Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi Page 0,145

hanging around Kenyon’s neck, reading the grains as they fall past the quarter mark. Where is the second wave?

“They should’ve already hit—”

A blast thunders and booms, reverberating through the iron under our feet. We press against the wall as the fortress quakes, shielding our heads from the swords that rain from the walls. More blasts ring from outside, followed by the yells of running guards. I open the door a crack, watching soldiers fly by. They sprint toward a fight I pray they’ll never find.

The divîners who weren’t willing to awaken their powers agreed to fight from afar. Using the bar’s alcohol, we managed to make nearly fifty firebombs, building while others constructed the slingshots they would use to launch the explosives. With the distance, the divîners should be able to strike and flee on their ryders before the guards get close. And while the guards are distracted, we’ll make our escape.

We wait till the thundering footsteps are silenced before fleeing the armory and heading down the stairwell in the center of the fortress. We sprint down flight after flight of stairs, descending the floors of the iron tower. Just a few more levels until we can set Zélie free. We shall head straight for the sacred island. With two days left, we’ll make it just in time for the ritual.

But as we descend another stairwell, a group of soldiers blocks our path. When they raise their blades to strike, I have no choice but to scream.

“Attack!”

Kenyon strikes first, sending a prickle of fear through my skin as his heat warms the air. A powerful red glow swirls around his fist; with a punch, a stream of flame erupts, knocking three guards into the wall.

Femi lunges forward next, using his metal magic to liquefy the blades of the guards’ swords. As they skid to a halt, Imani steps forward. Our Cancer, perhaps the most terrifying one of all.

She leaks dark green energy from her hands, trapping the men in a malignant cloud. The moment it touches the guards, they crumble, skin yellowing as disease rages through them.

Although more guards filter in, the maji’s powers flourish, unlocked with threatening strength. They run on raw instinct, fueled by the unbreakable swell of the sunstone’s surge.

“Let’s go,” I say.

Tzain takes advantage of the hysteria, pressing against the walls to slip through the battle. I follow his lead and join him on the other side, racing down another stairwell to rescue Zélie. With this power, no one can stop us. Not one soldier will stand in our way. We can defeat the army. We can even face—

Father?

The guards flank Father on all sides, shielding him from attack while he runs along the upper level. As he surveys the uproar, his dark brown eyes find mine, zeroing in like a hunter targeting his prey. He stumbles in shock, but only for an instant. As my involvement in the attack sinks in, Father’s rage breaks free.

“Amari!”

His glare freezes my blood. But this time I have my sword. This time I am not afraid to strike.

Be brave, Amari.

Binta’s voice rings loud. The sight of her blood fills my head. I can avenge her now. I can cut Father down. While the maji take out the guards, my sword can free Father of his head. Retribution for all his massacres, every poor soul he has ever killed …

“Amari?”

Tzain pulls my attention, allowing Father to disappear behind an iron door at the end of his hallway. A door Femi could easily melt …

“What’re you doing?”

I blink at Tzain and keep my mouth shut. There is no time to explain. One day, I shall fight Father.

Today I must fight for Zélie.

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

INAN

I CLUTCH ZÉLIE to my chest as another blast rings. The fortress shakes. Black smoke fills the air. Screams echo against the iron walls. Cries break through the charred door.

I run into a chamber and look out the barred windows; though flames blast the walls of the fortress, no enemy appears. Instead troops scream as they catch fire. Panthenaires run rabid in fear.

It’s a chaos unmatched, bringing back all the horrors of Kwame’s blaze. Maji attack again. My soldiers fall as they reign.

“No!”

I run away from the window and look out the iron door as a mangled scream rings from the floor above me. Fire and metal and disease wage war, ravishing an endless stream of soldiers.

The men who charge are incinerated by a Burner’s flames. Those who shoot arrows are struck by a Welder—the bearded maji reverses each