The Kingdom of Copper (The Daevabad Trilogy #2) - S. A. Chakraborty Page 0,173

you given that threat?”

It took Nahri a moment to process his words, taken aback by the abrupt change in subject. “Threat? What threat?”

“The one from my shafit acquaintance.” When she squinted in confusion, alarm flashed in Ali’s face. “The one I passed on to my father. Surely he told you.”

“This is the first I’ve heard.”

“The first you’ve heard?” Anger crossed his face. “Is the king here? Did you see him below?”

“Not yet, but—wait!” She grabbed Ali’s wrist when he turned for the door. “Will you stop trying to get tossed in the dungeons?” She pulled him back. “Tell me about this threat.”

“A woman I know said she heard some shafit were planning to attack you during Navasatem.”

She waited for him to elaborate, but he stayed silent. “And that’s it?” she asked. “Nothing more?”

“Isn’t that enough?” Ali sounded incredulous.

Nahri looked him in the eye. “No. Ali, I get threats every day. My entire tribe does. But Kaveh, Muntadhir, and Wajed have been harping about security for an entire year, and they’ve told me their plans. Kaveh panics over everything, and Muntadhir is my husband. I trust them, on this issue at least.”

Ali looked unconvinced. “It only takes a few angry people. And after what happened in the workcamp, Nahri, there are a lot of angry people.”

“I’ll be well guarded,” she assured him. “I promise.”

He sighed. “Would you at least consider having Aqisa join you tomorrow for the procession? I’d offer to come myself, but I don’t think your people would like it.”

Nahri pondered that, trying to imagine the reaction Ali’s fierce friend from rural Am Gezira would have on the crowd of mostly city-raised Daevas. Not to mention what it might suggest to Muntadhir. “Ali …”

“Please.”

She let go of his wrist, raising her hands in defeat. “Fine. As long as she keeps her dagger on her person unless I give the order.” She frowned again. With the moonlight falling on his face, she could see that Ali was trembling. “Ali, what’s really going on? You’re acting even stranger than usual.”

He actually laughed, the sound hollow, and then ran his hands over his face. “It’s been a rough few days.”

Nahri hesitated. They weren’t supposed to be friends, not anymore. But the despair radiating from the prince tugged at her heart. Despite the circle of companions and family that surrounded him, it was obvious Ali had secrets. And Nahri knew all too well secrets were a burden lonely to bear.

And he had built her this lovely office. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

His gaze darted to her, the desperation in his eyes unmissable. “Yes,” he said hoarsely. “No. I don’t know. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

She pulled him toward the cushioned seat next to the screened window. “How about by sitting?” She sat across from him, pulling up her knees. “Is this about your father?”

Ali let out a deep sigh. “Part of it is. He’s sending me back to Am Gezira.”

“You’re going back to Am Gezira?” she repeated in surprise. Ali certainly hadn’t been acting like a man going anywhere; he seemed to have a thousand plans for the future of Daevabad. “For how long?”

“Forever?” His voice broke, as if he’d tried to make a joke out of it and failed. “My father doesn’t want me stirring up any more trouble. I’m to give up my titles and go back to the village I was living in after Navasatem.” Ali’s shoulders slumped. “He told me to marry and have a family. To have a peaceful life that doesn’t include fomenting dissent in Daevabad.”

Both his words and the unexpected jolt of emotion in her chest at the thought of his leaving threw her wildly off balance. She struggled to find the right response. “The village … Bir Nabat?”

He looked surprised. “I didn’t think you’d remember the name.”

Nahri rolled her eyes. “There’s not a soul working at the hospital who hasn’t heard you wax poetic about the ruins and canals of Bir Nabat.” She shook her head. “But I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to go back. You clearly love it there. Your letters were always—”

Ali started. “You read my letters?”

Nahri knew she couldn’t hide her slip. She let out a huff of frustration at both herself and him. “I … All right, I read them. They were interesting,” she said, defending herself. “You put in information about local healing plants and stories about the humans to lure me in.”

A sad half-smile twisted his mouth. “I wish I was