Legacy of Orïsha, #2
Children of Virtue and Vengeance
by Tomi Adeyemi
Contents
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: INAN
Overview
Wounded from the temple fight, Inan is carried out while Ojore covers the truth of Inan shielding Zélie. Nehanda moves to erase Chândomblé, and despite Inan’s protest, he orders its destruction to protect the throne. Nehanda drains her tîtáns and sinks the temple, hardening Inan’s resolve to find another path to end the war.
Summary
Inan, injured from the confrontation in the temple, is bandaged by Ojore and carried out on a stretcher. He fears Ojore will reveal that Inan protected Zélie, but Ojore stays silent. Outside, Nehanda berates Ojore until Inan credits him with saving the king’s life, keeping Inan’s secret intact.
Nehanda orders a retreat across the bridge as medics tend to the wounded. Inan pleads with Nehanda not to destroy Chândomblé, valuing its history and spiritual significance, but she dismisses it as a rebel stronghold. The sight of casualties—especially an unconscious Jokôye—pushes Inan toward harsh pragmatism, and he reluctantly orders the temple destroyed.
Nehanda gathers her remaining tîtáns, activates her emerald power, and forcibly drains their magic. As the ground convulses, she drives a catastrophic fissure through the jungle into the temple grounds, collapsing Chândomblé into the earth. At least one tîtán dies as Nehanda strips him of power.
Shaken by the devastation and the escalating toll of the conflict, Inan recognizes the war is spiraling beyond control. Clutching his bronze piece, he resolves to end it, deciding that if Zélie won’t heed him, he must find another ally who will.
Who Appears
- InanWounded king; protects his secret about Zélie, reluctantly orders Chândomblé destroyed, and resolves to find a way to end the war.
- NehandaInan’s mother and tîtán leader; dismisses Chândomblé’s value, drains her tîtáns’ power, and sinks the temple.
- OjoreCommander who saved Inan; covers for him about Zélie, tends to Inan, and witnesses Nehanda’s destructive display.
- JokôyeSoldier carried past on a stretcher, grievously injured from the earlier battle.