Chapter 29

Khayzur flies Amina and Raksh from the perilous peri island to Socotra’s western coast, offering only oblique advice: all beings prize freedom and marid care about favors. He departs, leaving them to approach the pirate clans below.

Their arrival draws javelins and a forced audience before the pirate council. Amid opulent order, Amina recounts a trimmed story of Falco, prompting suspicion from several captains, especially a Mombasa elder, while a Socotran woman notes grim reports of a slaughtered village. Doubts grow when scouts’ news mentions sorcery and a leviathan. Raksh’s alluring talk of treasure momentarily tempts them, but caution prevails and they propose sending only a scout.

Magnun, a fearsome Egyptian captain, crashes the council, mocks their caution, and offers to fight Falco in exchange for guidance to the treasure caves. Seizing the covenant to protect locals, the council lets Magnun go—with only Amina and Raksh—both to honor duty and test the threat.

Magnun shows his lethal bawarij and agrees to sail swiftly. Amina embraces her old swagger, donning vivid clothes, chain mail, and heavy arms empowered by her newfound strength, while Magnun musters a fierce crew. Despite excitement, Amina worries Falco’s sorcery may blunt ordinary steel.

Seeking a counter, Amina asks for talismanic or iron weapons. Magnun reveals a dagger forged from meteoric iron, stolen before his exile, and lends it to her as the best chance against magic. The blade seems to resonate in Amina’s hand, and she resolves to carve a path through fire to reach her crew and daughter.