Contents
Chapter 25: Ali
Overview
Ali finalizes the hospital and meets Sister Fatumai, who reveals Ghassan burned a boat of fleeing shafit and recounts the hospital’s Nahid-made pox used against Geziris. She warns of a possible Navasatem attack. Ali informs Ghassan, who refuses to cancel festivities. Ghassan then orders Ali to return to Am Gezira after Navasatem, renouncing his titles, leaving Ali conflicted and contained.
Summary
Ali inspects Nahri’s nearly finished office and the hospital’s preparations, anxious over the shafit camp’s aftermath and his enforced confinement. Lubayd and Aqisa arrive with palace news; Aqisa confirms heavy guards on the infirmary and Zaynab’s strained resilience. Abu Nuwas summons Ali to a visitor.
Ali meets Sister Fatumai, former Tanzeem leader, and hides her in a linens room. She recounts the orphanage’s destruction, executions, and a failed escape by boat that Ghassan’s forces burned, killing children—including the girl once rescued by Ali. The horror pushes Ali toward believing Ghassan unfit to rule.
Fatumai then reveals the hospital’s buried history: the Nahid Council created a paint-borne pox here to infect Geziri soldiers’ shafit families, citing Zaydi al Qahtani’s tragedy. She warns that radical shafit plan a Navasatem attack and leaves, refusing further involvement.
That night, Ali warns Ghassan, who dismisses canceling Daeva festivities and only promises to alert Wajed. Ghassan presents a royal turban, confessing he wavers between naming Ali emir and executing him, then chooses a third path: after Navasatem, Ali must return to Am Gezira, renounce titles, and live quietly.
Ali, tempted by peace yet repulsed by his father’s rule, begs him not to force the choice. Ghassan ends the meeting, maintaining Ali’s confinement and leaving him reeling between duty, justice, and the possibility of exile.
Who Appears
- Alizayd al Qahtani (Ali)Completes the hospital, learns of Ghassan’s atrocity and the hospital’s dark past, warns of a Navasatem plot, and is ordered into post-festival exile.
- Sister FatumaiFormer Tanzeem leader; reveals Ghassan burned fleeing shafit, recalls Nahid pox used on Geziris, and warns of a looming Navasatem attack.
- King GhassanDismisses canceling festivities, offers Ali a royal turban, then orders him back to Am Gezira after Navasatem to renounce titles.
- AqisaMoves through the harem unnoticed; brings news of Zaynab and confirms heavy guards on the infirmary.
- LubaydTeases Ali, maintains morale, and spreads stories bolstering Ali’s reputation amid hospital preparations.
- Abu NuwasGruff Geziri officer guarding Ali; directs him to Fatumai, enforcing Ghassan’s confinement orders.
- IssaEccentric Ayaanle scholar lingering at the hospital, futilely investigating Ali’s marid problem.