Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Fifty: Inan
Overview
Amid Zélie’s earth-born assault, Inan races toward the gate as arrows strike Zélie and she drops the sunstone. A powerful Burner seizes the moment and advances to kill her. Inan shields Zélie, preparing to use his own magic, until a young girl recognizes him as maji and stops the Burner, exposing Inan’s true nature.
Summary
Inan sprints through a battlefield transformed by Zélie’s earth animations, which pin attackers and open a path to the gate. He feels a thrill at the effectiveness of magic as the constructs protect him and batter masked fighters.
Arrows suddenly strike Zélie in the arm and side, forcing her down even as she urges Inan to reach the camp and the scroll. When a bloodied, powerful divîner rushes out and ignites as a Burner, Inan’s ingrained fear resurfaces, recalling his father’s trauma and crusade against maji.
Under renewed arrow fire, Zélie loses her grip on the sunstone. The Burner lunges for it, then erupts with overwhelming flames that melt the ground and shatter the earth animations. Zélie tries to rise but her wounds overwhelm her as the Burner advances, intent on killing her.
Inan throws himself between the Burner and Zélie, summoning his nascent magic and bracing to fight. Before he strikes, a young girl approaches, recognizes the white streak in Inan’s hair, and declares, “They’re one of us.” The Burner immediately quenches his fire, stopping the attack and revealing Inan’s identity as a maji to nearby allies and enemies alike.
Who Appears
- InanNarrator; races through battle, shields Zélie, and is revealed as a maji when recognized by a young girl.
- ZélieAnimates earth to subdue attackers; wounded by arrows, drops the sunstone, nearly killed by a Burner.
- Burner (unnamed divîner)Ignites with devastating fire, attempts to seize the sunstone and kill Zélie, then stops on command.
- Young girl (unnamed)Intervenes, recognizes Inan’s white-streaked hair as maji, and orders the Burner to stop.