Chapter 17

Raksh forces Amina, Dalila, and Tinbu along a cliffside path to a concealed tunnel on Socotra’s northern coast. They rappel down while Raksh climbs by shifting form, then crawl through a suffocating passage into a vast, perilous cavern etched with ancient markings. Amina is lured up a staircase to a brass door that opens by itself, but Raksh drags her away, calling it an ill omen.

Guided by Raksh, they traverse bone-strewn tunnels to a burial pit and pry into a looted “treasure chamber,” where they find Dunya’s ransacked sleeping niche. Fearing for Dunya, they creep toward the cave mouth and instead discover a gruesome slaughter chamber. Nearby, a dozen surviving Socotran villagers are shackled and terrified.

Amina, Dalila, and Tinbu free the prisoners despite Raksh’s protests. The Socotran spokesman reveals Dunya—Falco’s scribe—fled two days earlier, triggering Falco’s murderous rage. With alarms rising from the entrance, they begin funneling the weakened villagers back through Raksh’s tunnel.

Hearing shouts that the prisoners are gone, Amina realizes the escape will be too slow. She shoves Raksh and the last villager through, orders Tinbu to give her two days, then drops the slab and scatters bones to hide the exit.

Rather than flee, Amina walks toward the approaching mercenaries and identifies herself as Amina al‑Sirafi—the nakhudha Falco seeks—sacrificing her freedom to buy time for the villagers and to pursue answers about Dunya.