Page 40 of Ashes of Gold
“It is true then, we share blood,” she says before casting her gaze to the floor. “Yakanna’s spirit lives in you. I knew it. I could sense it. I…” She meets my eyes, hers tilted at the corners, heavy with something. Is that regret? “Zora is my most trusted saisa. She is the purest Yakanna the good Mother put on this earth. Keep her close. Danger awaits you out there, Jelani. There are thousands clamoring for your death.” She shoves a piece of Yakanna armor at me, the one I’d left behind. “It would be smart to have some Ghizoni gold on you. It’s not that soft metal from where you’re from. It’s an element forged by the Ancestors, who were gifted it from the gods themselves. It’s tougher than steel.”
“Thank you.”
Kai parts her lips to say something else but turns to leave instead.
“All set then,” I say. “Get some rest. We leave at dusk.”
Trying to get to sleep is a joke; my mind goes nonstop. I curl up on the thin cot with the books Bri and I went through. She’s snoring. Jhamal’s in the corner, somehow sleeping while sitting straight up. I thumb through the texts again, more to keep my hands busy than anything.
Sleep must have overtaken me because I wake with Jhamal standing over me. I nudge Bri with an elbow. She grunts.
“Let’s go.”
Outside, storm clouds rumble, rain whipping around us between strikes of lightning. I’m careful to skirt the barbed wire around the opening to the underground lair as I latch my armor on. Zora helps me situate it just right.
“We ready?” I ask, snapping the last hook on my side.
“I am,” Zora says, rising from her knees, dusting off her clothes.
“I’d wished for a better omen on the day we set out,” Jhamal says, gazing at the sky with trepidation stamped on his face.
“We don’t get to choose the days we fight,” I say. “They choose us. The only thing we can do is be ready.”
Jhamal and Zora set off first and I go behind them.
“Wait.” Bri’s brows are furrowed as she rummages through her pack, a loud buzzing sound going off inside it. She plucks out a familiar wristband lit up with an orange light.
“Take this,please.It’s been going off like nonstop since we came from underground.” She hands me her watch, and 183 missed messages from Julius pop up on its face. I glance at Jhamal up ahead before slipping it in my pocket.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE OUTSIDE AIR ISthick like a blanket. The sky fades to pink with a dusky golden hue. And the crumbled cluster of buildings that used to liven with hustle and bustle, the Central District, is a dot to the west.
We walk in a line; Zora’s gaze is narrowed, focused. Jhamal walks beside her, and they talk about something that deepens the lines on their faces. We could have transported to our destination, but it’s too big of a risk populating somewhere without knowing who or what is already there. So, walking it is. Bri is beside me, tying up her blond hair into a bun as if she’s preparing for some epic battle. Totsi’s is on Market Street in the Commercial District of Ghizon, or what’s left of it.
“It’s a solid few hours at least,” I say to Bri. I know because back in East Row, I walked that far home from the library when I missed the last bus once.
“At least.” She reshoulders her bag and walks, her stare dead ahead. She hates being out here, seeing it all over again. No one wants to see their home destroyed. I get that. Tiny droplets fall from the sky, cold on my skin. I swipe up on the watch for what feels like forever.
Julius: Aye, it’s been a minute, you good?
Julius: Rue?
Julius: Yo my shit is PACKED. Come through, foreal.
Julius: Fam, a nigga starting to bug out. Say something, pls
Julius: Lmk you aight or something.
Julius: RUE!
Julius: I checked on T and Ms. Leola. They good. They wanted to know if you was aight and I said I didn’t know.
Julius: This shit fuckin with me, man… say something. The three little dots… a read receipt… something.
Me: Hey! Sorry.
Before my message even delivers, three dots pop up on the screen and my watch vibrates nonstop.
