The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) - S. A. Chakraborty Page 0,132

at Zaynab’s aggressive goodwill. “We are well, Princess. Thank you for asking.” He darted a look at Nahri. “Actually, on the matter of my father … he is here.”

Nahri closed her eyes. This was all beginning to feel like a terrible dream. “Your father is back? Kaveh’s here?”

Jamshid nodded, swallowing. “He typically goes straight to the Temple after a journey, to thank the Creator for ensuring his safety.”

“What a lovely tradition,” Zaynab said cheerfully, aiming a sharp look at her brother. At the mention of Kaveh, Ali’s face had twisted like he’d sucked on a lemon. “Isn’t that right, Alizayd?”

Ali offered something that might have been a nod. “Yes. Lovely.”

“Shall we go?” Zaynab said, stepping between the men. “Jamshid, would you give me a tour? Ali and Nahri likely have many extremely boring things to discuss.”

“Your sister?” Nahri hissed as soon as Jamshid and Zaynab moved out of earshot.

Ali looked at her helplessly. “Kaveh?”

“That’s a surprise to me as well,” she said grimly. “He’s very orthodox. He will argue against this.”

“And he won’t like seeing me here,” Ali warned. “We … we do not have the most amicable history.”

“You and Kaveh?” she asked sarcastically. “I can’t imagine why not.” She sighed, glancing at the Temple Gates. For all her fears, bringing Alizayd al Qahtani into the Temple was not nearly as bad as saying she intended to work alongside shafit. “Leave your weapons in my litter.”

Ali’s hand went to the hilt of his zulfiqar like an overprotective mother might clutch a child. “Why?”

“We don’t allow weapons in the Temple. None,” she added, sensing this was a thing to be clear upon with the warrior prince before her.

“Fine,” he muttered, removing his zulfiqar and khanjar and placing them delicately inside Nahri’s litter. He freed a small knife from a holster around his ankle and then a spike from his sleeve. He turned back, the sunlight glinting off the copper relic in his ear. “Let’s go.”

Zaynab and Jamshid were already halfway down the main path, Zaynab’s lilting voice carrying back to them. The Temple grounds were crowded as usual, with local Daevabadis strolling the manicured grounds and extended families of pilgrims seated on rugs spread under shade trees. People had stopped to look at Zaynab, excitedly peeking and pointing in the princess’s direction.

The sight of Ali provoked a very different reaction. Nahri heard a couple of gasps, catching sight of narrowed eyes and open horror.

She ignored it. She straightened her shoulders and tipped her chin up. She would not show weakness today.

Ali gazed upon the Temple complex with visible appreciation, seeming not to notice the hostility around him. “This is beautiful,” he said admiringly as they passed a row of towering cedars. “These trees look like they’ve been here since Anahid’s time.” He knelt, running his fingers over one of the brightly colored stone disks that made up the Temple’s pathways. “And I’ve never seen anything like these.”

“They’re from the lake,” Nahri explained. “Supposedly the marid brought them up as tribute.”

“The marid?” He sounded startled as he straightened up, holding the stone. It was the bright orange of a setting sun, flecked with bits of crimson. “I didn’t realize …”

The stone in his hand abruptly brightened, shimmering as if under a pale sea.

Nahri knocked it out of his hand.

Ali’s eyes were wide. “I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Nahri dared a glance around them. People were watching, of course, but it didn’t seem anyone had noticed.

She heard Ali swallow. “Do the stones do that often?” he asked hopefully.

“Never, as far as I’m aware.” She gave him a sharp look. “Then again, considering the source of these stones …”

He cleared his throat, silencing her. “Can we not talk about that here?”

He had a point. “Fine. But don’t touch anything else.” Nahri paused, recalling just who she was about to bring into the Temple. “And maybe don’t say anything. At all.”

A disgruntled expression crossed his face, but he remained silent as they caught up with Jamshid and Zaynab at the Temple’s entrance.

Zaynab’s eyes were shining. “An extraordinary place,” she enthused. “Jamshid has been giving me a wonderful tour. Did you know he was once a novitiate here, Ali?”

Ali nodded. “Muntadhir told me you had trained for the priesthood.” He looked curious. “What made you leave it for the Guard?”

Jamshid’s face was stony. “I wanted to be more proactive in defending my people.”

Zaynab swiftly took her brother’s arm. “Why don’t we go inside?”

As Jamshid led them into the Temple, the healer in Nahri could not help but note