Page 29 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Come on,Zïtsol,” he says. “Did you really think getting rid of me was going to be that easy?”

“What in the skies are you doing here?” I charge forward, teeth clenching as I scan the forest. “How’d you find us? Who sent you? Where are the rest of your men?”

“At ease, Princess. You’ve seen my work.” He holds up his hands. “If I wanted you captured, you’d already be in a leather sack. I’ve tracked you down to make amends.”

“Liar.” I close in, raising my sword to his neck.

“What are you doing?” Zélie whispers.

“You didn’t hear the threats he made after the rally.”

Roën’s jaw clicks as he stares at my blade. “I’m going to give you one chance to put that down.”

Despite his threat, I tighten my grip. Another push and I’ll draw blood.

“Don’t listen to a word he says,” I declare. “If he’s here, it’s to knock me out and collect the bounty on my hea—”

I cry out as Roën grabs my wrist, forcing me to drop my blade. In one smooth motion, he twists my arm behind my back.

“Like I said.” He pushes me to the side, taking my place at the edge of the cliff. “If I wanted to take you out, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He gestures to the fortress’s borders, waving Zélie over. “TheIyikahave already attempted jailbreaks. Now every facility in Orïsha is armed.”

“Majacite gas?” Zélie asks.

“Perimeter’s riddled with mines.” Roën nods. “Triple the strength of what they used at the rally. Any maji would choke to death before they ever broke out.”

“Then we’ll get masks,” I say. “We can find a way past the gas.”

“Even if you could, the guards will kill everyone inside before they let one maji escape.”

The color drains from my cheeks as his words sink in.

“That’s impossible.” I shake my head. I know this is war, but even Mother couldn’t be that cruel.

“With Lagos choked off, the military can’t afford to lose another city to theIyika,” Roën explains. “They certainly can’t afford for them to gather more soldiers.”

I stare at the twigs on the ground as my plan crumbles like sand. After our success freeing Zélie from Gombe’s fortress, I was sure this strategy would work. Liberating prisoners for our army was the foundation of my attack, the start of my path back to the throne. But if Mother will kill every maji we try to break out…

Skies.

We haven’t even struck, and somehow she’s already won.

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Tzain says, stepping between Roën and Zélie. “You expect us to believe you came all this way just to warn us?”

“Come on, brother.” Roën smiles. “Where’s the coin in that? I’ve come to collect a bounty from the only person in Orïsha who doesn’t want you dead.”

“I knew it.” I step back. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“Good. Stay here. Zélie’s the one they’re after.”

Roën removes a note from his pocket and I see the redIthat’s been tagged across our path.

“TheIyika?” Zélie reaches for the parchment. “They’re looking for me?”

“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.”

I snatch the parchment from Zélie’s hands, studying the assortment of red dots. I think of the rebel who stared me down at my rally, the hatred in her scarred eye.

“TheIyikawant to kill me and the rest of the monarchy,” I say. “We can’t go to them.”

---