Chapter 16: Dara

In Manizheh’s tent, Kaveh reads a secret report: Jamshid poisoned Alizayd. He argues Jamshid acted for Muntadhir, whose paranoia since Ali’s return may have driven him. Manizheh and Kaveh note the poison resembles Manizheh’s past experiments, likely gleaned from old Nahid notes. They fear suspicion could fall on Nahri; Nisreen would take the blame if needed. With time short, Manizheh pushes forward their invasion plans.

They review the strategy: cross into Daevabad with marid and ifrit aid, seize the Royal Guard, leave a force with Vizaresh and ghouls, and advance on the palace. Manizheh declares Ghassan will be killed before they arrive. Lacking any record of Suleiman’s seal or consistent ring, they conclude Muntadhir must be kept alive to divulge how to take it, despite Kaveh’s doubts about extracting such a secret.

Outside, Dara presses Kaveh on Jamshid’s loyalties. To break the stalemate, Dara reveals a brief return of his slave-born power to perceive desires, seeing that Muntadhir wants only Jamshid. Kaveh, shaken, admits the decade-long affair and his bitterness that Ghassan let Jamshid suffer after taking arrows for Muntadhir. Kaveh vows to keep Jamshid away during the coup and dreads the aftermath; Dara offers to take blame if Muntadhir must die.

Kaveh confesses he once found Manizheh’s apparent corpse and helped stage her death to mislead Ghassan. Rustam, he says, attempted forbidden magic and died; Manizheh won’t speak further. Dara urges Kaveh to draw Jamshid and Nahri from Qahtani influence to ease the coming break, and begs him to guide Manizheh away from Ghassan-like rule, fearing how she might pursue vengeance.

Left alone, Dara is hollowed by the endless cycle of war. He recalls Khayzur sheltering him after slavery, his instinct to make weapons, and the life he could have chosen but refused. Accepting his role, Dara resolves to end the conflict through the looming conquest, whatever the personal cost.