Aehako

Aehako ("Eye-ha-koh") is a main character in Barbarian Lover and a POV character in The Barbarian Before Christmas.

He is a male Sa-khui hunter. He is Kira's mate and father of Kae and Hakeer.

## Description

Aehako is thick, muscular and tall. He has more prominent face ridges than some, which makes his face - especially his nose - seem blunter than most. He keeps his hair cut short in a buzz cut making his big, arching horns look that much more prominent. He is a pale slate blue in color and has an endearing smile.

## Personality

Aehako is charming, personable and good with women. He is flirty and kind, being gentle but persistent with his attentions toward Kira.

Aehako is close friends with Haeden.

## History

Aehako is the son of Sevvah, his mother, and Oshen, his father. He has an older brother, Rokan and a much younger brother, Sessah.

Aehako was pleasure-mates with both Asha and Maylak before they resonated.

In Barbarian Alien, Aehako and Haeden discover Raahosh and Liz in the woods. Aehako is assigned to be Liz's guard. before heading back to the tribal caves, he tells Liz about Raahosh's father. Later, Liz takes him 'captive' in order to demand Raahosh's return. He plays along and asks her for advice about courting human women, Liz suggests he make a courting gift for Kira.

### Barbarian Lover

Aehako had fallen for the quiet and sad Kira. However, she was spurning his advances even while she responded to them. Caring deeply about her and feeling protective over her, he offered to travel with her to the Elders Cave to get her implant removed and have the sa-khui language implanted.

Just beforehand she revealed the slaving aliens that brought her to Not-Hoth had returned. Aehako, Haeden and Harlow head with her to the cave. When they arrive, Kira was able to use the ship's medical bay to have the implant removed. When she awoken she confessed to Aehako that she won't be able to have children making her earlier reluctance make sense. He accepted this and they decided to become pleasure-mates.

Kira went to the computer and downloaded the ancient Sakh language (spoken by the sa-khui), Szzt, and the language of the chirping species. She prepared for the coming slaves, getting guns and making a backup plan in case she got captured.

The slavers weren't deterred by her attempts to scare them off and shot at Aehako and Haeden. Both men pass out. Haeden was seriously injured and Aehako sent Harlow to get poles from a travois. Harlow got knocked out and didn't return.

By the Elders Cave, Aehako saw the ship crash and assumed Kira has died. However a few minutes later Kira landed the pod nearby. They reunite and took turns dragging a dying Haeden back to the Tribal Caves. They met with Liz and Raahosh and were able to return Haeden back to the cave in time.

Vektal decided to open the South Caves and choice Aehako to be acting chief there. The day the tribe members move in, Kira and Aehako resonate.

### Later History

#### Inbetween

Aehako's first child, Kae, is born between Ice Planet Holiday and Barbarian's Prize.

During the events of Barbarian's Mate, Josie discovered the crash remains of the slave ship Kira downed in Barbarian Lover. In Barbarian's Touch, Kira, Aehako and several other hunters head there. Kira discovered Lila and Maddie in stasis pods and explains what has happened to them.

#### The Barbarian Before Christmas

After being gone for several months due to the discovery of twenty stasis pods in Barbarian's Rescue, Rokan suggested that Aehako has to be one of the sa-khui returning to Croatoan village early. Worried, he returned only to discover he was required because he was about to resonate to Kira again.

During the time jump between Steph's Outcast and Sam's Secret, Kira gave birth to her son Hakeer.