Chapter 26

On the island, Raksh forcibly bathes Amina and treats her wounds, then vanishes to procure extravagant, stolen garments to impress the local court. Amina eats strange, potent foods and salves that speed her healing and ease old pains, while noticing her alarming new strength remains unexplained.

As they rest by a fire, Amina presses Raksh about her altered condition. He speculates it may stem from a moving, magical plant or the island itself and notes it could help her stop Falco and protect her crew and daughter. The talk turns personal: Raksh admits he did not kill Amina earlier because a past spouse died from his mistake, which left him magically weakened for centuries.

Challenged about his betrayal, Raksh explains he always feeds on human ambition in exchange for luck. He reveals Asif approached him first, craving a grand discovery to return home triumphant. What began as Raksh’s dark jest became a binding pact when Asif agreed, a choice Raksh could not refuse. He regrets only the messy end and the lost soul, not the predation itself.

Amina condemns him as a demon; Raksh counters with an analogy about incomprehension between realms and refuses to elaborate on his kin, bristling when Amina probes for weaknesses. Concerned for Marjana’s heritage and safety, Amina drops the subject.

They refocus on strategy: to petition the island’s court—beings of air—while concealing Amina’s marriage to Raksh. They will claim Falco tricked them and ask to return to stop him. Raksh points to a sheer plateau rising into the clouds, promising the court will come if summoned there. Amina dreads the height, but they resolve to proceed.