Page 39 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“What’s your name?” I ask.

She blinks in surprise before narrowing her angular eyes.

“My name is Raifa, and I will live to see a maji sit on that throne.”

Jokôye charges forward at the threat, but I force her to stay back. I pick up the loaves on the floor, placing them back into Raifa’s cotton bag.

“You don’t have to steal,” I tell her. “We’re giving fresh food away for free.”

“Inan!” Mother hisses, eyes shining with concern. Behind me, Jokôye’s jaw ticks. Soldiers glare at my back. The approval I need diminishes by the second, but looking at the girl, I remember the promises I made to Zélie. I don’t just want to be king.

I want to be the king my father couldn’t be.

“Take this back to your people and spread the word.” I hand Raifa the bag. “Let them know any defector who volunteers for the reconstruction efforts shall receive double the food rations.”

The color drains from Mother’s face. Her legs buckle as she finds her seat. The crowded hall erupts in anger as I hand Raifa to Ojore. He’s the only one I can trust.

“Make sure she gets back to the forest in one piece.”

Ojore clenches his jaw so tight I worry he’ll crack a tooth, but he forces himself to bow. Rage builds as the people watch their admiral walk the rebel out the palace doors.

“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—”

“So have we!” I cut her off. “For decades. We strike them. They strike us. The cycle never ends!”

Mother’s cheeks are so pale, she looks like she may faint. But she doesn’t understand the things I’ve seen. No one knows the things I’ve felt.

“If you were a maji and your powers returned, what would you have done?” I address the crowd. “Their families were slaughtered under Father’s reign. We sent half their people to the stocks! Until this moment, the maji have had two choices—fight against us or face persecution. With this decree, they will have another option. An opportunity for lasting peace they’ve never been afforded.”

Though I look for support in the crowd, no one comes to my defense. The advisors keep me under cold glares. Any goodwill I built with the military slips away.

“You may not agree with my methods, but this is a chance for peace.” I face Jokôye again. “We only survive if both sides put down their arms.”

Jokôye shakes her head, but she doesn’t push back on my rule. Father always valued her loyalty. If I could earn her trust, I know I would value it, too.

“What about those who won’t join us?” Jokôye asks. “Those who shall spit on your offer?”

“Any maji who makes that choice will suffer my wrath. I promise, I will not hold back.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

AMARI

IBRACE MYSELFas Nâo and Mâzeli lead us past the sanctuary’s narrow dormitories and half-constructed towers. Bodies crowd along the second mountain of theIyika’s base as word of our arrival spreads like wildfire.

“Out of my way!” Mâzeli revels in the attention. “Soldier of Death coming through!”

The title echoes around Zélie as we move, inciting whispers through the crowd. People stare at her as if she were a goddess. They look at me like I’m a bug.

I don’t know if they glare because they know who I am or because of the white streak in my hair. I attempt to tuck it away as we pass under the vine-covered archway of the mountain’s largest tower.

“The elder quarters fill the floors above,” Nâo explains. “But we use the ground floor as the cafeteria.”

“Thank the skies.” My mouth waters at the scent of spiced chicken and fried plantain. Platters of jollof rice line the far wall; it’s more food than I’ve seen in moons. But my appetite quells when Nâo leads us toward the table of elders in the back. Though they wear the same suits of armor as their counterparts, the five clan heads present radiate natural power.

“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—”

“Mâzeli, shut up.” Nâo hits the boy over the head before taking her place on an empty stool. “Elders, the Soldier of Death joins us at last.”

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