Chapter Thirty-One: Sefa

Sefa reflects on how palace staff now rely on her to handle Sultana Vaida’s volatile moods. Vaida frequently drags Sefa on sudden trips through Lukub, introducing Sefa as her personal attendant to nobles and councilors, forcing the elite to acknowledge her.

During these outings, Sefa learns Vaida employs Kera, a Jasadi who can trace lingering imprints of magic to find where trails vanish into the Mirayah, whose nature disrupts normal magic. Vaida admits the Mirayah’s constant movement foils timely tracking and hints her pursuit connects to a powerful ring, though her exact aim remains secret.

Amid the pomp and wealth, Sefa feels displaced and longs for the warmth of Sylvia’s keep. Vaida occasionally shows abrupt kindness, once halting a journey to buy Sefa wool slippers, complicating Sefa’s view of the Sultana.

At Ashraf Abira’s manor, Ashraf’s attendant crudely propositions Sefa beside a fountain. Vaida appears, seizes the man, and dunks him until he flees. Later, in the carriage, Vaida pointedly tells Sefa to use violence if needed to protect herself. Sefa concludes that beneath Vaida’s caprice, the Sultana can be fiercely—if unpredictably—kind.