The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) - S. A. Chakraborty Page 0,102

of this newfound concern you seem to have for the shafit.”

“You’d work with him?” Nahri repeated in outraged disbelief. “You do realize it’s his father currently persecuting your people?”

“I’m quite aware,” Subha retorted. “There’s also not a shafit in Daevabad who doesn’t know how the prince feels about it.” She turned her attention back to Ali. “I heard about the father and daughter you saved from the traffickers. People say they’re living like nobles in the palace now.”

Ali stared at her, his heart dropping. For the first time he thought he might have seen a flicker of interest in Subha’s eyes, but he couldn’t bear the thought of lying to her.

“They were very nearly returned to that trafficker because I wasn’t careful enough. I think the Banu Nahida’s plan is admirable, I do. But when things go wrong in Daevabad …” He gestured between Nahri and himself. “People like us rarely pay the same price as the shafit.”

Subha paused. “It seems neither of you are good at convincing others to work with you,” she said calmly.

Nahri swore under her breath, but Ali held his ground. “A partnership founded in deceit is no partnership at all. I would not wish to lie and bring you into danger unwarned.”

Parimal reached out to touch a lock of the baby’s curly hair. “It might be a good idea,” he said softly to Subha. “Your father used to dream about building a hospital here.”

Ali glanced at Nahri. “Well?”

She looked murderous. “What do you know about building hospitals?”

“What do you know about building anything?” he asked. “Have you given thought to how to collect and administer the funds needed to restore a ruined, ancient complex? It’s going to be incredibly expensive. Time-consuming. Will you be assessing contracts and hiring hundreds of workers in between patients at the infirmary?”

Nahri’s glare only intensified. “Those were some very pretty words about founding relationships in deceit.”

Ali flinched, their fight in the garden coming back to him. “You said I owe you,” he replied carefully. “Let me pay my debt. Please.”

Whether or not that resonated, Ali couldn’t tell. Nahri drew up, the emotion vanishing from her face as she turned back to Subha. “Fine, he’s with me. Is that enough for you?”

“No,” the doctor said bluntly. “Get the king’s permission. Get money and draw up actual plans.” She nodded at the door. “And don’t come back until you do. I won’t have my family caught up in this mess otherwise.”

Ali stood. “Forgive us for our intrusion,” he apologized in a rasp; his still-healing throat didn’t seem to appreciate all the arguing he’d just done. “We’ll be in touch soon, God willing.” He snapped his fingers, trying to get Nahri’s attention. She’d turned back to the desk and its treasures, not seeming particularly eager to leave. “Nahri.”

She dropped her hand from the book she’d been reaching for. “Oh, fine.” She touched her heart, offering an exaggerated bow. “I look forward to speaking again, Doctor, and hearing what new invective you have to hurl upon my ancestors and tribe.”

“An endless supply, I assure you,” Subha responded.

Ali ushered Nahri out before she could reply. His hands were shaking as he secured the tail of his turban across his face and then pulled the outer door closed behind them. Then he leaned hard against it, the full meaning of what he’d just agreed to hitting him.

Nahri didn’t seem as bothered. She was gazing upon the busy shafit neighborhood below. And though she’d pulled her niqab back over her face, as a man swept past carrying a board of steaming bread, she inhaled, and the cloth pulled close against her lips in a way Ali cursed himself for noticing.

She glanced back. “This doesn’t make us friends again,” she said, her voice sharp.

“What?” he stammered, thrown by the bald statement.

“Us working together … it doesn’t mean we’re friends.”

He was more stung than he wanted to admit. “Fine,” he replied, unable to check the snippiness in his tone. “I have other friends.”

“Sure you do.” She crossed her arms over her abaya. “What did Subha mean when she mentioned that shafit family and traffickers? Surely things haven’t gotten that bad here?”

“It’s a long story.” Ali rubbed his aching throat. “But don’t worry. I suspect Doctor Sen will be more than happy to tell it to you, among other things.”

Nahri made a face. “If we can even do this. How do you propose we start?” she asked. “Since you seemed so convinced of your skills inside.”

Ali sighed. “We need to