Page 65 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

“Two hundredyears?” I marvel, and Mae’e smiles.

“As a direct descendant of Mama Gaia, Yéva grows like the trees. But her time is nearing its end. Soon, her sacred duties will fall to me.”

For the first time all night, the serenity leaves Mae’e’s eyes. For a moment, I feel what she must mean to her people, the sacred being King Baldyr threatens to take away. Of course her people feared our arrival.

What will become of New Gaia if Baldyr harvests her heart?

“My people are looking to me to see them through this. It is my duty to keep them safe. When you first arrived, I felt so sure we would prevail. But the mountain has started to shake.” Mae’e turns to me, and her eyes break into my soul. “Over the past few nights, I’ve had dreams,” she whispers. “I have seen the Blood Moon.”

The vines slither near us as Mae’e sits back. They wrap themselves around her, almost taking the future hierophant into their arms. The scent of lavender leaks from the garden in waves. Mae’e softens as she inhales the sweet aroma.

“Tell me.” Her lightness fades. “Should we be afraid?”

“You should be terrified.” I am surprised at the honesty she pulls from my throat. But a few weeks spent in the safety of her mountains doesn’t erase all we’ve had to face. Every maji who didn’t make it out of the Skulls’ chains.

“He hunted my friend across the earth. He didn’t care how many of our people he hurt. And with what Yéva said…” My voice trails off. “I don’t know how he can be stopped.”

Mae’e returns to her knees. She continues to pray before Mama Gaia.

“What do you pray for?” I whisper.

“Protection,” she answers softly.

Though the action is foreign, I join her on the floor. I think of all those I love and bow my head, praying for the same.

CHAPTER FORTY

INAN

WAITING IN THE FORESToutside Lagos, I prepare myself for what’s to come.

A still breeze blows through the jackalberry trees.

The crescent moon shines down on our clearing from above.

The maji gather in a ring around my back. Though we’ve agreed to lay down arms for one night, my palms start to sweat. I feel it in my bones.

Everyone is still ready to fight.

This will work.I steady myself.This has to work.I prepare for the words I’ll need to share. The fatal warning the people of Orïsha must hear.

With each passing day, I feel the Skulls’ imminent attack. I picture their mighty ships cutting through the twisting waters. Their monstrous forms storm through the port of Lagos. Their glowing axes cut through every Orïshan in their way.

We need to start preparing our defenses, combining our forces to gather intelligence. There’s no more time to waste. Either we come together to unify, or we leave the Skulls free rein.

It feels like we wait for hours. I worry no other Orïshans will show.But then a flickering torch appears through the dark trees. Slowly, people trickle in.

I hold on to the Skull’s mask as the trail of torches travels into the clearing. The flames light what remains of the Orïshan guard. The very men I used to command march in broken lines, staring at me with a hatred that burns like a branding iron.

Their forces have dwindled over the past few moons. Their shoulders slump with the weight of the battles they’ve waged. Soldiers sport wooden splints and bloodstained bandages. Ash coats the Orïshan seals on their breastplates.

On the other side of the clearing, the first tîtáns arrive, their golden armor and white streaks glistening under the crescent moon. Though their numbers are small, they move with a different confidence. Mother makes it to the front of the tîtáns with the aid of her staff, regal in the absence of her crown.

The tîtáns’ presence is like a barrel of blastpowder. I sense how easy it would be to light the spark. With a snap of Mother’s fingers, the tîtáns could attack. Behind me, the maji step forward, ready to charge.

Despite the risk, I take my place at the center of the clearing. I glance up to the skies and pray for the right words to leave my lips. I have to act before this armistice devolves into a battle nobody can win.

“The last time I stood before a crowd like this, I renounced my crown,” I declare. “I failed as your king. I failed because I couldn’t bring Orïsha the unified front it’s always needed. But now…” I glance down at the Skull’s mask, remembering what’s at stake. “Now we don’t have a choice. Either we unify, or we lose everything.”

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