Chapter 60

The guards separated Gael and the Al' Miraj from Aurelia and Zinjo. They took him to a waiting room. "Juma will deal with you once we deal with the renegade and his mate. Your trade idea sounds promising. I will make sure our leader hears you out."

The sharp sting of metal spear tip pressed against Aurelias back, and she bared her teeth to the guards, who seemed unconcerned about the defiance. Worst of all, one of the guards ripped the parasol blade from her hand. She sulked as they marched across the small city. "So, how did the lion people come to be?"

"Once upon a time, the people of Kiazangi were on the precipice of greatness. The mathematics and engineering in our buildings involved are lost to us now, but as you can see have stood the test of time." Zinjo seemed unconcerned with the guard's spear pointed in his back.

"What happened?" Aurelia asked as they marched past several young families converse over roasted gazelle and oxen-like creatures. The children fought to master their lion forms while the parents instructed them.

"A great plague swept the land. None of our medicines worked. All attempts to cleanse the sickness of the lands by normal means failed. One of our greatest minds noticed only the humans got sick, and the animals remained strong," Zinjo's voice cracked a little at the tale.

"Is that where your lion forms come from?" a few people in the streets spat at their feet. Zinjo stopped, raised his head, and roared loud enough to scare a few children back to their parents, who scowled at the outcast.

"Hmmm," Zinjo nodded, "The unknown medical practitioner experimented with serums using hyena blood, but as you well know, the tale does not end there. Unsatisfied with the creation of Hyena men, he began to use blood harvested from lions. We all know how that turned out."

The wheels in Aurelia's head began to turn. Something about his words struck a chord with some nebulous information she acquired along the way. "Zinjo, wouldn't it take magic to make such changes in people?"

They marched up the steps to a great stone stronghold. Inside the pelts of Gazelle and herbivores. "Yes, it did." He shot her a funny look, "What are you getting at?"

On an onyx throne sat a black-maned lion with green eyes. Unlike Zinjo, Juma eyed the world with suspicion and questioned everything about it. According to Zinjo, they were born as opposites under the laws of nature. Aurelia didn't understand it herself but went along with her lover's words.

Juma's disdain came across the room to offend Aurelia. He spoke as if they had rolled in dung. "Zinjo, I thought we agreed once you were gone, it stayed that way."

The Al' Miraj stood in front of Zinjo and Aurelia and brandished the long onyx horn, and a soft glow emanated from it. Zinjo clapped his hand against his head, "Why are you here? I thought you had a fascination with Gael."

"I would be careful, Juma. Our little friend is more ferocious than he looks," Aurelia said.

Juma stood and roared, "Everyone will leave this room. I wish to speak with my brother and his mate privately," He eyed the horned rodent with disgust, "You send prey to protect you, is that it, brother?"

"You would do well to show more respect to a divine beast," Zinjo growled back.

Aurelia's ears picked up the click and clack of beads as they crashed together. The gentle tap of wood on stone grew louder with each second. A grey-haired lioness entered the audience chamber, and her eyes filled with gratitude at the sight of Zinjo.

"Juma is this how you greet your brother?" the lioness growled with displeasure.

"He brings the outworld mate with him and a snack," Juma scoffed and pointed to the Al' Miraj. "He promised never to return if he left..."

A hand silenced Juma as the elder lioness took slow and steady steps.

Zinjo fell to his knees and encouraged Aurelia to do the same. Aurelia chose to stand, "Ayasu, forgive the dark princess. She is unfamiliar with our customs."

Ayasu stared into Aurelia's eyes. The yellow eyes gaze reminded her of Zinjo's, "You are the reason my son left. I was worried you would be a fragile thing."

Zinjo kept his head bowed and remained silent. Aurelia rolled her eyes, "I am far from fragile," Her tone carried the ice of a Shadowfen winter. "We seek access to the broken plains."

Ayasu chuckled, "Why on earth would you go there? Nothing grows, and it's filled with the black sand." She took a moment to scratch the Al' Miraj behind the ear.

"We seek to make bottles to trap a Kivuli on Aurelia's side of the world," Zinjo managed to find his voice.

"There are more of the accursed things?" Ayasu balked. "I thought we contained the evil here on Kiazangi?"

Aurelia told her the tale of their adventures and how they came to be on Kianzangi. "Now, all we need are the Lemurian runes and the voidsand."

Juma stared at Zinjo with discontent, "I cannot allow anyone into the broken plains without proof they can handle the rigors of such a place. You both may challenge my mate and me for the right to enter, but I cannot freely give permission."

A large hand tried to cover Aurelia's mouth, but she spun away, "Then we challenge for the right to enter the broken plains."

A slender finger pointed at Zinjo and mocked him, "Your mate is braver than you are, Zinjo. How will you live such an indignity down?" Juma's voice filled with glee. "You should know, Safiri has never lost a fight. Victory is already mine, brother."

Ayasu said nothing to the brothers and watched Zinjo with interest and concern. "As I recall, you spent more time on the ground than I did when we fought, Juma. If the dark princess believes we can secure victory, then I stand with her."

Ayasu casually stepped between the combative pair, "Then I suggest you both prepare. The contest starts at sundown as per the customs of our people. In the meantime, I would like to spend time with Aurelia and get to know her."

Juma spat on the ground, "The outlander does not belong among..."

Ayasu slashed the air with her hand and glared at Juma. "Regardless of what we think, a higher power called them together. As head lioness, I reserve the right to decide her worthiness."

The childish leader crossed his arms before he waved his hand, "Fine, you may leave, but make sure she returns to finish what she started."

Arms filled with love surrounded Aurelia, and lips lit with the fires of passion touched hers, "You are in good hands. Ayasu will at least hear you out."

Aurelia glanced at Ayasu, "I have a feeling we will get along."