Contents
Chapter Sixteen
Overview
At the river, a powerful Mufsid confronts Sylvia, openly naming her the Jasadi heir and nearly killing Jeru. Sylvia lies to delay her abduction until the Alcalah. That night, Arin returns; they trade intel—he theorizes a rogue Mufsid tried to kill her—and Sylvia offers a false noble identity, deepening their fraught trust.
Summary
With Arin and Ren away on rotations, Sylvia returns to find Jasadi white berries smashed on her door—a threat likely from Vaun. She reflects on Vaun’s obsessive loyalty to Arin and its danger. Jeru escorts her to Hirun to wash clothes.
At the river, a finely dressed Jasadi woman from the Mufsids immobilizes Jeru with magic and addresses Sylvia as Mawlati, revealing she knows Sylvia is the Jasadi heir. The woman disavows the Urabi and denies sending the corpse specter. She explains the Mufsids’ methods, their internal dissent over recruiting Sylvia, and how Hanim’s death dropped warding that let them track Sylvia’s faint magic. She claims Sylvia’s name and power are vital.
To save Jeru and avoid capture, Sylvia lies: Arin doesn’t know her identity, and abducting her now would mobilize the kingdoms; instead, the Mufsids should exploit a security gap during the Alcalah. Drained of magic, the woman releases Jeru and withdraws, accepting the delay but warning of a future choice.
That night, Arin arrives, and they agree to trade information. Arin outlines his view: the Urabi recruit, the Mufsids take the willing and kill the rest, but a rogue—likely Mufsid—sent the specter to murder Sylvia. He plans to guard against attacks during the Alcalah rather than in Mahair. Sylvia recounts the river encounter and, when pressed about her identity, claims to be Mervat Rayan, daughter of Waleed Rayan. Their exchange turns intimate and combative as they debate fear, freedom, and spite; Arin concludes she acts from fury, not fear, and notes she volunteered her name without bargaining, exposing her ploy.
Who Appears
- Sylvia (Essiya)Protagonist; identified as the Jasadi heir by a Mufsid, lies to delay abduction, later claims a false identity to Arin.
- Arin of NizahlHeir-Commander; returns to question Sylvia, trades theories, posits a rogue Mufsid attacker, probes her motives and identity.
- Mufsid emissary (unnamed)Powerful Jasadi; immobilizes Jeru, calls Sylvia ‘Mawlati,’ explains Mufsid aims and tracking, agrees to delay capture until the Alcalah.
- JeruNizahl guard; accompanies Sylvia to Hirun, is magically held in the river and nearly drowns before being released.
- VaunArin’s fiercely devoted guard; intimidates Sylvia with Jasadi white berries, a simmering threat outside orders.