Page 1 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
1
The Tawny Eagle
The moon bled in Zahra’s dream last night. The Pa-sekhemty Feast—the Feast of Two Crowns—had ended in a thousand screams, and the Pharaoh Queen’s soldiers had hunted down Zahra and her father.
Zahra shook the lingering images from her mind as she walked through the crowded marketplace. Her basket rested comfortably on the curve of her waist, and she pushed her dark curls away from her amber eyes as she surveyed the assortment of fabrics at a nearby stall.
Zahra’s fingers stroked the fabrics one by one, admiring their delicate beauty and bold colors. She could imagine how she would cut and shape each one into a beautiful gown, if only she had the funds and resources to do so.
The merchant behind the stall leaned forward. “These beauties recently arrived at the King’s new port. Are you interested?”
Zahra shook her head. “I am only appreciating your selection.”
The man was unfamiliar, which surprised her, as Illahun was one of the less popular destinations for merchants selling foreign goods.
“Where is the fabric from?” she asked.
“Parsa.”
Her hand froze over the fabric. She stepped away and nodded to him. “Your selection is beautiful. Have a blessed Khepri.”
The merchant inclined his head to her and eagerly turned toward the next customer as she walked away.
Zahra followed a familiar path, recounting the items on her master’s list as the marketplace rattled with chatter. Small wooden pendants hung from each stall, depicting the moonnetjer—or goddess—Nebthet. Garlands made of red and white flowers were draped around the tables that the merchants used.
“Strengthen Re before the lunar eclipse,” a merchant proclaimed. “Help Nebthet protect ournetjer!”
Zahra searched for the fruit stand she often frequented. Riyad’s spot had been claimed by another. She sighed. It would take too long to find his stall in this mess.
A friendly voice sounded from beside Zahra. “It has not been this busy since the King’s coronation.”
Zahra flinched and laughed. She elbowed Aaliyah, who stood beside her with a basket of her own. “Only the King would schedule the second greatest event of the season on the night of the blood moon.”
Aaliyah chuckled, brushing one of her thick braids behind her ear. “I doubt the King could have known that an eclipse would happen tonight of all nights.”
Aaliyah had a point. The hour priests had only announced the eclipse to the public two days ago, and the Pa-sekhemty Feast had been in her master’s calendar for many weeks now.
Zahra suppressed a shudder as the image of the bloody moon filled her mind once more. Indeed, the moon would turn red tonight, but it wouldn’t be as dramatic as her dream had depicted. The Aurans would spend the night hosting festivities and selling trinkets while Nebthet fought Apep—the embodiment of chaos itself and the archenemy of Re—for theirnetjer.
“Did you receive your invite to the Feast tonight?” Aaliyah asked as Zahra led her to a fruit stall.
Zahra turned to her with a furrowed brow. “Only Aurans were invited to the Feast.”
“I heard Ionians were also invited,” Aaliyah said, inspecting some figs.
Doubt of this news swirled in Zahra’s head. “It must have been a rumor, Aaliyah.”
Aaliyah weighed a fig in her hand. “I don’t believe so. An Ionian my sister works with received an invitation yesterday.”
Zahra’s mouth twitched. If invitations to the Feast were sent to Ionians, it was a cruel joke. “The King wouldn’t go to such lengths to gain my people’s favor.”
Aaliyah shrugged. “Perhaps he is different than you think.”
Zahra sighed, muttering to herself as she found payment for some melons. “I don’t believe he can be.”
Aaliyah handed somedebento the stall owner and added the figs to her basket. “Well, if you do receive an invite, I hope to hear of your time there.”
Zahra turned to her in surprise. “Are you not going?”
