Page 107 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

“Zélie’s right.” Her voice echoes in the silence. “This is the only chance we might have to escape. But it could also be our chance to win.”

“What are you doing?” I grab her arm, pulling her until we’re face-to-face. My body still shakes at the sight of her, but I don’t look away.

“Don’t do this.” I tighten my grip.“Please.”

Amari presses her lips into a hard line. Her gaze settles on my hand. She exhales a long breath and closes her eyes.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t abandon my home without a fight.”

“Amari, no!” I try to hold on. “This bloodshed has to end!”

But she pulls herself out of my grip. The entire mountain hangs on her silence as she turns to face the crowd.

“For once, we have the upper hand,” she yells. “We can work around their tricks. We don’t need to march to Lagos and take down the entire army. We just need to take out the king!”

Her words run together as her excitement builds and she soaks in every gaze. I can almost see the glint of a crown in her curls.

“Why run?” She throws up her hands. “Why risk the dangers that lie in the unknown when we can avenge the death of Mâzeli and fight for our home?”

My body goes numb as Amari turns the tides before my eyes. Rumbles echo from all around. Even my Reapers latch onto her call for vengeance.

“Let us rise!” She punches her fist into the air. “Let’s band together and end this war! Together we can win!Gba nkàn wa padà!”

The Yoruba is slick on her lips, but it does the trick. The cry ripples from maji to maji until the entire mountain shakes.

“Gba nkàn wa padà! Gba nkàn wa padà!”

I sink to the bloodstone as my ears ring with the sounds of war.

Gba nkàn wa padà.

Take back what’s ours.

CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

AMARI

THE NEXT FEW HOURSpass in a blur. Everyone comes together with new purpose, energized by the chance to win this war. With Zélie against our attack, command of theIyikafalls to me. My head spins as we sit in the dining hall, using every maji at our disposal to hammer out the final details.

“I say we take everyone who can fight and storm the village.” Kenyon slams his fist on the table. “Nehanda’s probably with the king. We’ll need every maji we can get.”

“You can’tstormIbadan,” Na’imah retorts. “It’s sequestered in the mountains.”

“And if we storm the city, we lose our biggest advantage,” I remind him. “We don’t want Inan to know we’re there until it’s too late for him to stop us.”

Out of instinct, I wait for someone to push back, but they accept my every point. Every elder takes a moment, brainstorming stealth-based alternatives.

“What if we only attack with the elders?” Kâmaruasks. “Most of their soldiers are still outside Lagos. We don’t need a massive force.”

I nod. “Sneaking in ten people will be far easier than sneaking in a hundred.”

“Are we sure there will be ten of us?” Na’imah purses her lips and all eyes fall on the empty seat. I haven’t seen Zélie since she walked off the bloodstone. I don’t even know if she plans to fight.

Blush rises to my cheeks, but I force myself to move on. Would theIyikafollow my command if they knew Zélie’s heartbreak was my fault?

“If we’re only taking the elders to Ibadan, then our Seconds should guide everyone else toward Lagos,” I decide. “We can keep them away from the fight while making Inan think we’re taking his bait.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Kâmarurises and a small weight lifts off of my shoulders. After what happened to Mâzeli, I don’t want any other maji in harm’s way. At least this way, they’ll stay safe.

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