The old woman didn't speak right away. Her gaze stayed on the stone in my hand, heavy and unreadable, like she was weighing it.
My throat tightened. I couldn't afford her silence.
Without thinking, I dropped to my knees. "Please, malam… if you know anything, tell me. This isn't just about me. It could mean everything to someone I love."
Her eyes lifted to mine. Calm, but sharp enough to cut. "The man who came with you before… he isn't here this time?"
Riley knelt beside me so fast her knee hit the floor with a thud. "No, he's not here," she said quickly, waving her hands like she could calm the air itself. "He's far away. If you want me to bow too, I will. Just tell my sister what she needs to know."
"Both of you," the old woman said firmly, "get up."
Her voice wasn't cruel. It was final. The kind of tone that made my instincts obey before my mind even caught up.
