Children of Virtue and Vengeance

After her fight with Ramaya, Amari spends the next few days in her room. When Zélie goes to retrieve her for the elders’ council, however, she is shocked to see that the Healers have refused to help Amari, leaving her to suffer with her bruises.

Amari tries to apologize for her actions. Zélie explains that she does not understand that magic is not about power for them but is a part of them and that they are crucified for it. She is angry that Amari broke her promise and used magic against a maji. When Amari says that she had “no choice,” Zélie says that she “chose to win at any cost. Like [her] father. Like Inan” (151). However, she accepts Amari’s apology and encourages her to seek forgiveness from the elders.

The elders treat Amari coldly at the meeting. However, she apologizes and explains that the maji’s biggest problem is that Amari—as an untrained tîtán—was able to beat Ramaya easily. She begins to convince the council that they should try trusting Inan and work for peace, but Zélie interrupts her. She shows them a scroll from the temple that would teach them stronger incantations and suggests that they go retrieve more to become stronger and fight.