Chapter Text
Six months before the coup d'état, Crown Prince Cheka Kingscholar’s ninth birthday was ruined by Second Prince Leona Kingscholar.
At least, that was what Falena told him, in the aftermath.
“I don’t understand how hard it is to just show up, Leona. There’s only so many times I can say, ‘I’m sure he’ll be here soon,’ before Cheka starts to get the message.”
Leona flattened his ears, curled his lip. Did not look up at his brother from his perch in the window.
He wished, not for the first time during this whole lecture, that Ruggie was in the room. Wanted the eye contact with his sometimes-attendant-sometimes-lackey, wanted to watch Ruggie raise his eyebrows and tilt his ears and just make all this easier to deal with. Was why he’d taken the extra effort to secure Ruggie a job at the palace in the first place.
But Falena had immediately defanged Leona by asking to speak with him alone, probably knowing Ruggie couldn’t disobey an order from the King of the Sunset Savanna. Frustrating that his brother knew him. Then again, it was maybe only Falena knowing Leona that saved Ruggie from being fired for failing a little too often at getting Leona to attend events, one of his designated jobs.
Falena’s tail was lashing, lashing, lashing. “You can’t keep taking out what you have against me on Cheka. The boy adores you, Leona, no matter what you’ve done to try to drive him away. And he’s going to need you, if anything ever happens to me. The Savanna needs stability right now, and it needs us all to work together for that.”
So he wasn’t going to say it.
Leona eyed Falena without turning his head, feeling his fingers dig into the gaps between the stones of the windowsill. Spat, “When were you gonna tell me you arranged a marriage?”
That did it. Gave Leona the reaction he was looking for, his brother’s ears pressing back, his eyes widening.
“I — ”
“What, you really thought Shujaa was just going to keep quiet about that? Your wife isn’t a coward, Falena.” Not like you are, Leona hoped it implied.
“Leona, I wanted you to meet her first. These are negotiations, nothing’s set in stone. I wanted to see what you thought of her, without all that baggage.”
“You could’ve said something.”
“And how would you have reacted, if I told you? You’re too old to be throwing tantrums, and yet it seems like that’s what I get every time something doesn’t go your way. You’re twenty-four. Act like it.”
Leona growled at him. Couldn’t help it.
Falena shifted, moved so he was leaning against the edge of the window, more directly in Leona’s sightline. “Listen. She’s from a noble house, one that opposed Grandfather’s reforms in the early years of his reign and were censured for it. They have a history of strong mages and non-magic warriors, but their informal exile meant they were stripped of a lot of their military sway.”
Sounded familiar. “Malkia family?”
“Yes. If we can bring them back into the fold, we’ll get a stronger Savanna out of it. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“And when have you ever given a shit what I want?”
“At least meet her. Please. With an open mind.”
“Am I gonna have a choice?”
Falena sighed, straightened up. Said, “I’m not sure if you deserve one, at this point.”
Five months before the coup, Second Prince Leona Kingscholar was formally introduced to Lady Gandamiza Malkia.
“Miza’s fine,” she said, the small, polite smile of nobility on her face. “It’s less of a mouthful.”
“Lady Miza,” Leona echoed, feeling the burn of his brother’s eyes on his back. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
The gala was, ostensibly, intended to welcome Lady Gandamiza and her retainers to the palace. Leona knew, because Falena had told him as much, that its purpose was just as much to let him meet the woman Falena was suggesting (or, really, demanding) he marry.
Objectively, she was attractive enough. Sharp, in the way that so many lioness beastfolk were sharp, Queen Shujaa included, but showy about it. Clothing just on the edge of showing what other nobility might consider too much skin, like she was wielding it intentionally. Hair braided intricately, close to the scalp in the way of someone warrior-trained.
Still. Marriage.
“S’too loud in here,” Leona said. And then, the bit of him in his head that always sounded a little too much like Neji reminding him to act in a manner befitting his station, “Would you mind joining me outside for a bit?”
They ended up wandering through the garden adjacent to the ballroom, far enough that the noise and light from the gala had faded some. Like this, the light from the stars reflected up against the running water of the fountain that stood at the center. Miza had linked her arm with Leona’s, and the feeling of it made his skin crawl, even through layers of fabric.
He steered her over to a bench not far from the fountain, taking the opportunity to create some distance as they sat.
Polite, polite, polite, said the voice in the back of his head. Leona asked, “Have you spent much time in Sunrise City? I don’t recall ever seeing you in court when I was younger.” Not that he spent enough time in court to remember, but Neji had informed him that the Malkias hadn’t been in court since Leona was very young.
Miza tilted her head, making all her various beads jingle. “If I’m honest, this is my first time visiting the city since I was a cub. My parents thought it best to wait until his majesty was officially crowned, considering your father’s illness.”
Avoiding the instability until they figured out how favorable Falena might be towards them, in other words. “How do you like it, so far?”
Leona had to resist the urge to flatten his ears as she looked around, said, “It’s beautiful here. Few places in the Sunset Savanna are this green.”
For all his recent efforts to school his first reactions, Leona couldn’t help opening his mouth. “To hear my brother talk, beautiful is the goal of the Sunset Savanna.”
“Is that so?”
“King Falena particularly values the work done by past kings to preserve the Savanna’s ecology and exist alongside the natural world, rather than overtake it. Most of his reign has focused on strengthening our connection to traditions.”
Next to him, Miza’s ears were pricked. “It sounds like you disagree with his focus, if that’s not too forward of me to say.”
“Even if I did, the king is not inclined to listen to my opinions, Lady Miza. Nor is he required to do so, at least not any more than the average citizen of the Savanna.”
Bite it back, bite it back, bite it back.
Couldn’t, not with the way his stomach was churning. Leona turned to Miza. “I’m going to be direct with you. My brother wants me to give you a chance, Lady Miza, but this is his doing, not mine. You’re walking into a situation with a lot of baggage.”
“I can work with a chance,” she said in a light tone, and leaned forward to rest her hand lightly on Leona’s. “Perhaps we could get along well, given time.”
There was an edge of something, in that moment. Something pressing up against Leona’s magic.
He pulled his hand from hers. “I’m not sure if I’m able to give this time. Look, it’s not your fault, any of this. It’s not at all because of you. My brother and I just don’t see eye-to-eye.”
There was an edge there, in Miza’s face, one well hidden. A slight tightness to her brow, down turn to her lips. Disappointment? But not at his words, maybe, not with how much she was trying to hide it, more like —
It had been magic, hadn’t it, pressing up against his own? Attempting to, at least. Leona knew the feeling well enough from all that time with Ruggie.
“She’s a mage,” he told Ruggie, later. “And I think she’s got a signature spell, because she tried to use something on me when she grabbed my hand and got disappointed when it didn’t work.”
“That’s bold.” Ruggie was sprawled out on Leona’s bed. Ostensibly, they were supposed to be doing the standard nightly review of Leona’s schedule for the next day. However, considering how often Leona would summarily ignore the schedule in the first place, that was yet another official attendant duty that often went by the wayside.
“Sure,” Leona said, stripping off the last of the stupid, uncomfortable formal wear, dropping it into a pile on the floor. “Probably used to it workin’ first thing, I’d guess.”
“So why didn’t it? You put up a ward or something?”
“Nah, so I dunno. Might be conditional. Maybe you gotta like her, or whatever.”
Ruggie snorted, glanced over at him. “Leona, that’s a little rude, dontcha think? She’s supposed to be beautiful, right?”
The hyena beastman had outright refused to attend the gala. He’d cited needing much more than his base rate to spend a couple hours making nice with rich nobility, at least if he wasn’t allowed to steal things. Instead, the sash on his uniform was uncinched, letting his robe hang loose, and he seemed more than content to get comfortable on the bed that wasn’t even his.
“Move,” Leona told him, and, once Ruggie had shuffled a little further down towards the foot of the bed, Leona dropped down onto it. “And it’s not her fault, all that.”
“What, don’t want some tough lioness warrior to marry? Thought half the men in the Savanna would kill for that.”
“Not one that tries to spell me the first chance she gets, I don’t. ‘sides, Shujaa is enough of that for this family.”
Ruggie laughed, said, “Not wrong there. I think if she ever caught me stealin’ she might actually eat me.”
“S’why you stick to stealin’ my shit, right? Coward.”
“I don’t know why you say that like it’s an insult. So, what’s the game, then? Usin’ magic on you, first thing?”
Leona didn’t even need to give it thought. “Gotta be power. Noble family, that long ostracized? ‘cept maybe they don’t realize how little change I actually get to make.”
“You gonna tell the king and queen? Feels like kinda a big deal.”
“Dunno,” Leona said, rolling it through his brain, imagining Falena’s reaction. Then, “Think we just watch, for now. Falena’s been testy for months, so I don’t think he’s gonna welcome me sayin’ something. Gonna think I’m tryin’ to get out of it or whatever.”
Ruggie glanced over at him. Said, “Sure. Just watch your back, Leona.”
Three months before the coup, Royal Attendant Ruggie Bucchi caught Crown Prince Cheka Kingscholar trying to sneak out of the palace. Pretty much literally, when he had to snag the prince midair from a tumble off a retaining wall.
“Woah, kid. That’d be a silly way for the Savanna to lose its heir.”
Cheka eyed him as Ruggie deposited him on the ground, lip stuck out like it was Ruggie’s fault he’d gotten caught doing something he shouldn’t. Asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be with Uncle Leona?”
Ruggie rolled his eyes. “I don’t sleep in your uncle’s bed just ‘cause I work for him, kid. I’m actually legally required to have days off, believe it or not. And I got my own family to take care of. Gram would get pretty mad if I stopped visitin’ her.”
“Okay.” The kid already seemed to have lost interest. Was, instead, eyeing Ruggie carefully, like he was waiting for something.
Ruggie gave it a beat, then asked, “Cheka?”
“Yeah, Mr. Ruggie?”
“Are you waitin’ until I leave so you can try to sneak out again?”
“No…?”
Ruggie laughed, even though it made Cheka’s ears flick back grumpily. “You’re a pretty terrible liar, your highness. If it makes you feel better, I’m doin’ you a favor, here, tellin’ you to go back to your room. You’re just delayin’ consequences. Plus, it’s only so long before someone finds you, since I’m pretty sure you haven’t found the latest tracker they’ve put on you.”
Cheka’s lip was back out in a pout again. “I thought it was just the one in the necklace and the one that was in my shoe.”
“You definitely haven’t found the newest one then. Look, like it or not, you’re royalty. When you don’t do what you’re told, it’s not just you that gets in trouble. I know you can take care of yourself, but your dad’s gonna get mad at your attendants too, and maybe even Neji since he’s the head boss. And that’s not fair.”
“Uncle Leona does whatever he wants.”
“And your uncle isn’t exactly the ideal role model. Trust me, of all people, I’d know.”
Cheka huffed a disgruntled sigh, looked away from Ruggie. Muttered, “When I’m king, no one’s gonna tell me what to do.”
Ruggie had to close his eyes a moment. He was not going to unload all his anti-monarchy views on a nine year old, thank you very much. When he opened his eyes, opened his mouth, he kept his tone light. “I’d imagine you’ve got a bit of growin’ up to do before you’re king, little princeling. Plus, you know your dad’s gotta listen to the people, right? That’s why he’s always out at those public forums.”
The sweet, sheltered, pampered little princeling just scrunched his nose at that.
Ruggie sighed, changed the subject before his words got a little too honest. “You wanna explain to me why I had the Crown Prince dropped into my arms at nine at night, anyway?”
Cheka shrugged. “Wanted to go play with Makali.”
Ruggie racked his brain. Makali Mito? The little daughter of one of the top royal guardswomen for the palace, the one that Cheka often palled around with in the afternoons after his lessons. He squinted at the prince. “Aren’t you a little young to be sneakin’ out to see your girlfriend?”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” The protest was immediate and sharp. “She’s just got the best games, that’s all.”
Ruggie dipped his head, but kept his ears pricked. Said, in over-exaggerated politeness, “Ah, my apologies, your highness. I clearly misread the situation. If you wanted to fire me over it, I would understand.”
It got a giggle from Cheka, which was what Ruggie had been hoping for. He jerked his head back towards the palace, said, “C’mon, kid. I imagine it’s only a matter of time before — ”
“Cheka?”
In front of him, Cheka’s ears flattened. And no wonder, because even before Ruggie glanced over his shoulder, he knew who was standing there. No mistaking the voice of the king.
Ruggie straightened up as he turned, folded his hands behind his back. Said, quietly, “Your majesty.”
Falena barely even glanced at him. Instead, was looking at Cheka, eyebrows lowered, arms folded. All disappointed dad, which only carried into his voice when he asked, “Were you sneaking out again?”
“I wasn’t!” Cheka started, but nowhere near convincing.
Falena’s eyebrows sank lower. “Don’t lie to me, Cheka.”
“Pa, I was — I just wanted to go see Makali, though.”
“So you thought you’d sneak out without telling anyone? And get Makali in trouble too? You’re nine years old. I thought you’d have grown out of this at this point.”
Cheka’s shoulders were creeping further and further up, his mouth set in a tight line. “S’not fair. You never let me do anything fun.”
Falena just shook his head. “You’re going to rule the Savanna some day. You need to grow up eventually, and this doesn’t look like growing up.”
“‘m sorry, Pa,” Cheka said, and it was quiet, a murmur.
“Go back to your room. We’ll talk more later.”
“‘kay,” Cheka muttered, and the dejection in his voice poked at Ruggie, despite himself. The kid’s shoulders slumped as he turned back towards the palace, tail dragging across the ground as he went.
Finally, as Cheka started to get out of earshot, Falena turned to Ruggie. “Mr. Bucchi.”
“Yes, your majesty?" Ruggie asked, flicking his tail and trying to look attentive.
Falena’s eyes weren’t cold, but the weight of them still felt harsh on Ruggie’s shoulders. His voice seemed intentionally neutral as he said, “You’d do well to remember that you are my brother’s attendant, not my son’s.”
Ruggie had to try very hard not to flatten his ears as he lowered his head, said, “Yes, your majesty.”
“He said what?”
“Leona, it’s fine. It’s whatever.”
“He tells me I’m takin’ out my issues with him on other people,” Leona said, leaning back in his chair to better eye Ruggie where the hyena sat crosslegged in a window bay. In the light of the next day, the whole thing seemed trivial to Ruggie, but he wasn’t going to lie when Leona asked how he knew Cheka was grounded before Leona did.
“Leona, I said it’s fine. I’ve gotten worse than that,” Ruggie said, and it wasn’t a lie. The thing was, as far as nobles went, Falena wasn’t even that bad. Yeah, he had a habit of tossing out orders without any regard to how they would inconvenience those asked to carry them out, but Ruggie had gotten that for years from Leona. Falena still said please and thank you, which was more than Ruggie was used to getting from Leona. Plus there was kindness there too, the way Falena tried to learn their names or asked about their families, gave them holidays off or paid extra for those still necessary to keep the palace running.
The problem was, Falena wasn’t just nobility. Falena was the king.
Leona huffed a breath, let the front legs of his chair slam back into the ground, the sound of it making both their ears twitch. “No idea what’s up with him lately. It’s not like I’m doing nothin’ anymore.” He tapped a pen a few times on the grant applications that had piled up on his desk.
If Ruggie had to hazard a guess, Falena was acting on the whims that moved all autocrats when they got an idea into their heads. He’d given up on understanding them ages ago. “He still on the whole marriage thing?”
“Miza’s still here, isn’t she?”
“What’s the plan, he actually goes through with it?”
“He’s not gonna go through with it.”
“Gotta say, not sure ‘he’s not gonna’ is the most proactive plan there, Leona.” Leona leveled a glare at him, and Ruggie spread his hands out appeasingly. “Just sayin’, not your usual caliber. And however this whole thing shakes out affects my tail here too, considerin’ you’re my boss.”
Leona squinted at Ruggie, the look on his face. “You don’t like her.”
“I don’t like most nobility, so don’t think that’s much of a gauge. ‘sides, it’s more her retainers I don’t like.”
“Retainers?”
“The noble-born ones especially. I’m already gettin’ horror stories from the staff, ‘specially the other hyenas. The cooks are about ready to throw a fit, and a couple of the housekeepers have come back to the servant quarters in tears. But I’m not sayin’ that says anything about Lady Miza herself, and I’m not sayin’ you should blow this off, ‘cause the king’s gonna come after me next. He knows you only keep me around because I let you get away with shit.”
Leona scoffed at that, but still couldn’t meet Ruggie’s eyes. Typical.
Silence fell for a moment, Leona halfheartedly picking up one of the grant applications, barely even scanning it before signing and moving on to the next one. They’d been pre-vetted, after all, through the handful of staff members that did most of the organizational work for the foundation in Leona’s name.
Leona had something brewing in his mind, Ruggie was sure, to deal with the whole Miza thing. Still, if Leona was still stewing on it, could be a while until Ruggie actually got to hear the interesting parts. Ruggie was getting bored, and it was far past time for him to poke the lion a bit.
Ruggie tapped at the stone of the window seat, then said, slow, “Y’know, you could fake a relationship.”
At that, Leona dropped the paper he was holding, looked over at Ruggie with narrowed eyes. “What?”
Ruggie met his eyes with his head tilted. “Pretend you’re datin’ someone, right? Would get Falena off your back for a while.”
The look on Leona’s face said very clearly that he’d never even considered that, but only because he thought it was stupid enough to not be a possibility. “With who, Ruggie? Only person that can tolerate me ‘round here that ain’t married is you. You makin’ an offer?”
Ruggie couldn’t help his snort. “Nah, y’kiddin’? I’m a hyena, remember? That’s a worse scandal than you just rejectin’ the marriage.”
“That’s your issue with it?”
“Look, I’ve done worse to get paid. You’re the one who says my shamelessness scares you.”
“It does,” Leona says, leaning his chair back again, making the joints creak.
When Leona was silent a beat, Ruggie squinted at him. “You’re actually considerin’ it, aren’t you?”
“Tryin’ to figure out if it sounds appealin’ ‘cause it’s a decent idea or if it’s ‘cause it would piss Falena off the most.”
“Hey, thinkin’ about it before you piss him off is character growth for you.”
Leona threw his pen at Ruggie. Snapped, “Forget this. I’m takin’ a nap.”
Ruggie cackled. Couldn’t help it. Not all that much character growth, it seemed.
Two months before the coup, Lady Gandamiza Malkia invited Second Prince Leona Kingscholar to tea.
It was Queen Shujaa that convinced Leona to go.
They’d gotten some late rainfall, the very tail end of the rainy season. Most of the palace had emptied to the gardens to enjoy the lingering temperate air, which meant Leona was stretched out in one of the cabanas not far from where the queen was reviewing the week’s guard rotations while keeping an eye on Cheka.
Or she had been, up until a messenger delivered to Leona’s unwilling ears Lady Miza’s invitation.
“Leona, I’m just saying that I’m not sure ignoring something until it goes away has worked so well for you in the past,” Shujaa said, not looking over at him.
“Bah,” Leona muttered, flicking his ears. “You’re as bad as Falena sometimes, you know that?”
“Oh, I’m wounded,” she said, snorting. “What’s the harm, anyway, in just accepting the invitation?”
“Your husband is gonna think I’m starting to be okay with this whole thing.”
“And what’s the issue with that, in the first place?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’s the issue with that?’ I’m not gonna marry someone ‘cause my brother says so.”
Shujaa just rolled her shoulders, placed the clipboard she’d been looking over on the cushion next to her. “Marriage is a partnership, Leona, and it’s a political partnership when it comes to royalty, as I’m sure you know. I love Falena now, but it didn’t start out that way. We were arranged because your father’s illness had gotten worse, and his advisors recommended thinking about the next generation. Falena and I got along, and we were willing to work together as partners.”
They’d needed an heir, because the second prince wasn’t good enough, in other words. Leona gritted his teeth. “Couldn’t hurt to have your magic in the family line either, I’m sure.”
“Sure, but that doesn’t disprove my point, does it? Leona.” Shujaa waited until Leona had blinked his eyes open, looked over at her, before raising her eyebrows, saying, “Can’t hurt to get to know her. Worst that can happen, you don’t like her and you have some ammunition for when Falena tries to push it through. Best case, she’s someone you can at least get along with well enough to make the political partnership work, and you can work things out from there. Either way, you get a lot of information in exchange.”
Leona groaned, draped his arms over his face.
The annoying thing was that Shujaa wasn’t exactly wrong. She’d always had an analytical mind, which was probably why the advisors thought she was a good match for Falena, who’d never heard of critical analysis in his life as far as Leona could tell. Was also why Leona had found her much easier to be around than her husband, especially once Falena became regent.
Still. Leona didn’t want to marry some lioness, and especially not one picked out by his brother. Not one that had tested magic on him, and not with the signature spell thing, always swirling around in the background.
What was the game Miza was playing?
He dropped his arms back down, propped himself up on one elbow so he could better see Shujaa. Asked, “How much do we trust them, the Malkias?”
She shrugged. “We don’t, if I’m honest. But Falena’s always been one to extend a hand rather than a sword.”
“We’re at a turning point, I suspect,” said a familiar voice from somewhere behind Leona, and he couldn’t help but growl, curl a lip.
“Not sure we invited you to this conversation, old man,” Leona said, craning his neck back to get a glimpse of Neji. “Suppose you want me to attend this tea party too?”
“How very astute, your highness,” said the man, pausing between the two cabanas. “This may be a chance to do some good for your country’s future, should things go well.”
“‘For once’ is what you’re thinking, right?”
“You’re putting words in my mouth, Prince Leona. I’ve found the work others do in your name for that foundation of yours very admirable.”
Shujaa laughed at that, and Leona flattened his ears. Had to resist the urge to strangle both of them.
He growled one more time, shook his head. “Fine, I’ll go have tea.”
The majority of Lady Gandamiza’s retinue had set up camp in the guest quarters over in the northeast wing of the palace, where some of the nicest views of Ivory Springs and the rest of the Savanna were. Leona met her in a pair of lounge chairs in one of the small gardens, where the worst of the heat was kept away by the shade of one of the ancient baobab trees.
The tea she offered him was Scalding Sands in origin, apparently a common import in the port city the Malkias had fled to at the time of their censure. Leona wasn’t a fan, but maybe mostly because it reminded him of the concoctions Kalim had made once or twice when his minder was otherwise occupied.
Even like this, more casual, the lady was laden with jewelry, beads of glass and gems, golden accents running through her hair. Nobility through and through.
It wasn’t long into the annoying customary opening pleasantries that Miza paused, then said, “If I’m honest, I’m surprised you accepted this invitation. You haven’t accepted my last several.” She was looking at him past the rim of her cup. “I was worried I might’ve offended you.”
Leona inclined his head. “As I said last time we met one-on-one, my feelings on this whole endeavor have nothing to do with you. I wasn’t going to continue things just because a family member bids me to.”
Miza chuckled, setting her cup aside. “So, what changed?”
“Got curious.”
The smile she gave him was wide and sharp. “Oh, curious?”
“Yeah, curious.” Leona leaned back, crossed his arms. “I wanna know what your angle is, here.”
That got her to straighten up a bit, set her body language on edge. Her voice careful, controlled, as she said, “I’m not sure what you mean, Prince Leona.”
He shrugged. “Sure, you do. Everyone in the palace has an angle, from my brother down to my attendant. So, what’s yours? Why are you still in for this deal?”
He let her pause, consider for a second. Finally, “As I’m sure you know, my family was censured at the time of your grandfather’s reign for speaking up against his policies. It would’ve likely been exile, except that my family also dates back to the time of the King of Beasts, and so exile would’ve reflected badly on the royal family.”
“Why?” Leona asked. He knew the rumors, of course: a power hungry family, restless in the time of peace. But that was the palace view, not the Malkias’.
Miza tilted her head. “We spoke in favor of industrialization, particularly opening more mines. The Savanna has an incredible amount of resources, and our refusal to use them has led to us to reduced global power, as compared to other nearby kingdoms. My grandmother pushed the point a little too hard, and we were censured. Our voice hasn’t been heard politically for half a century.”
Huh.
Realistically, it wouldn’t have been hard to look into Leona’s own political thoughts about the Savanna. He hadn’t ever been shy about sharing those views with Falena or Neji. Sure, he’d thought through some things a bit more since the whole debacle with the lizard’s dreams, but the core of things remained.
This could be intentional, to win him over. Still, it matched up with common sentiment about the Malkias.
“So you’re hoping to return to the political realm? Be taken seriously again?”
“Do you think we have a chance?”
Good question. “My brother also kowtows too much to traditionalists. More so than my father, who established some infrastructure here in Sunrise City as well as some of the coastal cities. But King Falena is honest, and he’s more willing to consider other perspectives than my father was. You’ll probably have better luck rejoining the fold with him.”
Miza had picked up her tea again, was slowly swirling the remaining liquid around. Her tail thwacked gently against the ground. “You keep implying your views don’t mesh with your brother’s.”
If Leona was honest, he’d gone much further than implying. “The traditionalists in power often come from resource-rich communities in the Savanna. I’m not saying that there isn’t a benefit in our management of the environment, but it leaves communities bereft of vital resources in times of scarcity. In some cases, even times of abundance. The Savanna doesn’t have the benefit of Kalim Al-Asim’s Oasis Maker in crises, unlike the Scalding Sands. If we don’t cultivate infrastructure — ”
He was interrupted by a rustling, in a nearby tree. A flash of recognizable red hair.
Leona sighed. “Cheka?”
Sure enough, the crown prince’s face popped up from the branches, and the surprised, shouted, “Uncle Leona!” made Leona’s teeth clench.
Next to Leona, Miza snorted in a dismissive sort of amusement as Cheka scrambled down from the tree in a way that probably would’ve given his usual minders a conniption, pranced his way over to Leona. Leona already had one hand pressed against a temple as he asked, “What d’you think you’re doing, fuzzball?”
Cheka’s smile was bright, as always, in that way that made Leona’s stomach churn. “Everyone else is busy, and the palace is boring. But you’re here, Uncle Leona.”
“And what makes you think I’m not busy too?” Leona couldn’t help the way his tail was flicking back and forth, annoyance creeping in.
His nephew, oblivious as always, only tilted his head. “Why? You’re just talking. That’s not doing things.”
“Mmm. Your attendants know where you are?”
“Yes…?” Cheka said, and it was just as bad a lie as ever. Kid’d found the latest tracker, then.
No other thing for it. Leona slipped his phone out of his pocket, and watched Cheka’s eyes narrow. The grin had disappeared. Said, as the kid’s eyes flicked from his face to the phone, “Get out of here now, and I won’t tell Neji I saw you. Stay, and I can’t promise anything.”
Cheka’s lip had started to poke out petulantly. “You’re no fun anymore, Uncle Leona.”
“Not my job to be fun for you.” He had, in fact, always endeavored to not be fun for Cheka to be around. “Messaging Neji in three… two…”
Cheka let out a noise of protest, and he turned on a heel. Wasn’t more than ten seconds before the prince had disappeared again.
Leona sighed, tapped the end of his tail against the ground a few times. “And Neji said I was bad as a kid.”
Miza flicked an ear, triggering a cascade of clinking beads. “Cute kid, the crown prince.”
“Sure,” Leona snorted. “Kid’s strongest skills are making noise and interrupting naps. If he survives the first day of being king it’ll be a miracle.”
The lioness across from him was not looking at him. Instead, she was watching where Cheka had left into the undergrowth. It took Leona settling back in his chair, taking a sip of his mostly abandoned tea, for her to turn back to him and say, “I’ll be honest, your highness, if it isn’t too forward. I’m not much for traditions either. Sticking to them hasn’t particularly helped my family.”
Leona eyed her, not turning his head. “The Savanna is built on tradition, Lady Miza, at least hearing the current public sentiment.”
“And yet, I imagine, we’ve both grown up in the shadow of it. There are expectations of nobility, yes? Marriage, heirs, inheritance through bloodline. Perhaps it’s time to abandon the traditions, inheritance included.”
Leona snorted, took one more gulp of tea. “Good luck, convincing the people of that.”
The smile that edged Lady Gandamiza’s face was sharp, just the edge of her fangs poking through.
A partnership between him and Miza, huh? If that was Falena’s game, the king might’ve gotten in over his head.
Two weeks later found Ruggie rocking restlessly on his feet in Leona’s room.
“There’s something up, Leona. Can’t get a read on it, but folks are talkin’. More ‘n more weirdness from the soldiers in the barracks.”
Leona, perched on his windowsill, didn’t look over at Ruggie. Just said, “Politics are gettin’ weird too. Falena isn’t lettin’ things go like he normally might, and I think he’s gonna announce some new policy soon.”
“Folks are gettin’ restless.”
“Shujaa says they’ve upped the palace security, but it still — still doesn't feel right.”
“And Lady Miza’s still here,” Ruggie said, and the hint of venom laced through his voice indicated well enough that his feelings on Miza hadn’t changed. “Can’t imagine that isn’t stirrin’ the pot.”
That made Leona pause. “Not sure if this is her doing, honestly.”
He had to pointedly ignore the incredulous look Ruggie gave him as the hyena said, “You don’t think the lady that tried to spell you is stirrin’ the pot? Must’ve been some tea party you two had.”
“She’s not a traditionalist, and it’s the traditionalists that are getting restless. She’s probably not helping, but I don’t think it’s all her being here.”
Ruggie scoffed, crossed his arms. “If you’re still workin’ an angle, better make it fast is all I’m sayin’.”
“Sure. You’ll be the first to know. Meantime, keep your tail tucked and your head about you, yeah?”
One day before the coup, King Falena Kingscholar announced his plan to enshrine environmental protection into the national laws of the Sunset Savanna. That night, the killing started.