Children of Virtue and Vengeance (Legacy of Orïsha, #2)

by Tomi Adeyemi

“The lot hired me to escort you to Ibadan and paid in advance. So, you can come willingly, or I can break out that leather sack.”

Lmao!

“The Iyika want to kill me and the rest of the monarchy,” I say. “We can’t go to them.” “Everyone wants you dead.” Roën rolls his eyes. “I don’t blame them. But why waste your time jailbreaking fighters you can’t have when you can join the maji on the winning side?”

Exactly. Talk to them first.

“Come along, Princess. Let’s see if the Iyika want to kill you as badly as your mother and my mercenaries do.”

Well damn!

As I prepare for my first royal assembly, my fingers twist around the ghost of his sênet piece. I hate myself for missing it.

Assembly? Half of the castle is destroyed and the city is under attack. How will he even have an audience?

“I’ve heard the legends of what greatness lies beneath your robes, but I fear I’m far too pure to see it for myself.”

Lol. Cute.

But after all that’s passed, I don’t even know if I want to use my magic. How can I when it’s the reason Father tried to wipe me from this earth?

Still trapped. He’s so weak.

“When I found you on the ritual grounds, there was so much blood.

Oh, he saved him.

Ojore releases a low whistle. “Even in a war zone, my auntie’s still got it.” “Hush, boy.” Mother narrows her eyes, but smiles as she grabs Ojore’s chin. Though not related by blood, Ojore might as well have been Mother’s first son.

Wow.

“But you’re ready. Your father would be proud.”

Ha! I wonder why he hasn’t told his mother what Saran did. It’s not like she can side with Saran, with her white streak. And most of his anger stemmed from Inan killing Kaea.

Nailah yawns and stretches out by my side, her injured paw still too fragile for us to ride her.

Healers can’t heal them? That’s weirdly wrong.

“All clear?” I call after Roën. “Or should we wait while you pat down the sheep?”

Why would she yell out like that when he just said he needs to check the perimeter?

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you do magic since the ritual.” I brush past him without saying a word, covering the maji with palm ferns before forging ahead. “Really? This again?” He falls in step by my side. “Are we just going to pretend you didn’t call after me when I left?”

Ha ha ha. So he left to seek help for her while also acting like he didn’t care. Ever the merc.

“I see.” Roën smiles. “I hope that something is savoring his last breath.”

He has to have magic…. Of some sort. From his own homeland.

I hate the way he cuts through my words.

He didn’t.

Roën cups my chin, stopping me in my tracks. Though I don’t want to feel anything, his touch makes an ember flicker in my stomach.

You feel something any time someone cute touches you. And you’ve only been touched by Inan and Roën…

“When I heard what happened, I couldn’t take it.” He shakes his head. “I knew you liked me, but to ram yourself into a tree at the very thought of living another day without me?”

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

“Zélie!” Our heads snap to the left as Tzain’s yell echoes through the mountains. The crack of splitting rocks fills the air.

There goes stealth…

“I got this!” Amari runs forward, blue light sparking at her fingertips.

What? She’s never even used her powers! We don’t even know what power she has!

Her skin sizzles as the blue light surrounds her hand. She shoots her palm forward, but instead of releasing her attack, it flares in her own face. Amari cries out in pain, falling to the ground.

And that’s what the dummy gets for being stupid! After being with Zelie when her powers came, she saw her PRACTICE! She hasn’t done a damn thing and expects to use it properly at a time like this.

Spirits condense in the air like grains of black sand. My arms shake from the magic that fights its way out. The spirits race through my bones,

Just do it. Damn. Shut up.

“That’s amazing.” “You’re amazing!” His teeth clench, and I jerk back. He falls to his knees and bows. “Jagunjagun Ikú, I beg of you, take me as your Second!”

Wow. This weak ass… Smdh other than accidentally bringing magic back to everyone, what has she done?

But by then, we will have fallen in love.” His grip tightens when I try to pull away. His voice rises in pitch. “You will be the mother of my children. I shall serve our family till my dying breath—”

Wow… Where is Roën in all this proposing?

I smile, but stop when I see that Roën lags behind.

So… how’s Amari and her self inflicted wounds?

“The job’s done. I need to meet up with my crew back in Lagos.” “Lagos?” I ask. “You’re working for the other side?”

Isn’t she joining “the other side”? The same people he’s meeting in Lagos? The “I” people. These people.

This is the reason Baba ended up in Inan’s grasp. The reason Baba died.

But the soldiers would t have know who either of them were. Inan wouldn’t have known he’d been caught. Make it make sense.

“But your father didn’t want us to get hurt. He offered himself up to the guards and they agreed to spare our lives.”

Still doesn’t make sense.

Though we pass sunset blossoms, the stench of ash fills my nose.

He was cremated at sea… how does the scent…?

The memory of Inan walking Baba to his death reminds me why I’m here. With the Iyika’s help, we can take Inan and Nehanda down. I can wrap my hands around his throat.

And that’s exactly why you’ll fail. You have to get close to him to do that, risking yourself. But not if using magic. Or an arrow.

I step back as he passes, but he stops to bow, iron knee touching the ground. “The stories don’t do you justice,” he says, making my cheeks flush. Mâzeli steps between us. “Kâmarū, I don’t care if you’re twice my size. Back off.”

Lord…

“Let’s go.” Tzain steers Mama Agba toward the third mountain before she can change her mind.

She never said she was going, she said to “send” him.

The soldiers stand out from the divîners in their brassy suits of armor, the sculpted metal reminiscent of Mama Agba’s tailored cuts.

She shouldn’t know anything about Mama Agra’s tailored cuts. She was barely in Ilorin a day.

“I have a plan to liberate Lagos and beat the Iyika. I promise to bring peace back to Orïsha!”

Do you really?

Hands lift throughout the hall and my chest falls. This is supposed to be the prosperous capital of my kingdom and yet in this war, my people starve.

Shouldn’t you know this already? Know that the food supply was cut off?

Nobles rise to their feet at my declaration.

I thought they were already standing. When did they get chairs?

I pull at my collar as sweat gathers at my neck. “Then we’ll launch a full-scale assault. Overwhelm them before they can strike—”

Didn’t he just announce that he had a plan? He needs to stop and think instead of ramble out stuff.

“Your Majesty, you spit in our faces!” Jokôye roars, inciting her soldiers’ cheers. “These maggots have destroyed our home. They’ve killed the people we loved—”

And you’ve done the same shit for the last eleven years, at least!

“Council, allow me to introduce the future of the Reaper clan.” Mâzeli charges forward. “The legend of the lands. The eventual mother of my three sons—”

🤣🤣🤣 That boy is wild!

I clear my throat, waiting for my introduction to follow,

She’s acting entitled in a place where she knows she’s not welcomed. Lord, child. Read the room.

“With your strength, we can annihilate Nehanda and her tîtáns.

What strength? She hasn’t exhibited any strength whatsoever!

“Who better to lead us than the Soldier of Death?” Ramaya asks.

The Soldier of Life, maybe?

My throat dries as I step forward, a feeble attempt to insert myself into the conversation.

Shouldn’t even try.

Zélie’s face hardens as she stares at the note. My stomach drops when she throws it to the ground. “If the little prince is offering food to the maji, there’s poison in it.”

Wow.

“He’s good with his words, but you’d be a fool to believe any of them.” “What do you suggest?” Na’imah leans forward. “How do we strike back?”

Why would you need to strike back over a peaceful letter?

Ramaya looks me up and down before turning back to Zélie. “I look forward to working with you on the council. We’ll hold a Reaper challenge and make your ascension official tomorrow.”

So if Ramaya is in charge, why are they acting like Zelie would lead?

“Ramaya, wait.” I try to grab her arms, but she stops me with a look.

Why would you try to touch someone that doesn’t like you?

“Jokôye put you on the spot. That maggot threw you off guard. You’re doing great work, but it’s alright to change your mind.”

Wow.

“For so long we’ve been defenseless against the havoc the maji wreak,

For so long? They’ve been suppressed for the last eleven years!

This is my chance to bring the peace my father couldn’t.

Not when you’re still plotting to get rid of magic…

Frayed kaftans hang from their limbs.

Why is that when Amari just spoke of the food in the cafeteria at the camp?

But the Iyika didn’t even make it into the city before they staged their attack.

So you blame all of them for the actions of a few…