Page 73 of Ashes of Gold
She’s sitting in the corner with a book, her cheeks the color of a beet. I go over and squeeze her shoulder just so she knows we’re good. She tugs her lips sideways in an embarrassed smile.
“I realize her coming around is a process, but damn, being her only Ghizoni friend is exhausting at times,” I say under my breath to Zora, stepping out of Bri’s earshot.
She smirks. “A wise person once told me to give it time. She grows on you.”
“Oh, ha ha. Is that right?”
“Taavi put us up in the same room so I was forced to get to know her better. She does take a bit of getting used to, but I can see why she is a friend.”
“Well, good. So, tell me your thoughts,” I say. “I want to hear what you think.”
“I mean, I am no ruler or anything….”
“No, of course. Neither am I. We just have to do the best we can with what we have in that moment. I have the spell now and I gave her my word.”
“Well, I am thinking that it is perhaps a risk. We have noguarantee she will keep her word. We do not know where her loyalties lie.”
Trust no one.
“She wants to protect her people, I believe that.”
“Yes, but the seed of good intentions can still sprout a poisonous bloom.”
“But, it seems…”
“Things are often not what they seem, Jelani. I mean that with the most respect.”
She isn’t wrong. And I like that she tells me the truth, fully. Boldly. That’s the kind of people I like to ride with. I glimpse a pile of scorched book covers and the wheels start turning.
“What if we make her seal it with a blood oath? That’ll make sure she keeps her word.”
“Graka eyo,” she says, folding her gloved arms around herself. “I like it. Punishable by death. Requires two people and a witness. Clever, Jelani.”
“Bet.” As much as I understand Taavi’s plight, I don’t completely trust her. “Do you know the spell?” I ask.
“I-I do…” Bri’s tone is tentative and Zora and I turn her way. “I’m sorry,” she says. “I’m realizing most of anything I’ve heard about the Macazi has always been what my family’s told me, and how our world deals with them. But when I sat there and thought about everything that’s happened while they kept Zora and me here, they were the kindest people. They have very little and yet they fed us, let us bathe. They gave us their leader’s own quarters, so we were comfortable. I’m… I’m sorry. I’ve internalized all sorts of muck over the years, apparently. And that’s my work to do, notyours. I regret what I said about the Macazi. It was despicable and wrong. Again, I-I’m sorry.”
“What did you say about us?” Taavi’s voice cuts the air like a blade. Behind her, her people funnel out the trapdoor on the floor.
“Nothing,” I say. “I need to talk with you, Taavi. We need to amend our agreement.”
The Macazi form around her, bags shouldered, water cartons dangling at their sides, eyes darting from her to me and back to her.
“What kind of amendment?”
“One to ensure you don’t break your word.”
I found the spell book again easy enough and skimmed it. Taavi and I stand inches from each other. With no time or real place for privacy, the Macazi are an audience around us. Zora is so close, I can feel her breath on my neck.
I don’t know how the rest of my people are going to feel about me doing this. Allying with the Macazi. They’re magicless Grays, but they’re Grays still. Who am I to make a decision for them? I can practically hear Shaun saying it now. But I can’t please everyone. This is the situation we’re in, and this is the only way out of here. Besides, extra bodies to help in the fight against the Chancellor only makes sense. They’re coordinated and strategic from what I’ve seen. This alliance makes sense.
A sea of eyes stare back at me and I swallow. Only thing I didn’t count on is becoming responsible for more people, making decisions for more people.Leading,even though it’s temporary.
Bri clears her throat, and I realize everyone is waiting on me withbated breath. I take a quick glance at the page she is holding open.
“Your hand,” I say, and Taavi holds out her palm. Zora pricks it and out pops a bubble of red. “Now we…”
“Lock hands,” Zora says just as I spot it in the text. Taavi and I intertwine our arms, gripping hands. Her blood is slick between our palms, the wound dripping.
