Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Seventy-Two: Zélie
Overview
Zélie leads the group to Jimeta and enters a mercenary stronghold alone to secure passage to a hidden island. She reunites with Roën, now a mercenary leader, subdues a challenger amid trauma flashbacks, and negotiates by invoking the gods and Amari’s future crown. Roën agrees to depart immediately.
Summary
Traveling through the forests near the Olasimbo Range, Zélie, Tzain, Amari, and their allies reach the cliff city of Jimeta. Despite the danger of mercenaries, Zélie insists on following clan protocol and enters a seaside cave alone to request a fast boat to reach a sacred island before daybreak.
Inside, Zélie discovers the mercenary clan’s cavern, lit by blue crystals and crowded with masked fighters. Their unmasked leader emerges as Roën, the silver-eyed thief she met earlier. He mocks her request until Zélie outlines the plan: sail overnight to a hidden island that appears once a century to restore magic permanently.
When a stocky mercenary grabs her, Zélie’s trauma from Saran’s torture surges, and she throws him down, pinning him with her staff. The swift display silences the room and earns wary respect. Roën challenges her on payment and mentions Kwame’s failed attempt, forcing Zélie to argue that the gods sent her and that success would earn their favor.
Seeing Roën’s hesitation, Zélie adds tangible leverage: if they succeed, Roën and his crew will serve the future queen—Amari—securing royal patronage. The prospect of status and reward sways him and, by extension, his men.
Roën offers his hand, accepts the job, and orders an immediate departure on his fast, wind-powered boat, with Zélie seated beside him as they race to reach the island before dawn.
Who Appears
- ZélieProtagonist; negotiates with mercenaries in Jimeta, subdues an attacker, and secures Roën’s boat despite shaken magic.
- RoënSilver-eyed mercenary leader and former thief; tests Zélie, then agrees to ferry them for promised patronage.
- TzainZélie’s brother; wants to accompany her, worries for her safety, waits outside with the group.
- AmariPrincess aiming for the throne; her future patronage becomes Zélie’s bargaining chip with Roën.
- KenyonAlly who guides the team to the mercenary clan and explains their one-visitor rule.
- NailahZélie’s lionaire; growls at prowling mercenaries, highlighting the city’s danger.
- Stocky mercenaryChallenges Zélie and is swiftly defeated, earning her respect from the clan.