The City of Brass

Ali trains with Jamshid using the zulfiqar, the blade that only Geziri men can use properly, that lights with a usually poisonous flame. Dara walks in with Kaveh, dismisses Kaveh and Jamshid, and begins sparring with Ali.

They discuss their different interpretations of history: Zaydi, the man who led the revolution against the Daevas and Nahids, is a “bloodthirsty rebel fanatic” to Dara and a hero to Ali (344). Dara inquires about why he is not allowed to see Nahri and then correctly assumes that Ghassan wants to wed Muntadhir and Nahri. In a quiet break during the fighting, Dara lights up the zulfiqar, and Ali is amazed that a non-Geziri man is able to do that.

Ali pulls a trick and almost wins when Dara summons every weapon in the room and steps on Ali’s wrist. He thanks Ali for the reminder of the fanatic, violent Geziri men he once knew. Ali defends himself and says that he would never do what Dara has done. Dara says, “Pray you’re never asked to, Zaydi” (352).