Chapter 10 - No Questions asked

Zira was the only member of the pride who was permitted to enter the cave at Pride Rock at any time, unannounced and without being summoned. And she used that privilege very often.

This time, she was lucky- he was awake and in a good mood. Or at least it seemed that way. Scar quickly shooed away a leopard who had come to speak to him, and then was ready to receive his young friend.

-Welcome, my king... - she fawned against his ebony mane with a purr of delight. - And how are you today?

-Much better, when I see you... But I'm pretty sure you didn't just come to say 'hello'. What is it? Anything going on?

-Yes. Actually, I come a bit concerned. See, I think you should keep an eye on that Sauri...

-Oh, is that so?

-Definitely. Ask Shenzi if you like, she'll probably tell you the same thing. That little fox has been trying to convince others to start a rebellion against you. Of course, she'd only been talking about this to her friends, not to any one of my lionesses...

-Has she? - Scar asked with growing interest.

-Yes. I believe that Kula is her partner, but I'm not sure about that yet.

-Well, what makes you so sure about Sauri, then?

Zira grinned.

-Trust me Scar. If there's anyone here who knows what the beginning of an uprising looks like, that would be me.

The king lifted his brow.

-What do you have in mind?

-Ah-ah! No questions, remember?

Smiling, he took her in his arms.

-I do remember... but what if you... made an exception for me today?

-Scar, stop! You're... You're tickling me with your beard...

-I won't let you go untill you tell me.

-No! Stop, we had an agreement... Let go! This hurts!

-Oh come on! Cat's out of the bag, anyway...

-STOP! - she forced herself out of his grasp and stood before him, panting.

-Zira... - he asked with sudden concern - is something wrong?

-Yes, I... Hold on, let me catch my breath. Fine, I'll tell you. Under one condition.

-Hmm?

-I answer your questions... And you answer mine. Deal?

-Quid pro quo. Deal.

-Well, speaking of a rebellion... - she sat down, visibly venturing into areas of her memory where she especially didn't want to go. - Did I ever tell you where me and my pridesisters came from?

-No. Of course not. That was our initial agreement.

-Yes, well anyway, we came from a place called Cheetah's Plain. We were not nomads from the very beginning, however. Some time ago, Cheetah's Plain was the home of a great king, just like the Pridelands are now.

-I appreciate the compliment. By the way, let me guess- was that king you father by any chance?

-Yes, it was. How...

-I knew you were royal blood from the moment I saw you. So that's where you learned Swahili?

-Yeah, whatever. Will you let me finish? Of course, according to some stupid law, I was betrothed to a prince from another pride when I was still very young...

She hesitated. And panted. And then, tears started to flow down her cheek...

-Zira! Zira, what's wrong? - Scar gasped, immediately putting his arms around her.

-I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't want you to see me like this...

-That's all right. Settle down now, you're safe here. Allow me to ask... Did that lion, your mate... Did he scream at you?

-Yes, he did...

-Did he beat you?

-Yes.. - she sobbed.

-Did he... - Scar whispered, as delicately as he could. - Did he... do something worse?

Zira was already crying like a little cub in his paws, shaking like a leaf. The floodgates of her anger burst, letting out a wave of pain. So that's what it was all along... - the king thought, sadly.

-Y... yes! How... how did you...

-Shh, Zira. I can sense such things. Wounded hearts have a sense of compassion between one another, you know.

It took her a minute to calm down. After that, if it weren't for the tears drying on her fur, it might have seemed like nothing happened. She just went on with her story.

-The whole pride was suffering back then. For months we were trying to figure something out. One day, I had an idea. We waited for the bastard to go on his little patrol, made sure he wouldn't see us... And then we just all got up and left.

-Just like that?

-Just like that. That day me and the others became rogues, fighting to maintain a pathetic existance. A few of us died of starvation... Until we came here.

A moment of silence followed.

-Well, Zira, thank you for the story...

-Oh no you don't! It's your turn, you know that!

Scar sighed.

-Oh, very well. My story isn't half as exciting as yours.

-I don't care. I still want to hear it.

-Well, the Pridelands have been ruled by a dynasty of lions that goes back for so long that no one can really remember... And I am an heir of that dynasty. I've lived in the Pridelands all my life, until I took the throne. Now I'm king. There. Are you satisfied?

-Barely. Oh c'mon, Scar! I know when you're hiding something. There's more to this place than just that, isn't there?

-Well, what do you want to know? Ask, if you wish.

-My plesure. Your hyenas, for example. Where did they come from? I seriously doubt that they've been living here along with the lion kings for centuries.

-Yes, it was me who introduced them here when I became king. Before that, we used to hate each other and fight wars. Well, not that I like them or anything... But they're useful. They're my personal army, and my slaves. If you want to, just ask one of them to do something and tell them I sent you. They'll obey. Those mindless grunts will do anything for a scrap of meat...

-You said 'when I became king'. When did you ascend the throne, then?

-Oh, it was about two years ago...

Looking at her grin, he understood that he fell into her trap. That made him feel angry, but after what they've been through that day, he decided to hide it.

-Only two years? And what were you doing before that?

-Uh,very well - Scar sighed, reluctantly - I had a brother once... and he was king before me. But he died.

-I'm... sorry to hear that...

-Well, you shouldn't be. I don't miss him, anyway. We never got along well.

Scar rose suddenly, as if he wanted to say goodbye to her.

-Anything else?

-Wait... One more question.

-I'm not enjoying this, Zira! Make it your last one, alright?

-Fine! I want to know... what's the story with Sarabi?

Scar laughed, very stiffly.

-Why? Are you jelous?

-Should I be?

He turned his sight toward the wall.

-No. Not at all. Ehh... Sarabi had been my brother's mate at some point. The queen of this land. They had a cub. The cub died, my brother died... And I was next in line to the throne. I became king... And, according to the law of levirate, I took my brother's widow as my own mate. Yes, that's true. And yes, we did have a cub. But that cub died also... And Sarabi didn't want to be queen anymore. So I let her go. That's all.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, I'm sure! Quit staring at me like that! You had a mate, I had a mate... And now we both do not. That's all in the past now. It doesn't count. But...

-... but what?

-But leave Sarabi alone. She's suffered enough.

-Fine, I guess I could do that...

-Good. Now go. I've got that thing you said abour Sauri to investigate. And get Shenzi in here for me, as soon as possible.

-Can I... come back?

-Yes, but not before tomorrow.