Chapter 25: Ali

Ali swims despite fresh stitches and notices his stomach wound has nearly vanished, suspecting unexplained rapid healing. Zaynab arrives, revealing that Nahri forced marriage negotiations with Ghassan, demanding payment shares, Dara’s pension, training in Zariaspa, exclusive marriage, and access to notes. Ali realizes this happened the previous day and that Ghassan suspects Ali advised her.

Feeling guilty toward both siblings, Ali seeks Muntadhir at Khanzada’s crowded salon. There he finds Muntadhir drinking with Khanzada, while Darayavahoush and Jamshid socialize nearby. Ali attempts an apology, but Muntadhir accuses him of calculated involvement with the Tanzeem and fears treason, citing Ali’s secrecy and competence in covering up Hanno’s death.

Ali swears loyalty and offers to help with the Nahri negotiations, but Muntadhir, provoked, summons Dara and Jamshid. He taunts Dara by suggesting a comfortable governorship in Zariaspa and announcing Nahri’s proactive wedding offer, inflaming Dara. Ali notices Dara’s slave ring faintly glowing.

Khanzada intervenes, trading barbs with Dara, who suddenly rattles off Khanzada’s private fantasies of a quiet life with Muntadhir, alarming her, and then pointedly hints at Muntadhir’s feelings toward Jamshid. As Dara edges toward a dangerous reveal, Muntadhir lunges; Ali intercepts and takes the punch to stop a duel. The room freezes; Dara slips away, and Khanzada flees in tears despite Muntadhir’s call.

Ali declines to arrest Dara over a drunken quarrel and orders Jamshid to report Dara’s return and inform Kaveh. Realizing his wound has reopened, Ali decides to bind it himself and wait discreetly in the infirmary rather than risk more scandal by seeking Nahri at night.