1352. Timbuktu, the jewel of the Mali Empire, shimmers with scholarship and trade. But beneath the vibrant surface, whispers of ancient secrets and dangerous ambitions swirl around Amina, a young Berber woman with an extraordinary gift for languages. Serving as a translator for the renowned traveler Ibn Battuta, Amina deciphers not only words but the hidden currents of Malian society. She alone holds the key to a coded language concealed within ancient texts, a language safeguarding Mali's most precious cultural heritage.
These secrets are coveted by Mansa Musa's ambitious successor, a ruler obsessed with consolidating his power. As his agents close in, Amina must navigate a treacherous court, masking her true knowledge behind a veil of polite deference. Into this dangerous game steps Jared Adams, a charismatic griot who offers alliance, claiming to share her desire to protect Mali's legacy. But Jared's motives are shrouded in ambiguity, leaving Amina torn between cautious trust and gnawing suspicion.
Amidst the intoxicating spectacle of a lavish festival, Amina's internal struggle intensifies. Revealing the secrets to Ibn Battuta could ignite a devastating conflict. Remaining silent means betraying the trust of those who came before her, condemning their legacy to oblivion. With the Mansa's gaze fixed upon her, Amina must make a choice that will determine not only her fate, but the destiny of Mali's hidden knowledge. Will she trust the charming griot, the oblivious traveler, or forge her own path, a path that demands cunning, courage, and a deep understanding of the human heart? In a city of secrets and whispers, Amina must use the language of secrets itself to survive.