Nahri and Dara finally cross over the wards that protect Daevabad. After briefly discussing what happened with Khayzur, they continue through the woods to a lake in the middle of which lies the city of Daevabad. Nahri watches in awe as merchants from different tribes argue near the boat and is shocked when Dara tells her that the water is cursed by marid and even touching it will get one torn to shreds. Nahri hears the first language that she cannot understand that Dara explains also cannot be learned, Geziriyya.

As they pass a final threshold into Daevabad, Nahri’s vision blurs and she struggles to breathe. Finally, they see the wall that contains the city of Daevabad and Nahri notices that the wall is entirely made of brass. Dara explains that the brass helps maintain the enchantments used to build the city. She notices figures carved into the wall and statues on the shore. Dara beams as he tells her that those are her ancestors.

Ali discusses the differences in the sanitation of different quarters of the city as his sanitation inspector, Abu Zebala, admits that he accepted a bribe from the Daeva Quarter to give them more attention.