Contents
Chapter 17: Nahri
Overview
Nahri and Ali publicly propose restoring the Nahid hospital, training students, and involving freed djinn and shafit. Ghassan grants conditional approval and orders Nahri to seek Daeva priests’ blessing with Muntadhir.
Afterward, Nahri defies Muntadhir’s objections and recruits Jamshid as her first student, revealing plans to treat all, heightening political and sectarian stakes.
Summary
At a tense royal breakfast on the palace wall, Nahri and Ali unveil a joint plan to restore the ruined Nahid hospital, train students, and expand care. Ali brings financial proposals and suggests demolishing the shafit exchange to free those held and employ them in the rebuild. Ghassan challenges cost, politics, and capacity; Hatset confirms three freed former ifrit-slaves at the site can help.
When Muntadhir exposes Nahri’s aim to collaborate with shafit physicians, shock ripples through the family. Nahri argues for phased inclusion and training alongside djinn healers. Zaynab reframes the project as a unity gesture and proposes finishing by Navasatem; debate over who should attend the Temple ends with Ghassan ordering Nahri to seek the priests’ blessing and to take Muntadhir, while placing strict oversight on Ali.
After the king departs with Ali, Muntadhir confronts Nahri, accusing her of siding with Ali out of spite. Nahri declares she will pursue the hospital with or without Muntadhir and implies marital boundaries if he refuses to support her. Muntadhir warns that Ali’s reckless idealism endangers others, urging Nahri to protect her tribe.
Nahri then meets Nisreen and Jamshid at the infirmary, announces the project, and targets Navasatem for opening. Nisreen urges delay; Jamshid is intrigued. Nahri appoints Jamshid her first student, tasks him with intensive study, and notes he found Manizheh’s archived notes. Privately, she tells Jamshid she plans to open the hospital to all regardless of blood; he raises doctrinal and security fears, and she counters with a security-through-peace argument.
Concluding, Nahri sets Jamshid to work and warns him that Muntadhir opposes her plan. Jamshid pledges loyalty to the Banu Nahida and the Daeva cause, hoping to sway Muntadhir, while Nahri moves forward determined to secure priestly approval and begin the restoration.
Who Appears
- NahriBanu Nahida; proposes restoring the Nahid hospital, seeks priestly approval, recruits Jamshid, and commits to serving all regardless of blood.
- GhassanDjinn king; skeptically approves the hospital as a unity project, imposes tight oversight, and orders Muntadhir to accompany Nahri.
- MuntadhirCrown prince and Nahri’s husband; opposes shafit inclusion, reveals her plans, argues with Nahri, and warns about Ali’s recklessness.
- Ali (Alizayd)Prince; partners with Nahri, presents financial plans, proposes freeing shafit at the exchange, gains conditional approval but strict warnings.
- HatsetQueen; confirms freed djinn at the hospital site, spars politically, nudges Ali to prudence, supports outreach framing.
- ZaynabPrincess; reframes project as a unity gesture, pushes for Navasatem deadline, and positions Muntadhir to attend the Temple.
- NisreenNahri’s mentor; alarmed by timing and politics, urges delay, notes writing to Kaveh, and begrudgingly accepts Jamshid’s training.
- JamshidDaeva noble; anxious yet eager, named Nahri’s first student, voices doctrinal concerns, and pledges loyalty to support her.