| “ | A cynic might observe that the scriptures can be used to support both sides of every argument. | ” |
Zuri is Savine dan Glokta’s peerless lady’s companion, and a Gurkish refugee. She is the closest thing Savine has to a friend, albeit one she pays.
Appearance and Personality[]
Zuri is dark-skinned, beautiful, slender as a willow switch, tasteful, discreet, and speaks five languages, with a refined sense of humour and an effortless mastery of business. Yet somehow she never steals the attention from Savine. Despite her small stature, she is strong as a docker. Zuri is deeply religious and constantly quotes the scriptures, usually with a wry wit.
History[]
Some years before the start of the story, the great Prophet Khalul simply vanished; rumoured to have been killed by a demon. The Gurkish Empire then plunged into anarchy, prompting desperate refugees to flood across the Circle Sea, many of them high-educated.
A Little Hatred[]
Arch Lector Glokta first introduced his daughter Savine to Zuri, a friendless exile in desperate need of a position. Zuri became her lady’s companion, and has since made herself indispensable in a dozen ways. She helps her dress in the dizzy height of fashion, accompanies her almost everywhere, and shepherds away the cranks. At the Solar Society, Yoru Sulfur makes a point of introducing himself to Savine, but curiously Zuri is conspicuously absent. Just before Savine makes her trip to Valbeck, Zuri announces that she needs to go to Gurkhul, where things have gotten worse and her two brothers are in danger. Zuri is thus absent during the Breakers' insurrection. Upon Savine's return from her ordeal, Zuri is back and her brothers Haroon and Rabik have come with her. Gunner Broad curiously notes to himself that they look nothing alike, Haroon is heavy built and Rabik is slight with lots of teeth. Zuri also looks nothing like her brothers.
The Trouble With Peace[]
Zuri is increasingly worried for Savine, who is pregnant with Leo dan Brock's child. Somewhat out of character, she informs her mother, Lady Ardee, who has an outrageous solution; a marriage to Lord Brock. Although reluctant at first, Savine agrees, and the pair are married within the week. Zuri and her brothers accompany her to Angland. She is also at her side at the Battle of Stoffenbeck, where Savine is wounded by an exploding cannon. After the defeat, as Zuri stitches her scalp wound in a muddy hollow, Savine notices that she has tightly wound bandages beneath her torn dress, though she claims not to be wounded. Zuri and Gunnar Broad surrender with Savine.
Theories[]
- There is a theory, bordering on confirmed fact, that Zuri is an Eater, and more specifically Ishri, the East Wind, one of the most feared members of The Hundred Words: (a) she is notably absent when Yoru Sulfur introduces himself; (b) she's described as far stronger than her size would seemingly allow, often in the context of tightening Savine's corset, (c) her brothers look nothing alike, while Eaters habitually refer to one another as brother or sister; (d) she constantly quotes scripture, and (e) the tightly wound bandages; (e) [SPOILER] Along with her brothers, she eats Yoru Sulfur at the end of The Wisdom of Crowds