Contents
Chapter 12: Nahri
Overview
Nahri attends Hatset’s women’s feast and witnesses Ali’s formal return as chefs compete to design Navasatem’s menu. Ali is poisoned with silver vapors; Ghassan’s use of Suleiman’s seal turns the vapors to lethal metal. Nahri halts the seal, begins treatment, the poisoner is slain, and Ali’s marid-tainted eyes surface as Hatset orders him taken to the infirmary.
Summary
Nahri, still shaken by Muntadhir’s taunt and estranged from him, dresses simply and attends Hatset’s women’s feast, wary of the queen’s unusual warmth. From the women’s tent she observes the men: Ghassan presiding, Muntadhir among friends, and Ali newly returned, resplendent in Ayaanle finery.
Ghassan announces a chefs’ competition for Navasatem. Ali samples cave eels, flaming rukh kebabs, and an enchanted candy simurgh. After eating a sweet and drinking, Ali suddenly clutches his throat, collapses, and begins choking, silver vapors seeping from self-inflicted gashes as panic spreads.
Instinctively, Ghassan invokes Suleiman’s seal, which solidifies the vapors into deadly metal shards, worsening Ali’s condition. Nahri recognizes the change, forces Ghassan to lift the seal, and regains her healing senses. She clears Ali’s airway and orders him moved on a board toward the infirmary.
Amid the chaos, a female companion of Ali throws a khanjar, killing the servant who served Ali’s drink, revealing an immediate suspect. As Ali is lifted, his eyes turn oil-black, recalling the marid’s possession. Hatset, fiercely protective, pushes through protocol, aids Nahri, and commands Ali’s removal to the infirmary.
Who Appears
- NahriBanu Nahida; observes the feast, diagnoses Ali’s poisoning, stops the seal’s harm, and begins emergency treatment.
- Alizayd al Qahtani (Ali)Newly returned prince; poisoned during the feast, nearly killed by seal-hardened silver, eyes turn marid-black.
- Queen HatsetWatches over Ali, unusually cordial to Nahri, breaks protocol to aid her son, orders him rushed to the infirmary.
- King Ghassan al QahtaniHosts the feast and chefs’ contest; invokes Suleiman’s seal, inadvertently worsening Ali’s condition, then lifts it.
- Muntadhir al QahtaniCrown prince; tense, supported by friends and Jamshid; watches Ali’s ordeal amid escalating factional undertones.
- JamshidAt Muntadhir’s side; intercepts the juice bearer earlier, showing vigilance; calms Muntadhir during the feast.
- Princess ZaynabAt Hatset’s side; reacts in panic when Ali collapses, restrained by guards for safety.
- Agnivanshi chefPresents an enchanted candy simurgh; offers the sweets Ali eats before collapsing.
- Sahrayn chefArrives with a showy boat and live cave eels; Ali samples his dish earlier.
- QaidDraws his zulfiqar and physically shields Ghassan when chaos erupts.
- Female guard/companionSevere-eyed ally near Ali; kills the servant who served Ali’s drink with a thrown khanjar.
- NisreenNahri’s mentor; counsels her before the feast and urges caution with the queen.