Page 134 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“It’s not your fault,” Namir said.
“I shouldn’t be here.” Zahra turned back to face them.
Ramses avoided her gaze, looking ashamed at the ground. Namir’s brow furrowed, and he shook his head. “I can’t let you go out there alone.”
“Ramses and yourmedjaywill better be able to protect you if I am not there.”
“We will stay in the moonlight,” Namir said, walking toward her.
“The moonlight only does so much this late in the night, and they’ll be able to see you better that way,” Zahra cried. “If they hit you even once?—”
Namir wrapped his arms around her, silencing her and holding her against his chest. “I will not let you be out there alone.”
Zahra gripped her dagger by her side. “What if?—”
“I won’t.” He kissed her head, then gestured for Ramses to get up. “We need some place to hide.”
Ramses’s face grew stoic, and he nodded, grabbing his blade. Namir used his shirt to wrap around Zahra’s wound, and they followed Ramses down the hall. He led them toward the main part of thepr-aa. The halls were quiet. Twomedjaystanding in the hallway raised their weapons when they saw Ramses and Namir approaching. “Where are the assassins?”
“Somewhere in the building,” Namir said.
Themedjay’sgaze turned on Zahra. Red flickered in their eyes.
Namir kept Zahra in the moonlight. “She is with me. Go warn the others.”
Onemedjaystepped toward them. He blinked slowly once he was in the moonlight, and the red was chased from his eyes. “My King… One of us should stay with you.”
Namir pulled Zahra closer to him with his arm. “I have all I need.”
Themedjayturned to his comrade, leading him away from them to go warn the othermedjay.
Zahra let out a long breath, and Namir squeezed Zahra’s hand. “Let us keep moving.”
Ramses guided them to the second floor. “There’s a room with a heavy lock. You will be safe there.”
Three assassins leaped out from the shadows. One of them had been in Namir’s room. Two raised their weapons, and Pesha stepped back, lifting her bow.
Ramses pushed Namir and Zahra back the other direction, tossing a key to Namir. He stayed behind, readying his sword.
Namir slid to a stop. “Ramses!”
Ramses signed to Namir. “Go.”
“Namir, we can’t fight all of them!” Zahra tugged on his hand. “Please.”
Namir gritted his teeth, shaking his head as he followed her down the hall. They were about to turn a corner when moonlight danced in Zahra’s eyes, showing her what was ahead of them. She shoved her foot in Namir’s path, causing them both to fall.
Namir sat up with confused eyes as an assassin emerged from the darkness, slashing his swords where he had anticipated them to be.
Namir gripped his blade and jumped to his feet. He swung thekhopeshat the assassin.
The assassin dodged, blocking Namir’s attacks with his weapons. The two danced, each failing to land a blow.
Pesha came around the corner, lifting hermakhaira. Zahra jumped to the side just in time, slicing at Pesha’s side. Pesha cried out, falling forward and gripping her bleeding side. She turned on Zahra with glowing eyes, grunting as she ran toward her.
Zahra let out a yelp as she barely dodged Pesha’s attack. Her visions came sporadically, helping her anticipate Pesha’s moves before Pesha enacted them. But she was not fast enough.
Pesha nicked her arm, and Zahra cried out, falling to the ground. The dagger fell from her hand and skidded across the floor. She looked up as Pesha lifted her blade.
