Chapter_10

Danyal watched with concern as a group of lions left the sanctuary of Crown Rock, and Marsade and Rafiki followed them. Kwanza gathered his strongest warriors, and the Pride set out in force. Danyal wasn't sure he had ever seen such a collection of fighters before. Ba'alin, the voice of the Tiger Lords within Kwanza's high kingdom looked troubled and Danyal noticed that some of the lions seemed to be eying him suspiciously, and in another time, Danyal might have considered such prejudice to be cruel and unkind. It reminded him of the way some of the Pridelanders treated the former Outsiders. That being said, he couldn't entirely be sure he could have been relied upon to behave any different in the circumstances. It was a frightening thing that so many of the other tigers seemed to have turned on their former friends thanks to the seductive whispers of this Emperor. It made it seemed like anyone of them could be an enemy.

The lions travelled for several hours in stoic silence until they were some distance from Crown Rock. At one point they passed over a river which was mercifully free of any sign or trace of a River Lord, which was just as a well. An encounter with one of the leviathans of the river would have been calamitous; and they continued to head north into a land not unfamiliar to Danyal. He had not seen it in any of his prior visions. They passed into a heavily wooded area when Ba'alin cleared his throat.

"This is where he said to meet." He said by way of explanation. Danyal looked around, but he couldn't see any sign of anyone. Not at first. But after a few short moments he saw Kwanza's nose twitch and the high-king called out a halt to his subjects. Danyal couldn't smell anything of course, not in the misty shadows. He couldn't even see particularly far, but it didn't need to. Kwanza's expression told him everything he needed to know.

"He's here…" He said slowly. The other lions looked around, and then, suddenly and without warning there was a flash of orange and Shein stood before them, looking completely at ease despite the fact so many warriors surrounded him. His posture was relaxed, his attitude calm, except for his eyes which were fixed on Kwanza with harsh glare. Worst of all though was the aura of anger and disdain he radiated. Danyal supressed a shudder.

"Ah…" Said Shien. "You have come. I had wondered if you would. But I am pleased…" He looked at the other Lion Kings. "And King Jino! What a pleasant surprise to see you again! How's that eye of yours?" He asked. Jino glared back through his single eye but didn't say anything. He wouldn't rise to such obvious bait and instead only looked to Kwanza for guidance. The High King looked at Shein with an unreadable gaze. In some ways he reminded Danyal a little of King Simba. There was anger in his expression, but also disgust and horror, and perhaps even a tiny well of pity for the mad creature.

"Shien-Su." Kwanza said. "You have entered my lands, and the lands of my brother kings. You've brought blood and destruction with you. You've brought malice and cruelty. You brought fear and death."

"I did. Are you here to pass judgement upon me, your majesty?"

"No. I am here to speak with you. And attempt to broker a peace. Do you fear judgement for your crime, Shien? Is that it? Or is it something else? Why do all this?" He asked him. Shien was calm.

"Who said that I wanted anything? As you say. I have brought death. Destruction. Chaos. Maybe that is all what I want?"

"No. You're too cunning a creature for that… You revel in the pain you sow; I'll grant you, but it is a pleasure, a pastime. Not a goal in and of itself. I want to understand why before I pass judgement on you."

"How noble. But I have already told you. You cannot understand me, but that doesn't mean I am hiding my motives. You just can't accept it. I want pleasure and passion and power. I want to be feared and respected. I want lands, and titles. I want people to fall at my feet, to kneel at my command. I want crowns and dominions and thrones. I want mates and lovers. I want meat and water and a den. I want power and I want submission. I told Jino, all those moons ago, what I want. I have wandered in the dark places of the world, walked among the dead and the dying, and I have looked upon the truth of this world: that your rule and your law is nothing but illusion. And I have been liberated from it."

"Then, let us talk…" Kwanza said. "And we shall come to some sort of deal."

"Deal with you?" He gave a smile. "Why Bargain for what I want when if I am strong enough, I can simply take it?" The fallen Tiger Lord asked, disdainfully.

"Some things can't be taken, Shien. Not the respect of your species or the love of mates. Your crowns and thrones? Those are things to be earned."

"I have earned them. Just look! I am Emperor Shan-Al-Kir. Look upon my new Imperium, King Kwanza. Look and despair." He said. And with a motion of his paw, others emerged. Although he himself had stood openly and ready, others moved between the trees, naturally camouflaged and stealthy, emerging now they had been called upon. Tiger Lords and Ladies, mighty warriors, cunning schemers. Danyal drew a harsh breath. He recognised many of them. He had seen them in their campaign of destruction. Youths full of spite and a desire to prove themselves, their heads filled with talk of glory and spoils to be won in battle, and others older tigers, bitter and hate filled, worn of life and the chances luck had dealt them. Both were eager to lash out a despised world that despised them in turn. Criminals and exiled killers, but among them others whom Ba'alin had known and recognised. Former Tiger Lords, their loyalty to the high-king supplanted with loyalty to a new and powerful emperor. Growls filled the air, and Danyal was immediately put on edge. They couldn't harm him, but he tensed nevertheless.

"You have your kingdoms, Kwanza. And I have mine. It really wasn't hard; You think yourself a benign ruler, but in reality you rule through fear as much as any tyrant or warlord does. Fear of consequences. Fear of retribution. Fear of reprisals."

"A murderer who fears paying the price for his crime is not tyranny, Shein! That is simply –"

"Call it whatever you like. Give it a pretty name if you have to. But it is control nonetheless. A usurping of the will of others. An unnatural thing. Take that away and anyone can make themselves greater than the mightiest king, by their sweat and blood. You say that I bring fear, Kwanza. I don't. I am the end fear. It just so happens, that the very thing that you fear most of all is an end to your own power."

"Shein! You're not showing courage with a willingness to slaughter at will! It isn't brave to murder and steal whatever you want because no one possesses the power to stop you!" Ba'alin said, the Tiger Lord had looked frightened by the appearance of other fighters. There were far more there than he had expected. More than he knew had joined the Emperor. But hearing the self-proclaimed emperor's words had disturbed him deeply and he looked nauseated.

"Who are you to speak to me of bravery, Ba'alin? You, who go running and weeping to the King, rather than fighting for yourself? If you believe my actions to be so wrong, then come! Stand before me, stand in front of everyone and stand by your words! Just try to strike me down, and prove that your ideals are so superior to mine. Or don't." Shein said, growling dangerously. Ba'alin looked at the great tiger lord and tried not to flinch away from his gaze, but it was clear to all who saw who the greater fighter was.

"I didn't come here to fight with you. I came here to talk so that we could end this war before it's begun." Ba'alin said honestly.

The Emperor only gave him a look of distain. Then he tensed slightly. And suddenly, he was standing next to Ba'alin, having closed the distance with the speed of a cheetah. In mere moments, his claws were unleashed and sliced clean through flesh. Quicker than anybody could react, scarlet blood sprayed and Ba'alin gave a howl of pain. Yessen yelled, Marsade shouted out in surprise, the surrounding Shai'tan exalted in a cry of bloodlust and Kwanza roared. Ba'alin coughed, and Shien's teeth snapped around his throat. There was a great crunch as he twisted, and slammed his shoulder into Ba'alin's side.

"No!"

The Emperor strained his back, and Ba'alin was thrown over. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"Talking if for those who fear to fight. I offered him a chance to stop me." He observed. "A shame he wasn't brave enough to even try." He hissed, and slammed his paw into the body one last time, his claws piercing and drawing further blood. There was no response from his cold dead body. The others stared in horror. It had happened too quickly for anyone to react, and despite knowing it could easily have been him who lay dead, Kwanza growled in astonishment.

"You didn't have to do that!" He shouted angrily. Shien shrugged.

"But I wanted to." He said brightly.

"Why!" Yessen demanded of him. "Why call us here to discuss peace if you only intended to kill again? Why show us your numbers and your strength if you intended to do this?" The shaman asked.

"I didn't call you anywhere, Shaman. I have no quarrel with you."He said, bearing his teeth. Then he gave a snort. "I would have thought that the fabled shaman would be wiser… I don't wish to simply kill any of you." But his eyes narrowed when he looked upon Kwanza and other Lion Kings. "I want to wipe your species from the face of Africa. Why should we listen to you? Do you listen to the ants? I would sooner be rid of you."

"You would commit genocide because you consider them weak?" Margane asked, the chimpanzee looking shocked and spoke for the first time.

"No. When a lion moves into a new den, Kwanza, he drives out its previous inhabitants. Prey animals, insects and vermin who might have sought shelter in its places are killed and driven out. Nests are cleansed. Dens are wiped of the stain of its previous occupants. I am not declaring War, Kwanza. I am exterminating vermin." He said.

"You are a remarkable and powerful creature, Shein. But I don't think even you are quite capable of genocide. Not matter what your madness." Kwanza said, the great golden maned creature stood resolute. Shan-Al-Kir began to laugh, a terrible laugh.

"We'll see what I am capable of, your majesty. You were foolish to think that those behind me are all of the Tiger Lords who have sided with me. The message is spreading. More and more from all over Africa are hearing my call. They wish to be free. Free of the shackles that bind them. Free of the reign of other, lesser creatures."

"In that case we will fight them. And they will be defeated."

"It's not the number of fighters, Kwanza. It's what they are capable off. My new Imperium, is capable of so much more then you could imagine."

"And what are they capable of, Shein? A few dozen murders, exiles, rogues, and killers? What can you do with the scum of the earth? My Kingdom is full of loyal subjects. It upholds honour and law and it is filled with lions who love and trust and respect each other. What does your collective of rogues and brigands have? What are they capable of?" Kwanza asked, his voice full of derision.

"As I said. They are capable of cleansing the nests." Shien said.

The words hit Marsade like ice cold water. But it was Rafiki who cried out in horror.

"Kwanza! He's attacking Crown Rock!"

The Emperor grinned. Danyal gasped in horror, realising. This Old Emperor wanted to wipe out Kwanza's kingdom, by ensuring that his line was never continued. That his mate, and unborn cubs would never survive to reign in his stead. Not only that, with the chaos and madness of the recent months, the offspring and heirs of a dozen lion kings were all gathered together at the supposed safety of Crown Rock. The place was a fortress yes – but the kings, the princes and warriors who would have defended it were here, confronting the supposed threat from Shien. The Emperor wasn't interested in peace. He didn't want to negotiate. He just needed the rulers and fighters of the Great Kingdoms to leave Crown Rock undefended. He laughed now, his voice ice cold and manic.

"I did say you that you were foolish to think that these were all of my followers, Kwanza! It's too late to do anything now!" He shouted out. Kwanza's eyes widened in fear. Kung'aa. His unborn cub.

"No!" Kwanza shouted. He turned and ran, the other lion Kings looking in astonishment as the truth and horror dawned on them all. The Emperor's laughter echoed behind him, vanishing into the mists. The Emperor was more than capable of such malevolence. There would be no way out. The den was sparsely defended with so few warriors there! There would be even fewer if the huntresses were out, which seemed likely given the time of day. Jino, the one-eyed King almost choked in anguish.

Emperor Shan-Al-Kir echoed laughter echoed behind them. "Laws are the refuge of the weak. Compassion is the habitat of the powerless. Mercy the shelter of the unworthy! Only the strong can rule! How strong is a king who can't protect the things he loves? How strong are you really, Kwanza? Strong enough to save your bloodline?"

Kwanza turned. "Quickly!" He called out and ran full pelt back the way they had come, but he hadn't made it far before his way was blocked by a few tigers. They weren't outnumbered, but they didn't have the time for this. Kwanza's claws were free and tearing through fur and flesh in moments, Jino too gave a war cry and struck out at another.

A lioness nearby gave a shout as she was overwhelmed, but the other lions left her where she fell, running back to protect their loved ones. Marsade turned back to Shein just in time to see the last flash of orange as his tail disappeared into the trees.

"No!" He shouted out, and flames burst into existence around his hands in his fury. For a moment he looked as though he was going to give chase. But then, instead, he turned around and let loose a wide cone of flame at a pair of tigers coming up upon Shaana and one of the other kings. The tigers shied away from the heat giving off loud growls. To his side, Yessen's leapt up and his staff appeared in his hands. The baboon giving a shout.

"Go! Go! Go!" He shouted, slamming his rod into the ground and the earth shifted in response. The ground fractured around them, opening a short but deep chasm between the oncoming tigers and the fleeing lions. He wasn't the only one Halien span her own rod and sent scythes of cutting wind through the trees before them, severing away the branches and leaving them to be trampled underfoot and clearing a path ahead of them. Marsade's attention was broken with a loud roar, and he was knocked to the ground by a tiger's paw swipe. He groaned as he rolled along the ground, blood spilling from puncture wounds. The tiger ran over to him as he tried to pull himself to his feet, and bit a hold of Marsade's outstretch hand at the arm. With a roar, he pulled it aside, and Marsade gave a scream as the bone snapped, his eyes shut in pain.

"Marsade!" Rafiki cried, looking back, and seeing Marsade injured and in pain. Yessen turned at the sound and took one step towards him, but Rafiki didn't need any of their help. Even with his staff some feet away where he had dropped it as he'd been attacked, his power was great.

"Get off me, filth." Marsade hissed, and his eyes opened. They gleamed with a scarlet light that now emanated from his form as Danyal had so often seen Sundar do so.

The tiger was thrown backwards, and Marsade's other hand reached out closed into a fist. The tiger hung in the air, suspended by Marsade's magic. Then he pulled his fist tighter and the tiger gave a soundless scream as his body was bent backwards. The unfortunate creature's spine snapped in two, almost bent in half by Marsade's will. Then he gave a snarl and flames ignited in its fur. Black smoke billowed around him as the meat sizzled and Marsade flared the flames with his own will. Then with a contemptuous flick of his unbroken wrist, the now shapeless mess of blood and flesh and fire, was sent spiralling away from them, over the chasm, colliding into a second Shai'tan where the flames lashed out and spilled around them. Clutching his broken arm, Marsade turned around, and Rafiki was there.

"Come on…" He said, and dragged his friend after. They had to run to keep up with the sprinting lions. But they were no long chased, because with that display of power, the rest of the Shai'tan retreated after their master. Suddenly, the reason for their choice of a dense woodland became apparent. If Marsade unleashed his fury upon them here, the flames would spread and kill all within its borders – including themselves, and the Lion Kings. Although Disgruntled, Marsade continued to run, running for what felt like an age, occasionally letting off a burst of shamanic power, wiping away fatigue and aches, and pains, forcing themselves to make it back to crown rock.

They made it back to Crown Rock.

But not in time.

Although Danyal could not smell it, he could tell when the stench of blood hit them, their noses twitching, eyes widening. Slicks of blood littered the ground around the base of Crown Rock. Kwanza paused as he saw a first body a tiger lord covered in wounds, his own paws dripping in blood.

"Kung'aa!" He shouted, in pain. Jino looked around in panic calling out for his own loved ones.

"Kono!"

Rafiki looked around, his eyes wide with pain. Yessen looked appalled at what they witnessed and Margane eyes were wide and red and it looked as if she were trying not to weep. More and more bodies could be seen here and there, as they made their way further into the den, lionesses, and warriors now, and here and there more fallen Shai'tan. Anxiety gripped them as they moved through the carnage.

"No!" Margane, called, as she caught sight of a younger, smaller body. The lifeless body of a young cub, its face turned away. And there were more. Scattered between the bodies of the fighters, more of the fragile broken bodies of mere children could be spotted. The massacre had clearly continued for some time, and Danyal could feel bile rise in his throat. He could so easily imagine the broken forms of Inti and Sara and Zuri and Calin and Koron and Kiava there as well. How could such a thing happen? The high-king's ears twitched.

The sounds of battle could be heard, further into the den. Snarling and fighting.

It wasn't over yet.

"Kung'aa!" He called, and ran ahead, the others following. There were still those in Crown Rock who could draw breath, and they were fighting for their lives. They rushed after the sounds of conflict and ahead of them came upon a small party of lionesses. They were pushed to the far end of the den. Barley half a dozen figures were still breathing and behind them, the huddled forms of a few surviving cubs could be seen. They were terrified, their eyes wide and some covered in blood and displaying minor injuries themselves. The lionesses who still stood were all the worse for wear, most of them bleeding profusely.

Standing between them and the returning warriors were a full dozen Shai'tan and it was clear who was about to win this fight. Kwanza roared and the Shai'tan turned and saw the vengeful lion kings. Kwanza looked wrathful. The maddening grief the lions felt upon finding so many of their loved ones slain stirred them into a black fury. They charged towards the tigers without the faintest hesitation, and Danyal could see Marsade there among them. Flanked and surrounded, one Shai'tan went down quickly. Another clawed at Jino.

"DAD!" Kono shouted from behind the paws of a huntress. And Jino's single eye fell upon his foe and the tiger's snarls of anger turned to yelps of pain and fear as his claws found their mark. Marsade swung his staff like a polearm, and its thornwood end struck a Shai'tan in the head. It reared back in pain, and Marsade pirouetted, and drove his staff like a spear into the Shai'tan's chest. Then the Shai'tan exploded into flame. Another fell to a pair of lionesses, and a fourth fell to Kwanza, the high king's fury unsated by the blood he spilled. The golden maned High King struck out with a righteous fury that instilled terror in those who remained. The surviving Shai'tan, tried to force their way out of den, trying to find some escape, some way out. One clawed at Jino, but Marsade was there, and his flames danced again, searing into another.
Halien and Margane didn't unleash their sorcery upon the fleeing Shai'tan, but the two female Shaman did duck under blows that were aimed for them and together slammed their staffs into the side of a Shai'tan and there was a flash as it was propelled high into the air and landed with a crash.

Yessen cursed and raised his staff and with it a shard of rock was ripped clean from the ground, and with an audible groan he hurled it at the descending Shai'tan. The boulder struck him as he fell sending him to the wall with a sickening crack.

Kwanza grunted as a pair of Shai'tan clawed at him and the High King stumbled.

"No!" Rafiki cried out as his friend nearly fell. His staff struck the ground, and the Shai'tan were flung from his friend. The shockwave hit the other fleeing Shai'tan, and sent them falling to the ground. The power than emanated from him seemed to twist light around him, distorting the air. His eyes flickered a brilliant gold for a moment. Margane and Yessen, the Shaman closest to him let out cries of pain at the power surged around him. Rafiki's fist struck the air in front of him and another shock wave rippled out, stronger than the first, and this one propelled them into the air.

Inhaling, the mandrill closed his eyes, calming himself. He breathed slowly, brought his hands together in an arcing movement and the falling Shai'tan slowed, and hung there in the air. He exhaled, and opened his eyes and when he did his irises were a solid gold, polished like copper ore. He remained still, and the Shai'tan hung there, suspended with the sheer force of his will. One growled in rage.

"Release me!"

"Be Silent!" Rafiki commanded. His eyes flickered, flashing with starlight. The creature was still, though it still thrashed.

There was silence. The fighting was over. They stood there, in the blood and the carnage. Between the blood and the bodies of the Pride's children, and the warriors and huntress' who had given their lives to defend them. Now, only a handful remained.

Margane and Halien immediately went to the wounded, trying to bring healing and comfort to those they could. Marsade stood apart, looking at the slaughter with disgust and horror.

"Kwanza… My love…" a voice came. Kung'aa. They had found her. She was still alive. The High Queen was injured, there were deep claw marks all over her. She was pale, and anguished.

"Kung'aa…" Kwanza ran to her. "Are you…"

"Kwanza… Oh Kwanza. Our baby… Our cub…" She looked down. Some of her injuries marked her belly. If even a single claw had found its mark, if any of trauma she had endured reached that delicate spot… They could already have lost their child. Kwanza pressed a paw to her stomach.

"It's okay… It's going to be okay…" He told her. Rafiki's heart twisted at hearing his voice… For although he knew he intended to bring comfort, he could hear the despair in his voice, even as he heard the cries of relief from the lioness's who found their cubs alive… and the cries of despair… from those who did not. The same despair leaked into Kwanza's own voice. Rafiki's face contorted into a hateful snarl.

"No."

His hand jerked around. And the four Shai'tan twisted. Four identical snaps rung out, and the Pride froze. The Shai'tan that hung in the air were stilled. Then, Rafiki let them drop, and they fell to the ground with four thuds. Their heads hanging limp, their necks twisted and broken. Rafiki turned around without another look and moved to Kwanza, and Kung'aa. The great lion looked up at Rafiki, the old Shaman's hands moving down.

"You shall not lose your child. And you will not lose your mate." He looked around. "Come on." He said. "We are Shaman. Is this not why we exist? We are healers." And with no further encouragement, Marsade and Margane, Yessen and Halien, moved among the injured, the dead, working their shamanism, weaving their magic, tending those that were still within their power to help.

They buried the dead at the base of Crown Rock. Marsade and Yessen made their way back to the bloodied woodland, where they retrieved the bodies of Ba'alin and the fallen lionesses. The lionesses were buried with their kin. The voice of the tiger lords was left to his followers, who took their Lord to bury their own way.

With the Pride still in mourning, the Five Shaman convened at the base of Crown Rock. After a moment, it was Rafiki who spoke.

"Kwanza and his mate will live. And so will their child. No one else had died of their injuries. No one else will suffer today because of what Emperor Shan-Al-Kir did." Rafiki said firmly. He looked at the others.

"Not today. But later." Marsade muttered. Yessen gave a sigh.

"It seems likely. I had hoped they might negotiate a peaceful solution. But Shien doesn't want that. Now war seems inevitable." He shook his head. "Come. We have done all we can here." He said.

"I am not going anywhere." Marsade muttered. Yessen looked at him.

"I rather doubt one more healer will make much difference, my old friend. Even with our gifts. And there will be others less able to defend themselves then Kwanza's people, who shall be caught in the conflagration."

"I said I am not going." He insisted. "Jino and his family are my friends. I am going to stay. I am going to protect them if I can. And if I get a chance at Shien again, I am going to burn the eyes of his skull." He said, with what was a now characteristic viciousness. Margane flinched to hear him say it.

"Marsade… Come on. This isn't the time for –"

"I am not joking. If I get a chance to kill him myself, I'll do it. I promise."

"Marsade, we are healers. Not fighters. Don't be –"

"We used our gifts back then!"

"In self-defence." Yessen said harshly. "And throwing yourself into danger in order to give yourself justification doesn't count as well you know. Marsade, we can't stop this fight anymore. Its coming whatever we do."

"I don't mean to stop it. I mean to join in. They killed my friend. I don't mean to let that slide." He hissed. Yessen's face suddenly became very serious. He cocked his head, as if listening to his friend for the first time.

"You… We can't get involved."

"I am involved."

"Let me rephrase that, we shouldn't get involved! We can't go around meddling in mortal affairs, passing judgement on others and wielding our powers. We decided that long ago. When we realised we didn't age. We all agreed to it! We talked about all the ways it would be a terrible idea! That's why we decided not to grow attached in the first place!"

"I don't care." Marsade muttered.

"You will. That's the point. We've all tried it. Of course we have. And we all think we don't care. Or that we can handle it. We can't."

"You can't stop me. I am going to stay here and I am going to fight. Damn our oaths. Damn our promises to each other. We have a duty to stay and fight."

"They are all going to die, Marsade."

"Not if I can –"

"Yes! Even if you help them! Even if you kill Shien tomorrow! They're going to die! That's what mortals do! They die! We can't stop that! And we shouldn't! There is balance Marsade. A balance to the Circle of Life."

"And it is part of the Circle of Life for my friends to die?"

"They are always going to die!"

"Yessen!" It was Margane. "Don't be cruel! That doesn't mean they have to die today!"

"Death is cruel!" Yessen snapped in anger, pointing a gnarled finger at her. "Age is cruel! Decay is cruel! Who says they aren't? That has always been the case! Shien is as natural a cause as any of those to someone who doesn't age. Being killed in a fight by someone who hates you is so natural there hasn't been a civilisation where it doesn't happen. Shien is a mortal sickness, Marsade. He has to have a mortal cure. This isn't a problem you can solve."

"I won't just stand idly by as he kills my friends!"

"Do you think the antelope cares any less for their loved ones than Jino? Do you leap to their defence? Shien is evil, Marsade, I don't dispute that. And good shall rise up to confront it. Good people like Jino and Kwanza. That is balance. That is the natural order. Because as horrible as it is to see him rise and fight and die, it is a damn sight less horrible than watching an ageless, undying, amortal ape like us reign over them in judgement, with the power of the creator spirit at our finger tips! We see too far! We live too long! Jino isn't your friend, Marsade, his bloodline is. Because his bloodline persists through the ages. We cannot interfere."

"It must be good." Marsade spat. "Having the Circle of Life so naturally favour what you already want to do. You want to take the moral high ground? I see no morality in abandoning others to die. I have the power to stop him. I have the power to intervene. Don't act as though you could stop me. I am not asking for your permission."

"Having the Power doesn't mean you have the right to do what you want. Haven't you been listening?"

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't fight, when doing so might save their lives?" Yessen said.

"You won't be saving their lives. You'll buy them a few extra years. But they'll die anyway. No matter what you do. And you'll have thrown away the balance for nothing."

"It won't be for nothing. They'll have those years."
"How big will those years look when they have been in the ground for a few centuries, do you think?" Yessen said. Marsade leapt to his feet but a rod of wood appeared between him and Yessen. It was Rafiki.

"Rafiki thinks… You had better leave. Yessen." He said after a moment.

"I…"

"Marsade is right. You don't have to meddle if you don't want to. But we are staying. Unless you plan on dragging us away." He said. Yessen looked furious.

"You promised. Both of you. We can't do that. It will go wrong. You're twisting things."

"What if you're wrong?"

"Then a few mortals die slightly earlier than they otherwise would. What if I am right?" He asked him. Rafiki and Marsade had no answer. Margane and Haelien looked anxious. Margane places a hand on Yessen's shoulder.

"They've made their decision, Yessen. Let them try." She said. Then she left without a word. Haelien looked about, looked at Marsade and Rafiki.

"I hope you're right. I really do. I hope I am wrong, and that I am proven to be heartless, unworthy of the power we wield. Because that's better than being proven right. Good luck to you both." She said. Yessen sniffed the air.

"You'll see." He promised him. "You'll wish you'd never interfered. Wish you'd listen to me. I know you will. You'll see I was right. I'm sorry for that. I really am." He said.

"You really expect me to just stand by and watch them die?" Marsade said.

"You will. We all will. We always do." Yessen replied. Then he departed.

For a moment, the two Shaman were left there together, and Marsade let out a breath. "Thank you, my friend. For sticking by me."

"Rafiki does not abandon his friends." Rafiki said after a moment. "Come. Let us go to ours."