Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Twenty-Four: Inan
Overview
Inan, frustrated by his failure to track Zélie, fully opens himself to his magic inside Chândomblé. He follows Lekan’s lingering memories, glimpsing Amari and Zélie, then discovers a mural confirming the gods’ reality and identifies Orí as the source of his powers. Determined to end magic, he chooses to embrace dreaming to find Zélie.
Summary
At Chândomblé, Inan oversees stockers and hears Kaea directing construction on a bridge. Despite days of searching, he finds no trace of Zélie and decides that only fully embracing his magic can reveal her. When he releases his restraints, Lekan’s lingering consciousness appears as turquoise clouds that trigger vivid echoes.
Inan follows the memories through the halls, sensing children’s laughter and then witnessing past moments with Amari and Zélie. Through Lekan’s eyes, he sees Amari in disguise and the “maji girl,” Zélie, whose presence no longer provokes his usual aggression. Lekan’s thought—“She is the one”—rings in Inan’s mind before the vision fades, leaving Inan unsettled yet focused.
Drawn to a domed chamber, Inan encounters a brilliant mural of the gods and the maji. The revelation challenges his upbringing and confirms the gods’ reality. A depiction of Orí—the God of Mind, Spirit, and Dreams—resonates with his abilities, explaining the voices, emotions, and dreamscape he experiences.
Angered by the unwanted bond yet desperate for results, Inan vows to turn his “curse” against magic itself. Accepting that only deeper immersion will yield answers, he sits, surrenders entirely to his power, and prepares to enter the dream to find Zélie.
Who Appears
- InanPrince and viewpoint; embraces his magic, follows Lekan’s memories, recognizes Orí as his source, and chooses to dream to find Zélie.
- LekanDeceased sêntaro; his lingering memories guide Inan through the temple and affirm Zélie’s importance.
- AmariPrincess seen in Lekan’s memory; timid but resolute, traveling in commoner clothes, linked to Zélie.
- ZélieThe maji girl in Lekan’s memory; identified as crucial, target of Inan’s search.
- KaeaCaptain leading the bridge construction; her commands frame Inan’s ongoing pursuit.