Page 161 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Namir sighed, taking Zahra’s hand. “As long as we are sure it will not let Iset win.”
Zahra looked over at the Pharaoh Queen, but the Pharaoh Queen avoided her gaze, guilt marring her features.
Namir took the fabric from Zahra’s head. The cut on her face had stopped bleeding.
The Pharaoh Queen placed her hands over their hands and began to speak. Her words were soundless, but air rushed from her mouth, circling around them. Zahra gasped as hersibylmark lit up, her body vibrating from the power. Namir clutched her hands, clenching his jaw as their hands shook.
Words fell from Zahra and Namir’s lips without either of them meaning to speak, words that did not make sense to their ears but that they understood the meaning of. They were two crowns that would rule as one. The land called Aur was their domain, and they would protect their people at all costs.
What followed was a promise to each other, words they spoke in sync: “In life. In death. Always.”
Zahra and Namir leaned forward into each other, gasping as the power rushed through their veins. Namir’s mother—Nefertari—leaned back on her hands. Her voice was hoarse as she spoke. “It is done.”
Zahra and Namir looked into each other’s eyes. Though they both breathed hard, there was within them a new strength. In their eyes was a spark—a burning fire with the potential to be as bright as the sun. Zahra and Namir opened their palms, and within their shared grasp came a small, burning flame. A breathless laugh slipped from Namir’s mouth, and Zahra smiled.
A mix of snarls, growls, and hisses came from nearby. Nefertari stood, holding up herkhopesh. “We need to move.”
Namir stood, helping Zahra stand. She grunted as she got to her feet. “I…I can walk on my own.”
“You are still weak,” Namir said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
Zahra looked down at her skin. With the power of Re, she could see herpsyche. Glowing orange cracks worked their way toward her elbows. They had begun to spread on her feet as well,slowly moving up her legs. Her fight with Iset had put much strain on herpsyche,more than any death ever had. That must have been why they were still spreading.
Ramses stood on his good leg, using a long stick he had found as a crutch. His other hand gripped his sword, and he bowed his head toward Namir and Zahra with a determined look on his face.
Zahra’s face softened, and she leaned on Namir. “Let us go.”
They skirted the edge of thepr-aatoward the gardens. The night was quiet except for the growls in the distance and the murmurs from the city below. Nefertari led the way, sword in hand, and Ramses hobbled behind them.
Zahra gasped when some fallenmedjayappeared in their path. Their bodies trembled, and Nefertari slid to a stop. They watched in horror askeres—physical and dripping in tar—emerged from the fallen soldiers.
Namir took a few steps back, pulling Zahra with him. Ramses turned around, lifting his sword to block their path. Namir stumbled to a stop, his eyes narrowing in anger on something in front of them.
Zahra looked up, her breath hitching in her throat.
Nubia was standing there. A deep gash from Katerina’s claws was over her right eye, and it was swollen shut with blood. Her other eye was as a dark pit, and cracks had formed down her face. Her hands dripped with flames. Her teeth gritted, but instead of anger, fear sat in her features.
Nefertari sliced at thekeres, but they stepped out of her path, growling but not moving forward.
Iset laughed with Nubia’s voice. “Oh Nefertari, how honorable of you! Giving your power to an Ionian?”
Nefertari stepped in front of Ramses as thekeresflanked Zahra and Namir. “Leave my daughter’s body at once!”
Nubia’s brow furrowed, her voice coming through. “Mwt?”
“She has willingly given herself to me,” Iset said. “She is mine, just as you soon will be.”
Realization gripped Namir’s features, and he stepped forward, reaching out for his mother. “Mwt, no! She will kill you!”
Nefertari gripped her blade. “Go, Menes. She cannot hurt you.”
“No,” Nubia cried. “I do not understand.Heis the heir.”
“They are the Pharaohs,” Iset said. “And you are not heir. She is the closest one to the Pharaohs’ power now.”
“No!” Nubia’s hands trembled as she held up the dagger. “You promised that she would be spared!”
“I am not bound by my promises, and you have no choice but to obey.”
