AFTER FOUR DAYS of tunneling through the mountains outside of Ibadan, our entry point finally opens up. Kâmarū steps away from the eroding stone, revealing the glistening water that fills the underground caves. As it ripples below, my stomach turns to rock. The other elders look to me, waiting for my command.
“Are they in there?” I turn to Dakarai. Behind us, he whispers his incantation, summoning a swatch of stars between his palms. Translucent images of the different villagers in their pyramid ahérés fade in and out between his hands.
The cave walls close in with every scene he narrows in on: the children swimming in the lake; the father and daughter preparing the dinner as the sun goes down; the line of people grabbing buckets of water from the village well.
Each innocent villager feels like a mine on the battlefield.
“There they are.” I grab Tzain’s arm as a translucent image of Mother and Inan appears between Dakarai’s hands. Though the image is blurry from outside Ibadan’s mountain range, I know their silhouettes.
They sit in a pyramid ahéré surrounded by military officials. It feels strange to watch them from afar. They’re completely ignorant of what is about to come.
“We don’t have long.” My voice echoes against the cramped cave walls. “The soldiers patrolling the village change guard at sunrise. Once Nâo locates the path to Ibadan’s lakes, we’ll have to move fast to strike during their shift.”
“Let’s do this.” Nâo slides her blue helmet over her shaved head. “I’m ready. Who’s diving with me?”
Roën rises in the back of the group, no emotion on his face. Once we’re in, he’s our best chance of locating Inan’s hiding place.
“I’ll go, too,” Tzain offers. “I know the village. I can help find them.”
“Whoever goes with Roën will be stuck in Ibadan until Nâo comes back for us.” I shake my head. “We need someone with magic.”
“I’ll go.”
I have to blink, not believing my eyes when Zélie raises her hand. She hasn’t said two words to me all week. I’m surprised she’s even here.
“I remember the village,” she says. “We’ll locate the king and queen while you all make your way in.”
“That works,” I nod to her, but she doesn’t meet my eye. “Everyone else, rest up, but be ready to move. As soon as Nâo comes back for us, we leave to finish this war.”
The elders disperse in the little space we have. Only Jahi lingers behind.
“What about us?” He lowers his voice, nodding his head at Imani.
“Wait till everyone’s asleep,” I whisper. “Then head for the mountains.”
A bitter taste fills my tongue when Jahi turns to relay my instructions to Imani. The Cancer’s face falls as he whispers, but she glances at me and nods.
Relax, Amari, I coach myself. It won’t come to that. We can beat Mother and Inan. We just have to stick to the plan.
I walk up to Zélie; her lips press into a tight line as she puts on her armor.
“Thank you.” I smile. “You didn’t have to volunteer.”
“I’m not going to let my brother kill himself just so you can sit on your precious throne.”
She brushes past my shoulder, not even seeing how deep her hatred cuts. Zélie joins Nâo as the Tider gives Khani a kiss. The two hug before Nâo steps forward.
The Tider moves in front of the entry point and the stretches her palms out toward the water as an incantation leaves her mouth.
“Èyà omi, omi sí fún mi—”
Tider blue light glows around her slender fingers, making the water foam as it twists into the air. Nâo jumps into the empty path she creates, motioning for the others to follow.
Roën pockets his blade, not even sparing Zélie a second glance as he jumps in. But Zélie hesitates in front of the entry point. Tzain lays a hand on her shoulder.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go?” he asks.
“It’s okay.” She rests her hand above his. “I’m strong enough to finish this war.”
Tzain wraps her in his arms, squeezing tight before letting her go. I move to his side as Zélie jumps in, landing beside Nâo and Roën.
“Èyà omi, omi sí fún mi—”
Nâo continues her chant, manipulating the water around them. It closes above their heads, trapping them in a pocket of air that allows them to move freely through the underground lakes. Tzain frowns as he watches his sister walk away. His body tenses with each step she takes.
“You really think they can do this?” he asks, and I force myself to nod.
“They have to,” I say. “They’re our strongest.”
But my nails dig into my palms as they disappear from our sight.
I know what I must do if they can’t.