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I sit with that statement for a moment. I feel closer to her now than I’ve felt to any of the weirdos that attempted to act as a parental figure to me in my youth.
“There’s something else we need to talk about.” If there’s anyone I can talk to about Niko’s secrets, it must be Lalo. And if she raised Kallasiko as well, then perhaps she has some information on why someone would kill Niko just to get to him.
“Go right ahead, my heart,” she says, stalling the movement of her hands.
“Your kind can be so secretive, so I wasn’t sure what was appropriate to discuss with who.”
“What is it you need to discuss?”
“The reason for what happened to Niko,” I say. “It wasn’t some random thief who did this to Niko. They were looking for someone.”
Lalo’s brows furrow with concern.
“Who?” she asks, taking my hand between hers.
“They called him Ashbringer. But I know they were looking for Kallasiko.”
Lalo doesn’t react at first, and I’m not sure she heard me. But then she finally moves, nodding her head deeply.
“I see.”
“You were right not to trust anyone with this. But I fear I don’t have the answers you’re looking for. I haven’t seen Kalla in many years. I miss him dearly, but I fear he is not the male I once knew. I don’t know anything of the world he has involved himself in. He is not spoken of because all who know him protect his identity. We must try to contact theKa’lakka.”
“What? The king?”
“Everything Kalla does is in servitude to the Spirit Chosen.”
“You want me to talk to him directly?”
“It’s just a matter of waiting for his next arrival. This is one matter we cannot send out in messages.”
“Right,” I say uncertainly. “I don’t know if I’m the best at speaking with royalty.”
Lalo laughs.
“Mak is only intimidating when he wants to be. He will be on his best behavior for you.”
“And why is that—wait, Mak? That’s his name?”
“He’ll be happy to meet his closest friend’s mate,” she replies. “You may call him Mak in private as Niko does, but do not do so in a public audience.”
“Niko’s friend Mak? That Mak is the king?”
“Yes, the same male.”
I drop the ribbons I was braiding. Why did Niko avoid mentioning all this? To talk about this Mak and not find it relevant to say he was royalty? Amused by my reaction, Lalo pats my knuckles.
“We’ll walk down to the market and ask after the Spirit Chosen. He makes a point of stopping here often. Some might know when his arrival comes—”
“I don’t understand!” I blurt when my mouth catches up with my dizzied mind. “Why did Niko leave? Why did he refuse to come back here on his own?”
Lalo’s lingering amused expression fades, and it seems my question pains her.
“I am not sure that is a question I should answer on his behalf,” she sighs, glancing at the subject of our conversation. “I have my opinions, but I don’t know his deepest emotions.”
I hesitate to repeat his statement that his people were dying. My instinct is that he would never say that to Lalo. But to my eyes, this community is thriving, even if it is small, and there isn’t much excess or luxury to be found. Bellies are full, the pipes have clean water, and most people seem happy.
Lalo must read the direction of my thoughts because she stands up and says, “Did you know that Niko forwards all his contract payments directly to Lakkavi’s account? Lakkavi uses the funds to buy us things we need in Station City. He never keeps anything for himself, preferring to live like some traveling thief.”
