Page 130 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Exhaustion tugged at Zahra’s limbs. She collapsed into the mattress and fell asleep.
29
Sweet King
“Rhodopis,” Katerina whispered, her voice warm and bright like sunshine.
The sounds of the Sea filled Zahra’s ears, and she smiled as the memory continued to play around her.
Katerina’s fingers forked through Zahra’s curls, her voice soft as she hummed. “It is morning,poulaki mou.” She leaned forward, kissing Zahra’s head. “He needs you now. Go to him.”
Zahra’s eyes fluttered open, the warm sunlight of her memory making way for the darkness of the room. “Mamá?”
An eagle sat beside her on the bed, gnawing her hair with its beak. It dropped the strands once it saw her open eyes, and it chirped.
Zahra’s hand went to her mother’s necklace. She sat up as the eagle flew over to the open window. She winced as she stood, holding her head as she stumbled. The eagle was not frightened by her presence, even as she caught her weak body against the wall.
Zahra groaned, sinking to the floor. The eagle chirped from above her, opening its wings in the moonlight. The moonlight from the window settled some inches from Zahra’s feet. Her eyebrows knitted together, and she leaned forward.
The light danced on her fingers, making her skin sparkle. She closed her eyes, breathing in the cool air. A feeling of something missing sat at the edge of her mind, and she had the strongest desire to engulf herself in the moonlight.
Zahra lifted her arms up onto the windowsill, pulling herself to a standing position. Inebu-hedj glittered below her, a beautiful city with more people celebrating theirnetjerthan she could count. She looked up at the moon. It was dimmer than it had been the night before, but still its light came upon her.
The moonlight penetrated her mind, and Zahra gasped as the Thoth’s spell was lifted from her eyes once more. Memories came flooding back to her, and she nearly fell over from the rush.
Zahra gasped. She looked over at her Mamá, who seemed to smile. “Where… Where is he?”
Zahra sank to the ground, resting her head against the wall and rubbing her eyes. Katerina landed at her feet, and Zahra sucked in a deep breath. Whatever Zosar had done had weakened her. The vision at the oldpr-aahad made it clear that she was still under the Thoth’s spell, even if she could fight its effects with Selene’s help.
Zahra tried to remember what had happened after Zosar had grabbed her curse, but it was all a blur. She pushed herself to her feet, stumbling forward.
Ramses looked up in surprise when Zahra appeared in the doorway. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Zahra’s signing stopped him. “Where is Namir?”
Relief flooded his face, and he motioned for her to follow. The hallway was dark, lit only by a single lamp, as he led her toa room adjacent to hers. He lingered in the hallway, encouraging her forward with a nod.
Namir was sitting by a window, bent over, his elbows resting on his knees and his face buried in his hands. His ear turned toward her as the floor creaked, but he did not look up. His voice came quiet and irritated. “I wish to be alone, Nubia.”
“Namir?”
He dropped his hands, glancing back at her. The shadow of his hair hid his eyes, and his voice shook as he spoke. “Zahra?”
“What’s wrong?” She stepped forward. “Why do you sound upset?”
Namir watched her for a moment. Then he turned away. “Go to sleep. Re knows that neither of us has gotten any real sleep for some time.”
“I am not leaving.”
He turned his face further from her, looking down as she approached. Her hand hesitated over his curls. He wastrembling.
“Namir…”
“Please.”
Zahra was alarmed by the strain in his voice. Gently, she brushed the curls from his face. His eyes were downcast, wet with tears that crept silently down his cheeks.
“Namir.” She cupped his face as she fell to her knees and wiped away his tears. “O méli, what is wrong?”
“Nothing.” He sounded quiet, defeated. He tugged weakly against her grasp. “Please, rest.”
