Page 7 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Omar stepped away, releasing her arm. “You shouldn’t have come here. It’s dangerous.” He walked toward the stall where he had thrown the bag, opening it. The horse inside whined in discomfort as he grabbed the bag and closed the stall door.
Zahra’s eyes landed on the bag, and she thought of themedjay’swords to her.Thief. “Patér, what is happening? Why did you send that letter? Why are theremedjayafter you?”
Omar spun around. “There aremedjaynear here?”
“They’re looking for a thief,” she cried. “Patér, tell me they’re not looking for you.”
Omar turned away. “I did what I had to do,poulaki mou.”
Zahra stepped back in shock. “What has become of you?”
A bright, purple glow came from the bag, and Zahra’s gaze snapped toward the object within. Omar put his hand up, holding the bag away from them both. “Don’t go near it. It is dark magic. It will corrupt you!”
Zahra turned to face him. “But why would you?—?”
“I stole it to protect you,” he cried. “Now, you must leave!”
Zahra shook her head. “I will not leave without you! Let us return this to the King or, better yet, the Pharaoh Queen! There’s still a chance for redemption.”
His eyes softened into grief. “There’s no redemption for me.”
Zahra’s chest bubbled with anxiety as he sheathed his knife and walked toward one of the stalls. “Patér, please. If you do this, we willdie.”
Omar’s hand paused on the wooden stall. “I am doing this so you can live.”
“I have seen my death!” A sob worked its way into Zahra’s throat, and her lip quivered as she spoke. “If you don’t return this, the Pharaoh Queen will punish us. We will not live to see morning.”
Omar turned away, shaking his head. “No. If you leave now, you will be safe.” He opened the stall door.
“Patér, please!” Zahra grabbed the bag.
The knot holding the bag together loosened, and out tumbled a sandglass. Within its two glass spheres was golden sand. Thick, metal pillars held the sides and top of the glasses together, andpurple light swirled within. The golden sand did not move with the pull of gravity. Instead, the sand poured steadily down into the lower portion of the sandglass. A low hum emanated from it, sending thick vibrations through her body.
The sandglass brushed her foot before she could step back, and Zahra gasped as images and sensations flooded her senses. Blood filled her mouth, and the screams of thousands surrounded her.
Zahra stumbled and fell back as the visions ceased, gulping in air as Omar grabbed the sandglass and tossed it into one of the stalls. He raced to her side. “Are you hurt?”
Zahra grabbed his arm. “What is that?!”
Omar mumbled under his breath, pulling away from Zahra’s grasp. He took the bag and stuffed the sandglass in it once more.
Zahra stared at him in shock. She was sweating and breathing as if she had been running. Yet, there he stood, perfectly fine. Why had the sandglass affected her but not him?
Omar approached a stall housing a white horse. “You must leave Aur. Take a boat to Rhakotis. From there, you can cross the border into the desert. If you are lucky, you may run into some of our people in Deshret that would be willing to take you in.”
The Naqada?Zahra shook her head, pushing herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and her arms trembled at her side. “Patér, this is madness! I will not survive out there. This is our home.”
He secured the bag to the white horse before glancing back at her. “You must.”
The sound of hooves hitting the ground came from up the hill. Omar cursed under his breath. “They’re here.”
Zahra tried to grab his arm. “Patér.”
Omar shook her off and pulled himself onto the horse. “Go to Rhakotis. I will distract them.”
“Patér,” Zahra begged. “Please, don’t leave.”
Themedjaydismounted outside. “Who is in there? Come out!”
