Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Two: Amari
Overview
Amari, Zélie, and Tzain reach the desert outpost of Ibeji, haunted by scarcity and royal patrols. They discover masses of divîner laborers forced into an arena competition pursued by nobles seeking Babalúayé’s alleged life-granting relic. Amari pays for water, which Zélie gives to captives, and a laborer confirms the relic is real.
Tensions flare between Amari and Zélie, underscoring guilt, class divides, and urgency as the solstice deadline looms.
Summary
Amari reflects on her cloistered palace upbringing, memories of sneaking views beyond Lagos, and Binta’s kindness when Mother punished her. Four brutal days crossing the desert leave the trio exhausted and doubtful as they press toward Ibeji in search of the sunstone, with Amari fearing pursuit by her family.
They sight Ibeji’s cracked walls and enter amid caravans and a royal guard post bearing the snow leopanaire seal, heightening Amari’s anxiety. Tzain splits off to find lodging while Amari and Zélie search for water and food in a starved town, with Zélie shivering as she senses nearby spirits.
Drunken guards pass, and Zélie rebukes Amari’s panic. In the central square, they confront the grim reality of divîner laborers in stocks—many children—parched and skeletal under the sun. At the well, a guard extorts gold for water, slashing the rim with his sword; Amari pays, and Zélie redirects the water to the chained laborers.
A young white-haired laborer explains that captives are brought for an immense desert arena, where they are forced to compete. The stockers promise debts repaid, riches, and freedom, but nobles chiefly seek Babalúayé’s legendary relic, the jewel of life.
Zélie dismisses the relic as myth until the girl insists she has seen it and that it grants eternal life. Seizing on the lead, Zélie quietly asks for the stone’s appearance, signaling a new avenue in their desperate hunt for the artifacts before the solstice.
Who Appears
- AmariNarrator; haunted by palace memories and Binta’s kindness; anxious about royal guards; pays for water and witnesses laborers’ suffering.
- ZélieDetermined and angry; senses nearby spirits; confronts Amari; gives water to laborers and investigates the relic’s reality.
- TzainPractical and steady; guides the group to Ibeji, splits off to find lodging, reassures Amari.
- Young laborer girlWhite-haired divîner in stocks; explains the arena and claims to have seen Babalúayé’s life-giving relic.
- Guard at the wellDrunken, extortionate soldier; enforces a gold fee for water with violence.
- BintaAmari’s former servant and friend; remembered for protecting Amari from punishment and finding beauty in hardship.
- Laborers in stocksStarving divîners, many children; forced to compete in the arena for promised debts cleared and freedom.