Page 170 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Akermoved toward Zahra and Namir, and Waaiz intercepted it. “Find our horses!”
The horses had been tied to a post. A couple had fallen to the ground, but one was still alive. It neighed, trying to break free.
Namir ran toward the horse, stumbling to a stop as the glow from his chest showed the horse’s white coat. He bent over one of the other horses, and his face contorted with pain. “Victory!”
Zahra went past him toward the other horse. She glanced at Victory on the ground, turning her eyes away when she saw wounds from akerupon his back and legs. Zahra undid the rope that bound the other horse. The horse cried out, standing back on its hind legs. Zahra fell backward, the reins slipping from her hand.
Namir withdrew his hand from Victory’s snout, tears streaming down his cheeks as he grabbed Zahra and pulled her out of the way. “Look out!”
The horse’s legs landed right where she had been sitting. It let out a cry and bolted into the chaos.
Zahra heaved as Namir pulled her to her feet. “I—I’m sorry. I was trying to?—”
“It’s fine.” His jaw clenched. “We will have to make the journey back on foot.”
Waaiz killed thekerand ran toward them. “Keep moving!”
Namir took Zahra’s hand and pulled her through the darkness. Akersaw them moving past, and it leaped toward them. Waaiz quickly dispelled it, but morekeresemerged from the fallen people, running toward them.
Zahra and Namir blasted a couple ofkeresaway with their light, but they kept coming.
Waaiz swung hiskhopeshat anotherker.“Quickly! There may be horses in the temple stable house.”
Namir pulled Zahra forward toward the temple. The temple complex’s walls were burnt and crumbled, but the stable house still stood.
Zahra threw herpsycheout toward akeras they reached the doors. It fell back, landing beside Waaiz, who was occupied with anotherker.
Namir let go of Zahra’s hand. “Waaiz, look out!”
Waaiz cried out as thekerat his feet bit into his right leg. The otherkertook advantage of the distraction, tackling Waaiz to the ground. Waaiz’skhopeshfell from his hand.
Namir ran forward, grabbing Waaiz’s weaponand swiping at thekeres.They snarled and jumped off Waaiz, growling at Namir.
“Grab two horses,” Namir ordered. “Hurry!”
Zahra pulled open the door and ran inside. She saw a vision of a knife coming toward her, and she stepped back as a shadowed figure lunged at her. She tripped on her dress, falling back.
Recognition filled her eyes. “Patér!”
Omar looked up in surprise, his head bloody. “Poulaki mou!”
Zahra dropped the bag, wrapping her arms around her father. “You’re alive!”
Omar held her tight. “I thought you were in Illahun. I came here seeking sanctuary, but then those things started attacking.” He pulled away. “Why are you here?”
“I will explain later. We need to grab two horses so we can escape.”
Namir’s voice came from outside, and she saw a flash of golden light. “Zahra!”
“Who is that?” Omar asked.
“Later,” Zahra promised, going to grab the bag. The Thoth had slipped out onto the floor. She placed her hand on it to push it back inside the bag. She sucked in a breath as deep vibrations flooded her body. Re’s power was still within the Thoth, just as she had felt in the library, but she felt a deeper connection to him now while holding his gift. Hersibylmark glowed on her head as she recalled the old records she had read in the hidden library. Always, the sun, moon, and stars were mentioned together—the parts of the sky that worked together rather than apart.
Zahra jumped to her feet, leaving the Thoth on the floor as she turned to her father, who was unlatching one of the stall doors. “Don’t let that leave your sight!”
Omar’s jaw dropped at the mark on her head. “Zahra? Zahra!”
She rushed out of the stable house. There were several piles of ash around Namir and Waaiz, but there were threekeresstill standing, and more coming toward them.
