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“You did?” I asked. There were still things about my mother that I did not know. It was strange how I could have known her all my life and yet there were still secrets kept from me, things from before I was born that I would never get to see.
Mom nodded slowly. “Before I met your fathers I was with another man. He asked me to marry him. I suppose there was some instinct that told me it was wrong because I went into the forest to think about it, and that was when I first met Naaro and Divad. Of all the moments in all the world they were there at the right time,” she wore a small smile at this. “I like to think that the same thing will happen to you Mika. At some point something will happen where everything makes sense, and then all this will be behind you. Please just have faith in yourself until then. If I did not think you were capable of leading this pride then I would not put you in this position.”
She cupped my head and pressed her forehead against mine. I still wasn’t sure that I believed her, but I promised her that I would try to keep the faith for a little while at least, even if the hope dwindled within. She left me then and I continued to eat, my mind too active to sleep. Even when I went into my chambers I could not rest. I thought about my place in the world and how much easier things would be if I could simply abscond from my duties and be a common lion, or even if I did not live in Orestes at all. Was there a world out there in which I could find some peace? My mind eventually turned to Ava. I was troubled to think of the combat that would ensue the following morning, where I had no doubt that my father would make short work of her. It was a shame really, because although she got under my skin there was something about her that I could not shake from my mind. She made my skin warm, and a knot of tension pulled within me, as though something was going to explode inside.
Chapter Eighteen
Lanas
Ava had not wanted to speak when I returned to the chamber that had been assigned to us. She said she needed to focus and prepare for combat. I had seen what Orestes could offer and I was still in amazement that such a place existed. It was even more impressive than the stories we had been told. All my life I had believed in Orestes simply because I needed something to believe in, but now that I was actually here, I knew I never wanted to leave. Ava had told me that I had the burden of persuading them to help our pride if she fell in battle. My heart did not wish to face such a possibility, but I knew it was likely to happen. Ava was so impressive and I did not wish to doubt my Lioness, but she was facing the leader of the lions of Orestes after all, and I could not simply dismiss his prowess.
When morning arrived Ava was strapping herself into some armor that had been left for her. I roused myself and began telling her some of the stories I had heard about Naaro, each one more impressive than the last. Eventually she snapped at me and told me to hold my tongue.
“Do you think any of this is making me feel better about my chances?” she asked.
“I thought that you might want to know what he’s capable of.”
“Oh, I know full well what he’s capable of. But he doesn’t know what I’m capable of yet either, and that is how I’m going to beat him.”
“What happens after that? Do you think this pride will do as you ask?”
“They will have no choice,” Ava said confidently, “it is the way of things. But remember what I said. If things go awry then it is up to you. Do not let our people suffer Lanas. Do not let them endure one more moment in that accursed place we call a home.”
I bowed my head and promised that I would do as she asked. Outside the sky was still dark, but the first slivers of light were beginning to appear.
“It is almost time,” she said.
I rose to stand beside her, wishing that there was more I could say or do to inspire her, but she was the one that inspired the rest of us. There was perhaps one thing I could offer her though, one thing that I might be able to give her that would offer her some solace in this otherwise bleak moment. I looked at her gazing out to the skies and I knew there was something different about this moment; she wasn’t just looking to the horizon; she was looking at her mortality.
“Ava,” I said, catching her attention as I used her given name rather than the honorary title of ‘Lioness’, “I know that I was chosen as your mate, and I also know that you wanted someone for other reasons. We may never get to explore what might have been, but I want to show you how much I appreciate you and respect you; I want to show you how much you have always meant to me. No matter what happens you will always be my Lioness and you will always have everything I have to give.”
As the words slipped out of my mouth I leaned forward and pressed my lips against hers. I closed my eyes and felt the sharp lighting bolt of arousal shoot through me as we kissed. Our breath swirled together. There was a moment of shock on her end, a moment of hesitancy, but after this she relaxed into the kiss as this sense of awe and pleasure shuddered through me. The hairs on my body stood on end, and I realized that I had made a potent mistake as the kiss was intoxicating and I needed more, but she did not have any more to give at this moment.
Instead, she nodded and pressed her forehead against mine. “You are a good lion, Lanas,” she ran her hand along my neck and patted my chest as she turned away. The sun was rising now, the shards of daylight spilling over the world. It was time to fight.
*
I followed her down the tower. Every step was filled with tension as I knew that each one took us closer to what may have been her doom. Even though the sun was still rising every lion was out of their bed, eager to see what was going to unfold here. They were gathered in a procession. They looked towards Ava with avid eyes, wondering who she was to challenge their respected and feared leader. There was a small area covered in sand and ringed with stone that made for the combat arena. Around it there were stalls filled with weapons, and the crowd gathered in a clustered, suffocating mass. Naaro was already there, his body covered in tough armor, his expression stoic and inscrutable. Mika was there as well. I found myself standing near him.
Ava nodded towards me as she strode into the arena, her head held high and her shoulders forced back. There was no trace of fear in her eyes. I’m sure that some of the other lions would have thought this foolish of her.
“I will grant you one final chance to rescind your challenge. If you do then you can leave here before any blood has been spilled, with your life intact,” Naaro said.
“The challenge stands,” Ava replied, her voice lustrous and strong in the morning air. I had been hoping deep down that she would have done something surprising and accepted his offer to take back the challenge, but she was going to be true to herself to the bitter end.
“As the challenger you can decide what type of combat we are going to face. Do you wish to use weapons?”
“I think the only weapons we need are the ones we were born with,” Ava replied. The corner of Naaro’s mouth curled. He was otherwise so emotionless that I got the sense this was akin to him bursting out with laughter. Dread filled every pore of me though because I had heard all the stories of all the souls he had laid to rest. He left the ground soaked with blood where he walked, and I knew he wasn’t going to take this challenge lightly.
Ava and Naaro stood at opposite ends of the sandy area and then a gong was hit and the battle commenced. I was perhaps the only person there wishing for her to succeed. Her flaming hair was glorious and her body moved swiftly, darting back and forth as she tried to use her speed to her advantage. Naaro moved more slowly, trying to take the measure of his opponent.
“She has lasted longer than I expected she would,” Mika muttered beside me.
“That is because you have never seen her fight before. She is the strongest in our world. There are none who can defeat her. I think she may even surprise you yet. She will prove that we all belong in Orestes.”
His gaze lingered on me for some time. I thought he might have been about to say something, but at that moment there was a heavy gasp from the crowd. I winced as Ava had sprinted towards Naaro and leaped, expecting to take him by surprise, but then he had shifted around and slammed his fist into her chest, sending her reeling backwards. She fell on her back and struck the ground with such force that we were almost sent tumbling from our feet. Her eyes were wide as they gazed up at the sky above her, and all I wanted to do was rush towards her and offer her aid. She would never have appreciated the action though, for she did not want the people’s pity.
I cried out for her to stand though, and as I did, I noticed that other people were joining in as well. Her brazen efforts in taking the fight to Naaro had not gone unappreciated by this crowd. We may not have been natives to Orestes, but we were still lions, and there was nothing that lions liked more than seeing a good show of strength.
