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A review by mija_
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
4.0
QUOTES:
"I do not know, Alizayd. I am near equally torn between declaring you my emir and having you executed."
"I know not how to get you to bend, Alizayd. I have threatened you, I have killed your shafit allies, banished your mother, sent you to be hunted by assassins... and still you defy me. I am hoping your heart proves weaker than your sense of righteousness... or perhaps wiser."
"My dear Banu Nahida..."
"You could do what?" he asked politely, his eyes dancing. (I LOVE JAMSHID)
"No, child, I don't think you're wrong." Nisreen touched Nahri's hand. "I think you're brilliant and courageous and your heart is in the right place. If I hold my tongue, it's because you share your mother's stubborn streak and I would rather serve quietly at your side than lose you altogether."
"I'm proud of you, Nahri. Perhaps in all our disagreements, that's not a thing I've made clear, but I am. You're a good Banu Nahida. A good... what is your human word? Doctor?" She smiled. "I think your ancestors would be proud too. A little horrified... but proud." Nahri blinked, her eyes suddenly damp. "I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"But I'm glad you found me. I was actually hoping to... " His gray eyes went wide, tracing over her. "Oh," he whispered. "You... you look–" He abruptly shut his mouth, averting his gaze.
"Yes. The only time you're not wearing something stark and streaked with dirt, it's because someone else has dressed you." Embarrassment colored his face again, and she laughed. "It's a compliment, Ali. You look nice."
"You look incredible." The words seemed to slip unthinkingly from his mouth, and when she met his gaze, a little startled by the emotion in his voice, he looked away. "Your garments, I mean," he explained quickly. "The headdress. It's very... intricate."
"But I don't understand why you wouldn't want to go back. You clearly loved 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 reached out, taking his chin in one hand and forcing him to look back at her. He visibly jumped at her touch, his eyes going wide.
She cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing his beard. She didn't miss the sudden racing of his heart. Nor the sadness rising in her own.
He closed his eyes. God forgive him, she had looked so beautiful last night.
Ali pulled her into his arms. She started to cry harder and they sank slowly to the floor.
"Your Jamshid."
Jamshid was family.
"Where is my brother?"
"Let's go die."
Ali took a deep breath but then clasped her hand and climbed to his feet. "Until the end."
"I do not know, Alizayd. I am near equally torn between declaring you my emir and having you executed."
"I know not how to get you to bend, Alizayd. I have threatened you, I have killed your shafit allies, banished your mother, sent you to be hunted by assassins... and still you defy me. I am hoping your heart proves weaker than your sense of righteousness... or perhaps wiser."
"My dear Banu Nahida..."
"You could do what?" he asked politely, his eyes dancing. (I LOVE JAMSHID)
"No, child, I don't think you're wrong." Nisreen touched Nahri's hand. "I think you're brilliant and courageous and your heart is in the right place. If I hold my tongue, it's because you share your mother's stubborn streak and I would rather serve quietly at your side than lose you altogether."
"I'm proud of you, Nahri. Perhaps in all our disagreements, that's not a thing I've made clear, but I am. You're a good Banu Nahida. A good... what is your human word? Doctor?" She smiled. "I think your ancestors would be proud too. A little horrified... but proud." Nahri blinked, her eyes suddenly damp. "I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"But I'm glad you found me. I was actually hoping to... " His gray eyes went wide, tracing over her. "Oh," he whispered. "You... you look–" He abruptly shut his mouth, averting his gaze.
"Yes. The only time you're not wearing something stark and streaked with dirt, it's because someone else has dressed you." Embarrassment colored his face again, and she laughed. "It's a compliment, Ali. You look nice."
"You look incredible." The words seemed to slip unthinkingly from his mouth, and when she met his gaze, a little startled by the emotion in his voice, he looked away. "Your garments, I mean," he explained quickly. "The headdress. It's very... intricate."
"But I don't understand why you wouldn't want to go back. You clearly loved 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 reached out, taking his chin in one hand and forcing him to look back at her. He visibly jumped at her touch, his eyes going wide.
She cupped his cheek, her thumb brushing his beard. She didn't miss the sudden racing of his heart. Nor the sadness rising in her own.
He closed his eyes. God forgive him, she had looked so beautiful last night.
Ali pulled her into his arms. She started to cry harder and they sank slowly to the floor.
"Your Jamshid."
Jamshid was family.
"Where is my brother?"
"Let's go die."
Ali took a deep breath but then clasped her hand and climbed to his feet. "Until the end."