Amina al-Sirafi, #1
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi
by Shannon Chakraborty
Contents
Chapter 16
Overview
Raksh reappears, revealing their marriage bond hinders his power and that he aided Falco with information. Under Amina and Dalila’s fabricated “divorce” pretense, Raksh divulges Falco’s camp, Dunya’s status, and a hidden cave exit. Facing outmatched odds, Amina opts for a stealth rescue through the cliffs, forcing Raksh to guide them.
Summary
Raksh confronts Amina, Dalila, and Tinbu in the forest, easily overpowering Amina and revealing he survived their past imprisonment. He accuses Amina of binding him through their sorcerous marriage, claiming it starves him of contracts and leaves him ravenous unless he draws strength from her presence.
Amina realizes she must hide their daughter and bluffs that the only way to sever the bond is a complicated divorce only she can perform. Dalila reinforces the ruse and demands information first. Pressed, Raksh admits feeding a rescued crew at sea and reveals he supplied Falco with information about Amina and the Marawati.
Raksh confirms Falco and about half his men survived a wreck, enslaved local villagers, and forced them to support an expedition into a vast cave. He says Dunya lives, kept deeper inside, and that Falco—spurred by Dunya’s knowledge—attempted to summon a marid at sea, which slaughtered many, frightening even Raksh.
Raksh sketches a map, detailing a secret tunnel that exits on a cliff above the cave. Amina concludes a frontal assault will fail and proposes infiltrating via the cliff, insisting Raksh guide them in exchange for the promised “divorce” and eventual passage off Socotra.
Despite fear of Falco, Raksh tentatively agrees. Amina resolves to attempt a stealth rescue of Dunya while leveraging Raksh’s self-preservation and her lie to keep him cooperative.
Who Appears
- Amina al-SirafiCaptain; battles and manipulates Raksh with a fake ‘divorce’ to glean intel and plan Dunya’s rescue.
- RakshDemon ‘husband’; accuses Amina of binding him, admits informing Falco, maps the cave, reluctantly agrees to guide.
- DalilaPoisoner; intervenes, reinforces the divorce ruse, assesses the cliff route, presses Raksh for details.
- TinbuArcher; protects Amina, questions troop numbers and treasure, balks at risky cliff plan.
- FalcoAntagonist Frank; survives wreck, enslaves villagers, camps at cave, attempted marid summoning.
- Dunya al-HilliMissing girl; alive with Falco, knowledgeable about magical lore, kept deeper in the cave.
- MajedMapmaker left with the ship; invoked as safety and likely to avoid Raksh.