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

by Tomi Adeyemi

search the woods, but I catch her lanky silhouette behind the broken ruin walls.

She whips around when she hears her name, a golden mask fixed over her face.

Why would she turn around?

Raifa rips off her mask,

Why?

The Iyika will never respect me unless I can prove my power. I need control of my magic if I want to win them over to my side.

Why would she think that? Why is that a logical thought to her. Especially when they feel she shouldn’t have power at all!

“It took less than five minutes with the Iyika for you to stab me in the back!” “Stab you in the ba—” Zélie stops, snorting to herself. “So that’s what this foolishness is about. After everything he’s done, you still want to trust Inan.”

Great choice of words to throw at someone who was literally stabbed in the back, carved up.

When Bimpe walks away to grab a comb, Mári leans in close. “I can make four animations.” “Four?” I raise my brows. “That’s impressive.”

Lol. That’s adorable!

“Ay, come on now. Before the Raid you wouldn’t shut up about joining the other Reapers.”

Dude, that was 11 years ago…

Say what you want, but I remember the way your eyes lit up after you and Mama watched that Reaper elder ascend.”

And how, exactly are these elders chosen? Because right now it just seems like anyone is getting the role. Why, Kenton, for example? Kamaya?

The last time a new Reaper elder was chosen,

Was chosen… the operative word… but by whom?

“Before the Raid, the role of elder was reserved for the most powerful maji in a clan,” Mama Agba continues. “If one believed that title belonged to them, they had the right to challenge for the chance to prove it. Alternatively, an elder could recognize a new power and step aside. It has been brought to my attention that is what one of you would like to do now.”

Wow… dude is already stronger than her and she had her powers longer…

Magic heats the air around me as more than blood is pulled from my form. Gasps echo throughout the crowd as my hand bonds to the stone surface.

So is this unusual or something? Why are they gasping?

He grabs an old pair of pants off my floor.

Why would he have old pants on his royal floor?

Ojore’s free hand trembles by his side. It takes a few moments for him to fall back into himself. When he finally does, he turns away from me. I feel the heat of his shame.

Ojore escorted her out that first day with no issues, knowing she was a burner because she threatened Inan.

“They’ve tortured us long enough.

How long is that? A month? Compared to the 11 years you’ve torture them?

My muscles tense as we crouch behind a tree, scouting the Iyika’s camp.

That can’t be thee camp since it’s hidden in the mountain. Or is this another faction?

“Tell them we have the king.”

How does she know?

Ojore stops in his path as a wall of fire appears out of thin air. It builds in strength, flames lighting the horror on his face.

Why does he have horror on his face now? He was so brave running towards the fire just moments ago…

My general lifts her into the air. The sight makes my stomach twist.

I thought she was short as hell. How she lifting someone, likely taller than her, into the air?

I smell the way her flesh burned as Father’s soldiers carved through her back.

So she was being burned from the inside and out!

This is their fault. I clench my fist, thinking the words I can never speak aloud. Where would we be if they’d taken Inan’s offer?

True.

Zélie meets my eye, warning me to back down.

Wow. When this is her fault.

“Just tell Zélie what you want,” he says. “She’ll listen.”

And you’re delusional.

“Ramaya, I challenge you to be the new Connector elder.”

Wow…

Because of them, we’ve lost our leverage in this war.

What leverage did you have? Did I miss something?

“What in Oya’s name do you think you’re doing?” Zélie says, breaking through the thinning crowd.

What’s it look like?

“You may not have to concern yourself with the war, but as queen, I don’t have a choice.

But you seem to forget that you’re not the queen. Inan is alive and well, thanks to you. You are still just a princess.

“Ya èmí, ya ara!” My skin stings as a vibrant blue light engulfs my entire arm.

Why did she have to use magic in the first place? Why not fight normally until there was a need for magic?

I shoot out my palm and try to chant again. “Ya èmí, ya—”

Learn how to chant internally…

I reach for my sword, but its metal does nothing to stop her attack.

Should have led with a weapon fight instead of magic, which you barely know how to use. Play to your strengths stupid.

Blue wisps spark from my fingertips as I launch another attack. “Ya èmí, ya ara!” I lunge forward, arm outstretched. My fingers come within a breath of Ramaya’s neck before she spins out of my range.

Why isn’t she using her normal skills in combination with her new magic? She looks like an idiot, just running around the circle airheaded her arms out. No footwork or plan, just charge. Smdh.

but she ducks and slams another fist into my cheek.

See. Fist fight girl! Pay attention.

We now have over two hundred mouths to feed, and most are still powerless divîners. Rations decrease as our dormitories swell.

I thought the grounders could grow food?

“You promised me you wouldn’t use what I taught you against a maji,” I say. “I know, but I didn’t have a choice—”

Yes you did! As soon as the fight began you went immediately to using that incantation! I’d forgotten all about that promise you had just made! You broke it at the first opportunity. Liar, just like your brother. Your family!

“You chose to win at any cost. Like your father. Like Inan.”

Facts! None of you are trustworthy.

“It’s bad out there. We need you.”

Oh, now y’all need her?

“Sorry I’m late,” Folake says as she enters the room.

Oh wow. Folake.

I picture how Mother would react in this situation. Even when she didn’t belong, she always had a way of carrying herself that made others feel small.

And that’s what you want to channel? Someone who does that?

“I think what happened is a perfect demonstration of why it’s in your best interest to make peace with the monarchy.”

And here I thought she had only been crying in her room from her injuries for five days…

She’s probably the reason we lost our hold on Lagos.” “You are the reason you lost your hold on Lagos,” I push back.

Yep.

“Forget that,” Kenyon spits. Actual smoke rises from the Burner’s skin as his anger builds. “They injected majacite into my people.

And they had done the same to Zelie when you guys had to rescue her in Grombe…

thought that had to be with me on the throne, but there’s a chance Inan will agree to that now. My brother is not like my father.

Not anymore. That chance left when they burned the food, forcing him to have to redeem himself and save face.

“Even if we want to seek peace, it would be foolish to expect Inan to do the right thing,” she says.

True, but you’re letting your personal feelings guide your decisions.

“If we’re disciplined and trained, we can defeat any tîtáns we meet. We can even take on the queen.”

Wow. Says the girl who was just recently terrified of her.

I thought being an elder would be enough to influence them, but I’m still on the outside.

And that shows how dumb you are to have thought that would be all you had to do.

I wonder if she’s just trying to placate me, or if she truly believes her own lies.

Just placating you, hun.

One wears a snake-like smile. The other has skin the color of sand. I’ve seen him before.…

Roën!

“Your sister has worked with them,” Mother explains.

Definitely Roën.

We still estimate anywhere between two hundred and five hundred soldiers in their forces.”

That’s a huge gap…

“Her primary accomplice is a maji named Zélie Adebola,” Ojore continues. “Native of Ibadan, and then Ilorin. She was fundamental in bringing magic back. Maji across the kingdom regard her as the Soldier of Death.”

What was the significance of bringing up Amari and Zelie?

I put my fingers to my ears as panic fills the room. Something doesn’t add up. “Admiral, they’re already south of Lagos. What would they gain by doubling back?”

Ah shit…