Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Zélie
Overview
Poachers ambush the group: Amari and Tzain are captured, and Zélie is netted and dragged. Inan frees Zélie from her captors but then pins her and raises his blade, heightening the moral and emotional conflict between them while the others are taken.
Summary
Zélie and Inan break off their duel when Amari’s screams ring out. Zélie sees a masked assailant subdue Amari with a gloved hand, and Inan sprints after her. Searching for Tzain and Nailah, Zélie spots Tzain netted and races toward him.
A net suddenly snaps Zélie’s ankles and she is dragged through the forest, losing her staff and dagger. As she struggles, two masked captors pull her along. The cord yanking her net is cut when Inan strikes, sending the captors sprawling.
One poacher flees beneath exposed roots, but Inan knocks the other unconscious with his sword hilt. He then turns on Zélie, eyes blazing, and pins her arms beneath his knees, raising his blade. The moment mirrors Zélie’s past abuses at the hands of Orïsha’s guard, intensifying her terror.
Who Appears
- ZélieNarrator; chases captured friends, is netted and dragged, then pinned by Inan.
- InanChases Amari’s captor, frees Zélie by incapacitating a poacher, then turns on Zélie with blade raised.
- AmariOverpowered by a masked assailant and rendered unconscious, carried off during the ambush.
- TzainSeen entangled in a net and taken by poachers as Zélie gives chase.
- Masked poachersAmbush the group; net Tzain, subdue Amari, drag Zélie before one flees and one is knocked out.
- NailahZélie cannot find her amid the ambush, presumed seized by poachers.