Legacy of Orïsha, #2
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: AMARI
Overview
Amari faces the Iyika council, apologizes, and urges peace with Inan, but suspicion blocks her proposal. Zélie acknowledges the tîtán threat and Nehanda’s overwhelming power, then pivots the council to pursue the lost incantation scrolls at Chândomblé. The elders rally behind this plan, leaving Amari sidelined.
Summary
Amari enters the enchanted council chamber to a cold reception. She scans the elders—Nâo, Kâmarū, Na’imah, Dakarai, Khani, Kenyon, Folake, and Jahi—and steels herself amid open hostility over Lagos and Ramaya. Despite Khani’s measured concern, Kenyon’s grief-fueled anger simmers, and Jahi questions Amari’s right to be an elder.
Amari apologizes for losing control against Ramaya but argues the incident proves why the Iyika should seek peace with Inan. The council erupts; Jahi accuses her of betrayal, and Kenyon rejects any truce after the monarchy’s atrocities. Amari presses that the tîtáns’ blood magic and Nehanda’s power make victory unlikely without negotiation.
Prompted by Nâo, Zélie reluctantly affirms the tîtán threat and details Nehanda siphoning magic to split the earth, echoed by Kâmarū’s eyewitness account in Lagos. As fear settles, Amari highlights the monarchy’s growing strength and the rush of new tîtáns to Lagos, urging contact with Inan for a settlement that protects maji.
The council looks to Zélie. She dismisses reliance on Inan and insists disciplined training can counter tîtáns, though she cites Amari’s recklessness as a warning. When Nâo questions how to train without incantations, Zélie unveils a surviving black scroll from Chândomblé and reveals a hidden library that escaped the Raid.
Excitement replaces division as elders imagine the strategic and healing power of the scrolls. Zélie proposes an immediate mission while the monarchy focuses on Lagos. The council rallies to the plan. Amari, excluded from influence even as an elder, suspects Zélie is placating her talk of future peace and feels increasingly isolated.
Who Appears
- AmariFaces the Iyika council, apologizes for losing control, and urges peace with Inan; her proposal is rejected.
- ZélieAcknowledges the tîtán threat and redirects the council to retrieve Chândomblé scrolls for training and leverage.
- JahiWinder elder who challenges Amari’s legitimacy and suspects her of betraying the Iyika.
- KenyonGrieving Burner elder; rejects peace after losses to the monarchy and pushes to keep fighting.
- NâoSupports Amari’s right to be present and prompts Zélie to weigh in on strategy.
- KâmarūWarrior elder who reports witnessing Nehanda’s overwhelming power in Lagos.
- Na’imahSkeptical elder who presses against concessions and questions chasing legends.
- KhaniHealer elder who shows guarded sympathy toward Amari and envisions remedies from the scrolls.
- DakaraiSeer elder present during deliberations; observes and reacts as plans shift to the scrolls.
- FolakeLighter elder who arrives late and completes the council quorum.