leaned down close to Sara and nuzzled the back of her neck, as Almasi had often done. Sara flinched for a single a moment, before reciprocating the movement. His breath was warm against her skin and she was reminded of all those months ago, running with only Danyal between her and the desert's rage.
"That was not your fault. Don't ever think that for a moment. Not Ever." He whispered to her softly.
And in that tender moment, all of the guilt she felt, all of the pain she felt when seeing his injuries, all of the courage she had been holding on to, broke beneath her and she could feel tears begin to sting her eyes.
"But... If I hadn't been so weak... If we hadn't run straight into that ambush..." She managed to choke.
"Sara..." He said softly, and she turned around to look at him, tears visible in her flame orange eyes now. He held her gaze. "I did everything I could do to rescue you, I would do it all again, pay the same price and more if I had to. I did what I did because I wanted to. You are not to blame for what happened to me. If anything, I am to blame for what happened to you. If I had been faster, stronger, I could have killed Sekmet before her dogs had captured you. Blame me, if you need someone to blame, but don't ever blame yourself." The young lion said. Sara stared at him. For a moment, she wanted to ask why? Ask what was so special about her, that he could endure so much, and risk everything for her. But even as the thought occurred, she knew the answer. It wasn't her. There was nothing special about her. There was something special about him. He was simply the kind of lion who would risk anything and everything to save the life of a child.
She looked at him now as if with new eyes. So much had changed since the Shai'tan's conquest. Danyal's mane was ragged now, where before it had been smooth and elegant, almost refined. The dried hints of blood where it hadn't been cleaned properly was apparent on one side. His face and form were scarred. His arms and legs were muscled and even his stance was different now. He held himself like a warrior, a ruler, rather than the uncertain youth he had been before. And yet, he was still Danyal.
But his eyes, green as emeralds, like star fire, set in his dark brown fur. They shown now, and Sara felt something surge within her. She was certain that from this point on, she too would pay any price if it meant saving his life.
There was something else there. Something beneath the surface. Something turbulent, a feeling that was new to her, its warm touch alien.
"Perhaps if I had been faster... But who can say what would happened?" He said slowly.
Sara nodded. That was true. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, a third voice reached their ears.
"If you hadn't been captured, you would never have met Me. Or any of the rebels. We'd still be rotting in Golgorath. That's something, I guess." A third voice said. Both Sara and Danyal turned in surprise to hear it. It was Koron, and an unusually optimistic sentiment for him to express. Though perhaps that was unkind. Koron was changing as well in the weeks since his release.
The dark cub was strolling towards them and he was not alone. Vitani also made her way towards them and she was flanked by Lukaan and Sundar who was further accompanied by Helio. The three asiatics followed Vitani and Sundar smiled to see Sara evidently taking her advice to speak with Danyal. Sara smiled shyly when she saw her.
"Nor, would we have encountered your Pride." Lukaan added. Danyal stood up, looking annoyed at the intrusion.
"Can I not have even a moment's peace!?" Danyal snorted.
"No." Lukaan, Vitani and Helio said flatly. "There is a matter which requires your attention, Danyal. It cannot wait."
"You are the King now. There is no such thing as free time." Helio pointed out. Danyal sighed, then turned back to Sara.
"You should not feel... like that." He finished, not wanting to elaborate further in front of the others. What he had shared with Sara seemed private. Vitani though, was not fooled and looked at the cub sadly.
"It is far too late to think of possibilities and potentials. What happened has happened. It does not do to speculate on how things might have worked out. It was no one's fault. The fact is that now, we have ended up with allies we would never have had if different things had happened. Speaking of things that have happened, where did you disappear off to this morning? If the sentry hadn't seen you, we'd have been concerned for you." Vitani said. Sara shifted.
"I just went for a drink and spoke to Talib – one of the leopards travelling with Jahi. I think we should make more of an effort to bring them in among the others sooner rather than later... I was... mistaken to think I understood them. They had their reasons... Whether we agree with them is another matter, but that doesn't mean that they were callous in their action." Sara said. Koron raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want to spend any more time among traitors than I have to – until that prove themselves trustworthy." Koron said firmly. Sara sighed.
"I don't think that we need fear them." She said.
"We trusted Seba and it nearly got us all killed, as we had no reason to distrust him. We have every reason to distrust Jahi and his family." Koron said. Danyal cleared his throat.
"It was my choice to welcome him and his family here. If it turns out that I am mistaken, then the blame will lie with me... but until such a point Koron, I would ask that you and your followers keep that in mind." He looked at Vitani.
"Now, tell me why you have all come together like this? Have I screwed up somehow?" Danyal asked. Helio laughed.
"Oh, if only. If you'd had, I'd have been the first to let you know." He said, smiling. Danyal made a choking noise.
"I find that very easy to believe. So what's the problem?" He said dryly, though he gave a soft smile at that. Helio had long ago buried any animosity he held towards Danyal. Jealously might arouse one to criticism, but Danyal had fought beside his asiatic counterpart so many times that despite their previous confrontations, the two could count on one another. There was no real malice there now.
"Beats me." Koron said, turning to Vitani. "She said we needed to discuss something important and that I could make my self useful by coming along." he said. Vitani flatly ignored him.
"You've done a remarkable job so far. Karina and the other heads of former slaves, have been won over. I had been concerned that many would want to go their own way, but you have convinced enough of them that they have a real chance against the Shai'tan if we work together. More than that, you've shown them that they can work together." Vitani said stiffly. Danyal grinned.
"I like to think I have done a decent job so far. At least, I haven't broken anything."
"You have done brilliantly!" Sundar said, grinning. Lukaan nodded at that, the white lion looked pleased.
"That said, when Rei and Ras return to us, we should be prepared to consider our next move. Jahi and his followers are but the first step. I think we should extent our paw to the survivors of the cheetah tribes and the leopard leaps." Vitani said carefully. Danyal nodded.
"Try to raise more fighters. That seems like a good plan. One question: Have you decided yet what our target should be? We decided that we needed a target to unify remaining fighters. A symbol of unity. Any brainwaves?" He said. Vitani shook her head, looking frustrated. There was nothing short of suicide they could try.
"Not yet. I can think of nothing... But... Lukaan and I have been discussing something else that might have the same effect for the time being. As well as eliminating the final division in the Pride; that divide between the Pridelanders and the Asiatics."
"Is that a problem?" Danyal asked. It seemed as one problem was solved, another came into being. Helio sighed.
"I wish it wasn't... But there is an unspoken question among the Asiatics and that is, what happens to us if we do succeed? Do we return to what is left of the old Imperium? Even if we break the Shai'tan's power, that land is overrun with their supporters and followers. The truth of the matter is that we are the edge of extinction as it is." Lukaan said. He glanced at Helio, and Danyal noticed. Helio was the only male Asiatic left who wasn't a pawn of the Shai'tan. "Do we succeed here, only to die off one by one?" Lukaan asked. Danyal clutched a paw to his head, groaning.
"I hadn't thought of that..." Danyal said slowly. Vitani nodded.
"You weren't expected to, its an issue for Lukaan. But it doesn't have to be. The hard truth is that the asiatics survival is now permanently bound to the fate of the Pridelanders. As the problem is that as things stand, they remain a very separate entity to the rest of the Pridelanders. They remain..." She searched for a word. "...foreign... something alien to these lands. If we are to survive together, then this situation cannot continue. They have spilt and shed too much blood for that." Vitani said. Lukaan nodded.
"It... has lead to some very difficult choices. Hard decisions have had to be made." He said. Sundar blinked at that. "Fortunately... Vitani has come up with a plan." He said. Vitani nodded. The solution had been evident to her from the beginning, though it had taken some time to convince Lukaan as to its necessity.
"So... What is this grand plan of yours?" She asked cautiously. Her last plan had been to install Danyal as a False-King. An action which in any other circumstance would have been punishable by death.
"There is an old saying, that Simba was very fond of... We are One. That stands true now as it did then. Not just between the Outlanders and Pridelanders, but between the Asiatic and African Prides. In order to permanently merge the fates of our Prides... we must make that saying a reality. By becoming One Pride. In every way." Vitani said softly. Danyal blinked.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"Danyal... You have done a wonderful job so far. But when Kiava returns to us, he shall take your place as King. He is still young, but before long, he will take the Crown, the Throne... And eventually, he will take a Queen. To that end, I intend to announce to the Pride, that Kiava has been betrothed to Sundar. t give the asiatics a stake in the fight to come. Their union will unite the Prides completely, for generations." Vitani said.
There was stunned silence.
Sara's mouth dropped open.
Koron looked amazed.
Helio started.
Lukaan looked away, saying nothing.
Danyal leapt to his feet looking aghast.
Sundar felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her feet.
There was absolute silence as this was digested.
Then Helio shattered the silence. He howled with laughter. He shrieked with mirth, before turning away grinning, the hilarity completely lost upon Sundar and Danyal.
"Oh, that is just brilliant. That is fantastic." He stared at Danyal and Sundar, who looked aghast.
"Good luck sorting this out! Why am I surrounded by fools?" He said, stalking away, chuckling as he did so. Vitani watched him leave in confusion. Sundar now was just beginning to recover her voice.
"WHAT?!" She hissed, staring at her father in absolute shock. Vitani blinked, but Lukaan looked shocked.
"Sundar – wait. I know this sounds bad, But I need you to think about this for a moment...-"
"Father." She made the word sound like an insult. "How dare you... how dare you-"
"Sundar-"
"Dad! How could you think to..." He voice dropped low. "When did you planon asking me about this?!Don't I get a say?! Don't I get a choice!?" She stood up, incensed. Danyal was just beginning to find his own voice.
"That's insane!" he said suddenly. Vitani glared at him. "You can't do that!" Vitani shifted.
"His parents are dead, and I am his only living relative. So of course I can make decisions about him."
"About him! Not For him! For King's sake, he's a child!, He's just a cub! He can't have a mate – its insane!"
"Don't be a fool, Danyal. I am not suggesting Sundar mate with a cub for moment. Merely that we announce their betrothal. It would be in name only until they were both of age!"
"But Kiava is-"
"No younger than Simba, Ahadi, or Mohatu were when they were betrothed - to lionesses that they all ended up falling madly in love with. As for the age difference, Mohatu was dozens of months older than his mate and they ended up perfectly-"
"But to betroth them without either of their consent, that's barbaric!" Danyal almost shouted. Vitani scowled.
Sara's head whirled. Danyal seemed desperate.
"As it happens, Danyal, Its a tradition of the Pridelands, one that the Asiatics share. Perhaps you were expecting something else, but royal marriages are a delicate business! Kings and princes have a duty to their people that supersedes any personal wishes, as well you know! That extends to every part of their lives! Life isn't a fairy tale!" She snapped. Danyal growled. Lukaan meanwhile was trying to reason with his daughter.
"-Can't believe that you'd go behind my back, without telling me?!"
"This is me telling you! This is a real chance for you, Sundar! An opportunity!"
"A CHANCE! A chance for what!?"
"A chance to win back something! You were going to be a QUEEN, Sundar! My brother was going to leave his Kingdom to you! You should have had everything! That future was destroyed by the Shai'tan, but here is a chance to take it back! We can have a home again! This could be the start of something great! A Pride of both Asaitcs and Africans, ruled by one of each! A new era for us all, in the age we defeated the Shai'tan." She said.
The two cubs looked at them all as if they were mad. Koron looked completely bemused, but Sara looked aghast at both Vitani and Lukaan.
"But... What if Sundar doesn't love Kiava?" Sara asked. Vitani winced. Cubs. Such a naïve view of the world...
"I don't loveKiava! I've never met him!" Sundar protested.
"Love him? I am not expecting you to love him – nor him to love you! This would be a political union, Sundar, one which we would reap the rewards of for generations!" Vitani said. Lukaan bit his tongue.
"Vitani is right, Sundar... This offers you... offers us... so much. We can't afford to turn it down. Our kind faces extinction, if we don't do something. We have a duty to our Pride, to do anything that could spare us that." Lukaan said. Sundar could have despaired.
Danyal stood up, his throat dry. There were a hundred things he wanted to say, a thousand things he wanted to scream. But he could not find the words. Anything he could have said would have sounded hollow. It would not have expressed what he was feeling, if for one moment it could be expressed in something as mundane as word. The rage he felt, the empty void of... what? It felt like loss. Like grief. But what had died? He choked out a few words.
"Vitani... Why didn't you... involve myself or Sundar in these... discussions, before now!?" He said, horsely, his head low, his mane covering his eyes. Vitani looked surprised.
"Involve you? I would have, but you were concerned with other matters. Seeing as this is the union of the...real... Kiava, rather than yourself, I didn't see the point-" She didn't managed to finish. Now Danyal's head jerked up, his face twisted into an angry sneer.
"Well next time, do see the point! Don't you DARE try to hide things from me again! If not me, why didn't you tell Sundar?! Are we all pawns to you?" He said viciously. Vitani stepped back, upon seeing the odious glare he held for her. He looked back at Sundar. The lioness was standing motionless, her mouth agape, in absolute shock.
"We are telling Sundar, right here and now!" Vitani protested. Danyal ground his teeth and seemingly without conscious thought, emitted a low growl that made even Sara shiver. For a minute, she thought that Danyal about going to rip Vitani into shreds. Sara didn't like what she saw in that moment. There was a horrible glint in his eye, but much more than that, a terrible sadness, as if a gulf had opened up inside him.
Then, even as she watched, she saw a change come over him. It was as if something had winked out inside him. His eyes lost their usual brilliant intensity, he seemed to sag as he exhaled, looked exhausted. He was pale, almost ashen faced. He swallowed. Then he looked away.
"...I... Guess they make good points Sundar. This will be a good thing for... the Pride. The things we do for duty. I am starting to hate the word. Either way, I cannot stomach anymore of this talk." He meant that literally. He felt his belly coil, and wanted to vomit. With that, he turned away and left them standing there.
"Danyal – wait!" She began, but he had already gone. Sara watched him leave in shock and heard the pleading tone in Sundar's voice. For a moment he looked back, but then he left without another word. There was something in the way he walked that Sara found shocking, something that made her feel, anger. Something that made her feel bitter.
Danyal clearly wasn't angry or indignant on Sundar's behalf, he was well and truly incensed beyond measure. She could almost see it, a jealous and wrathful shadow forming behind his eyes, before it was banished. But Jelous of what? There could only be one answer.
As if to provide further validation of her thoughts, Sundar had recovered from her shock and there was a terrifying anger building with her as well. Ice like and merciless. She rounded on her father and for a moment her claws seemed to unsheathe.
"You... How could you do this...?" She almost spat. Lukaan looked shocked and hurt.
"Sundar, I would never want you to be unhappy! This is a chance for you to become a ruler. A Queen! I thought you would be-" he trailed off. Sundar was staring at him and stalked towards him.
"Go on. Say it." She almost whispered. "You thought I'd be pleased! Pleased to give up all of my own dreams in the name of honour and duty!" The outburst was bitter and Sara took a step back, hearing what everyone else seemed to miss. That she had dreams of her own. Dreams of mating? Her confusion could not be rectified though, as Sundar growled with fury.
"You really think that I would be pleased to be sold like a piece of meat for a price named behind my back! Pleasedto sell my body for power and land!" She rounded on Vitani. "No! I am not your mother, Vitani. I have more pride than that!"
"Sundar-"
"I will never forgive you for this, and I promise you, I will mate with the Lion that I love and no one else! I am not Zira." She stepped back as if struck. Sundar hadn't known Zira long – nor had she grown up in the wake of her tyranny. What Sundar said could only have been said from spite and Vitani growled her own anger beginning to boil. Lukaan however, looked tormented.
"Sundar, I am begging you to listen to me! – Please! You know that I would never-" He took a step towards her. That was a mistake. Now Sundar let out an howl of bitter anger and rage and her eyes flashed a brilliant and terrible sapphire for the briefest of a moment. She was enraged. She could feel it welling up within her. There was crack, as half a dozen bolts of lightning bust into being around her. They shimmered with harsh brilliance. Then, with a crash and an almighty *bang* as is blasted out before her, striking at the ground in front of Lukaan.
The ground before he feet shimmered.
He stumbled back, staring at the ground, upon which he had been standing was encased in rigid ice, crystallising before his eyes. The frostswept grasslands hardened into spears of shear ice.
She wasn't even breathing heavily from the effort. Without another word, she turned her back on her father and left. Lukaan watched her leave and made as if to follow her. Vitani held up a paw.
"No. Does she look like she wants to talk now? She needs to work out her anger... And then she'll be able to reason with again."
"If she doesn't want-"
"At least give her a chance to think about this clearly, before we rule anything out. She is mistaken if she thinks I am going to let this go easily, given what is at stake." Vitani said, sounding almost cold, angered. The two left in silence, leaving only Koron and Sara standing there.
Sara slowly breathed out.
"I... Don't believe it. Kiava? With Sundar? But... The very idea." She said. Koron shrugged.
"It clearly doesn't sit well with her. Or with Danyal for that matter."
"You think?" She snapped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Koron rolled his eyes.
"Kings and Queens have never picked their lovers. There is always too much at stake and at a time like this? They'd be fools to let their own feelings override their duty... Even so, you have to feel bad for Danyal." Koron pointed out. Sara frowned.
"Why Danyal? Its Kiava who'll be mated with her, not Danyal." She said. Koron smiled, but there was no pleasure in it.
"And that, Sara, might well be the problem." Koron said, sounding unusually concerned. Sara started, her own throat going dry. So she hadn't imagined it.
You think Danyal is... In love with Sundar? She wondered, but she didn't ask the question.
The question that she wanted to know the answer to, was altogether more complex.
Why does it bother me so much, if he was?
Why does Sundar loving Danyal, fill me with dread?
She didn't ask the question. Instead she blinked and tried think of something else to say.
"But it seems so cruel. She clearly feels nothing for Kiava." She tried. Koron shrugged.
"Vitani said it. Nobody expects them to fall in love overnight... But you can'tfail to feel something for a person you're that close to. It would take work, but there is no reason why they couldn't be happy eventually. This won't ruin her life, whatever she thinks." Koron said pragmatically. Sara swallowed, a bitter taste in her mouth.
"You are a real romantic – you know that?" She pointed out. Koron smirked.
"Romance can't kill a Shai'tan. It can't save your life." he pointed out. Sara backed away.
She was confused and hurt and full of conflicting emotions she couldn't name.
Why does it frighten me? She wondered to herself. Is this... Envy? It wasn't pleasant.
What is this feeling? This feeling of loss and And why does it hurt so much? What is this making me feel? And why?
"Maybe it can't save your life." She said. "But there are those who would say it made life worth living." She pointed out.
But she couldn't stand any more.
She turned and ran away, leaving Koron looking bemused.
Not envy. Loss.
She felt as though she had lost something.
And for the life of her, she couldn't tell what it was.
AN:
Wow, if you've made it this far impressed. It was a tough chapter to write, so I am guessing it took a while to read!
Lots to cover here...
Firstly, Talib and Sara,
Talib is not a literal translation, but it is, (according to my sources) an Arabic/African name, roughly meaning: One Who Seeks, or Seeker. Which I thought was appropriate. I liked the phonetic structure of it, seeing as it matched other leopards. Jahi, Selen, Calin, now Talib, etc.
Then there is Sara and Danyal. I like writing this pair, since they have a very interesting relationship that isn't quite the same as any of the other characters. Any verdict on how this is going?
And of course, we can't forget about that final sequence... Danyal and Sundar being told that Vitani intends to betroth Sundar and Kiava.
How many of you saw that coming?
Of course, politically, it makes perfect sense. Its a very logical thing to do, and odds are, when they are older, they could form a workable relationship. The issue, is that marrige (or matings, in this case) shouldn't have "Workable" relationships.
I am anticipating hate mail for doing something so monumentally cruel to Danyal and Sundar...
As always, leave a review, and I will get back to you. :D
