Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Two: Zélie
Overview
Zélie and Tzain race through Ilorin and find Baba drowning; Tzain saves him. They learn guards imposed a new divîner tax, threatened to throw Zélie into the stocks, and Baba lost their boat. With no coin and rising danger, Zélie insists on going to Lagos to sell a valuable sailfish, while Baba hides with Mama Agba.
Summary
Hearing that Baba is in trouble, Zélie and Tzain sprint through Ilorin’s bustling market. As arguments over new taxes flare, Zélie cuts across coconut boats to reach home faster. A crowd gathers; far out at sea Baba is drowning. Tzain dives in and, after a tense search, resurfaces with Baba alive.
Back in their ahéré, the family reels. Baba shivers and reveals guards demanded coin for a new divîner tax, refusing fish and threatening to throw Zélie into the stocks. He went out alone to fish and lost their boat. The memory of the Raid and the persecution of divîners deepens Zélie’s fear and anger.
With no boat, no coin, and the stocks looming, Zélie proposes going to Lagos to sell a rare red-tailed sailfish to nobles for enough money to cover taxes and a new boat. Despite Tzain’s objections, Baba agrees: Zélie will make the trade and Tzain will keep her in line. Baba will hide at Mama Agba’s. Determined not to fail again, Zélie arms herself with her new staff and prepares to leave.
Who Appears
- ZélieDivîner protagonist; panics over Baba, witnesses rescue, learns of the tax threat, and insists on selling a sailfish in Lagos.
- TzainZélie’s brother; rescues Baba from drowning, argues for caution, ultimately accompanies Zélie to keep her in line.
- BabaTheir father; traumatized and shivering after nearly drowning, reveals guards’ divîner tax and threat of the stocks, lost their boat.
- NailahZélie’s lionaire ryder; offers comfort and is prepared for the journey.