Page 168 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Re’s temple, too, had been attacked, though only a few parts still burned; the rest had been reduced to ash and ruins. The temple stable house still stood, though Zahra was not sure if any of the horses were still inside.
People were gathering outside the temple, praying and begging for Re’s mercy. Zahra’s stomach churned, and she turned away from them, knowing they would find no reprieve from the destruction.
Namir slowed Victory as they approached the Pharaohs’ Library. He dismounted and helped Zahra off. He patted Victory’s snout reassuringly before handing off his reins to one of themedjaystill remaining. “We will be fast. Please, be quiet and stay safe. We do not know what creatures are out here.”
Waaiz entered the library first, holding hiskhopeshwith his good arm, while Namir held an oil lamp. He motioned Namir and Zahra forward once it was clear. They made their way to the third floor, retrieving the key and scroll to the hidden library.
A few scrolls fell from a nearby shelf, and Zahra spun around. For several moments, there was nothing in the darkness. Then,out of the corner of her eye, Zahra saw the glowing red eyes of aker.
“Go,” Zahra said, pushing Namir back. “Go, now.”
Thekerdove forward, its mouth red with blood. Waaiz waved his blade at theker. “Run!”
Zahra and Namir bolted toward the stairs. Namir stumbled at the sight of a scholar drowning in his own blood.
Anotherkerwas waiting at the bottom of the staircase. It snapped its jaws and them, growling.
Zahra and Namir clasped their hands and threw a circle of light forward. Thekercried out, falling back as the light knocked it off its feet.
Zahra and Namir ran past the injuredker, heading downstairs. Namir held the lamp as Zahra worked. “Hurry!”
Zahra’s hand fumbled with the key. “I am!”
Thekerbarked from upstairs, and Zahra could hear its thundering footsteps as it descended into the downstairs. She finished unlocking the door and pushed it open. They both stumbled inside.
Thekerrushed forward to follow them. As soon as its body met the doorway, it was blown back by a golden light. Thekershrieked as it dissolved into ash.
Namir pulled Zahra further into the library. “What was that?”
Zahra let out a breath of relief. “This place is protected.” No wonder all of these records had remained preserved for so long. No servant of Iset could come here.
Namir released her hand, studying the doorway. “When we were looking through the border records, Nubia would come down here to visit me, but she would never come inside. I always had to come out to her. Perhaps this was why.”
Zahra’s brow wrinkled, and she placed her hand on his shoulder. “Namir…”
Namir tore away from her touch and moved toward the chest that held the Thoth. “Let us get this over with.”
Zahra looked up, hearing the footsteps of thekerupstairs. She rubbed her arms. “We shouldn’t have left Waaiz. He won’t survive if anotherkercomes.”
“He has fought in more battles than I can count. There’s a reason he leads our armies.” Namir lifted the Thoth out of the box. Its sands, once golden and moving, were still, and it lacked its signature purple glow. Still, Zahra could feel Re’s power radiating from it.
Namir stared at the Thoth, and the golden glow around his chest grew brighter as he studied it.
A heavy thud from upstairs pulled them out of their focus, and Namir slipped the Thoth into a bag. “Let us go.”
Zahra held the bag and oil lamp as Namir stepped forward into the darkness. They had made it up the stairs when Waaiz jumped into their view, swiping at aker. He grunted, thrusting hiskhopeshthrough its chest. Thekercried out, stumbling back before collapsing into a pile of ash on the floor.
Waaiz heaved, shrugging his uninjured arm. “Do you have it?”
Namir led the way toward the door. “Yes. Let us get out of here.”
Movement came from behind one of the turned over tables. Zahra stepped up by Waaiz. “Look out!”
Namir threw a circle of light out toward the shadow and it shrieked, jumping to the side.
Zahra’s eyes narrowed. That wasn’t aker.
She held the lamp up.
