This Woven Kingdom

Kamran faces a whirlwind of personal and political challenges. After his confrontation with the street child, Omid, Kamran is burdened by the looming war and the Seven Houses’ growing doubts about his leadership skills. As he visits Baz House, memories of sneaking around the place in his youth come flooding back. While investigating the girl’s identity, he notices that her graceful demeanor contrasts with the clear signs of hardship on her hands. These observations, combined with her unexpected acts of compassion, force Kamran to confront his misjudgments and perceptions. He struggles with his own identity, the overwhelming responsibilities of his station, and a fear of not measuring up to his grandfather’s expectations. The weight of his self-doubt becomes even more evident when his close aide, Hazan, finds him in a vulnerable state.

In the city marketplace, Alizeh, troubled by her wounds, seeks a variety of items from Deen, the apothecary shopkeeper, who notices the severity of the wound on her neck. Their conversation soon revolves around the prince, whom Alizeh regards with suspicion. During the conversation, she speaks eloquently and thoughtfully, which is out of turn for a servant. Deen listens but ultimately defends the prince’s character by highlighting Kamran’s noble actions, including his recent rescue of a young beggar boy with distinct red hair from a suicide attempt. This revelation shocks Alizeh, as she realizes that she knows the boy. Deen alludes to rumors that this boy may have attacked a servant girl: an insinuation that visibly unnerves Alizeh, given her own recent injury. Hurrying from the shop into a raging storm, Alizeh’s anxiety escalates. Haunted as well by the devil’s recent visitation and cryptic riddle, she grows convinced that the prince is behind some mysterious and nefarious deeds, possibly even targeting children. Her chaotic thoughts are interrupted when, on her way back home, an unseen hand suddenly seizes her.

During a violent storm, Kamran’s attendant Hazan approaches the prince and confirms that the girl, Alizeh, isn’t a spy or a mercenary, but he struggles to share more distressing news. Their conversation is abruptly interrupted when a stranger bumps into them. Acting on instinct, Kamran confronts and repels a shadowy figure that is trying to seize a girl, only to watch it disappear mysteriously. The downpour continues as he approaches the girl, who turns out to be Alizeh. He advises her to remove her snoda for better visibility. She hesitates, keeping her eyes closed, but eventually, she is forced to remove the mask in order to breathe. Seizing this chance to study her more closely, Kamran perceives her unparalleled beauty and is taken by surprise. Their mutual gaze is intense and filled with a magnetic curiosity, but before he can act on a newfound urge to touch her, she disappears. Hazan soon finds him and is worried about his well-being. In their conversation, Hazan reveals a significant secret about the girl: that the diviners claim her blood to contain ice. This revelation deeply concerns Kamran. The king is also aware, and given the implications, her “collection” has been expedited to the next evening. While Hazan praises Kamran’s instincts for having identified Alizeh, Kamran denies encountering anyone during his nocturnal venture, then mounts his horse and rides away.

Alizeh renders herself invisible as she enters Baz House: a considerable risk given the strictness of the laws governing how Jinn are permitted to behave and appear while in public. The weight of her circumstances overwhelms her: her injuries, the precious lost medicine she can barely afford, and an urgent need to complete more work for Miss Huda. Reflecting on her tragic past and the historical persecution of the Jinn by the “Clay” (the humans), she grapples with feelings of profound loneliness, heartache, and grief, especially as she thinks of her deceased mother and her cherished lost handkerchief.

Suddenly, the silence of the house is broken by a knock. To her astonishment, the prince of Ardunia stands at the door. Despite her wariness, she is tempted by his claim to have her lost parcels. Alizeh is baffled by the prince’s sudden and unexpected interest in her, and she is also flabbergasted by his inexplicable compassion in returning her lost packages, especially since prior forewarnings have primed her to view him as a potential source of danger. Meanwhile, the prince is particularly captivated by Alizeh’s eyes, which appear to change color. While Alizeh is keen to end the conversation, the prince urges her to wait. However, recognizing her discomfort and the late hour, he eventually leaves, allowing Alizeh to lock up the house. After ensuring the prince’s departure, Alizeh discovers that she’s not the only one present; another person or presence is in the kitchen.

In the grand chamber of Ardunia, Prince Kamran confronts his grandfather, King Zaal, about the fate of Alizeh. King Zaal has determined that Alizeh poses a significant threat to their empire due to her heritage as a Jinn and as the sole surviving heir to an ancient kingdom within Ardunia. Kamran argues that Alizeh is unaware of her own identity and heritage and is living as a low-status servant and performing hard labor. King Zaal insists that her bloodline, marked by the ice in her veins, makes her a potent figure who could inspire revolt among the Jinn communities in Ardunia. These communities believe in an ancient loyalty that is potentially powerful enough to break the Fire Accords that have kept peace between different races within the empire. Kamran counters this point by emphasizing that loyalty should be earned rather than forced. He also suggests that the apparent fragility of the Accords implies the existence of a deeper issue of unrest and dissatisfaction among the Jinn.

The emotional intensity between grandfather and grandson rises, particularly when King Zaal accuses Kamran of being swayed by personal feelings for Alizeh. Kamran tries to propose alternatives to her execution, such as exile or confinement, but King Zaal remains resolute. He fears that as long as Alizeh is free, she remains a beacon for rebellion. The chapter culminates in King Zaal’s decision to have Alizeh executed and his demand that Kamran choose a wife the following night. These pronouncements mark the end of any further discussions on the matter.

Alizeh is working diligently at Baz House, taking in the world outside through the windows she’s cleaning. As she works, a firefly repeatedly crashes against the window, prompting Alizeh to communicate with it silently. This firefly is more than a mere insect; it has a unique connection with Alizeh, as fireflies share a special bond with the Jinn. The narrative also reveals more about Alizeh’s significant past. Once destined to be a leader who liberates her people, she is now reduced to servitude. Her lineage is rare, carrying the ancient power of ice in her veins, and once, the weight of all Jinn expectations rested on her shoulders. As she reminisces about her past, she spots a familiar boy approaching Baz House: Omid. The chapter ends with Alizeh being told that she has a guest. She hurries off, surprised by the unlikely admission of the boy. As she races to meet him, she realizes that the firefly, her silent companion, has mysteriously disappeared.

Kamran seeks solace in the secluded beauty of the Surati Forest, which is filled with dreamlike pink trees. Despite its beauty, the forest is perilous, as one must risk death by jumping from a cliff in order to enter. The environment mirrors Kamran’s tumultuous emotions as he grapples with the revelation that his beloved grandfather, King Zaal, may have already once tried to murder Alizeh. Kamran’s earlier quest to validate the king’s actions and find evidence against her only deepens his empathy for her, leading to more internal conflict. Convinced of her innocence, he is consumed with guilt and self-loathing, aware that he inadvertently brought danger to her door. Torn with inner turmoil, the prince stands amidst the beauty of nature and contemplates the irreversible consequences of his actions.