Page 63 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
With her thumb, Zahra cracked the honey seal and rolled open the letter. She held the papyrus close to the light, reading the words silently to herself.
“Zahra,
I do not know if my other letters found you, so once again here I am to share my feelings on the matter of that night and apologize.”
Zahra blinked at the word, reading it again to ensure she had read it right before.Apologize?
She moved the letter closer to her face and continued to read.
“You were right: I am a coward. I could have prevented your father’s death—your death—but I did not. I was afraid of what the royal court and the Pharaoh Queen would think of me, and I let my fears interfere with my obligations as your King. Your words opened my eyes to my faults. I am inexperienced as a ruler, and I thank you for correcting me and showing me the way. I vow to be better to you and your people.
What happened that night will not happen again. I will do all in my power to protect you and your father. I have told the medjay not to punish anyone tonight without my permission, and if you will allow me, I will place you both somewhere safe under the watch of my most trusted medjay. They will protect you while I find my bride and break the spell, and neither the Pharaoh Queen nor the Great Overseer of the Army will know of you or your whereabouts. I do not expect anything from you in return. Consider these acts as my duties as your King, and as my apology for my mistakes. If you wish to accept my help, I will be in the garden where we first met.
I hope to see you there,
Namir.”
Zahra lowered the letter to her lap, stunned. How many times had Namir written to her? How long had he been looking for her so that he could say this to her? He tried to tell her earlier, but she had not listened.
Zahra thought of Katerina’s words to her in the Duat.You need each other’s help.
He had not found his bride after all. He was still searching for her—alone—and instead of trying to end the spell, he was trying to save Zahra.
Tears pricked her eyes. No wonder Katerina had not guided her as she once had. Namir said that Zahra was right, but she was the one in the wrong.
“I found one,” Omar said, pulling Zahra from her thoughts. He turned toward her, frowning. “Poulaki mou, what is it?”
Zahra swallowed, leaning forward as she held the letter in her hands. “If Re asked you to help the King, would you do it?”
Omar stared at the letter in her hands for a few moments. His gaze softened and landed on her face. “What wouldyoudo?”
Zahra looked down at the letter. She pulled in a deep breath. “I would help him.”
Omar smiled. He returned the papyrus to the shelf and grabbed the lamp. “How difficult is it to find a King?”
Zahra stood, rolling up the letter with a soft smile. “Not too difficult. I know where he is.”
14
Moonlight Apologies
Katerina flew overhead as Zahra walked by thepr-aatoward the gardens, her scarf and cloak gone. She had left them with her father down the hill, telling him she would return before six Atum. The obelisk rang four Atum behind her. She glanced at the moon; it still shone brightly, but she knew it wouldn’t last. She took a deep breath and continued to the gardens.
Ramses was standing outside the wall of brush. He lowered his hand from his blade’s hilt as she approached. “He did not think you would come.”
Zahra smiled softly. “I did not think I would either.”
Ramses stepped to the side but he did not respond. He couldn’t hear her, she realized. He used his armored arm to push away the thorny bushes to for her to pass into the space. Zahra thanked him with a nod, hoping he would understand the gesture. He nodded in return as she knelt on the ground and crawled into the space.
Zahra stood up on the other side of the wall. The garden had not changed at all since she had last been there. Now that she was not panicked, she could smell the rich flowers and pause to admire the delicate craftsmanship of the wooden walls, bridge, and the garden itself.
The dimmed moon shone down on the stone bench that sat at the end of the garden, casting a silver light on Namir. His head hung low as he traced the carvings on the bench. He no longer donned his cloak, and he wore clothes that were comfortable—not lavish or decorative as he had in the past. His curls hid his eyes, but his face looked contemplative, his brows drawn together in concentration. Katerina sat on the wall above him, creating a vivid image with the moon as its backdrop.
Zahra smiled and stepped forward.
Namir looked up, and his eyes filled with panic upon seeing her such a short distance from him. He leaped to his feet, pulling out akhopeshfrom his belt. Disbelief took over the fear in his eyes, and he lowered the blade. “Zahra?”
She nodded, suddenly timid beneath his gaze. “It’s me.”
