Chapter Sixteen: Inan

Prince Inan leads his legion into the traveling settlement of Sokoto, uneasy at the lack of guards and struggling to suppress his newly awakened Connector magic and the white streak it leaves. Kaea disperses wanted posters for Zélie while Inan battles spikes of others’ emotions, revealing the burden of his secret.

Following a turquoise “scent” of Zélie’s soul into a merchant wagon, Inan and Kaea question an elderly trader who lies about seeing the fugitives. Inan deliberately provokes a reveal and uncovers an iron safe containing Amari’s jeweled headdress, triggering a memory of injuring Amari as children and Binta comforting her—proof to him that Amari remains alive.

Under threat, the merchant admits that Zélie was present and that a copper-skinned girl with eyes like Inan’s—Amari—paid for supplies as if heading into the jungle. Kaea concludes their destination is the temple at Chândomblé, about a day’s ride away.

Inan claims the headdress, orders an immediate pursuit, and wavers over the merchant’s fate, torn between duty and mounting guilt for past bloodshed. As the man bolts for the door, Kaea kills him with a thrown knife, admonishing Inan not to tolerate obstacles. The unit prepares to ride for Chândomblé, with Inan’s resolve and secrecy under strain.