Page 124 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“But he doesn’t care for me,” she protested. “What if…” She let the thought go. She had still not told him that Zosar was the one who had hit her all that time ago.
Namir’s eyes narrowed, and he grabbed her hand. “He will care because I care about you. That will be enough.”
Zahra sighed and looked away. Her thoughts went to her dream. She had dreamed of Asenath, of the night of her death. She couldn’t remember much, but she recalled the darkness of the sky and Iset’s snake-like voice that surrounded the place.
Namir was patiently watching her as she thought to herself.
Zahra smiled at him. “Shall we go?”
He nodded. “If you are ready—” He reached out in panic as Zahra jumped up from the hammock.
She ignored the dizziness, even as she stumbled to fetch a dress from her things. “Wait outside. I’ll get changed.”
Namir blinked and nodded. He went to the door.
Zahra closed the door behind him, letting out a heavy sigh. She stared at the dress in her arms. The memories of last night sat in her mind. She had not wanted him to see her like that. She couldn’t imagine what he felt, watching her as she fell asleep, watching her as she…
Zahra shook the thought from her mind, focusing on getting ready. When she finished and stepped out of the room, she was stunned to see Namir standing near the staircase with Bahiti. The room was shockingly empty. Bahiti’s face was laced with fear, which only intensified as she saw Zahra.
Namir followed Bahiti’s gaze, smiling at Zahra. “Are you ready?”
Zahra nodded. “Mistress, I?—”
“You are free to leave,” Bahiti said, voice quavering. She turned toward the stairs, giving one last look between the two of them before returning to the main floor.
Namir came up to Zahra, taking her hand in his. “Let us leave this place.”
Zahra looked back at the stairs. “What did you say to her?”
Namir smiled softly. “Nothing you need to worry about.”
Ramses was waiting in Bahiti’s garden, and Zahra’s roommates surrounded him with their baskets of clothes, asking him questions and petting the horses. Ramses looked both overwhelmed and flattered by all the attention.
Jala turned once she heard the door close, her gaze lingering on Namir. “Who is that?”
Zahra smiled. “The King.”
The girls looked at each other in confusion, but Namir simply smiled. He helped Zahra up onto Victory and then sat behind her. The girls asked questions, but Zahra gave them no answers as Namir, Ramses, and she rode off the property.
Zahra looked out at the road. She leaned forward by Namir’s ear. “Do you remember where thatnecropoliswas?”
Namir glanced back at her in confusion. “What?”
“The one outside Inebu-hedj.”
“I could easily find it, I suppose.” He slowed down their pace. “Zahra, what is this about?”
“There’s something I wish to see. Please.”
Namir’s gaze was filled with hesitance, but he turned back to the road. “We can’t take too long.”
Zahra thanked him with a smile. The capital was busy as usual, and Namir and Ramses put their hoods up as they passedmedjaythat might recognize them. Finally, they came upon thenecropolis.
Zahra guided Namir toward the oldpr-aa, dismounting Victory once the fallen building was in sight.
Namir looked around with slight disgust as Ramses took the reins for Victory. “Thiswas apr-aa?”
“A small one.” Zahra stepped onto the crumbling stone steps. Deep vibrations went up her leg, and her eyes shot up. She inhaled a deep, shuddering breath. This place was tied to the Thoth.
