Children of Blood and Bone (Legacy of Orisha)

er in the village. You would never guess a woman her age could be so lethal.

Hatred simmers beneath my skin, prickling sharp and hot. This isn’t right. Mama Agba shouldn’t have to beg. I lift my gaze and catch the guard’s eye. A mistake. Before I can turn away or mask my disgust, he grabs me by the hair.

“Here,” she interrupts with a handful of coins. “Just take it.”

“Mama, don’t—”

And he’s right. I should. Keep my mouth shut, swallow my rage. Live to see another day.

But when he’s this close to my face, it’s all I can do not to jam my sewing needle into his beady brown eye. Maybe I should be quiet.

Or maybe he should die.

“You sh—”

“Maybe you shouldn’t keep company with maggots.”

“Maybe you should stop robbing us.”

The words spill out of me before I can stop them. The room holds its breath. Mama Agba goes rigid, dark eyes begging me to be quiet.

Perhaps he has the decency to feel shame for whatever it is they’re about to do.

I don’t think anyone can. Fear paralyzes every inch of our beings.

“Ah!” Yemi gasps. Her face contorts in pain and shock as she reels backward from my blow. No one’s ever struck her in one of Mama Agba’s battles. She doesn’t know how it feels.

I’m not done yet.

“Halt—”

“No!” I interrupt Mama Agba, voice hoarse. I force air into my lungs and use my staff to stand up straight. “I’m okay.”