Page 67 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
She didn’t have to wait long. Namir came barreling down the road on Victory, passing her as he saw her. Ramses rode on another horse and slowed down as Namir circled back.
Zahra stood and lifted her bag to her shoulder, teasing him with a smile. “What took you so long?”
Namir grinned, pointing his thumb at Ramses. “Ramses had to get ready.”
Ramses assumed a confused expression as he approached on his horse. Namir signed to Ramses, and Ramses grinned and laughed. “You took longer than I.”
Zahra smiled at him. She was glad to see him alive.
Namir slid off his horse, holding Victory’s reins. “I was fetching your father. I have moved him out of the city, and I have my most trustedmedjayguarding him.”
“Thank you.” Zahra’s forehead creased. “I am surprised you came with only Ramses, especially after last night.”
“The assassins only attack at night.” Namir gestured to Ramses. “Besides, Ramses could take on all seven if he wished it.”
Ramses laughed from atop his horse. He inclined his head toward Zahra. “I am Ramses, but I am told you already knew that.”
Zahra nodded. “Yes. I am Zahra.” She glanced at Namir, who was smiling at them both. “But you already knew that.”
Ramses nodded. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Zahra.” He turned to Namir. “Which village are we going to?”
Namir turned to Zahra. “Last night, you said that your cousin could help us.”
Zahra hesitated. “He can, but he will be busy working until tonight. My family is celebrating the blood moon later today in their village south of Inebu-hedj, and he will be there.”
“Then we shall wait in the city until then.” Namir offered her his hand. Zahra was surprised by the gesture, but she took it, and he lifted her onto his horse with ease.
Ramses got Namir’s attention and signed. Namir nodded and signed in reply.
Zahra watched in fascination, holding onto the cloth she was sitting on as he got on the horse. “Can you teach me?”
Namir glanced back at her in surprise. He smiled. “Another day.” He secured her bag to the horse with a rope. His eyebrows raised when he saw her holding onto the cloth. “You can hold on to me.”
Zahra looked down, hiding a blush, as she wrapped her arms around him. The sweet smell of honey drifted into her nostrils,and she fought the sudden urge to breathe the scent in. “I am ready.”
Namir urged the horse forward, and Zahra’s hair flew behind her as Victory ran. As soon as they left the city, he slowed down. Zahra watched the road with interest, smiling at Ramses when he appeared in her line of sight. Namir took a path that led to the marketplace of Inebu-hedj.
The marketplace was bustling with people when Namir and Ramses finally came to a stop next to a stable. Ramses talked to the owner of the stable as Namir helped Zahra down.
“We will stay in the marketplace until closer to sunset,” Namir explained, pulling his hood more over his head. “My uncle would too easily detain me if I remained at thepr-aa.”
Zahra nodded in understanding. “We wouldn’t want that.”
Ramses finished, and the man took the horses into the stable.
“There’s an oldnecropolisnearby,” Ramses said as he approached them. “We can rest there.”
Anecropolis. Zahra had not visited one of Aur’s graveyards for many years, not since her father still lived under Bahiti and Darius’s roof. The thought of walking among the dead made her skin crawl, and she dug her nails into her arm as a feeling of dread overcame her.
Namir spoke from beside her. “Zahra, we don’t have to go there if you don’t wish to.”
Zahra looked at him in surprise. His gaze shifted from her arm to her face, his features inquisitive and worried.
“We should go,” she said. “Your uncle’smedjaywill be less likely to look for you there.”
Namir rubbed his neck. “I suppose that is true, but we should get some food before we do.”
Ramses stepped forward, gesturing to himself. “I will get us something to eat and catch up with you.”
