Page 36 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Khani’s the elder of the Healers.” Mama Agba nods. “Imani serves as her Second. They were the ones who set up the infirmary on the first mountain.”

“Let’s go.” Tzain steers Mama Agba toward the third mountain before she can change her mind. He waves us on. “I’ll find you later!”

I smile at his excitement as Mâzeli takes charge of our tour. But as we move, I start to count theIyikasoldiers we pass, my thoughts returningto Nehanda and the war. The soldiers stand out from the divîners in their brassy suits of armor, the sculpted metal reminiscent of Mama Agba’s tailored cuts. Metallic undertones shine through their sleek gauntlets and shoulder pads, ten colors showing each maji’s clan.

Twelve, twenty-eight, forty-two… fifty-seven… seventy-nine.I always pictured a band of disorganized rebels behind theIyika’s red mark, but the eighty soldiers are organized and ready for blood. This is far better than anything I could’ve hoped for. If I can get them on my side, I can end this war a lot faster than I anticipated.

“Jagunjagun!”

We stop as a beautiful, dark-skinned maji struts toward us. She commands attention with her shaved head. Three silver hoops run up her right ear.

“Kâmaru wasn’t lying,” she says. “You’re quite easy on the eyes.”

Her smile turns mischievous, accentuating her wide-set nose and full lips. She bows and touches her knee to the ground, allowing us to see the ornate sleeve of tattoos covering her right arm.

“Nâomi,” she introduces herself. “But my friends call me Nâo, so we might as well start there.” She slings her tattooed arm around Zélie’s neck, pulling her from Mâzeli’s grasp.

“What’re you doing?” Mâzeli asks. “Mama Agba wanted me to take them on a tour.”

“You can do that later. She needs to meet Ramaya and the other elders!”

Nâo drags Zélie off and I start to follow after them, but Mâzeli grabs my arm, forcing me to stay back.

“Are you sure you want to come?” he asks. “The elders aren’t exactly fans.”

His gaze drifts to my white streak and blush rises to my cheeks. Sweat gathers along my temples as I think of facing the maji who stormed Lagos.

“The elders run the sanctuary?” I ask.

“And theIyika.” Mâzeli nods.

“Then I don’t have a choice. Take me to them.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

INAN

DRUMS BEAT THROUGHthe halls, loud, like rolling thunder. Their vibrations shudder through my skull as Mother, Ojore, and I wait outside the throne room doors. As I prepare to make my first public appearance as king, the great monarchs of the past watch from their portraits above.

I try not to think about the fact that if it weren’t for this war, Father’s portrait would hang there, too.

“You’ll be brilliant.” Mother smooths the creases along my shoulders and straightens my crown.

“I don’t know about brilliant,” Ojore teases. “Probably mediocre at best.”

We grin at each other, but stop when Mother glares. “This is no time to joke. Proving yourself to the people will be hard enough, but above all else, you must prove yourself to the advisors.”

I nod, remembering her earlier words. Without the support of the royal council, I won’t have control of the army I need to beat theIyikaand win this war.

Mother motions to the tîtán soldiers standing guard outside the throne room and they salute before welcoming her in. As the oak doors shut again, I start to lose feeling in my legs. I always thought it would be Amari who prepared me in my quarters. Father who handed over the crown when his time was done. I wanted this for him.

I wanted to make him proud.

“Something tells me you could use this.” Ojore digs under his belt, reaching into the pocket of his pants. I don’t know what he could possibly have, but my eyes widen when he removes a bronze piece. Seeing the coin brings me back to the divîner settlement before magic returned, back when Zélie taught me a single incantation.

“What’s this?”I asked when she handed me the coin.

“Something you can hold on to without killing yourself. Have at it and stop fidgeting.”

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