Loyalties. Of course. Kyra had a task to do. “I’m here on behalf of the Palace,” she said. “They want to offer an alliance.”
Leyus exchanged a glance with Havel, as if Kyra had confirmed his words. Kyra looked at Leyus, then Havel and Zora. “I was born of two different groups, raised by a third, and recruited by a fourth. I belong to no one, but I serve those whom I see fit. Right now, I serve the Council. I know you don’t think highly of the humans, but you must hear this message if you want your clans to survive.”
Zora turned a languid gaze to Leyus. “Are you in the habit of negotiating with humans?”
“Only those who prove useful,” said Leyus.
“They are untrustworthy. Remember what happened with Maikana,” said Zora.
Kyra momentarily forgot about her mission. “You knew my mother?” she asked, fully aware that her voice came out a breathless whisper.
The three Makvani exchanged looks, and their silence was more telling than anything they could have said.
“What happened?” said Kyra. She was overstepping bounds, she knew it. But she didn’t care.
The woman picked up a stick and drove it into the snow, giving Kyra a pointed glance as she did so. “Your mother forced us out of our homeland.”
At this, Leyus made a noise in his throat. “Mind your words, Zora. We would have done the same, had we been in her position.” Once again Kyra sensed an undercurrent of emotion. Leyus wasn’t as hardened toward humans as he pretended to be. He’d loved a human woman once—her mother. Kyra had an opening here, if she didn’t ruin her opportunity.
“Is it really so unthinkable to make an alliance with the humans? The man whose message I bear, his name is Malikel. He’s an honorable man who won’t break his word. Wouldn’t it be better to help each other rather than destroy each other?”
Leyus looked at her for a long moment. “What does he propose?”
Kyra plunged into an explanation of what had happened around Forge. Not much of it seemed to surprise Leyus. He knew that the troops out here were from the northern city of Edlan and that they were planning an attack on Forge.
“The Edlan forces are settling in for a drawn-out siege. This buys you time against Willem’s forest offensive, but it’ll only be a matter of days or weeks before these Edlan troops start causing you trouble. They’ll be in the same forest, hunting the same game. Truth is, no matter how this fight turns out, the victors will still outnumber you by far. And eventually, they will defeat you too.”
She wondered if she was in danger of insulting him again, but Leyus simply regarded her. “And what does Malikel propose instead?”
“He would have your help breaking the siege. Your people are quick and familiar with the forest. If you create enough trouble for the troops, Edlan will retreat. In return, Forge will cede to you a portion of the forest where you can live and hunt undisturbed. He’ll also provide help in the form of workmen and supplies to help you make a real home.”
Leyus was silent as he weighed her words. “No,” he said firmly. “We will not risk our lives for the promises of a human official we do not know.”
“But—”
“I’ve made my decision. I want nothing more from you.” When Kyra opened her mouth to protest again, he cut her off. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
There was no hint of compromise in his voice, and Kyra’s objections died in her throat. Havel and Zora watched her with equally unyielding gazes. As Kyra turned away, she racked her mind for an alternative, some other way to convince Leyus, but she came up with nothing. That was when she noticed Adele coming toward them.
The young clanswoman walked right past Kyra and bowed deeply in the Makvani fashion, running three fingers down the front of her throat. “Forgive me, clan leader,” she said. “I couldn’t help but overhear the halfblood’s request. I would like to help her, if I may.”
Leyus sat up straighter. “That is an unusual request, Adele. How do you plan to help her?”