The Daevabad Trilogy, #1
The City of Brass
by S. A. Chakraborty
Contents
Chapter 28: Ali
Overview
Dragged into the lake, Ali yields his true name to a marid, is possessed, and fatally overpowers Darayavahoush. He wakes transformed—sweating water and stirring it unwittingly—while Ghassan reveals the Qahtani’s ancient, damning secret alliance with marid. Defending Nahri sparks a family rupture as Ali’s loss of control collapses the infirmary roof and Muntadhir disavows him.
Summary
Alizayd plunges into the cursed lake and is assaulted by pain, creatures, and visions of Daevabad’s ruin and his family’s torture. A voice demands his true name; driven by terror for Zaynab and Ghassan, Ali yields it. Released, he surfaces possessed, scales the boat, and overpowers Darayavahoush by striking the ring that fuels the Afshin’s magic before collapsing.
Ali dreams of childhood watercraft with Zaynab, then wakes in the palace infirmary under a sheet, flayed by countless aquatic wounds and sweating water. Ghassan, Muntadhir, and Nisreen attend him; Ali learns he was restrained and that Darayavahoush is dead. As Ali recalls the lake’s demand for his name, Ghassan reveals a guarded Qahtani secret: Zaydi al Qahtani saw marid, and the Ayaanle once allied with them to take Daevabad.
Believing Ali was taken by a marid, Ghassan and Muntadhir debate his safety and the political peril if the truth spreads. Ali reels at the implication—and the proof in his body—while Muntadhir argues he must be sent to Ta Ntry. Ghassan refuses.
Talk turns to Nahri. Ghassan weighs executing her; Muntadhir claims she and the Afshin conspired to flee. Ali insists Darayavahoush coerced her and vows to defend her publicly. The argument escalates; Ali’s control slips, shattering a water pitcher.
As rain hammers the glass roof, the structure gives way. Water crashes into the infirmary, soothing Ali’s wounds but cutting Muntadhir. Shaken, Muntadhir renounces shielding Ali, leaving their rift laid bare as the consequences of Ali’s transformation—and the Qahtani secret—loom.
Who Appears
- Alizayd al QahtaniFalls into the lake, gives his true name to a marid, returns possessed to defeat Dara, awakens changed and uncontrollably manipulating water.
- Ghassan al QahtaniKing and father; tends Ali, reveals the Qahtani–marid secret, resists sending Ali away, considers executing Nahri.
- Muntadhir al QahtaniWitnesses Ali’s possession, urges exile to Ta Ntry, blames Nahri, is injured in the roof collapse, renounces protecting Ali.
- NisreenHealer attending Ali; removes remaining corruption and reports on his condition.
- Marid (the lake)Entity that torments Ali with visions, demands his true name, possesses him, and leaves lasting changes.