THE KING'S NIN

“Keep up, Asiri; I don’t want you getting lost.” I peeled my eyes from the luscious desserts and skittered to my mother’s side, gripping her skirt in my hand. I always attended the evening market with her, as that was when leftover foods sold for the cheapest. We weren’t a wealthy family, so we could never afford sweets.

She stopped up at a bread stall and caressed the top of my curly head. “Stay where I can see you.” I nodded and slowly wandered to examine the nearby stalls as she spoke to the vendor. I stumbled upon a unique booth, enticed by the brilliant colours. I trod closer to explore the beautiful cakes coated with assorted colours and fruits.

“Wow.” I gaped. I had no idea sweets could be that beautiful—especially the gold ones near the front, glimmering in the setting sun.

“Are these tasty?” I jumped at the voice and turned to see a boy my age standing at my side. He had dark skin, a colour I hadn’t witnessed before, and an oversized scarf wrapped around his head and neck to hide his other features—all except for mysterious, round, grey eyes. I turned my attention back to the cakes and shook my head.

“I wouldn’t know. My Momma doesn’t have money to buy me expensive stuff like this.”

“Is it expensive?”

“My brother and sister said they were, so I shouldn’t ask for them. They say it’s bad to want something we can’t afford. I like to look at them. They’re pretty.”

“Why don’t you have any money?”

“I don’t know. Momma says it’s because Papa has to spend all our money on something important, so we don’t get any.”

“Which one is your favourite?” He gestured to the blue one on the right with two fingers. “I like that one.” I smiled and pointed to the shimmering gold one in the front.

“I like that one. It sparkles like the sun.” The boy fished in his cloak pocket and pulled out some coins. He plopped them on the counter, gaining the attention of the elderly vendor.

“Is this enough for two sweet rolls?

“Of course.” She slid the money into her cloak pocket. “Which ones do you want?”

“The blue one and the gold one.” He gestured to each one, and she fished them out, dropping each into a cloth and wrapping it before she handed it to him. “Thank you.” The boy turned to me and extended the hand on which the sweet gold roll rested. “Here. Don’t you want it?” I hesitated, looking from his hand to his face.

“I can’t pay you back.”

“I don’t want you to pay me back.”

“My brother Udrak told me that if someone does something nice for you, you should repay them. It’s dangerous to owe someone a debt.”

“A debt?” I shrugged.

“My brother says people don’t do good without wanting something in return.”

“I don’t want anything from you, though.”

“Still…”

“What’s your name?”

“I’m Asiri.”

“Hi, Asiri. I’m Caisus.”

“Caisus,” I repeated.

“If you want to repay me, would you be my friend?”

“Your friend?”

“Yeah. Be my friend. I don’t have any.”

“You don’t? Why not?”

“I don’t know. My father doesn’t let me leave often. And when I do leave, I have to hide. He never lets other children come over, and my brother is still too young to play with me. It gets lonely.”

“That’s sad.” I chewed my bottom lip before stepping up and taking the sweet from him. “Okay. I’ll be your friend in return! I’ll ask my mom if she can talk to your dad, and then we can play together!” Caisus smiled.

“I’d like that.”

“Okay, we should go find her, then.” I took his spare hand and moved back to the bread stall. His hand was soft, warm, and bigger than mine as he gripped my hand back. As I approached my Mother’s backside, she had finished placing a few loaves of bread into a cloth and wrapped it up. She turned, and her eyebrows shot up when she saw me.

“Asiri?” She narrowed her eyes at the sweet in my hand and then at the boy whose hand I was still holding.

“Mom! I made a new friend!”

“Did you?”

“He bought me something and asked me to be his friend in return.”

“I see. How nice of you.” She leaned over and smiled at Caisus. My Mother was beautiful, with golden skin, long brown hair, and sweet brown eyes. Though thin and gangly, she had a grace about her. Her welcoming smile put everyone she encountered at ease. “Where are your parents?”

“I didn’t come here with my parents.” He responded, fidgeting slightly. “I came here with one of my father’s aids.”

“Well, we should probably find him, shouldn’t we?” She straightened up, and I rushed to her side.

“Keep close now, boys.” She smiled at Caisus. “You too, young man. I don’t want you to get lost and worry your guardian.” He looked at her with wide eyes before nodding. She moved slower through the crowd, and we followed close to her. I chatted with Caisus, asking him questions – though he didn’t want to answer anything about his family or where he lived.

My Mother stopped suddenly and turned to look at Caisus, placing a hand on his head. “I think we may have found him.” She steered our attention to a well-dressed man frantically searching the crowd, scanning every area of the depleting market.

“That’s Mire,” Caisus mumbled. He pulled his hand away and walked towards him; upon seeing him, the man’s face inundated with relief.

“Young Master, I told you to stay by my side!” He ran up to him and dropped his hands on Caisus’s shoulders as he knelt before him. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah…” he looked back to us, and the man stood to face my Mother.

“Thank you for looking after the Young Master.” He said with a bow. He was a handsome, mature man with dark hair accentuating his bright green eyes.

“Not at all. My son happened upon him.” She placed a hand on my head, stroking it affectionately, and I leaned into her side, relishing the touch. “He bought him some cake, but I’m afraid I don’t have the money to pay you back.” He regarded me with a kind smile and shook his head.

“If the Young Master wanted him to have it, there would be no need to pay us back.” He turned to Caisus, held his hand out, and slid his smaller hand into his grasp. “I do have to return him home now. Thank you again for looking after him.”

“Wait. Caisus is my friend.” I stepped up to Mire and frowned. “We were going to play together….”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to do that.” He leaned into my Mother and whispered in her ear. Whatever he said caused her face to be pale and her smile to fade.

“My apologies! I didn’t know.” She hastily shifted the bundles to one arm and placed a hand over her heart, starting to bow.

“Please, my lady, there is no need. It is better not to draw attention to him. However, that is the reason they cannot be friends. Why they are unable to see one another again.”

“I understand.”

“We can’t be friends? Does that mean I can’t see Caisus anymore?” I wasn’t sure what Mire informed mother, but the idea of never seeing a new friend upset me.

“I’m sorry, Asiri. It just isn’t possible.” I gave Caisus a brief look as she took my hand and pulled me back to her side. He waved, and Mire turned them around and started to weave through the crowd. Caisus glanced at me once more before the throng of bodies obscured their views.

“Oh, Asiri.” I dropped the dessert on the ground to rub my eyes as I bawled, tears rolling down my cheeks. Mother scooped me into her free arm and hoisted me against her side. “Let’s return home.” I hugged her neck and sobbed as she carried me back to our humble abode through the market.

That night, there was a rare occurrence – Father returned for the first time in two years. He didn’t live with his wife and children, though I never understood why when I was younger. My brother and sister explained it was due to his Mistress, but I couldn’t grasp why he never stayed home. I did understand, at least, that it was the reason we barely had any money for food or luxuries.

Father spent all the money he made as a Minister on his Mistress and their home, and the only reason we didn’t starve was our mother’s work as a seamstress. Mother and Father spoke silently that night before my Father came to see me. He called me a “good boy” and gave me a strong hug d before leaving. I didn’t know what they talked about, but Mother hugged me all night and cried.

I hadn’t seen that boy, Caisus, for fifteen years after that and never expected to run into him again, especially not like this.