The Daevabad Trilogy, #1
The City of Brass
by S. A. Chakraborty
Contents
Chapter 19: Ali
Overview
Dara returns to Daevabad unannounced, interrupting Ali’s spar with Jamshid and provoking a duel. During heated political and historical barbs, Ali inadvertently confirms Ghassan’s plan to marry Nahri to Muntadhir. Dara ignites a zulfiqar and telekinetically hurls weapons, overpowering Ali and leaving him injured, hardening tribal hostilities.
Summary
Ali spars with Jamshid, coaching him on zulfiqar technique, when Kaveh arrives with Dara unexpectedly. Dara claims he left Muntadhir’s expedition and pointedly surveys the palace as his own, immediately needling Ali and Jamshid. He requests to spar, dismisses Kaveh and Jamshid, and pointedly critiques Ali for training a foreigner with a Geziri weapon.
As they duel, Dara baits Ali with jabs about Zaydi, Geziri records, and Daeva grievances. Their argument escalates to atrocities on both sides and the shafit. Dara guesses Ghassan intends to wed Nahri to Muntadhir; Ali’s reaction confirms it. Dara challenges Ali’s teaching Nahri, accusing him of bias, while Ali counters with Dara’s infamous past, revealing Nahri likely doesn’t know the full extent of Dara’s crimes.
The spar turns brutal. Dara moves with impossible speed and strength, and the room grows unnaturally hot. He suddenly ignites the zulfiqar—an ability no non-Geziri should possess—startling Ali. Ali briefly outwits him by feigning exhaustion, grabbing a khanjar, and pinning Dara at blade-point.
Dara explodes with power, telekinetically ripping weapons from the wall. In the chaos he crushes Ali’s wrist, disarms him, and holds a zulfiqar to his throat. Coolly appraising Ali as the embodiment of zeal he remembers, Dara returns the weapon, declares the reminder useful, and warns Ali to pray he’s never asked to do the things Dara did, leaving Ali injured and alarmed by Dara’s impossible abilities.
Who Appears
- Alizayd al Qahtani (Ali)Spars with Jamshid, confirms Nahri–Muntadhir plan under pressure, duels Dara, briefly gains advantage, is overpowered; wrist injured.
- Darayavahoush e-Afshin (Dara)Returns early, provokes Ali, deduces marriage plan, ignites a zulfiqar, telekinetically hurls weapons, defeats and warns Ali.
- Jamshid e-PramukhTrains with a zulfiqar despite limits; respectful of Ali and awed by Dara; withdrawn before the decisive duel.
- Kaveh e-PramukhArrives with Dara, alarmed by the spar; likely shared palace gossip; exits under Ali’s order.