The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) - S. A. Chakraborty Page 0,101

eyes. “To all?”

“To all,” Nahri repeated. “Regardless of blood.”

“Then you’re delusional. Or you’re lying. Such a thing would never be permitted. The king would forbid it, your priests would die of shock and horror …”

“It will take some convincing,” Nahri cut in lightly. “I know. But I think we can make it work.” She pointed at the bookshelf. “There are more books like that in the Royal Library; I’ve read them. I healed people in the human world for years, and I know the value in those methods. There are still plenty of times I prefer ginger and sage to zahhak blood and incantations.” She gave Subha an imploring look. “That’s why I came to find you. I thought we could work together.”

Ali sat back, stunned. Across from him, Parimal appeared equally astonished.

Subha’s expression turned colder. “And should I bring to this hospital a shafit man dying of a stroke …” Her voice trembled slightly, but her words were precise. “An ailment I suspect you could heal with a single touch … are you going to lay hands on him, Banu Nahida? In the presence of witnesses, of your pureblood fellows, would you use Nahid magic on a mixed-blood?”

Nahri hesitated, a wash of color sweeping over her face. “I think … initially … it might be better if we treated our own.”

The shafit doctor laughed. It was bitter and utterly without humor. “You don’t even see it, do you?”

“Subha …,” Parimal cut in, his voice thick with warning.

“Let her speak,” Nahri interrupted. “I want to hear what she has to say.”

“Then you will. You say you mean us no harm?” Subha’s eyes flashed. “You are the very essence of harm, Nahid. You’re the leader of the tribe—the faith—that calls us soulless, and the last descendant of a family that culled shafit for centuries as though we were rats. You were the companion of the Scourge of Qui-zi, a butcher who could have filled the lake with the shafit blood he spilt. You have the arrogance to burst into my infirmary—my home—uninvited, to inspect me as though you are my superior. And now you sit there offering pretty dreams of hospitals while I am wondering how to get my child out of this room alive. Why would I ever work with you?”

Thunderous silence followed Subha’s fiery words. Ali felt the urge to speak up for Nahri, knowing her intentions had been good. But he also knew the doctor was right. He had seen firsthand the destruction that pureblood blunderings could cause the shafit.

A muscle worked in Nahri’s cheek. “I apologize for the manner of my arrival,” she said stiffly. “But my intent is sincere. I might be a Nahid and a Daeva, but I want to help the shafit.”

“Then go to your Temple, renounce your ancestors’ beliefs in front of the rest of your people, and declare us equals,” Subha challenged. “If you want to help the shafit, deal with your Daevas first.”

Nahri rubbed her head, looking resigned. “I can’t do that. Not yet. I’d lose their support and be of use to no one.” Subha snorted and Nahri glared at her, appearing angry now. “The shafit are hardly innocent in all of this,” she retorted, heat creeping into her voice. “Do you know what happened to the Daevas caught in the Grand Bazaar after Dara’s death? The shafit fell upon them like beasts, hurling Rumi fire and—”

“Beasts?” Subha snapped. “Ah, yes, because that’s what we are to you. Ravaging animals who need to be controlled!”

“It isn’t a terrible idea.” The words slipped from Ali’s mouth before he could think, and when both women whirled on him, he fought to stay composed. He was nearly as surprised as they were that he was speaking … but it wasn’t a terrible idea. It was … actually sort of brilliant. “I mean, if my father approved this, and you proceeded carefully, I think the Daevas and the shafit working together would be extraordinary. And to build a hospital, something Daevabad could truly use? It would be an incredible achievement.”

He caught Nahri’s gaze then. Her eyes swam with an emotion he couldn’t decipher … but she didn’t look entirely pleased by his sudden support.

Nor did Subha. “So, you’re also a part of this plan?” she asked him.

“No,” Nahri said flatly. “He isn’t.”

“Then you’re not good at convincing people to work with you, Nahid,” Subha replied, putting her daughter against her shoulder to burp her. “With him at your side, I might actually believe some