Page 79 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“As far as I have seen, I somewhat agree,” Ahmose continued. “The Pharaoh Queen has hardly shown her face since the Pharaoh King’s death. The Vizier is considered a fool. The King himself has spent his days floundering under the pressure of the Kingdom’s needs while his nights are spent partying or disappearing altogether.” He looked between them all, his gaze settling on Zahra. “Is this a King you want to save?”
Namir stood, slamming his fists on the table, making Zahra flinch. Ahmose stood as Namir spoke. “This is blasphemy! I want the names of everyone?—”
“Enough!” Zahra stumbled out of her chair, her arms trembling at her side.
Ahmose’s face filled with worry, and Namir and Ramses turned to her in confusion. Ahmose stepped forward. “Zahra.”
“No!” She shook her head. “We did not come here to argue, Ahmose. Whether you like it or not, the King needs saving. If you don’t wish to help us, fine! But we must keep searching for the assassins, with or without your help.”
Ahmose stared at her incredulously. He glared at Namir before sighing. “I don’t know if I am known in the village you speak of, but I will help.” He held up a finger to Namir. “As long as those who are punished are punished alone. My village andthe other members of the village not involved with the assassins are innocent in all of this.”
Zahra glanced at Namir. He studied Ahmose for a moment before nodding. “I will do my best to keep your people out of this matter, Ahmose. Thank you for your assistance.”
Zahra’s mouth twitched into a weak smile. She stepped away from the group, clutching her shawl as she tried to breathe. The space from the others did little to ease the tightness in her chest.
Ramses turned to Namir, signing and gesturing to Ahmose. Namir put his hand up, glancing at Zahra. “Wait a moment.”
“Zahra,” Ahmose said, coming to her side. He gave her space, but he tried to see her front. “Can I help?”
Zahra shook her head. Grains of sand sat between her fingers and toes, and silver moonlight—Selene’s power—pushed on the corners of her vision. The air smelled of dry earth. It was as if she was back in that vision of Aur, clawing her way away from the bodies of the fallen.
Namir shared a glance with Ramses and stepped toward them. “What is going on?”
Zahra’s voice trembled as she spoke. “Something is wrong.”
A woman’s scream came from outside. Bright, roaring flames sparked into existence, and horrified screams filled the village.
Ahmose glanced at Zahra before running out the door. Zahra stumbled after him. Fire raged everywhere. The tables were burning, and men with weapons and torches chased the people. The bonfire had spread to nearby buildings, not from the wind but from large sticks being thrown toward the homes.
The image was all too familiar to Zahra, pulling at long-buried memories filled with terror and death.
The shrill scream of a child snapped Zahra out of her trance, and she dove into action. One of the attackers stood over a fallen woman, whose child was pulling at her arm. Ahmose dartedtoward the man, tackling him to the ground. Zahra took the small girl in her arms.
The child was Eboni. She sobbed, tugging on her mother’s blood-soaked sleeve. Zahra stumbled back, holding Eboni against her chest as she turned away from Amina’s lifeless eyes.
Namir grabbed Zahra’s arm, and she flinched, glancing back at him. His gaze softened, and he led her and Eboni away from the scene.
Ramses ran ahead of them and raised his dagger. He sliced at an attacker’s chest and looked back at Namir. Namir signed for him to follow, but Ramses shook his head and signed. Namir’s face filled with worry, but he turned his attention back to Zahra and guided them to safety as Ramses returned to fighting.
Other mothers and their children were escaping behind the houses. There were over a dozen men with torches and small weapons. Some held rocks in their hands, throwing them at the fathers and sons that tried to protect their families.
Zahra ran toward a small stable house, clutching the shivering Eboni. Namir followed. A man stepped in their path with a knife, his eyes glowing with the red flame of thekeres. Zahra slid to a stop and screamed.
Namir leaped in front of them, using a wooden rod to block the man’s attacks.
Zahra stumbled back. “Namir!”
The bonfire surged, shining light on the man’s face. Dread filled Zahra’s frame. The attackers were Auran.
“I am your King,” Namir roared, throwing the man back. “Cease this bloodshed at once!”
The man laughed. “My King wouldn’t lie withsobkilike these.” He brought his knife down on Namir, slicing his arm. Namir howled, swinging the rod. The wood struck the man’s head, and he fell to the ground, dead.
Namir snatched the man’s knife, running after Zahra. She led him to the stable house. Others were hiding there, praying for the bloodshed to end. The animals had been released at some point, and only darkness and those hiding remained.
Zahra slid down against the wood, a surge of guilt hitting her frame. This was all her fault. She had stayed too late, and thekereshad come for her, and her people were suffering for it.
Namir sat across from her, his eyes clouded and distant. He held his bleeding arm. “He—He did not believe me. But I can stop this. If I run to thepr-aa?—”
