Children of Blood and Bone - Tomi Adeyemi Page 0,29

voice lowers. “Will we have to … will I…” The thought is so wretched I can’t speak.

Duty before self. That’s what Father will say. It’s what he shouted at me that fateful day.

But the thought of raising my blade against Amari after all these years makes my throat dry. I can’t be the king Father wants me to be.

I can’t kill my little sister.

“Your sister has committed treason.” He speaks slowly. “But it is no fault of her own. I allowed her to get close to that maggot. I should’ve known her simple disposition would lead her astray.”

“So Amari can live?”

Father nods. “If she’s captured before anyone discovers what she’s done. That’s why you can’t take your men—you and Admiral Kaea must go and recover the scroll alone.”

Relief slams into my chest like a blow from Father’s fist. I can’t kill my little sister, but I can bring her back in.

A sharp knock raps against the door; Admiral Kaea pops her head through. Father waves his hand, welcoming her in.

Behind her, I catch a glimpse of Mother scowling. A new heaviness settles on my shoulders. Skies.

Mother doesn’t even know where Amari is.

“We found a noble. He claims he saw the maggot who aided the fugitive,” Kaea says. “She sold him a rare fish from Ilorin.”

“Did you cross-reference the ledger?” I ask.

Kaea nods. “It shows only one divîner from Ilorin today. Zélie Adebola, age seventeen.”

Zélie …

My mind fits the missing piece to her striking image. The name rolls off Kaea’s tongue like silver. Too soft for a divîner who attacked my city.

“Let me go to Ilorin,” I blurt out. My mind runs through the plan as I speak. I’ve seen a map of Ilorin before. The four quadrants of the floating village. A few hundred villagers, most lowly fishermen. We could take it with—“Ten men. That’s all Admiral Kaea and I need. I’ll find the scroll and bring Amari back. Just give me a chance.”

Father twists his ring as he thinks. I can hear the rejection sitting on his tongue. “If those men discover anything—”

“I’ll kill them,” I interrupt. The lie slips from my mouth with ease. If I can redeem my former failures, no one else needs to die.

But Father cannot know that. He barely trusts me as it is. He requires swift, unflinching commitment.

As captain, I must give it to him.

“Very well,” Father agrees. “Head out. Be quick.”

Thank the skies. I adjust my helmet and bow as deeply as I can. I’m almost out the door when Father calls out.

“Inan.”

Something twists in his tone. Something dark.

Dangerous.

“When you have what you need, burn that village to the ground.”

CHAPTER NINE

ZÉLIE

ILORIN IS ENTIRELY too peaceful.

At least, it feels that way after today. Coconut boats pull against their anchors, sheets fall over the dome of ahéré entrances. The village sets with the sun, making way for a calm night’s sleep.

Amari’s eyes widen with wonder as we sail through the water and head toward Mama Agba’s on Nailah’s back. She takes in every inch of the floating village like a starving laborer placed before a majestic feast.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she whispers. “It’s mesmerizing.”

I breathe in the fresh scent of the sea, closing my eyes as mist sprays my face. The taste of salt on my tongue makes me imagine what would happen if Amari wasn’t here; a fresh loaf of sweet bread, a nice cut of spiced meat. For once, we’d go to sleep with full bellies. A celebratory meal in my name.

My frustration reignites at Amari’s ignorant bliss. Princess that she is, she’s probably never missed a meal in her entire pampered life.

“Give me your headdress,” I snap when Nailah docks in the merchant quarter.

The wonder drops from Amari’s face and she stiffens. “But Binta—” She pauses, collecting herself. “I wouldn’t have this if it weren’t for my handmaiden.… It is the only thing of hers I have left.”

“I don’t care if the gods gave you that wretched thing. We can’t have people finding out who you are.”

“Don’t worry,” Tzain adds gently. “She’ll throw it in her pack, not the sea.”

I glare at his attempt to comfort her, but his words do the trick. Amari fiddles with the clasp and drops the glittering jewels into my pack. The shimmer they add to the shine of silver coins is absurd. This morning I didn’t have a bronze piece to my name. Now I’m weighed down by the riches of royals.

I crouch on Nailah’s back and pull myself onto the wooden walkway.