Chapter 13

At Mogadishu, Amina welcomes Nasteho and Majed’s children aboard the Marawati, giving her crew a day off. Sharing food and play, Amina admits how fiercely she misses her daughter while also recognizing how deeply she loves being a nakhudha. Nasteho gently names that truth, and Amina wrestles with the contradiction between inspiring Marjana and keeping her safe.

Dalila joins, sparring humorously about her “healing” poisons, while the children dote on the hapless cat. As the visit ends, Nasteho hints Majed will soon come. Days later, Majed boards, nostalgic and formal, carrying texts and charts. He announces the riddle’s drawings precisely match reports of cave markings on Socotra.

Majed cites a Greek chronicle and al-Mas‘udi describing caves marked with handprints and symbols, witches, and monstrous serpents. Amina recognizes a bull’s head as Taurus with al-Dabaran, tying the clue to the Moon of Saba lore. The fit convinces them Dunya likely sought the treasure in Socotra’s cave network.

Tinbu and Amina warn that Socotra is a pirate stronghold and perilous to approach. Majed proposes a stealth route from the south and east—desolate, out of season, but rife with reefs and brutal winds. He argues the Marawati, with a skilled crew and navigator, can manage it.

When Amina tries to buy his notes, Majed refuses and insists on joining, invoking shared history and duty to Asif. After debate—and a reminder of the enormous bounty—Amina relents on the condition Majed stays aboard during the cave search. Majed requests advances for his family, and the crew, bantering about old habits, vows to avoid piracy and focus solely on rescuing Dunya.