“Point it away from yourself and give it a flick.”
Like with my staff, a flick of the hilt extends a long blade with a lethal curved point. It glides through the air with a deadly grace, surprisingly nimble in Amari’s small hands.
“I’ll take this.”
“If you don’t know how to use it—” the merchant warns.
“Why do you assume I don’t?”
I arch my eyebrow at Amari and think back to her mention of a training accident. I assumed the scar came from her brother’s sword, but was she holding a sword, too? Despite her escape from Lagos, I can’t imagine the princess locked in battle.
The merchant packs up our collection of coins and goods and sends us on our way, giving us everything we need to travel to Chandomblé. We walk back to meet Tzain in silence, but between the scar, the headdress, and the sword, I don’t know what to think. Where’s the spoiled princess I wanted to choke to death? And can she actually wield a sword?
As we pass a papaya tree, I pause, shaking the trunk until a yellow fruit falls. I give Amari a few moments to move forward before whipping the ripe papaya at her head.
For a heartbeat, Amari appears oblivious—how will I explain this? But as the fruit whistles near, she drops her basket and whips around, new blade extended, speed unmatched.
I gape as the ripe papaya falls to the ground, sliced in two clean halves. Amari smiles and picks up a piece, taking a triumphant bite.
“If you wish to hit me, you will have to try a little harder than that.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
INAN
KILL HER.
Kill magic.
My plan is all I have.
Without it, the world slips through my fingers. My maji curse threatens to break from my skin.
I’ll make you a deal, the girl whispers in my mind, lips twisting as she speaks. No one has to know you’re a dirty little— “Dammit.”
I grit my teeth. It doesn’t block out the rest of her vile speech. With the memory of her voice, my infection simmers to the surface, prickling hot under my skin. As it rises, the broken voices grow. Louder. Sharper.
Like forcing a brick down my throat, I fight the magic back.
One … two …
I count as I struggle. The air around me begins to chill. Sweat gathers on my forehead. By the time my magic’s pushed down, my breath escapes in rough spurts. But the threat is quelled. For a brief instant I’m safe. Alon— “Inan.”
I flinch and check that my helmet is still secure. My thumb runs over the latch for the fiftieth time today. I swear I can feel this new white streak growing.
Right into Kaea’s view.
She rides forward, summoning me to follow in her stead. She must not realize I’ve been riding behind her all day, avoiding her line of vision. Mere hours ago she almost saw it, catching me off guard as I stared at my reflection in a stream. If she’d left a little earlier … if I’d stayed out a little later— Focus, Inan!
What am I doing? What-ifs get me nowhere.
Kill the girl. Kill magic. That’s all I need to do.
I squeeze my thighs around my snow leopanaire, Lula, and urge her after Kaea, careful to avoid the horns protruding from her back. If I hit one too hard, my ryder will buck me from my saddle.
“Now.” I snap Lula’s reins when she growls. “Don’t be such a lazy bastard.”
Lula flashes her serrated fangs but quickens her pace. She weaves in and out of the marula oak trees, dipping under the baboonems skittering along the fruit-covered branches.
I stroke her spotted fur in gratitude when we catch up to Kaea. She lets out another low growl but rubs her face against my hand.
“Tell me,” Kaea says when I’m close. “What did the villager tell you?”
Again? Skies, she’s relentless.
“It doesn’t add up. I need to hear it once more.” Kaea reaches behind her panthenaire to release her red-breasted firehawk from its cage. The bird perches on the ryder’s saddle as Kaea fastens a note to its leg. Likely a message for Father. Following the scroll’s trail south. Also, I suspect Inan is a maj— “He claimed he was a mapmaker,” I lie. “The thief and Amari visited him after they escaped Lagos.”
Kaea raises her forearm, and the firehawk spreads its wide wings before taking to the sky.
“How did he know they were going south?”
“He saw them charting their path.”
Kaea looks away, but not before I catch the doubt glimmering in her eyes. “You shouldn’t have interrogated anyone without me.”
“And the village shouldn’t have burned!” I snap. “I fail to see the point in obsessing over what should or shouldn’t have happened.”
Relax, Inan. It’s not Kaea I’m mad at.
But her lips are already pinched. I’ve pushed her too far.
“Sorry,” I sigh. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Inan, if you can’t handle this—”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” She trains her eyes on me. “Because if you think I’ve forgotten about your little episode, you’re sadly mistaken.”
Curse the skies.
Kaea was there the first time magic attacked me on the shores of Ilorin. The night it filled my head with sounds.
My gut clenches as I push the evil further down.
“I won’t have the prince die on my watch. If that happens again, you’re headed back to the palace.”
My heart seizes so hard an ache ripples through my chest. She can’t send me home like this.
Not until the girl dies.
I’ll make you a deal. Her voice crawls back into my mind. It’s so vivid it’s like she’s whispering in my ear. Leave me alone and I’ll keep your little secret. No one has to know you’re a dirty little— “No!” I shout. “It wasn’t an episode. On the beach. I—I—” I take a deep breath. Relax. “I thought I saw Amari’s corpse.” That’s it. “I was ashamed at how much it rattled me.”
“Oh, Inan…” Kaea’s hardness fades. She reaches over and grabs my hand. “Forgive me. I can’t imagine how horrific that must have been.”
I nod and squeeze her hand back. Too tightly. Let go. But my heartbeat quickens in my chest. A turquoise cloud seems to radiate from my chest, billowing like pipe smoke. The smell of rosemary and ash returns. The shrieks of the burning girl surface again.…
The heat of the flames licks my face. Sweltering smoke fills my lungs. With each second the fire crawls closer to my body, eliminating any chance of escape.
“Help!”
I drop to the ground. My lungs reject the rancid air. My feet get caught in the blaze— “HELP!”
I jerk on Lula’s reins. She lets out a menacing growl as we come to an abrupt stop.
“What is it?” Kaea whips her head around.
I dig my hands into Lula’s fur to mask their tremble. I’m running out of time. The magic’s getting stronger.
Like a parasite feeding on my blood.
“Amari,” I choke out. My throat burns as if it’s still full of smoke. “I’m worried. She’s never left the palace before. She could get hurt.”