Dayo opened his eyes again no longer needing to think deeply. “I believe my spear may have weakened the curse on Mudiwa as my brother struck the final blow.” Dayo stood up and rested his hand on his belt. “That or she grew weak as she tried to turn me into a part of her collection.”

“Than there was no way for a single man to defeat her,” the soldier said.

The door burst open. A young man with blonde hair who gasped for air entered the room. His hand rested on the wooden door with sweat dripping from his face. “Father, you’re really alive.”

The soldier stood up. “Simba.”

Tears showed up in the young man’s eyes. Simba ran up to the soldier, hugging his old man. He buried his head into his father’s chest as his father embraced him back.

Dayo stood up. “You again.”

Simba and his father looked over at the prince. Simba stepped back into the bench behind him. “Prince Dayo?”

The soldier looked between the two younger men. “You know each other?”

Dayo gestured over to his fellow youth. “If you mean one of the men who tried to rob my brother and I when we first arrived here then yes we know each other.”

“You what?”

Simba looked at his father. “I-I had no choice. It’s not like anyone will hire a half breed like me.”

“What does that mean?” Dayo questioned.

*

Dayo kneeled down in the middle of the temple. He picked up one of the crystal draggers which had been coated in his brother’s blood. He looked them over.

The temple doors opened. “So this is where you went off to.”

Dayo returned to his feet. He tossed and caught the dragger he held. “These draggers seem to be made from real crystal. If clean of your blood they could fetch a nice price.”

“Why are you even worried about treasure? The people need our help,” Kovu said.

Dayo played with the dragger in his hand. “What is your point? I believe we have done enough for this town.”

Kovu closed the gap between them. His reflection shined in the shards of crystal not covered in blood. “You can say that with a straight face, knowing how our people suffer.”

Dayo slipped the draggers into his belt. A bemuse smile rested on his lips. “It is you who wants to be the greatest of kings and it is you who is destined to be king. I hold no real stake in all of this.”

Kovu grabbed his brother by his shirt. “Dayo! Now is not the time for your games.”

Dayo simply stared into Kovu’s eyes as if he expected nothing less from his elder brother. “I lost our contest so what does the rest of this matter to me? You should just think about what you wish to do before you end up dead from your own choices. Neither of us really wants me ruling.”

Kovu released his brother. “I know you are just trying to bait me, Dayo. Do what you wish with the treasure.”

Dayo raised an eyebrow. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

After that, Dayo continued his exploration of the city when he reached a rice field. He stood before the small patty fields which a few men tended to. The young prince walked toward one of the farmers. “Excuse me.”

A single man stopped his work at the prince’s call. He looked over to see Dayo approaching, lowering his head in respect. “My prince.”

Dayo stopped directly in front of the man. “Tell me why is it that you all are not using the other parts of these lands?” Dayo looked at all the unused land around them. The grassy plains spread out for miles.

The farmer stood against his farming fork. “That land all belongs to the Chieftain. If we try to use it we be arrested and made slaves.”

Dayo shut his right eye. “Then why does he not he use it?”

“He doesn’t have enough slaves to perform the work. Besides his family has more than enough food.”

Dayo gazed at all the land once more. “Do you know if he be willing to part with it?”

“My prince?”

“I wish to know how to deal with your Chieftain.”

*

Kovu sat against Busara’s home that night, staring deeply at his ring. He suddenly heard his name being called. The royal lifted his head to see Busara arrive in front of the dwelling with a large clay jar of water. “Busara.” He stood. “Is that water for a bath or cooking?”

“Both really. I like my brother to stop stinking up the house. What about you, Prince Kovu? Will you be taking one?”

“I can fetch my own water.”

“It is good to see a man who can take care of himself.”

Kovu smiled at her words. He placed his own hands on the jar. “Allow me to help you with this.”

“There is no need. I’ve been doing this my whole life.”

Kovu looked down into the water with the little light that shined from in the sky. “This water is dirty.”

“There are no clean springs around here. So we have to boil our water first.”

“Will there be enough left over?”

Busara tilted her head toward the door. “I have more inside. It should do for the night.”

“Why does your brother not help you?”

“You would have to ask him that? Is that all?”

Kovu helped Busara put down the jar. He tightened his hands around the edges. “No, I was curious about the other guardians you mentioned early. Are they causing the same trouble as Mudiwa?”

“From what I hear some are causing much worst disasters.” Busara’s gaze shifted slightly from the prince. “But it seems your brother wishes to speak with you. I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Busara picked the jar back up and went inside.

Kovu turned around to see Dayo.

“You are not going to be that stupid are you?” Dayo’s eyes were as solid as an unmovable mountain.

“The True King-”

“Is only a tale made up by commoners. There’s no official text that speaks of this nor does it speak of holding the rings of our ancestors.” All of Dayo’s features harden. “A beautiful woman’s words are poisonous to a man. You and I both learned that long ago.”

Kovu glared at his brother. “I know, Dayo.”

“Then what? If you want to do something responsible we should head to Adam City and pay our respects to the Tiger-angels who were lost.”

Kovu stood strong. “Maybe they deserved it. After how we’ve seen the nobles treat the people, they may have had it coming. Our people need hope. They need a hero to rescue them.”

“And you plan to do that? Risk your life with no clue how things will turn out.” Dayo jabbed his finger into his elder brother’s chest. “At least think of this more clearly for everyone’s sake.”

Kovu lowered his gaze down. “I will decide before we leave tomorrow.”

Dayo crossed his arms, lowered his head, and shut his eyes. “Make it the day after. I still wish to explore some more.”

“And what is that?”

Dayo walked up to his brother’s side, laying his hand on the other prince’s shoulder. Dayo brought his lips to his brother’s ear. “You hold little chance of victory as long as you do not even know what your truly grace is.” Dayo went inside the house.

*

The following morning, Dayo stabbed the crystal draggers into the wooden table of the trader’s shop. He sat himself down on a barrel inside the hut. His hands rested on his knees. “I like to exchange these for wealth.”

The shop owner picked up one of the draggers. He looked it over with great care. “These are real sapphire. I could never give you enough Wealth for even one of these.”

“I thought you were a trader’s shop?”

The shop keeper looked up at the prince. “I usual don’t deal with something this rich.”

Dayo pushed his cape further back as he brought his other hand further up on his leg. “Your Chieftain would not have enough gold either would he?”

“I’m not sure. He is a noble after all.”

“I see.” Dayo stood up. “I know what I must do.” The prince at last went to the hall of the town’s Chieftain. He stood before the chieftain and his wife after their proper bows he gave each of them a crystal dragger to look at.

The Chieftain’s wife examined one of the sapphire draggers between the fingers of her hands. “This craftsmanship is stunning.”

The Chieftain twirled one of the draggers between his fingers as he gazed at its splendor. “They are indeed wonderful. These actually came from the slain Mudiwa?”

Dayo stood in front of the Chieftain and his wife who sat in their wooden thrones. He rested a hand on the side of his belt. “I have no need to lie.”

“Certainly not.” The Chieftain’s wife looked to her husband.

“They are indeed great crystal,” the Chieftain responded.

“And not only for being real crystal,” Dayo’s words got the Chieftain and his wife to gaze up at him. “They are proof of a hero’s victory. A connection to the royal family you could say.”

The Chieftain put the dragger down on the armrest. “I could buy three of them from you.”

“Only three?”

The Chieftain spread out his arms. “I can give you a fair price for that much. Anymore and I would insult you with what I can give you. I am sure your father would have something to say about that.”

“Even if you have something else I desire that you are not using,” Dayo said.

“And what would that be?”

Dayo smiled. “A way to make this hick town worth a little more.” The prince had informed the Chieftain of his plans for the town and his role in it in exchange for the rich treasure he offered him. The Chieftain inspired by what it could do for his own position quickly agreed to the terms.

Dayo arrived again at the farmer’s field. This time all the men stopped their work and gathered around. “What are you doing here, prince?” one of them asked.

“I must say I do not like your excuse for not farming the land,” Dayo answered.

The farmers looked at the prince with either distain or fear. “But, your highness-”

Dayo raised his hand to stop the man. “That is why twelve acres of land have been purchased in the name of the royal family from your Chieftain.” Dayo rested his hand back on his belt.

“I am ordering you all to farm the land. In exchange you will have access to enough food to feed your families. The other food is to be split between here and the slums of the capital.” Dayo reached into his shirt to pull out a small bag. He jigged the pouch.

“This is a small salary for your future work.” Dayo tossed the bag over to the first farmer. The farmer opened the bag that had enough Wealth for three years’ salary. He gasped at the sight. “Lastly, your Chieftain will be hiring men from the city to help with the work and providing new tools. Be sure to thank him for his kindness.”

All the men dropped to their knees. They bowed their heads. “Thank you, your highness.”

“Like I said thank your Chieftain, but thanking me as well is good too.” Dayo then left the farmers to their work and returned to the temple. He dropped a few gold and silver wealth coins in the offering bowl at the altar of the temple. He kneeled down in front of the angel statue. He lowered his head as he placed his fist over his heart. “May your temple be restored to its former glory.”

*

That night, Busara slid the curtain open that separated her room from the main room. There she saw the prince by candle light, reading her book. “Prince Kovu.”

Kovu looked up from the book. “Sorry, did I awake you?”

“I saw the light. No one usual stays up at this hour.” Busara closed the curtain. “Is something the matter?”

“My mind has been filled with what you have told me about these guardians who have been terrorizing my people,” Kovu spoke.

Busara walked closer to the prince. “Will you fight them or has becoming a hero here good enough?”

“What do you mean?”

Busara folded her arms under her breasts. “For most men defeating Mudiwa would be more than enough for a lifetime. They settle for that glory alone. Are you one of those men, Prince Kovu?”