Chapter 30: Nahri

Nahri, isolated and grieving, attempts a zar-like ritual to summon Dara, repeatedly cutting herself until Nisreen intervenes. Nisreen insists slaves cannot be separated from their vessels and warns Nahri to comply with the king to survive. She reveals citywide unrest: Daevas protesting, arrests, looting, and assaults, and that Ali lives but has been secretly exiled back to Am Gezira.

Dragged to meet Ghassan, Nahri refuses to bow. The king declares his chosen narrative: Dara abducted Nahri and fought Ali, who heroically returned to slay the Afshin. When Nahri invokes the marid and Suleiman’s seal, Ghassan denies it and pivots to undermine her identity, suggesting shafit blood, while admitting he would have married her to Muntadhir for political peace.

Ghassan recounts Dara’s role in the massacre at Qui-zi—scourgings, executions, rapes, mutilations, and enslavement—arguing Nahids chose cruelty and ruin. The account shatters Nahri, who nonetheless keeps her composure. Ghassan demands cooperation and sets a price: silence on the marid, resumption of plans, and public condemnation of Dara; he threatens to expose Nahri as shafit and fabricate scandal if she refuses.

Under duress, Ghassan seizes Nahri’s wrist, nullifying her magic with his seal, and makes explicit threats against her and the Daevas. Nahri capitulates and asks what he wants. She is dressed in Nahid finery and compelled to sign a marriage contract binding her to Muntadhir at twenty-five; Muntadhir, forced, signs and storms out.

In the audience hall before assembled Daeva elites, Nahri reads a scripted denunciation of Dara. Expecting outrage or belief, she instead faces stony defiance. Kartir, the high priest, bows to her, and the Daeva crowd follows in silent unity. Nahri notices Ghassan seated on a throne carved as a shedu—her family’s symbol—and recognizes his displeasure. She smiles the smile of a con artist, understanding the unexpected leverage their public allegiance grants her.