Page 15 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

In this world, there will always be men who wish you harm. That is why we train.

I always thought she was speaking of the guards. The monarchy and King Saran. Could she have known what enemies would invade our shores? As a gifted Seer, did she see the battles our future held?

The sight of my staff reignites something the Skulls stole when they abducted me from my land. Something I thought was taken when they held me down and shaved my head. I lost my magic once before, yet despite everything that was against us, I managed to win it back.

Despite everything, I found a new way to attack.

We brought King Saran to his knees. When Queen Nehanda stood against us, we razed Lagos to the ground. I won’t allow myself to cower now.

I won’t bow to any other crown.

“Be vigilant,” I hear Mama Agba hiss. “Wait for your moment to strike.”

I fix my eyes on King Baldyr, soaking the instruction in.

This is the man who hunts my people.

Tonight he dies.

CHAPTER EIGHT

ZÉLIE

BUT HOW?

I close my eyes. I try to block everything out of my mind. I think of every weapon at my disposal. The edge I’ll need to attack. To kill.

When I first started training with Mama Agba, I was one of the smallest. My arms were weak. I could barely hold up a staff. But with her training, I managed to find a way.

If I push, I know I can fight today.

Baldyr motions to the maji on the floor with a hole in her chest, and the two Skulls grab the girl by the ankles. They drag her corpse across the marble floor with no regard. The door closes behind them, leaving me alone with Baldyr and the Silver Skull.

Something dark claws at my heart as I stare at the trail of blood that follows the maji’s retreat. The pain she must have felt.

How will her spirit ever sleep?

“How many of my people have you tossed in the sea?” The bite in my voice steadies me. My muscles begin to hum. I think of the way he’s treated my people. Every innocent soul ripped from our lands.

A curious smile spreads across Baldyr’s lips. He mutters something in his tongue and the Silver Skull chuckles. He nods his head toward me.

“Finally, one of you speaks.”

I watch as Baldyr settles in his chair. His ease spikes my fear. He grabs a chicken thigh and sucks off the meat. The entire time he keeps his stormy gaze on me.

I glance at the knife to his left. The Silver Skull still holds my arms tight. But I imagine the feel of the wooden hilt in my hands, the satisfaction of driving the blade straight through Baldyr’s forehead.

“Your people seem to like the sea.” The bloodmetal strapped to his palm glows as he continues to speak in my tongue. “On one of our first expeditions, every captive escaped. Instead of revolting, they walked into the sea in chains.”

His words hit me like shards of glass. The weight of every skeleton pulls me under the sea.

All those people…

Those maji were taken because of me.

“Veikt fólk,” the Silver Skull remarks. Even without a translation rune, I understand his words.

“It’s notweakto choose our waters over your chains.”

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