than on whose family we belong to.”
Jamshid sighed. “And here I thought you were a realist.”
“I am. Please. You stood by me in the Temple when I said I was going to work with shafit. I’m asking you to do so again.”
He paced away. “This is so much more dangerous than the Temple, Nahri. The priests would have merely sanctioned you. I’m pretty sure half this castle wants to kill us.”
“All the more reason to convince them not to.”
He still seemed skeptical but let out a resigned grunt. “Why don’t you tell me how you and Sheikh Fire-Sword ended up here, and I’ll see how I feel about allies.”
24
ALI
Ali stumbled from the cell, his mind whirling with Jamshid’s accusations. Not quite certain where he was going, only that he had to get away—to give the Nahid siblings space; to give himself space from the man who had just reached into the guilty recesses of his heart and dragged the broken pieces into the light—he crossed to the stairs. All he wanted to do was get out of this sunken chamber of earth and stone.
Instead, he walked directly into Wajed.
The Qaid crossed his arms, looking at Ali as though they were back in the Citadel and he was about to deliver a scolding. It made Ali heartsick. Though it had been weeks, he still remembered standing in his mentor’s stolen office in the Citadel and knowing Wajed would never forgive him for the rebellion. Wajed was Geziri to the core and utterly loyal to Ghassan, his king and friend since boyhood.
Ali was not, though he knew it would be useful for him to pull on that tie now. “I realize we got … waylaid in the majlis, but I thank you for coming to Ta Ntry and seeing to my mother’s safety.” He touched his heart. “My family will always be grateful for your loyalty.”
Wajed narrowed his eyes. “I could hear that Daeva screaming at you. If your first instinct is to come out here, thank me for my service, and then politely sack me, I’m going to tell your mother you’ve lost your mind.”
The personal route they would go, then. “I haven’t lost my mind, uncle. Nor do I want to sack you. I need you, Wajed. You were right—we’re at war, but our enemy isn’t down there,” Ali said, gesturing to the cells. “Nahri has saved my life twice over from Darayavahoush and Manizheh. Jamshid was Muntadhir’s dearest … companion,” he said, faltering slightly. “And surely the warrior who taught me strategy sees the benefit in Manizheh’s children being on our side.”
“I see the benefit in them being hostages.”
“Then I see the benefit in finding a new Qaid. I would rather not,” Ali said, not missing the emotion storming across Wajed’s face at the ultimatum. “But the Nahids are my allies, and I will not allow them to be threatened.”
“Your father tried to make allies out of the Nahids. Look where that got him.”
“My father tried to force them into being allies. That’s not what I’m doing. Uncle, I know part of you must hate me for that night. But I do not regret disobeying him. I loved my father. I am sorry, sorrier than I will ever be able to express, that we did not part in peace, but more than that, I am sorry that he died with such sins on his soul. His final command would have slaughtered hundreds of innocents. He died threatening a woman under his roof, his own daughter-in-law. If you disagree with my actions and wish to leave my service, I’ll understand. But I don’t intend to follow his path.”
Wajed pressed his mouth into a thin line. “You are like a son to me, Zaydi. You are a Qahtani, and you will have my service as your father did before you. But you must understand how angry our people are.” He leaned closer. “Trust me when I say I’m not the only one who will look upon this alliance with doubt. Nearly every person in this castle lost someone to Manizheh or has a loved one trapped in Daevabad. You’re very popular with our people, which I’m sure you know, having used your popularity to convince the Citadel and Geziri Quarter to riot,” he added, a little acidly. “Be careful with that support.”
Ali nodded. “I will. Right now, though, I need to find my mother. If I ask you to stay here …”
Wajed rolled his eyes. “Your Nahids won’t come to any