Page 49 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

The flame disappears from Kenyon’s hands.

“How do we hide?” the Burner asks.

The maji stand back as Nâo coordinates with the Tiders and Winders on each ship. The boats slow as they redirect their magic, keeping us still. A group of Lighters steps forward on each boat. Silence falls as the maji join hands. They whisper among themselves as the Skulls’ sails appear on the far horizon.

“Quickly!” Dakarai shouts.

“Ìm3l1 t1, ìm3l1 kán, ìm3l1 dáríj? síbíyìí—” The Lighters begin their chant. As they work, a yellow light ignites around their hands, traveling until it covers their entire bodies. The soft glow continues its trek, spreading across all three ships in a steady wave.

I lift my hands to my face as the light surrounds me. The yellow glow bends and refracts, twisting until my very fingers disappear before my eyes. My arms fade next, followed by my chest and my legs.

I inhale a sharp breath as the Lighters work, erasing all trace of us from the seas. Below my hidden feet, the ocean waters dance. Above my head, the giant sail and towering mast vanish into thin air. The Lighters’ magic covers each boat, completely hiding us from view.

“Incoming,” Dakarai warns, his large frame no longer visible to any of our eyes. The concealed Lighters drop their voices, continuing their chant so quietly the ocean waves swallow their incantation. But faint glimmers break their spell, creating sporadic flashes of yellow light where our ship reappears. I hold my breath as the Skulls’ ship nears.

Come on.

My pulse thunders between my ears as I wait for the ship to go by. Their cannons pass directly overhead. Bronze masks glint over the railing. The sound of the Skulls’ tongue sends a familiar ache up my spine. For a moment, the crow’s nest of our boat flashes, revealing a Winder’s wide-set eyes.

But when the Skulls’ ship sails past our boat, I know the Lightershave covered us in time. The Lighters continue their incantation until the enemy’s ship disappears in the distance.

All at once, the yellow light breaks, revealing every maji and all three ships. The Lighters collapse over one another in a heap. A shared pool of sweat spreads beneath them.

“Perfect job,” Kenyon commends them. The maji rally around each Lighter, bringing them under the bamboo pavilions. Countless hands offer them food and fresh water, thanking them for their protection.

As our boats begin to sail away, Nâo walks to the back of the ship. Her forehead creases with despair. I can feel the strain of what she’s sacrificed like a weight in the air.

Dakarai joins from the front, the window into the Skulls’ location still stark between his palms.

“We’ll find them,” I promise. “Just give it time.”

CHAPTER THIRTY

ZÉLIE

TIME PASSES IN Agentle flow as we follow the compass’s red dial south. As the days bleed into dusks, Amari, Tzain, and I slip into a silent rhythm. We each take turns steering the lifeboat as the waning moon disappears in the starry night.

Tzain transforms a dagger into a spearhead to refurnish our dwindling fish supply. Amari mends a rip in the sails. On the twelfth dawn, I awaken to find the three of us asleep on Nailah’s coat. Amari and Tzain lie side by side. I smile as their fingertips brush.

“Find her.…” The ancient voice comes back to me, louder than it’s ever been. Nailah shifts as I brace myself against her golden paw. The voice quivers against my skin.

“What’s going on?” Tzain stirs.

The currents pushing us shift. The wind leaves our sails. Our boat begins to drift.

A twisting fog crawls in from both sides. Its icy touch causes goosebumps to rise on my arms. In a moment, we’re caught in a haze.

The sunlight disappears.…

I lift up the Silver Skull’s compass. The red dial spins in rapid circles. Amari grabs my arm tight. I brace myself as we pass through the fog. Along beach of black sand stretches before us. My nostrils flare around a familiar scent—fresh soil and volcanic ash.

“Is this it?” Tzain asks.

“I think so.” I squeeze the compass shut. “We’ve reached the girl’s land.”

Tzain jumps from the boat, wading into the dark waters to push us to the shores. He has to use all his strength. It’s like the waters fight to resist us.

The moment I step onto the black sands, a ripple spreads through the land. I blink, not sure if I can trust my eyes. The pulse seems to travel outward, disappearing behind the twisting fog.

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