Page 64 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

Though only fourteen, Tahir’s prodigious talents have made him Kâmaru’s Second. It’s because of him and Mama Agba theIyikahave their innovative armor.

“Before you go.” He expands my condensed staff, revealing its newand improved form. Instead of tarnished iron, the polished metal now shares the deep purple hues of my Reaper armor.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathe. “And you were able to make the alterations?”

Tahir nods, pressing a new button in the middle. I jump back when serrated blades extend from each end, piercing forward like daggers.

“You’re a genius!” I spin the staff, marveling at his Welder’s touch. Tahir beams and adjusts the rusted goggles that sit on his forehead.

“It’s my honor, Elder Zélie. Really!”

I press my thumb against the akofena engraved in the staff’s side, trying to draw strength from the swords of war. I stab one end into the dirt, imagining how it’ll feel to dig the blade right through Inan’s heart.

“You’re the Soldier of Death.” Mâzeli approaches from behind. “Why in Oya’s name do you need that?”

“Because someone stabbed me in the back,” I say. “If see him, I want to return the gift.”

The smile falls off Mâzeli’s face, pressing into a hard line. He picks at his ear as he looks down. “I’m sorry. I’ve never killed anyone.”

“Why would you apologize for that?”

Mâzeli sighs, scratching the back of his neck. “’Cause if I had, then I could help you. I wouldn’t be so afraid.”

“It’s okay to be afraid.” I collapse the staff and attach it to my belt. “Everyone’s afraid. I’m terrified.”

My Second studies me with his big brown eyes, squinting as if I’m feeding him lies. “But you’re the Soldier of Death.”

“Jagunjagunis a myth,” I say. “What you and I are about to do is real.” He stands a full head taller than me, but I place my hands on his shoulders.

“Just stick by my side. I’ll summon Oya herself before I let anything happen to you.”

Mâzeli’s smile lights up his round face. Though my words don’t take away all of his fear, his tense shoulders finally relax.

He exhales a deep breath as we make our way back to the others.

“Just know one day, it’ll be me protecting you.”

I smile at his resolve and pull at his large ears. “I look forward to it.”

Our conversation draws to a halt as we wait behind Nâo. She rolls out her wrists and pulls her shaved head to the side, stretching out thelagbaratattooed down the length of her neck.

“Must you put on a show?” Khani arches her brow. Nâo grins and kisses her girlfriend’s freckled cheek.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like to watch.” No one else speaks as Nâo closes her eyes and spreads her arms out wide.“Omi, tutù, omi mí. Omi wá bá mi—”

The chill starts from behind, like winter’s breath kissing the back of our necks. It creeps over my shoulders and crawls down my chest as the moisture in the air cools and expands.

Within seconds the thin layer of fog around us condenses into a thick cloud of white. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up, weaving itself into the dark night.

“Slow and steady,” Amari instructs. “It has to look natural.”

Nâo raises her hands and moves the blanket of fog east, spreading the white wall over the mountain’s ledge and across the bridge. I reach forward and part the trees, watching the wall of white swallow our enemies. When it’s spread far enough, Amari squeezes my shoulder.

“Let’s do this.”

TIME TICKS BYin an endless stretch. My breath hitches as I try to stay silent. By now, the fog is so thick we can’t see more than a few centimeters in front of our heads.

A small flame in Kenyon’s hand lights the path as eight of us make our way to the mountain’s edge. Kâmaruand Tahir walk in the front, while Jahi, Dakarai, and Amari bring up the rear.

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