“Ssssh.” She presses harder, holding her hand there for a moment like she’s checking my temperature. But my head feels like it might explode. Then her fingers break contact and I gasp as she comes back in focus.

“Your intentions are as pure as your heart.” Her pupils are tiny dots and she stares at me, but somehow into me. “But death does not flinch at the tenderhearted, Jelani. Death does not flinch ever. When it comes time, you must not flinch either.”

Huh? “I… okay… so, is there a spell I use? Or?”

“Yes, yes, there are words that you can mutter to pierce the grave.” She opens her palm, licking her lips.

Gold and blood.

“Uhhh.” I gulp, patting my pockets, and find a lump. I pull out the bone and one of the two gold coins.

The Seer’s eyes smile. “Yes, yes, that’ll do.”

Sickness swirls in my insides. Taavi had no idea I had a way to pay this woman. She had no idea I’d make it out of here alive, and locked me in. But Totsi, her sister, must have known I’d come for answers. She had to have left that bone and gold for me to find. She had to have wanted me to ask her mother questions and get answers. It’s the only thing that makes sense.

I hand the bone and a single coin over. She bites the coin before tucking it in her bosom and drops the bone to the hungry flames below. They gush, crackling in response, the room glowing brighter.

Her eyes roll around in their sockets and her lips part. “A drizzle of jpango sap.” She speaks in short breaths, as if each syllable pains her. “A loc of hair from an Elder… a-and…” She grunts. “A loc of hair from an enemy.” She shudders. “Take them to your Ancestors’ grave when the moon is high and the skies are heavy with sorrow. Chant ‘u’shaka wesee’ three times with your hands dug into the dirt where their spirit lives. They will come.”

An Elder? But the Elders are all dead. And my enemy? The Chancellor? How will I ever… Cold sweat beads down my neck. “A-and what if it doesn’t work? Wh-what if I can’t do it the way you said. I—” I’d wished the answer would be simpler. “The Ancestors have to fix this, you understand? I need something that feels doable. How am I supposed to…”

“Mmph,” she grunts, trying to push something out. “There is coming a—” Her lips snap shut.

“A what?” I lean so close, I can smell her rancid breath. “Tell me! There is coming a what?”

She holds out her hand, but all I have left is one coin. No bone, no blood.

Unless…