Epilogue

Kaveh e-Pramukh rushes to the ruined infirmary and finds his son Jamshid alive but motionless, riddled with arrow wounds and denied proper care by Ghassan. Muntadhir keeps vigil, confessing Jamshid shielded him when the attack began. Rage and grief drive Kaveh to send Muntadhir away under the pretext of delivering a scapegoat’s name.

Alone, Kaveh prepares to cut away a small black tattoo on Jamshid’s back, a mark burned at birth that has long concealed Jamshid’s identity and suppressed his natural healing. Hoping to trigger recovery, Kaveh tests the blade, but the wound seals itself. Nisreen arrives, stopping him and warning that removing the mark could kill Jamshid or expose him to torture and unleash reprisals on their tribe.

Kaveh argues that everything is already lost, but Nisreen counters by pressing a battered iron ring set with a burning emerald into his palm—Dara’s ring—and insists there is still a path forward. She urges Kaveh to regain Ghassan’s trust and return to Zariaspa. Kaveh confirms he will frame Bizhan e-Oshrusan for supplying the beach cache, accepting Bizhan’s demand to protect his parents and that he not be taken alive.

Jamshid stirs, sharpening Kaveh’s resolve. Remembering the Daevas’ suffering, Kaveh embraces defiance, determined to save his son by patience and subterfuge rather than reckless revelation. He asks if the ring could help Manizheh, and Nisreen affirms her faith: given the chance, Manizheh can do anything. Kaveh commits to the plan—appease Ghassan publicly while secretly aiding the Nahids.