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August 1 - August 3, 2024
For in Ali’s experience, dreaming of a better future had only ever led to destruction.
“You can burden me,” Jamshid said quietly. “It’s hard to watch the way this city ruins the ones we love.”
“If you could see the destruction you portend, Darayavahoush e-Afshin, you would throw yourself in the sea.”
As Ali watched, she frowned at the text as if it had personally offended her. And suddenly all he wanted to do was step forward and drop down by her side. To ask her what she was reading and resume their bizarrely companionable friendship
“You should be proud, Ali. Not many people can outwit me, but you? You had me believing you were my friend until the very end.”
But she had nothing left to give. “I want to go home,” she whispered, her eyes growing wet. It was a completely nonsensical desire to have, a pathetically childish urge, and yet her heart ached with a longing for Cairo so strong it stole her breath.
“You don’t stop fighting a war just because you’re losing battles, Alizayd. You change tactics.
“People do not thrive under tyrants, Alizayd; they do not come up with innovations when they’re busy trying to stay alive, or offer creative ideas when error is punished by the hooves of a karkadann.”
“I remember your favorites,” Hatset said softly when they were alone again. “A mother doesn’t forget something like that.”
I should have been more aggressive in my dowry demands, she suddenly thought. Because she had not been paid enough to marry into this family.
Fear and hate ruled the city—built up by centuries of spilled blood and the resulting grievances. It was a place where everyone was so busy trying to survive and ensure their loved ones survived that there was no room to build new trust.
Muntadhir’s only desire was your son at his side.”
“Do not let her become like them,” he rushed on. “Manizheh trusts you. She’ll listen to your guidance. Do not let her become like Ghassan.” Silently, in his heart, he added the words he could not yet speak. Do not let her become like her ancestors, the ones who made me into a Scourge.
“I’ve had enough of men hurting me because they were upset.” Her voice was hard, so much so that Muntadhir looked startled. But Nahri didn’t care. She rose to her feet, placing her chador over her head. “I won’t have it from the man I call my husband. Not anymore.”
You fix what you can and keep yourself whole enough to move on to the next patient.”
“Have any of you been to the shafit districts? There are children wading in sewage and mothers dying in childbirth. How can you call yourselves servants of the Creator and think such a thing is permissible?” That seemed to land, Kartir looking slightly chastened. Ali was staring at her with open pride.
he would not make vows to an innocent woman if he didn’t think he could live up to them, and right now, he was barely capable of protecting himself.
“And they scared away the chimera living in the basement.” Ali was incredulous. “It tried to eat someone.” “It was a rare specimen!”
Lmao
Nahri jumped off after him. She could hear a baby crying, and sick with fear for Subha’s family, she lunged forward. Ali caught her wrist. “Nahri . . .” His voice was heavy with emotion. “We’re alone. If people blame you, if they want revenge . . .” “Then they want revenge.” Nahri glared at him. “Let me go—and don’t ever try to stop me again.”
Nahri knelt and pulled it away. He’d been stabbed, very nearly disemboweled. It was a miracle he wasn’t already dead. Purple swelling ballooned the skin, and she could smell torn intestine. Subha couldn’t help him, even with supplies. But Nahri could. She took a deep breath, aware of the step she was about to take and what it would mean. And then she laid her hands upon his body. Heal. The skin immediately twisted beneath her fingertips, the swelling vanishing, the torn muscles and flesh rushing back together. The young man let out a strangled gasp, and she felt his racing heartbeat even out.
...more
ground when he didn’t move fast enough. He unsheathed his zulfiqar. Horrified, Nahri ran toward them, but Muntadhir was faster, jumping from his horse and striding forward. “Abba, wait—” “Do it.” Ali’s voice, wracked with anguish, cut his brother off. He spat blood and then glared at his father, his eyes blazing. “End this facade,” he choked, his voice breaking on the word. “Just do it!”
Holy shit
“A promise like that means nothing when people are dying. My tribe committed a heinous crime—one whose source you and I will definitely be discussing. For now, I did what I could to rectify it.” She shook her head in disgust. “Do you understand? What happened was a tragedy that you let spin out of control. A few criminals attack an innocent couple and that justifies a war in the streets? Is that who we are?”
“I have dealt with you fairly at every turn, King Ghassan,” she said, lowering her voice. “I renounced my Afshin. I married your son. I bow my head while you sit on a shedu throne. But if you try to take this from me, I will rip this city and your family apart.”
About time. Eat them up
there are always people to save. And always cunning men and women around who find a way to take advantage of that duty and harness it into power.
“Fine, I will tell you why Suleiman cursed us. It was not for playing with humans—it was because we warred with the marid over those humans.”
“I’m tired of everyone in this city feeding on vengeance. I’m tired of teaching our children to hate and fear other children because their parents are our enemies. And I’m sick and tired of acting like the only way to save our people is to cut down all who might oppose us, as if our enemies won’t return the favor the instant power shifts.”
Lubayd spoke up again, looking almost apologetic. “Ali, I don’t spin my wild stories just to annoy you. I do it so people don’t spread other stories about you, understand? Tales that might not have a happy ending.”
Muntadhir stared at him before dropping his head into his hands. “I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you actually found a way to make this conversation worse.” His voice was muffled through his fingers.
Thats actually hilarious
“I’m going to get you out,” she declared. “I promise. I’ll get word to Muntadhir.” Jamshid swallowed. “Take care of yourself first. Please, Banu Nahida!” he shouted as they pulled him away. “We need you alive.”
O my god what is happening everything is going to shit
“Jamshid was always telling me I should exercise more,” Muntadhir panted. “I should have listened.” Jamshid. His name was like a knife to her heart. She darted a look at Muntadhir. Well, there was one situation that had just grown more complicated.
Lmao
Dara stared back at her, his face inches from hers. The scent of cedar and burnt citrus tickled her nose, and then he spoke one word, one word that left his lips like a prayer. “Nahri.” NAHRI HOWLED, SOMETHING RAW AND SAVAGE RIPPING through her. “Stop!” she screamed, writhing underneath him. “Get rid of that face or I’ll kill you!”
“Fuck,” Muntadhir swore. “It is you. Only you would come back from the dead a second time and immediately start another damn war.”
cant deny this mans comedic timing
Anne Marie liked this
“You poor, pitiful murdering—” Muntadhir clapped a hand over Ali’s mouth, but it was too late. Dara whirled on the Qahtani princes. “What did you say to me, you filthy little hypocrite?”
Im cackling
Muntadhir hurled himself between Ali and the zulfiqar. There was the smell of blood and burning flesh. A flash of pain in her husband’s eyes and then a wail from Ali, a sound so raw it didn’t seem real.
Rage ripped through her. And just like that, her magic was there.
“Why did you do that? Dhiru, why did you do that?” Muntadhir reached out to touch his brother’s face, the blood from his hands staining Ali’s skin. “I’m sorry, akhi,” he replied weakly. “I couldn’t watch him kill you. Not again.”
“And I’ll find Jamshid. You have my word.” At that, Muntadhir’s eyes finally grew damp. “Thank you,” he said quietly. “Please tell him . . . ” He took a deep breath, rocking back slightly, obviously struggling to gather himself. When his gaze met hers again, there was a mix of regret and apology there. “Please tell him I loved him. Tell him I’m sorry I didn’t stand up for him sooner.”
Here come the water works
He’d been shocked by the sight of her looking like some sort of wrathful goddess, smoke twisting around her hands, her black curls blowing wildly in the scorching wind she’d summoned. She’d looked like a Nahid icon he might have bowed to in the Temple.
Muntadhir stared at him in shock. “Do you hear yourself? What sort of man plots that calculus?” Hate filled his gray eyes. “God, I hope it’s her in the end. I hope Nahri puts a goddamned knife through whatever passes for your heart.”
