Legacy of Orïsha, #1
Children of Blood and Bone
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
Chapter Sixty-Five: Amari
Overview
Amari and Tzain infiltrate a secret divîner bar in Gombe to recruit help freeing Zélie. Facing fear and distrust, Amari declares herself future queen, proves the scroll’s power, and offers the sunstone to bolster magic. The pitch reframes the rescue as essential to saving magic and divîner survival.
Summary
Amari and Tzain slip through Gombe’s industrial districts to a secret divîner bar, seeking help to rescue Zélie from the nearby guard fortress. After a tense password check, Kenyon, Tzain’s agbön rival, vouches for them and introduces his teammates.
Tzain explains the massacre, the centennial deadline, and Zélie’s capture. The team’s hope dims when Femi’s recent loss of his father to guard brutality is revealed, underscoring the danger and futility of bribery.
When Amari proposes using restored magic to break Zélie out, fear spikes; the group moves to eject them. Amari disarms the moment by drawing her blade only to declare she seeks to restore their magic, then publicly reveals herself as Princess—and future queen—Amari, asserting responsibility for righting Saran’s crimes.
Amari displays the scroll, which triggers an accidental air burst from a patron, proving its power. She frames the stakes: without completing the ritual at solstice, magic and divîners’ survival will be lost.
Amari calls for their aid to free Zélie, the key to the ritual. Skepticism about power levels remains until she reveals the sunstone, promising to strengthen any awakened abilities if they help mount the rescue.
Who Appears
- AmariDrives recruitment in Gombe; reveals herself as future queen, proves the scroll’s power, and offers the sunstone to secure aid.
- TzainGuides Amari to the divîner tóju; leverages connections with Kenyon’s agbön team to seek help rescuing Zélie.
- KenyonTzain’s agbön rival; vouches for entry, hears the plan, doubts magic’s strength but remains pivotal to potential support.
- ImaniAgbön teammate; initially tries to eject Amari out of fear before hearing Amari’s public appeal.
- KhaniImani’s twin; helps force Amari out, then witnesses the scroll proof and plea for rescue.
- IfeTeammate; listens to Tzain’s account and helps restrain him during the tense confrontation.
- FemiTeammate; recently lost his father to guards, highlighting risks and deepening the group’s fear and anger.
- DScarred doorman of the tóju; blocks entry without password, reluctantly admits them on Kenyon’s word.