Chapter Fifty-Seven: Essiya

Essiya spends three rare, peaceful days in the Gibal as Sefa fusses over her well‑being. Evenings on the cliffs with Sefa and Marek bring stories—Marek’s memories from Nizahl and Sefa’s quiet account of Lukub, saving the Sultana, and continuing the mission she and Essiya began. Essiya withholds darker truths—hallucinations, Raya’s eyes, killing Felix, and the mounting pressure of her magic—aware of the doom awaiting her beyond the mountains.

Meanwhile, Arin becomes tireless in action. He counts every Jasadi with unusual magic, divides the Urabi into teams to prevent war and to win it if needed, and assigns both to pursue the scepter. He issues orders in Essiya’s name, trains fighters, and plans logistics, insisting the success is hers. Essiya privately doubts the scepter holds much power after Rawain’s excesses and admits leadership drains her, even as Arin seems revived by it.

Essiya wrestles with fatalism, fearing she seeks death to avoid failing as queen. At night Arin wordlessly keeps vigil, and though they keep their own secrets—his larger endgame, her resignation—they protect each other’s burdens without forcing confessions.

At a strategy meeting with Lateef, Namsa, Maia, Marek, Jeru, and Efra, Arin critiques their maps but pointedly says “we,” aligning himself with the Urabi. He rules out main routes as compromised without Orban’s cover. When Essiya proposes Tareek il Hadi, Arin warns it is steeped in old magic yet concedes it may be their only viable path, as kingdoms cannot spare troops to patrol it.

Efra needles Essiya about Arin siphoning “fresh magic,” and Arin physically checks Essiya’s rising fury, indicated by glowing veins. Lateef ends the session, and in private he scolds them: their closeness is obvious and could discredit Essiya’s authority and the cause. He names what others see—that Essiya and Arin are deeply in love—making the political risk explicit.