Page 8 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“May Re protect you.” He pointed the horse toward the stable house doors. Zahra, realizing his plan, ducked into an empty stall.
“We are coming in,” amedjayyelled.
Omar urged the horse forward, and the doors splintered from the impact. Themedjayleaped to the side, and Zahra pulled her body behind the wooden wall, covering her head as pieces of wood flew in her direction.
The sound of Omar’s horse faded as he headed downhill to the south. The voices of themedjaysounded as they got to their horses. “Follow him!”
Zahra covered her mouth, muffling a sob as the realization of what had happened hit her. Her father was a criminal. Themedjaywould find him—kill him. She would never see her Patér again.
The realization hit her hard, and bile burned her throat as she thought of her next steps. Her father had told her to flee Aur. Where would she go? She had no connections outside of the kingdom, and nothing to barter with. Her earring—the sign of her debt—was proof that she belonged in Aur. Even if the Naqada found her, they wouldn’t let her stay. Even though they were once the same people, to them, she was an Auran. She was an enemy. No one would be willing to risk their lives for her.
“Selene.” Zahra’s lip trembled, and deep sobs threatened to leave her body as she called out to her goddess. “What do I do?”
The obelisk chimed five times when Zahra finally gathered the courage to leave the stable house. The moon had grown dimmer, and Zahra stumbled through the darkness as she made her up the hill toward the lights. The festivities were still ongoing at the top of the hill.
The air grew thick and moist, strangling her under the pretense of praises to Re and support of the King. Zahra held her necklace tight as she fought for breath, pushing through the crowds.
Finally, she found a less busy path down to the river. The air cooled, and she sucked in a calming breath as she walked toward the hundreds of boats left docked. While there were many boats that were being watched bymedjay, there were some—smaller, one-manned ones—that were left unattended.
Zahra stepped into the moist sand next to a boat, pulling at a knot tied to a nearby pole. There was a thundering of footsteps as a group of people ran down the path, but Zahra did not pay it any mind. The Aurans were celebrating. They wouldn’t notice her untying the rope to a less-than-grand boat.
A bold voice came from nearby, causing Zahra to freeze. “We are looking for an Ionian woman. She is an indentured servant and the daughter of a thief named Omar.”
Zahra swallowed and quickened her pace. Kamil must have told them she had come by. Did they think she was working with her father? Sweat trickled down her back as she fought to control the trembling in her hands. It was dark. They couldn’t see her. Theywouldn’tsee her.
She dug her nails into the knot, but her slippery fingers struggled to grip the rope. She had finally pulled some of it loose when a voice came from close behind her.
“You there. Is that your boat?”
Zahra sprinted away from the river, cursing the knot for being so well tied. Themedjayshouted to each other, fumbling through the wet sand as they chased after her.
Zahra shoved people aside as she worked her way through the crowds. She wasn’t sure where she was going. There was nowhere to go, but her feet wouldn’t stop moving. If she stopped, she would be imprisoned. She would be killed.
Thepr-aa’soutdoor room was alive with music, dancing, and maidens attending the Feast. The moon sat above it in the sky, its surface red. A creature flew in front of the moon, and Zahra gasped in astonishment. Her sandal caught on a dead root and flew off her foot, sending her sprawling forward. Pain vibrated up her arms and chin as her face collided with the hard ground.
The familiar cry of an eagle rang through the air. The tawny creature flew over her head, its eyes shimmering in the moonlight. Its talons scooped up her sandal and flew off.
“Wait,” Zahra called, getting to her knees. Blood sprouted from a cut on her bottom lip, and painful bruises were forming on her face and arms.
“You there! Stop!” Themedjaypushed past the crowd of maidens leaving the Feast.
Zahra pushed herself to her feet and followed the eagle. The bird flew quickly, weaving in the air and leading her to the back of thepr-aa. A large and luscious garden came into view. Golden tiles littered the ground and white pieces of stone protected beds of beautiful flowers. In the middle of it all was a thick hedge of bushes that stood taller than a horse.
The eagle flew right over the hedge. Zahra followed the perimeter of the hedge, realizing that the hedge was more than a wall: it was rectangular in shape, having no beginning and no end and no way to see what was inside.
The shouts of themedjaydrew closer. Zahra stuck her hands through the thick brush, trying to push the leaves aside. Thorns picked at her skin, and thick branches blocked her from going through. Zahra tried different sides of the hedge until, finally, she found a small gap in the thorns toward the base of the hedge.
The hole was barely perceptible, its front covered by overgrown vines and flowers. Zahra pushed them aside and crawled through on her knees. She staggered out on the other side, her clothes ripped and her skin scraped and bloody.
Zahra gasped at the view. Within the hedge sat a hidden garden. The most beautiful flowers surrounded a walkway that continued out of sight. A small stream flowed in a circle, with a small, wooden bridge offering a path to the center. Wooden walls covered in vines sat off to the side, blocking some of her view.
The eagle circled above her. Themedjayran past, unaware of the hidden garden or who hid inside. “Where is she? Find her!”
Zahra let out a breath of relief, smiling up at the eagle. She wished to thank it, but she did not want themedjayto hear.
Suddenly, the eagle flew downward, landing somewhere past the wooden walls. Zahra ventured forward with one hand holding her necklace. She walked over the bridge, tracing the lines on the wooden walls as she passed them.
“Ow!”
