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

by Tomi Adeyemi

The line takes me straight into the Funmilayo Jungle. Right through an ancient temple.

Shit.

If she hadn’t intervened, I probably would have died.

No probably about it. Off with your head…

If they’re strong enough to beat my mother, I doubt they’ll let me take the throne. At this point, it’s more likely to go to Zélie.

That’s all you’re worried about? Sitting on the throne?

I have to prove myself to the Iyika.

This is getting old…

I lean in, squinting to make out the soldiers on the battlefield.

How are they there a.ready? Intercept p has a different meaning to me.

All eyes drift in my direction and I pause; this is the first time they’ve ever turned to me for answers. Maybe this is my chance.

Oh my word! If she don’t STFU with that chance shit

Tahir’s prodigious talents have made him Kâmarū’s Second.

I thought Kamaru was a grounder?

“Before you go.” He expands my condensed staff, revealing its new and improved form.

I thought he called from afar. How is he right in front of her now?

I stab one end into the dirt, imagining how it’ll feel to dig the blade right through Inan’s heart.

See. Clouded judgement.

Nâo grins and kisses her girlfriend’s freckled cheek.

That was quick…

“No way…” Amari’s jaw drops when Kâmarū moves again. He walks out onto the open air, the grains of earth condensing under his feet each time he moves.

Wasn’t this her plan though?

“Alright,” she sighs. “Let’s get those scrolls.”

Did they forget about the symbols on Lekan glowing and moving into the door of the room with the scrolls? Do they need a sentaro?

“Which way?” I turn to Dakarai as he binds his frizzy curls.

Weren’t you there? Why are you asking him?

“We’re close.” Dakarai points up the stairwell. “If this is right, it should be just around this corner—”

How would he know when he’s following a past vision and they went around a corner?

The others rush to follow, but smack into each other. My stomach drops as Mâzeli pitches forward. “Grab him!” I whisper. Zélie extends her hand, but it’s too late. Mâzeli hits the stone with a low thud.

Why would anyone need to wait for a command to reach out to stop someone from falling?

For a moment, we all stand still, frozen in shock. Then the soldier grabs his horn. “Run!” I yell. I dash the other way, and the maji follow my path.

Run? Not silence him and his horn? Y’all are that close to the scroll room and you retreat from three guards?

“Where are we going?” Zélie shouts. “I don’t know! Away from them!” My heart pounds as I break into the lead. The soldier’s horn echoes down the stone hall. It’s not long before more piercing tones bounce against the curved walls.

Sheer stupidity. Waste of all that effort to get there.

Every step we take brings us further away from those scrolls. If Mother and Inan knew we were coming, they might know what we’re here for, too. Our failure could lead them to the library’s very door—

You’re just now realizing that?

Focus, Amari. We descend another stairwell as the clanking footsteps behind us grow.

Focus, but you still retreat and run further away from where you need to be.

A few of the soldiers wear golden tîtán armor and I see a flash of dark blue ashê.

So you just retreated from none magic wielding soldiers? You could have easily taken them out!

I don’t know if it’s because he isn’t capable, or if all the magic he’s channeled thus far has taken its toll.

OR if the wall only opens for a sentaro’s magic with the symbols on their skin… pretty sure you should remember that part since you remembered the dead end hall and that particular wall.

“Mother, no!” Inan shouts, but he can’t stop their attack. Their general throws out her hands, creating a wall of dark air.

So who is in charge? Inan or his mother? They just disobeyed their kings orders, allowing his mother to override his authority.

We’ve made it in. But how in Sky Mother’s name are we going to get out?

I would definitely choose another wall altogether…

The poor boy’s screams hit my ears like knives. I squeeze the bronze piece tight.

So he wasn’t screaming before? The “poor boy” shouldn’t have tried to be so gung-ho in murdering people.

With only seven fighters, the Iyika have left dozens of our best strewn across the floor. We only have forty soldiers left. I don’t even know if we can take them.

Only forty? You didn’t come with a lot then. Good to know.

“If they die here, this war will only escalate, and we’ll never locate their base. Take them in alive.” I turn to Jokôye. “That’s an order, General. Not a suggestion.”

You need to turn to your mother, who overrode your command so easily.

KENYON’S FISTS SLAM against the walls of the scroll room, a thud reverberating through the metal shelves. The Burner hits it again and again until Kâmarū grabs his wrists and forces him to stop.

Seriously? Instead of reading scrolls he’s punching walls? Smdh. And he’s in charge of all fire welders…

“That tîtán,” Jahi pants. “The way she moved…” Gods, I shake my head. We’re doomed.

Yes, you are, because you’re all idiots! In a room with a wealth of knowledge and not trying to access any of it for a solution. As if there’s only one wall in the place.

Mâzeli’s high-pitched voice rings over everyone else’s. His hands still shake, but he stands his ground, silencing us all. “We got in here despite the odds. We can figure a way out. But we need to stick together and collect these scrolls!”

The fifteen years old, he’s the smartest person in the room.

“Can you use the same incantation to find a path out the front entrance?”

Why the predictable front entrance? Why narrow his choices to the most obvious one the enemy would also be thinking about? Ridiculous.

“Everyone, fill the bags with as many scrolls as you can. Kenyon, burn the rest.”

What!! Oh hell naw!

“These are weapons. Do you really want to leave these sacred incantations in the monarchy’s hands?” Her words sting, though I know she’s right.

No, she’s not. Who’s even to say that they will be able to get in? They don’t have the sacred tattoos.

When these walls part, I have to thrust my new spear through his chest. I don’t have a choice.

Like you just told Amari, you always have a choice, hun. And you’re going to get someone killed with your single-minded hatred towards Inan.

My eyes bulge as I remember my ìsípayá and all the colorful threads of power weaving together.

Oh that’s right! Amari never got a ritual!

They can absorb the powers of tîtáns who share their magic type. They’re more like cênters.” She creates the term.

How does she know she created the term? She’s not a diviner or a maji and knows very little about their world and their history…

Magic swirls around Amari’s body like a typhoon, spreading through every limb. “Ya èmí, ya ara!” she screams. Blue light radiates from her hands in waves, pushing through the soldiers in her way. Mother cries out, arching backward in pain. She grabs her head as she falls to the floor. Her golden mask skitters across the stone.

Good. Though she shouldn’t have to be the one to kill both her evil father and mother. Inan should be responsible for one of their deaths.

My steps falter as I try to slow,

I thought he was pulled back?

Sweat drips down my face as the Iyika’s boots thunder toward us. I flinch when they pass.

I really hope she closed the door. Choked out the oxygen to save some of the scrolls.

Inan cries out, pitching into the wall. Crimson blood leaks from between his fingers, dripping onto the floor. Now’s my chance!

Every time these idiots say “now’s my chance”…

Because when Inan’s gone, my scars won’t hurt. Baba’s death will be avenged.

Well, one of those is a lie…

Mâzeli speeds down the stairs, lips trembling as he lifts his shaking hands. It’s only then that I hear the footsteps behind me. I turn to see an admiral charging forward, his sword poised to cut me down.

Aw! He’s was going to try to kill to save her dumb ass.

“Ojore, no!” Inan throws me off of him, reaching for his blade. I prepare to defend myself, but Inan uses his sword to block his admiral’s attack. “What’re you doing?” Ojore yells. I wonder the same thing.

Because you’re stupid.

“Inan!” Mother rises when we exit the temple grounds. She pushes off the Healer tending to her half-treated burns.

How did she get out before the king?

“The Iyika came here for power,” I say. “We can use the temple to seize some for ourselves!” “Inan, look around you.” Mother shakes her head. “Look at what they’ve done.” She points behind me and I see the endless trail of bodies being carried out.

That has nothing to do with what he just said.

Would she have gotten hurt if I hadn’t wanted Zélie and Amari taken in alive?

Yep. That changes nothing because they would have still exited the way they did.

“You do not even serve these lands. Your duty as king is to protect the throne. The throne and the people who bow before it.” I exhale, knowing I have no other choice. “Destroy it,” I order, though it hurts to speak the words.

Wow.

Mother’s tîtáns form a circle around her as the last of the soldiers is carried away from the temple grounds.

Why do they aide her voluntarily when they are harmed or killed in doing so? Why does she kill her own people?

Up ahead, a tîtán cries out before his body falls limp. He’s dead before he hits the ground. Mother’s magic has taken everything from him.

And you’re just letting your mother kill the people you’re supposed to be protecting… I don’t think anyone in his family should lead Orisha.

“Wake Mama Agba,” I order. “If anyone can get us answers, it’s her.”

You order?

“If you were granted this ability during the sacred ritual, it would explain the origin of Amari and Nehanda’s abilities.

Ok. I’ll wait in how that explains that then… cuz I definitely don’t see it.