Page 30 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“The spirit of evil zapped my strength. I only recently recovered. She is a sorceress, my King. She has brought illness upon us all!”
The group murmured and gasped behind him. The othermedjayturned to Namir for orders.
“She is not safe, my King,” themedjayclaimed, straightening. “She is a threat to your life.”
Fear penetrated Zahra’s heart.
“That is enough.”
Zahra glanced at Namir in surprise.
Namir motioned to themedjaywith the rope. “Put that away.”
Themedjaystashed the rope in his bag and bowed. The one accusing Zahra stared for a moment in shock before bowing. “My King….”
“Enough. You have tarnished my image by accusing a random servant of something only Re can control. What would you have done if your accusation had convicted an innocent woman to capital punishment?”
Zahra realized his meaning. He was talking about the lie she had told him that morning, about why hismedjaywere after her and her father.
Themedjay’seyes went wide and filled with terror. “I….”
“Get out.” Namir pointed toward the door. “Go home. I do not want to see you for the remainder of the day.”
Themedjaylowered his head in a bow. He shuffled out with the others, shooting a glare back at Zahra before the door shut.
Namir sighed heavily once they were alone, collapsing back into the seat.
Zahra slowly sat down as well, regaining her composure. She rubbed her aching arm. “Thank you, my King.”
He stood, walking to a small table on the other side of the room. “Of course. I promised no harm would come to you from my men, and I intend to keep that promise.”
Namir stuffed an old papyrus into a bag.
Zahra picked up the broken cup from the floor and placed it on the table. “Are you leaving, my King?”
“Yes, to the temple.” He lifted the bag to his shoulder and turned to her. “I wish to show something to the Hem-netjer. You will remain here. I will send someone to ensure you are not bothered.”
The temple.Zahra had forgotten all about her father. It was not yet the hour of Re. She could still stop him.
Zahra jumped to her feet. “Allow me to come with you, my King.”
Namir studied her face. “You are ill.”
“It has passed,” Zahra assured. “Please, let me accompany you to the temple. I want to help you in any way I can.”
Namir glanced at the doorway, stilling as he considered it. He motioned for her to follow him. “Let us go, then.”
Zahra grinned and followed him out of the room.
The temple complex of Re stood tall in the daylight as Zahra and Namir went through the front gate with Victory in tow. There were crowds of people going about their midday worship. Though the majority was Auran, there were a few Ionians.
Zahra avoided the gazes of her people as she walked behind Namir. There had been many Ionians—her father included—that had abandoned Selene after Ionia was conquered by the Parsans. Parsa slaughtered thousands of innocents with destructive fires and brutal armies. Those that remained were enslaved or crossed the Sea to escape.
When Pharaoh King Thutmose, Namir’s father, let thousands of Ionian immigrants into his land, many began to worship Re. She couldn’t argue that Re was a kindtheos, but she wouldn’t leave the goddess her mother had loved.
A young Auran girl dressed as a temple servant stepped forward and bowed. “My King, welcome.”
Namir nodded his head to her and handed her Victory’s reins. “Let the Hem-netjer know I am here.”
