Chapter 64

A brutal hot wind blew across the desolate landscape of the broken plains. Blackened plants jutted out from under rocks, black and crimson sand stretched out toward the horizon. Two days of travel did nothing to raise the spirits of the Three Lionesses. The water and animals were poison to the body.

Sahiri maintained her silence, and Aurelia came to accept this was just a part of who the lioness was and spoke to her when she dared to speak at all. Ayasu kept her spirits high and wore a smile for most of the trip.

"We should be at the old city of Matumaini by the afternoon. I know not what awaits us. I hope Nyo and Kuende have found a proper place to survive," Aurelia admired the care and concern Ayasu bore for her people, even the misfits.

Sahiri gripped a handful of sand and let it run through her fingers, "Nyo will do better than Kuende. Kuende has particular tastes, while Nyo only cares if it's edible." The grains blew across the wasteland and joined the endless dunes.

Aurelia drew the Lion's Fang and examined the liquid finish added to it by the Al' Miraj's horn. "You've been here before?" Aurelia asked Sahiri.

"I got lost out here when I was but a cub. My mother and father had argued for days over something trivial. I tried to bring them back together, but they persisted with the pointless conflict."

"I remember the day well. Your mother demanded a search party go looking for you, and your father volunteered to be the first man to stepped foot on these accursed sands," She giggled softly, "As I recall, they kept a closer eye on you after that."

"What lives out here?" the silence of the land rattled the mind far worse than any creature. "I can't see anything surviving in this terrain." She kept her blade at the ready. She cared little for how her feet sank into the sand or the hot wind blew the grains into her ears. The incessant scratches dulled her ability to hear.

"No one knows for, Mfalme mweusi," Sahiri smiled at her words.

"What did you call me?" Aurelia turned her head to the side as she spoke.

"Dark princess in the old language," Sahiri grinned, "It is what Zinjo calls you most often."

Aurelia missed her lover and future husband. His presence gave her confidence to face the challenges ahead, and his support saw her through difficult times. Privately she missed his naked form, pressed against her, with his manhood piercing her until she cried his name out.

A hand shook Aurelia from her inner world, "Thinking about Zinjo?"

"Always. Zinjo has become the person I trust above all others, including my family. My heart belongs to him," Aurelia blushed at her words, and a dreamy smile appeared on her face.

Sahiri chuckled, "I always knew Zinjo's destiny would carry him beyond Kianzangi. He questioned our fears toward the outside world," A shrill cry pierced the endless desolation, and a great shadow blocked out the sun.

"Kongamato," Ayasu shouted, "We must hide at once, or else we will end up being supper for it," She pointed to a cave, "Go, I will hold it off."

A fierce sense of denial gripped Aurelia, "No, Pride Mother, we started this journey together, and together we will finish it." She drew the lion's fang and stood at the ready.

"My sister speaks correctly. We will not leave a woman behind," Sahiri stepped to Ayasu's right side and held a long-handled ax. Her face filled to the brim with curiosity and determination, "They will write songs of our victory this day."

"Follow my lead," Ayasu said, "I have something I've been dying to try," She oddly moved her hands, "Tao Mawe," She shouted. A multitude of small rocks and pebbles surrounded the Pride Mother.

Aurelia shielded her eyes from the sun. The mass of scale and feathers circle above them, aided by long leathery wings. If it acted like a bird, maybe it had similar weaknesses. "We need something shiny..." Aurelia trailed off and remembered the silver fan she always carried with her. She opened it, and the glare from the pure metal nearly blinded her.

Sahiri sneered and laughed sarcastically, "What good is your little trinket? The beast is up in the clouds, not on the ground." She did not attempt to hide her disdain.

"We have studied the great birds of my land, and we know they can see a field mouse from up there. We have also discovered some birds have a penchant for shiny objects. There isn't harm in trying to divert its attention, is there?"

"Quiet both of you. Let's see if Aurelia's theory proves true," Ayasu twirled her hand, and the stones circled vertically in front of her. Aurelia could've sworn the old lioness enjoyed the danger.

Aurelia used the shiny surface to reflect the harsh sunrays skyward. The airborne threat screeched and changed its trajectory, "It's working, be ready, you two, I know I am."

Kongamato screeched several times and circled faster and lower with each pass, "It should attack any minute now," Ayasu shouted above the bone-chilling shrieks.

In a single motion, the leathery wings folded, and the aerodynamically sound avian dove toward the ground with great speed and agility. Aurelia held the fan for five seconds before she drove the metallic object into the dead soil and sand.

The pebbles swirled faster and faster, and Sahiri held a position behind the fan, "Have you looked death in the eye, dark princess?" She said with a wicked grin.

Kongamato turned out to be at least fifteen long with a long mouth filled with serrated teeth. Aurelia knew this because it crashed into the dark sand and kicked up a large cloud of dust. She hacked and coughed to remove the sand from her parched throat.

The long mouth snapped in an attempt to crush the princess. Aurelia closed her eyes and blindly slashed at the beast's head. A loud shriek deafened her ears as she moved further away. "Ayasu, whatever you have planned, now would be a good time to do it."

The scaly avian spread the leathery wings wide. Aurelia knew the winged menace desired to reclaim the advantage. A few words from Ayasu and the swirling vortex of stone and pebbles flew at Kongamato at an intense speed.

The stones tore through the thin membrane with ease. The reptilian bird tried to take to the air but slammed against the ground once more. The shredded wings refused to carry the body from the ground.

"Now Sahiri together," Aurelia raised her blade and charged forward. Sahiri followed suit Partisan aimed at the beast's spine.

Kongamato shrieked and snapped with every blow given by Aurelia and Sahiri. Little by little, the shrieks died along with Kongamato.

Ayasu smiled and said, "Shall we make camp for the night?"