Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Seventeen: Amari
Overview
Amari awakens bound with Zélie and Tzain in a Chândomblé cavern, disarmed by a stern sêntaro who believes they stole the sacred scroll. Zélie invokes visions of the temple’s past and shared suffering under the monarchy, staying his hand. Convinced, the sêntaro restores their gear, frees them, and commands them to follow, opening a path to Chândomblé’s secrets.
Summary
Amari regains consciousness in a dim cavern, bound back-to-back with Zélie and Tzain and stripped of their weapons and the sacred scroll. A tattooed, golden-eyed sêntaro emerges, holding the scroll and accusing them of stealing what was taken from his people years before. His hostility sharpens toward Amari, whom he says reeks of royal bloodshed.
As the sêntaro raises his arms and the air hums with threatening magic, Zélie intervenes. She speaks of visions of the temple’s former glory and acknowledges the monarchy’s destruction of his home, connecting it to the slaughter of maji like her. Amari reflects on Binta’s death and her father’s brutality, flooded with shame as the sêntaro prepares to act.
Instead of striking, the ropes vanish and their belongings reappear, revealing the sêntaro’s change of heart. Accepting Zélie’s appeal and the divine guidance that led them there, he turns away and commands them to follow him, signaling cautious acceptance and the promise of answers within Chândomblé.
Who Appears
- AmariNarrator; awakens bound, feels shame over her father’s atrocities, and witnesses the sêntaro’s test and release.
- ZélieArgues their case, invoking visions of Chândomblé’s past and shared suffering, persuading the sêntaro to free them.
- TzainStruggles against bonds, defends Zélie verbally, remains wary during the confrontation.
- Sêntaro (unnamed)Chândomblé guardian; seizes the trio and scroll, tests their intent, then frees them and orders them to follow.