Chapter23

     Three days passed without Zinjo. Aurelia stared mournfully at the bars of her cage and clawed the wood at the bottom.  In that time her mind adjusted to her heightened senses. The smells of the world were now individually distinguishable, as were the sounds of the forest. Although the ability to see in the dark trumped the ears and nose.

   Mshindi remained her constant guard. The hyena did not speak in harsh words of comfort, he spoke in plain concrete facts. He would sit and keep her company and acted more like an old friend rather than her captor.

   In that time she remained in her lioness form unable to change back. Aurelia wasn't sure if she wanted to escape or wait to be rescued.

  "Did Zinjo tell you the story of how we met?" Mshindi fed her a cooked piece of meat.

  Aurelia chewed with gusto, it had been twelve hours since her last feeding. Her stomach roared louder than she could. "He said you prevented a war between your two people."

   Mshindi nodded and chewed on his supper, "Yes, but there is more to the story." Mshindi fed Aurelia another strip of meat. "Kivuli was behind it. Behind Kivuli the man who set the wretched demon free in the first place. Everyone assumed it was a Hyena, even we did. Now that I look back at it, It is more likely a lion did it."

   Aurelia heard something rustling in the bushes, and her head turned toward the source of the noise. The princess felt unsure if she wanted to see Zinjo again. He stole an important choice from her. Mates never forced decisions on each other. "Is that why Zinjo gets so intense about Kivuli?"

  "The legend goes after Kivuli was defeated the first time. The Lions and Hyenas agreed such evil should not be in the world. So they trapped the beast in a magic jar. Both sides agreed to put forth their mightiest warrior to protect the jar in a secret location, known only to the elders and the warriors."

   The implication rocked Aurelia to the core, "Zinjo's family is responsible? Is that why he gets so antsy about Kivuli?"

    "Yes. Kivuli killed our people in the name of the lions. To know his people released it is his greatest shame. He should not feel this way. Zinjo acted to save us." Respect, Mshindis voice carried great respect for Zinjo. He handed another piece meant to Aurelia.

   Zinjo would not have to take the journey alone. True the man bit her without asking for permission, but she planned on asking, and he stood by her. "He will not be alone. Although he will pay for biting me the way he did. I planned to ask on our wedding night."

   "The gods chose his mate well."

   "You know about that?"

   "The story captivated the hearts of she-hyena and lioness alike. You would be the envy of every female, a hero and chief for a husband." Mshindi chuckled to himself, "None of them would have suited  Zinjo."

    Aurelia stared at the bottom of the cage. She had never been referred to as extraordinary, except by Zinjo. She took another chunk of meat from the Hyena, "I don't see how I am extraordinary."

    "You will, Aurelia. The gods do not choose foolishly," He rose and adjusted his primitive garb, "Zinjo will come."

    Aurelia leaned up against the cage. The cold bars pressed into her back uncomfortably. She closed her eyes. She remembered the Hyena who attacked her mother. In all her time with Mshindi, not once did she ask about the attack. Did she believe her mother to be such a terrible person? 

   "Dark Princess," A voice whispered. 

   "Zinjo?" Aurelia whispered back. 

   "Yes."

   "You can turn around and go home. I am still mad at you." Aurelia growled. 

   "Your mother is sick with worry. I promised to return you."

   "I can't change back. Mshindi has me tied up in this cage, and its all then to you."

   "I was wrong, dark princess. I had no right to change you without your permission. Can I make it up to you?"

   "Yes. You will come to the camp and hear Mshindi out, and you won't harm him in any way. He kept me safe, unlike someone who bites people without asking."

    "Your words sting Dark Princess." Zinjo's tone sounded pained

    "They're supposed to," He came to save her, it counted for something. She decided to forgive Zinjo a little, "Where are you?" Her body tingled with excitement. She missed him. 

   "A little less than a mile," She could hear the guilt behind his words. "I should not have bit you without your permission. I'd understand if you didn't want to be my mate anymore..."

   "I was going to ask eventually. Mshindi wants to talk, he's here to find Kivuli. He thinks it might be in the Cherish Empire. They are the largest Kingdom On this continent." Her heart longed to be near his. 

  "It is possible, but I have a much more terrifying prospect. What if someone killed Kivuli and we have seven of the malevolent beasts running around," He paused, "We'll talk more about it when I reach the camp." 

   "Do not fight Mshindi. I need him to be coherent for some questions of my own. He took me to secure your help. He's treated me fairly and kept the other men from touching me."

  "Very well, dark princess. I promise to come in peace."

***

    Five minutes later. Mshindi let Aurelia out of the cage and cut her bindings with a sharpened claw, "I heard the whole conversation. Lions aren't the only ones with excellent hearing and smell." He tossed the rope into the fire. Let us hope he comes in peace."

   Aurelia clenched her fists, "Don't worry I will be too busy hitting him if he tries." She adjusted the enchanted buckskin clothes and listened. "How quiet are the lions?"

    "I can hear for miles, but a lion walks with the silence of the dead. We will not hear him coming."

    "How is that possible?"

    Mshindi laughed, even in mirth the sound chilled straight to the bone, "It is what makes a lion a lion, Princess."

    "Speaking of  Royalty, why did you have my mother attacked?" Aurelia blurted out before she could stop herself. 

    "Do you want to know a secret?" Mshindi asked. 

    "If it answers my question, yes." Aurelia crossed her arms and stared at the strong Hyena warrior. 

    "Kivuli does not bleed red. He bleeds darkness. My warrior was supposed to test her blood only. Zadock was paid to get them in. Do you know where Zadock came from?"

   "The Cherish Empire?" Aurelia guessed, her nose caught a hint of Zinjo's spicy scent. Her heart quickened. The thought of being in his arms outweighed her anger. 

   A minute later The powerful form of Zinjo emerged from the thick underbrush, the leaves rustled and the twigs snapped under the weight of his body. Mshindi bowed to him and stared up at the Lion, "I ask forgiveness."

   Zinjo padded up to Mshindi and stared down at him. For a moment Aurelia thought he might attack, but instead, strapped the Partisan to his back, and held out his hand. "She is unharmed and safe. Now let us talk about Kivuli".