Hazan: The Loyal Secret-Keeper of The Woven Kingdom
Overview
Hazan is a trusted advisor and friend to both Alizeh and Kamran in Tahereh Mafi's All This Twisted Glory. He frequently acts as a moral compass and secret-keeper, bridging the widening rift between the two former lovers while also confronting the enigmatic King Cyrus. He is described as having hazel eyes, ash-blond hair, a broken nose, and an almost entirely freckled face—features that make him look young despite the iron in his gaze. His bearing is one of potent self-assurance. This analysis traces his journey through the novel, examining his actions, relationships, and thematic significance. Interpretations are clearly distinguished from explicit facts drawn from the text.
Plot Role
Hazan occupies a unique position as someone trusted by both the Ardunian crown prince and the exiled Jinn queen. He travels to Tulan with Kamran, Huda, Omid, and Deen, carrying news from Kamran's mother and reports about Ardunia's worsening drought. His primary function is to protect Alizeh: he finds her collapsed on a salt flat, later saves her from an enchanted dagger during a public appearance, and threatens to fight Kamran himself when the prince endangers Cyrus. He also serves as an interlocutor with the southern king, demanding answers about the devilish bargain and the nosta—a magical heirloom that originally belonged to Cyrus. At the climax, he reluctantly agrees to the blood oath that binds Alizeh to Cyrus.
Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions
Hazan's defining trait is unwavering loyalty. He risked everything to help Alizeh escape Ardunia, and when she weeps with relief upon seeing him alive on the salt flat, he responds with tenderness. Yet he also shows fierce independence: he openly defies Queen Sarra at breakfast, refuses to let Alizeh walk into danger, and rebukes Kamran for vanity during the journey to Tulan.
One interpretation of his character is that he operates from a deep sense of duty rather than personal ambition. When Alizeh jokes that she needs Cyrus because he has an empire, Hazan replies, "If only I had an empire." This suggests a quiet awareness of his own limitations. He also recoils when Alizeh tries to touch his hand, explaining that he is not used to being touched—a detail that implies a past marked by isolation or hardship.
Chronological Arc
Hazan's arc unfolds across the novel in distinct phases:
Arrival in Tulan. He accompanies Kamran on Simorgh, delivering troubling reports about Ardunia's drought and the mystery of Kamran's mother. He chastises Kamran for vanity and deflects his obsession with killing Cyrus.
Reunion with Alizeh. He finds Alizeh unconscious on the salt flat, overcome with relief that she is alive. He immediately asks whether she has consented to marry Cyrus, revealing his concern about the political implications.
Confrontation and protection. After Kamran shoots Alizeh, Hazan threatens to fight his own prince to protect Cyrus in honor of Alizeh's plea. He later carries the unconscious Cyrus inside when Queen Sarra forces the group to stay.
Crisis of trust. He confronts Cyrus about the nosta and learns that it is a royal heirloom. The nosta glows red, betraying Cyrus's love for Alizeh. Hazan's anger softens when he realizes the depth of Cyrus's feeling.
Blood oath. He protests the ritual, describing its painful and permanent tether, but ultimately agrees when Alizeh insists. He escorts her through the palace, managing the chaos of fainting servants and whispered rumors.
Revelation. In the cottage before the oath, Hazan reveals that Cyrus trained for seventeen years at the temple and has an older brother—making him the spare heir. Cyrus angrily refuses further questions, but the information reshapes Hazan's understanding of the king.
Relationships
With Alizeh. Hazan's bond with Alizeh is one of profound trust. She grasps his hand blindly upon finding him alive, and he calls her "Your Majesty" with clear reverence. He risks his life repeatedly for her safety. One interpretation is that his loyalty is partly born from admiration for her as a leader, not just personal affection.
With Kamran. Their relationship grows strained as Kamran becomes consumed by vengeance. Hazan rebukes him for vanity, threatens to oppose him physically, and later argues that Kamran never truly knew Alizeh. He also reveals that Kamran previously intended to kill her, a secret that damages Kamran's standing.
With Cyrus. Initially hostile, Hazan demands answers about the devil bargain. When the nosta glows red, he asks whether Cyrus truly knows Alizeh, implying doubt about the relationship. Yet he insists on accompanying Cyrus when the Diviners arrive, showing a grudging respect for the king's suffering.
Key Decisions and Consequences
Giving Alizeh the nosta. This magical object, originally belonging to Cyrus, saves Alizeh repeatedly. Its existence later forces a confrontation when Cyrus recognizes it, revealing that Hazan has been hiding his connection to the southern king.
Threatening Kamran. When Kamran endangers Cyrus, Hazan threatens to fight his own prince. This act cements his moral independence but likely damages his relationship with Kamran permanently.
Revealing Cyrus's past. By disclosing Cyrus's seventeen years of training and his status as a spare heir, Hazan reshapes the group's understanding of the king. This information complicates Alizeh's view of her future husband.
Agreeing to the blood oath. Despite his protests, Hazan ultimately supports Alizeh's decision. This consequence ties him even more closely to the fate of the Jinn queen and the Tulanian throne.
Theme and Symbol Connections
Sacrifice. Hazan's willingness to risk his life, his friendship with Kamran, and his comfort all embody the theme of sacrifice. He gives without expectation of reward.
Duty vs. Love. His loyalty to both Alizeh and Kamran creates a tension between political duty and personal affection. He navigates this by prioritizing what he believes is right, even when it means opposing his prince.
Identity. Hazan's hidden past with the nosta and his knowledge of Cyrus's training suggest that even the most loyal characters keep secrets. One interpretation is that his self-imposed isolation (his discomfort with touch, his reluctance to claim power) reflects a quiet struggle with his own identity.
Power and Corruption. Unlike those who seek power, Hazan remains uncorrupted. He serves without accumulation of authority, acting as a counterpoint to characters like Sarra who manipulate for advantage.
Questions and Answers
1. Why does Hazan give Alizeh the nosta?
Hazan gives Alizeh the nosta as a protective magical object before she leaves Ardunia. It saves her repeatedly and later becomes evidence of his secret connection to Cyrus.
2. How does Hazan's loyalty to Kamran change after Alizeh's departure?
While he still accompanies Kamran to Tulan, Hazan increasingly acts in Alizeh's interest. He threatens to fight Kamran to protect Cyrus in honor of her plea, showing that his moral compass now prioritizes Alizeh's safety over his prince's vengeance.
3. What does Hazan reveal about Cyrus's past, and why is it significant?
Hazan reveals that Cyrus trained for seventeen years at a temple and has an older brother, making him a spare heir. This information humanizes Cyrus and suggests that his ruthlessness stems from a life of struggle, not inherent cruelty.
4. Why does Hazan insist on accompanying Cyrus when the Diviners arrive?
Hazan insists on going with Cyrus because he wants to verify the king's intentions and ensure Alizeh's safety. It also reflects his growing role as a moral witness in the unfolding drama.
5. How does Hazan's discomfort with physical touch relate to his character?
Hazan recoils when Alizeh tries to touch him, explaining he is not used to being touched. One interpretation is that this reflects a life of service without intimacy, reinforcing his role as a selfless, almost ascetic figure who gives everything and asks for nothing.