Contents
Chapter 10: Nahri
Overview
Nahri reels after confronting Ali and recovering Dara’s dagger, then throws herself into healing Jamshid’s debilitating injuries. Her agonizing but promising procedure is interrupted by Muntadhir, sparking a vicious argument that nearly triggers Nahri’s lethal magic. Nisreen defuses the crisis, leaving Jamshid stabilized and Nahri despairing over her role, marriage, and home.
Summary
Nahri collapses after Ali’s intrusion into her garden, clutching Dara’s dagger and wrestling with betrayal. She resolves to focus on work and heads to the infirmary, where a newly found but unreadable Nahid text frustrates her hopes to treat curse-like injuries.
Jamshid arrives desperate to resume treatment despite severe pain and slow progress. Nahri warns patience but, moved by his resolve and Muntadhir’s mounting instability, proceeds. She binds Jamshid’s hands and begins repairing frayed spinal nerves; his body violently rejects her magic even as she forces several connections back into place.
As pain crescendos, Jamshid cries out and flames burst from his bindings. Muntadhir barges in, breaking Nahri’s concentration and knocking her out of the healing state. She stabilizes Jamshid, then erupts at Muntadhir for interrupting; he counters that she is reckless and accuses her of complicity with Dara, lashing her with cruel insinuations.
Enraged and wounded, Nahri’s ancestral magic surges; she briefly senses how easily she could kill Muntadhir. Nisreen intervenes, ordering Muntadhir to leave. He departs after a brief touch to Jamshid’s hand, unaware of how close Nahri came to violence.
Shaken, Nahri admits she nearly killed him. Nisreen condemns Muntadhir and tends Jamshid, whose vitals steady. Overwhelmed by duty, thwarted dreams, and political pressure, Nahri longs for Cairo before Nisreen embraces and reassures her with fervent promises that all will be well.
Who Appears
- Nahri (Banu Nahida)Protagonist healer; reclaims Dara’s dagger, attempts risky nerve repair on Jamshid, clashes with Muntadhir, nearly unleashes lethal magic, breaks down.
- Jamshid e-PramukhMuntadhir’s companion and guard captain; endures excruciating healing attempt as Nahri reconnects damaged spinal nerves; collapses but stabilizes.
- Muntadhir al QahtaniCrown prince; interrupts the procedure, argues viciously with Nahri, provoking her magic; leaves after touching Jamshid’s hand.
- NisreenSenior healer; protects Nahri, ejects Muntadhir, helps stabilize Jamshid, and pointedly reassures a devastated Nahri.
- Alizayd al Qahtani (Ali)Briefly present leaving Nahri’s garden; catalyst who returned Dara’s dagger, reigniting grief and anger.