Legacy of Orïsha, #2
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE: AMARI
Overview
Shunned by the Connectors, Amari seeks a dreamscape incantation to secretly contact King Inan and negotiate peace. Zélie confronts her and destroys the scroll, deepening their rift. Mama Agba counsels Amari to trust her cênter nature, prompting Amari to attempt mind contact with Inan without incantations.
Summary
After a week of training, Amari remains ostracized by the Connectors, their resentment sharpened by Ramaya’s injury. Seeking a way to broker peace, she studies a scroll describing a dreamscape sênbaría that could let her contact King Inan in secret, but repeated attempts fail.
At the falls, Amari observes Zélie training Reapers Mâzeli and Mári, then asks Zélie to help with the dreamscape incantation. When Zélie realizes Amari wants to reach Inan, she denounces the idea, citing his betrayals, and destroys the scroll. Their argument escalates as Amari accuses Zélie of clinging to rage and eyeing the throne, and Zélie orders Amari to drop the plan.
Shaken, Amari is found by Mama Agba, who leads her to the sanctuary gardens. Mama Agba urges Amari to look beyond blame on either side of the centuries-long conflict, affirms Amari’s growth and strength, and advises her to stop relying on incantations. As a cênter, Mama Agba says, Amari should focus on her innate bond with Inan.
Encouraged, Amari embraces her tîtán nature. She centers herself in the garden at night, summoning her inner power and concentrating on her connection to Inan, vowing to maintain the attempt as long as it takes to end the war.
Who Appears
- AmariCênter elder, shunned by Connectors; seeks dreamscape to contact Inan for peace; clashes with Zélie; guided by Mama Agba to try cênter contact.
- ZélieReaper elder training her novices; rejects Amari’s plan, destroys the dreamscape scroll, and forbids contacting Inan.
- Mama AgbaMentor who counsels Amari on the war’s complexity and urges her to use cênter power without incantations.
- MâzeliYoung Reaper practicing shadow wings; struggles to keep form during training at the falls.
- MáriReaper novice who glides on shadows with growing skill and teases Mâzeli during training.
- InanKing and Amari’s brother; absent but target of her planned dreamscape and cênter contact for peace.