XIV. To die, but to die hard
There is a place on the sky that no living one could see. Scar was waiting there for Zira and Vitani. He knew they were about to come, as well he knew about many others matters of sky and earth. As the sky-arbiter he had to be well-informed.
"You already know..." he greeted mate and daughter. "I'm so sorry..."
"Dad... You knew?" asked crying Vitani. Although Ancient Ones rarely show earthly emotions, dead queen of Pridelands was sobbing. Scar came to her and gentle nestled to her side.
"No, but I sensed that." He replied. "Taka is the one who will fulfil the round of Circle. As Tanabi said: for every good we must pay dearly."
"Mom?" whispered blue-eyed Ancient. Goldenfurred went to daughter and stood between her and sky-arbiter.
"I didn't know, but I also sensed what could came from this." Confessed Zira. "Forgive me."
"I asked you for help myself." Sobbed Vitani. "And what I would tell him, when he come to us? That he died because of incompetence of own mother?"
"Your son is still alive." Noticed Scar, looking on wounded Taka, who was lying on Golden Massif's plateau.
"Is there still some chance for him?" asked at once both Zara and Vitani.
"Everybody dies, sooner or later." Said sky-arbiter. "But he has to fulfil his duties before that. Duties to the pride... to his future kingdom. He must defend it, as the real monarch. And if he has to die... he must die hard." Finished Scar with calm voice, although he was barely repressing own emotions.
\/\/\/
On next day both adversaries woke almost at the same time – both late. Sun was already high over horizon and warming wounded ones. Provident lionesses covered lions with improvised veil made of acacia brush. In normal weather it would give nothing against desert heat, but under clouds of heavy dust on the sky, it made a descent shade.
"Taka!" called Dhalimu, climbing on boulder.
"How nice you remember my name!" replied arbiter.
"You have galled me so much, I would never forget it." Said king and laughed airily. "How the wedding night?"
"Definitely too short." Confessed blackmaned. "Dhalimu... Thank you."
"Save it, usurper." Snorted monarch, but he was still smiling with embarrassment. "I did you a good turn, but it doesn't mean that I won't kill you."
"I know." Replied Taka. „I'm thanking just for yesterday."
When they heard returning lionesses, without waiting for bitter scolds of Raia and Kota, they went down to own beddings. Mean breakfast and few draughts of water tasted them as no other meal in life. Especially Taka praised the meat brought by Kota.
"Delicious... You know, since I can't see the world, I could sense it better with the other senses. With taste also." Goldenfurred froze for a moment, touched by unpleasant remind of lion's disability. But then she bended down to him and kidded him.
"Is this also tasting better?"
"Much better."
And when arbiter finished to eat and drink, lionesses looked around, as if she was afraid of presence of Raia and started to whisper with emotional voice.
"Taka, listen to me, there still is a hope. For you girls fixed some lianas and made a kind of harness. We will tie you and that way guide you down..."
"If I fall from path that harness won't save me, but I will drag you down with me."
"I'll ask Akra and Beluwa for assistance. I'm sure of theirs loyalty to you..."
"That is the transgressing of the Law of Challenge." Whispered Taka.
"Understand!" yelled lioness. "The Law of Challenge is dead and cruel custom, relict of old times. And you have to live!"
"For any price?"
"For any... NO!" suddenly cried Kota. "I know, I made you to challenge Dhalimu. That is my fault I have dragged you into this and you wounds hurt me more than you. Let me mend that..."
"No, Kota." Sounded a voice from behind. „Taka is right."
"Raia! You eavesdropped us!" gasped goldenfurred.
"I was going here to ask if you want the rest of meat that Dhalimu didn't eat." Murmured irritated lioness, putting a addax haunch on the ground. "But I see you don't trust your friend... and maybe you have right."
"I'm sorry, Raia, but what you heard is..." replied still angry Kota.
"Listen to Taka." Interrupted her sandyfurred. "Dhalimu will never break the rules of duel and he counts that his adversary won't do it too. Do you know, what he ordered to me? He wanted me to swear that I won't avenge him if Taka somehow win." Ashamed Kota turned her stare to the ground. "And I wished to say you that. But now, good day. I'm out of here." She turned back and set off to the centre of massif.
"Raia! I'm sorry!" called goldenfurred."
"No offence taken. I understand your nervousness." Replied dandy lioness with hollow voice. "But let me calm myself before I will accept your apologies."
"Oh, what a lioness." Murmured Taka. "She would be almost as good queen as you..."
"So… won't you go down with me?" asked Kota for the last time, without hope to convince him.
"I'm sorry, I can't"
"Oh, reliable as always." Murmured lioness with resignation. "I love you also for that."
\/\/\/
Mtanga was leading Amali on the Limestone Alley. Although princess wasn't good wanderer and rogue also can't say that about himself, they made the most of way without problems. They had a luck – during the sandstorm Mtanga found small pan where they waited until wind ceased. Also the storm was significantly weaker than in Golden Sands region.
"That is not so far." Rogue assured his mate. "I have to leave the route to find my boys. Will you get there? It's about five kilometres north."
"I thought they are already in Golden Sands." Amazed princess. "Mtanga, something strange is going here. Aren't you hiding something from me?" Rogue replied even without slowing down.
"You will see there. Just... things are going very wrong in Golden Pride. And your brothers asked me to help that pride."
"Is that dangerous?" asked scared lioness.
"No, I don't think so. I hope we'll reach your aims without real effort." Said Mtanga. "But go now."
So Amali went. Many questions were on her mind but she had no one to ask. Beside of that she trusted her mate, who had never given her a slightest reason to be suspicious. "Good luck, Mtanga, whatever you intend to." Thought goldenfurred and speeded her steps in way to cousin's land.
She reached the Golden Massif about two hours before sunset. Instead of greeting she met a silent group of lionesses, returning from hunting. Golden Ones were tired and thirsted and heavily scared. Amali shivered seeing the grimaces of fear on theirs faces. Quickly she came close to one of them, greyfurred, who was leading the team.
"I'm Amali of Pridelands. I came to ask my cousin Dhalimu for hospitality." She announced uncertainly. "Where is the king?" Team-leader, not loosing her prey, pointed with stare on Massif's top. "A... and my brother, Taka the Second also should be here. Where I can find him?" Lioness once again pointed a plateau above them. "I don't understand... What is going on here?"
"Come inside, ma'am." Invited her one of the younger lionesses. "We will explain you everything... what we understand."
\/\/\/
"That's all we know for sure." Baridi was finishing his report. "Dhalimu and Taka are still alive, however both severely wounded. One lays next to western end of massif, second in the middle. Lionesses are in cave, clearly confused. What will we do?"
Four of lions was waiting on dune, about kilometre from the Golden Cave. They were unseen from foot of massif, but they could observe the edge of plateau. Sharp eyes of rogues saw Taka, lying on western bluff.
"We're going in." instructed Mtanga. "Do you see? Lionesses don't react."
"That is the Law of Challenge..." threw Hofu.
"No!" gasped rogue-leader. "They are indifferent for tyrants fight. For them the is a little difference between reign of murderer of own mate or reign of power-thirsty usurper. We must get rid of them both."
"But... but..." yelled Udole. "Taka? Does Amali know what you are planning?"
"I'm sorry, my friends." Replied Mtanga with voice so gentle and sympathetic, that rogues instinctively lowered their ears. "We have no choice. We must restore the peace and justice in that poor land. And we will do it today!" he hemmed and turned his stare on Golden Massif. "You are going on east path and finish Dhalimu. I will deal with Taka."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I am." Smiled Mtanga. "This war will end tonight."
And muffling his triumphal laughter he started to run down from dune. Blood-red sun was setting and long shades of tyrannocides were seen on sand.
\/\/\/
Taka sensed something bad in the air and instantly started to listen out. Kota and Raia went down to the cave for another portion of water, so he stayed alone with Dhalimu. In fact all of this wasn't matter because arbiter knew about coming wind. That night a mighty sandstorm was about to come and finish what its successor had started. "Well... Dhalimu still has some chances." Thought blackmaned. "If he finds some real shelter and has a luck... This is not a bad ending – he has changed. With Raia at his side will be far better ruler that he was. And if she raise king's cub for to be good successor, the kingdom will survive. But what would happen with Kota and our cub?" He raised his head higher and sniffed evening air. "No... there is something more to come."
"Dhalimu!" he called with powerful voice. "We must speak." And he started to carefully climb on stone nearby, to brownmaned was able see him."
"I'm listening, you usurper." Replied ruler. In his words the hostility was strangely mixed with tone of sympathy and respect towards enemy. Taka thought the he would never understand Dhalimu. "What do you want? You sense that wind?"
"Sandstorm is near." Agreed arbiter. "We must convince girls to not stay with us, when that all will start. That is a great risk." In reply Dhalimu laughed, almost friendly.
"Of course, Taka. When they will back I'll try do send Raia off. But don't count that I will able to order anything Kota."
"I know, I know." Said blackmaned. He was silent for a while and then added. "So the kingdom could belong to Mtanga... Well, so it happens that he will be here soon. You know... He thinks that you have killed Niva. If you survive to his arrival, tell him all..."
"I won't explain myself to some stray from..." growled king, but suddenly he gasped with amaze. "And how the hell he knew about Niva's death?! He was never here and we haven't sent any messengers with that news!"
"Oh, Stars!" yelled Taka. "So how he knew how she died? It's..." He stood up heavily and looked with his dead eyes on king. "Dhalimu. We shouldn't have fought."
"Of course, we shouldn't!" replied brownmaned instantly. "But it is all because of your lust for power and..."
"No, you don't understand." Said arbiter. "We shouldn't have fought EACH OTHER!" Growing wind enblew his mane. Dhalimu, looking on that from distance, had to admit that Taka was really looking like a king. Even there: wounded and weak he was sparkling with majesty and self-confidence. He turned his head to south and announced with firm voice. "Now I understand everything. Too bad that now is most likely too late. Dhalimu, look south and tell me what you see."
"The desert. Cute, but a bit monotonous..." said king. "I guess that its always looks like that, so you might imagine... No, wait! Four lions silhouettes, coming down from dune. They split... One is going more on west, three are still marching straight... To the massif." He turned himself to Taka. "Those are the real enemies?"
"Dhalimu! Help me!" asked blackmaned. "Guide me to the path. Only there, in narrow mouth, I could defend myself."
"There still is the second path." Noticed king grimly.
"You will guard there." Explained arbiter. "And you will defend as long as you last."
"Lionesses..."
"They won't hear us in this wind." judged Taka. „But maybe Raia and Kota manage to return to us and then alarm the pride. However I don't think it would help. If rogues get here and place on paths, they would stand even thirty lionesses attack... Dhalimu, guide me!"
"Good... go down from this stone... Right... Now ahead, two meters. On bluff you will go faster... You are trusting me, usurper!" gasped with clear amaze, seeing how obediently Taka was following his orders. "Now I could lead you to your death behind the edge..."
"You could." Agreed Taka. „But then I will die only for you, not for Golden Sands. I count on your reason."
"Stop!" called Dhalimu. "You are on the brink. Now turn right... a bit more... Now straight ahead, until I tell you to stop. More... more... Stop!" shouted king, when blackmaned reached the path. "Good look Taka. Don't you dare to die before you get some of those rascals."
"Now you must go to eastern path! Now!" hastened him arbiter, while he was placing himself in narrow mouth of way down. "And good luck, you too." Asked with whisper. "I hope we won't die in vain."
So Dhalimu started to run on plateau, moving his paws with heavy effort. His front-right paw he had to hold high, not to irritate the recovering break. Unfortunately it was slowing him significantly, so lion was often looking on closing three silhouettes, who was marching to the massif.
"I must get there on time!" he thought with determination. "I'm king because of my blood... but just today I have an opportunity to became the real king, because I defend my pride. Raia, I'm doing it for you! Father! Mother! Give me your strength!" Recalling his royal parents he speeded up. He was jumping on three paws, risking the fall, just to get quicker to path. Suddenly he was struck by amazing thought. "I'm wounded, paw hurts me like hell... I'll probably die soon. But I fell happy, as I felt never before. What could want more? I'm the king and I'm fighting for my land. Somewhere down there my queen is waiting... Stars! If every pleasure have to finish just a moment after it have started?"
\/\/\/
"What you mean by: Mtanga? What rogues? What they are doing here?!" barracked Raia and Kota each other. Amali still didn't understand whole situation, so she tried to tell what she knew. Princess was in the royal cave, surrounded by Golden Ones.
"My mate came to you to save you from Dhalimu." Finally said Pridelandress. "He will avenge death of your queen and..."
"Dhalimu didn't kill Niva!" a new voice in cave interrupted her. "The murderer issss now trying to kill again." Added Kauli. "Forgive me, I understood it sssso late, but... Raia, Kota... they both are in danger."
"Pride!" ordered sandymaned with wilful roar. "All you have to search for those rogues. Kota and I will go up to guard king... and prince." She finished with unexpected soft voice.
"Kauli is in charge!" added goldenfurred. She raised python and put him on Akra's neck. Then she run out of cave, following Raia.
"As usual." Called sandyfurred. „You go on west, I'll take the east path."
They spilt and speeded to own patches. Because the wind was blowing hard, numerous globulins of dust were dramatically reducing the visibility. Suddenly Kota noticed a silhouette of lone lion, closing to way up. She caught him and pounced on him with extended claws.
"STOP!" she roared.
"There is no time!" called Mtanga. "Let's go up, they are already there... Rogues! They want to kill them both!" Kota yelled, and lowered her paw, previously ready to strike. Plotter added. "I can't see. Lead the way!"
Kota was afraid only about Taka. So she without hesitation passed the lion to get on path. Blow of Mtanga hit her in nape, instantly stunning her. Wanderer smiled and pushed away body of unconscious lioness.
"What is why I always let the ladies to go as first!" murmured and run uphill.
Meanwhile Dhalimu got to the path in last moment, because the first silhouette of enemy appeared in cloud of dust. When he saw it, instantly took a defensive pose. Amazed Baridi stopped in front of ruler, wagging his tail to warn rogues coming behind him. Then he called with dreadful voice.
"Tyrant Dhalimu – your time is over. We are here to bring back the order and justice."
"I have no idea who you are, but you are even more cheeky than Taka!" growled brownmaned and without a warning pounced on rogue.
Baridi jumped aside, almost falling from the patch. Dhalimu landed awkwardly on way, between enemy and stone-wall. With front-left paw he hit adversary's side, three others paws put firmly on the ground. Baridi fell on the path and his rear paws helplessly hang over in the air behind the edge. King smiled, raised his left limb to the final blow, when in his back hit Hofu. Wrestling enemies rolled up the way, getting to the plain of plateau. Udole, coming as the last, quickly pull his friend on ledge and they both joined Hofu.
"You have no chances, despot!" cried Baridi. "Surrender and you will die quickly!"
"I don't like to hurry." Murmured brownmaned and unexpectedly pounced among rogues. He landed on three paws, almost falling down. Thanks to his impetus he knocked down Udole then attacked Hofu. He bite his side and fall with all mass on lion. Surprised wandered hit the ground and Dhalimu caught his paw in jaws. Furious stare of monarch was screaming: Now we will equalize our chances!
But before Dhalimus jaws crushed enemy's limb, Baridi came with assistance. He his ruler's side, on brown fur cutting four cuts with his claws. Lion also grabbed with jaws paw of king and started to mercilessly clenched his mouth.
Angry Dhalimu got Hofu loose and pulled bitten limb. Surprised Baridi fell down on rock then barely avoided monarch's pounce. Crippled king still was fighting in royal way. Probably he would have reached Baridi's throat, if not Udole's charge.
Lion had steeped away from companions to aim his pounce better. He set himself on perfect windward from Dhalimu to use nature's help in combat. He jumped when enemy shook Hofu off and started to third of adversaries. Udole hit with paws in Dhalimu's nape. He grabbed victim's fur on neck and thanks to impetus they both fell on the ground. So they both froze on the ground, wrestling hard. Rogue wanted just to stopped enemy until his friends do their job. So after few seconds over the king glimmered extended claws of two tyrannocides.
"Die, you brute!" gasped Baridi, and suddenly he was thrown to the ground.
Raia pounced on rogue, driving him over two meters back. In the same time she bounced on pushing body and jumped on Hofu. Confused and partially blinded by sand lion didn't blocked that attack and fell on the rock with deep cuts of his front paws. But lionesses haven't been continuing her charge. She jumped aside, looking for Baridi. Seeing that rogue was standing up, she charged on him.
Meanwhile Dhalimu stood up, in spite of Udole's grab. He hit him with quick blow and rushed to two others intruders, who were just surrounding Raia. He overturned Hofu, but he landed awkwardly, basing on disabled paw. Knitting bone miraculously stood that trial, but brownmaned gasped with pain. Anyway – without slowing he lowered his head and Udole, pouncing on him, flew over and disappeared in clouds of dust.
"Raia!" called king. "Get out of here! Gather lionesses and finish them off, when they will be coming down."
"My place is by your side, my lord." Said lioness, nestling with right shoulder on right shoulder of lion. That way they were covering themselves from both sides. "My place is by your side, Dhalimu." Added and roared on incoming Hofu.
Rogue noticed in eyes of sandymaned something what forced him to lower his paws and stop. He was looking not on tyrannized and abused victim but on proud lioness, who was defending her beloved monarch. All what he had heard from Mtanga was covered by that stare, full of love and care. The anger that had been previously keeping rogue in steel grip, got loose and his mind asked a hundreds of questions that he hadn't answered earlier.
"I won't let you kill him!" cried Raia, looking on returning Udole.
"No, you won't." agreed Hofu. He looked on his companions and ordered. "Stop! Don't kill!"
Wanderers froze.