For I Am Convinced

Chapter 6

"What do you mean he's gone?!" Leonitarus roared as he surveyed Laval's clearly empty, if but messy room.

"He wasn't in his room, Sir." Hodgkins reported. "The other hyenas were all unconscious. No one knows what happened. Not even his brother or his friends. Course, they aren't saying anything, either, so maybe they could've knocked the guards and servants out."

"What knocked them unconscious?" Leonitarus asked.

"It was in the drinks," Hodgkins reported. "Any liquid in the manor was found to contain a sleeping spell."

"A spell?" Leonitarus growled, rounding on a short hyena with tan fur and black spots shaped like diamonds (although as of current, he sported a pair of bruises on his eyes). "Harki! What have you done?!"

"Wh-what?! Ask Helena! She needed it!" The hyena pleaded.

Leonitarus skewered him through the heart with a knife, anger boiling like a fiery sea. "I will." He turned to his hyenas (the ones that were awake, anyway. "Search all of Chima and Thundera for Laval. Don't leave a single pebble untouched, no forest unexplored. If that Lion finds out my plot, then this is all for nothing. And bring me Lion-O. Scomper, and Helena. I have something special in mind for them."

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Laval fell into a sort of routine with his duties. Lo-Katar and Longtooth were merciful enough to give him morning shifts for training and posts in the afternoon. Sure, the day started at six and ended at eight, but Laval was used to being up early (since Leonitarus wanted him seated for breakfast at five -- who knew another hour of sleep was glorious?).

Training often meant classes and weapon handling. Laval loved being in the sparring ring and worked hard to impress his instructors. He learned all weapons, but his favorite was the sword.

Initially, it was hard, not being used to such physical training (the warm-up was a two mile run on foot through the jungle ending with a final sprint up the stairs -- Laval nearly fell back down the first few tries). But he pushed hard, willing himself to go faster, work harder.

And others noticed.

"I don't think anyone has a harder work ethic than you, Levi."

His trainers were impressed, but Laval could look up and sometimes see the king watching them spar. A sense of incentive worked over Laval, to impress the king.

Longtooth was kind enough to give Laval a post on the outer wall and in the throne room of the temple. Laval liked both positions because both gave him interactions he had never seen. Just like in the manor, Laval kept his eyes and ears open, curious to learn.

All too quickly, he learned that his king was fair and just to the tribes. Compassion reigned supreme and he never seemed to grow weary of listening and offering his advice to them. The tribes loved and adored the Lion King just as much as the Lions themselves did.

But there was a darker side to the king as well. There was always one topic that none could speak of. At least not without upsetting the king. Whenever it was mentioned, the king would visibly cringe, eyes closing in sorrow. Laval kept wanting to ask why, but had a sneaky suspicion that if he did, it would hurt more than help.

Today, Laval stood at his post in the throne room, silently watching the king of Lions as he fingered Helena's charm lightly. Longtooth stood near the king, watching the Lion Elders procure orbs from the Sacred Pool.

Laval found the process fascinating, as he had no idea the sheer power they contained here at the Lion temple. The Chi itself was mysterious, powerful, and fragile. The balance of it all...no wonder the Lions had so many rules regarding it.