Page 64 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
He put the blade away, removing the case from his waist and tossing it aside. “I am sorry. I have been on edge ever since?—”
“It’s alright.”
Namir’s posture relaxed. “I… I did not think you would read the letter.”
“I was not going to,” she admitted, stepping toward him, “but I am glad that I did.”
Namir peered behind her, as if expecting someone to be there. “Is your father waiting outside?”
“He is at the celebrations. I wanted to come here alone.” She looked down at her hands clasped in front of her. “I wanted to speak with you about what you said in the letter.”
Namir nodded, rubbing his neck. “Of course. Ramses can take you and your father to one of our military offices in Khem. It is not the most comfortable place, but you will be safe there.”
“Thank you,” Zahra said, “but there was something else I wanted to speak to you about.”
Namir cocked his head, but he stayed silent.
She was quiet a moment, collecting her thoughts. She had practiced what to say on her walk over, but now that the moment had arrived, all of her words were lost. “I was wrong. I called you a coward, and that’s not true. What you said took courage, especially to say them as a King to someone like me.”
“No, you were right.” Namir shied from her gaze. “All that you said was true. There is much that needs to be changed.” He met her gaze. “I promise I will make those changes.”
She smiled softly, looking down. “There’s something else I wish to tell you, my King.”
“Call me Namir.” She looked up in surprise, and he glanced away. “You may call me your King when I have earned that title in your eyes.”
Zahra let out a breathless laugh. “Very well, Namir.” She glanced at Selene’s eagle above him before meeting his eyes. “I want to help you end the spell.”
Namir’s forehead wrinkled. “You needn’t help me to secure my protection.”
“I understand, but it’s one man against thousands of maidens and a band of assassins. Even a King can’t win against those odds. At least, with my help, you will not bealone.” The word came out differently than Zahra intended, but she knew it was right. Namir and she both had grown tired of being the only ones who remembered. Despite their differences, the knowledge that someone else remembered brought relief to them both.
Namir looked up and shook his head. “I cannot allow that. It is too dangerous. You are already in enough danger as it is.”
“I can’t escape danger,” she said, “but I can at least help you.”
Namir’s brows snapped together. “What did you say?”
Zahra was not sure what he meant. “I said I want to help.”
“No.” He stepped around the bench. “You said you cannot escape danger. What did you mean by that?”
She looked down. “I did not mean?—”
“Zahra.” He was much closer now, and his tall frame cast a shadow on her. She was forced to meet his concerned eyes. “Have mymedjaybeen disobeying my orders? Is that why you went on the river? Have you still been… Every night?”
Zahra swallowed. She was unsure what to say. Would he believe she was cursed? She looked down again and whispered, “They all shared the same anger in their eyes. It was not only yourmedjay. There were others. I?—”
Her voice cut short once she saw his face. His mouth was in a straight line, and the shadow of his curls hid his eyes. Guilt, confusion, and anger marred his features.
“You may help me.” He stepped closer, meeting her gaze. “But I have one condition. You must let me do all that I can to help you. Every night, you will be protected with your father, and you will not leave my side during the day.”
Zahra stared at him in shock. A wave of relief came over her, and she nodded with tears in her eyes.
Namir stepped forward and took her hand. “We will figure this out, Zahra.”
Zahra’s mouth twitched. “Thank you, Namir.”
He smiled. It surprised her. The corners of his mouth were more relaxed, and there was a gentleness in his face. It suited him well.
