Page 80 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra’s tone was flat as she spoke. “We are too far.”
He shook his head, grinding his jaw. “I can make it.”
Zahra let go of Eboni’s head to grab Namir’s arm. “If you go, they will kill you.”
“I must do something,” Namir cried. “Those aremypeople out there. They… They cannot do this!”
“Namir!” Her eyes filled with tears. “If your life is lost, we will have no chance of preventing this tragedy.”
Namir shook his head. “But I can?—”
“Please!” Zahra’s lip quivered. “We have to help as many as we can, but you can’t risk your life. I will not allow it. Not when I can prevent this all from happening tomorrow.”
If she had never come here, her people wouldn’t have been punished.
“Please, Namir. Do it for them. Do it for me.”
Namir leaned back, listening to the screams of the slaughtered. Anger and grief flashed across his face. The battle within him ceased, and he looked up with a controlled expression. “Tell me what to do.”
Zahra handed Eboni to Namir. “Take the others out the back. Save as many as you can, but stay out of sight.”
Namir took Eboni, his forehead wrinkling. “What about you?”
Zahra clenched her jaw. “I can’t lose my family again.”
Namir’s eyes went wide. “But if you go out there…”
Zahra nodded and stood. “I know.”
Namir watched as Zahra ran out of the stable house. Immediately, she found familiar faces among those killed: people she had visited over the years, friends from her village in Ionia. Ramses was still fighting somewhere, his cries echoing through the village.
Zahra’s heart jumped in her throat as she saw Ahmose among the carnage. “No. No!” She fell to her knees by his side, taking his face in her hands. His head and chest were covered in blood, and his eyes were half closed.
“Ahmose.” She choked down a sob. “Adelphos!” She kissed his head, crying an apology and a prayer. “May Selene receive your soul with gladness and glory.”
Zahra’s head shot up at Heba’s screams. “Get away from them!”
Zahra ran toward the sound. A woman ran past, her face bloody and her arms cradling an infant. A tall man stood over Heba, who was sprawled on the ground.
Zahra searched her surroundings, finding a large stone. She picked it up, weighed it in her palm, and then threw it as hard as she could. The stone struck the man’s jaw. He howled, stumbling away from Heba. His furious eyes turned on Zahra as Heba groaned. Blood trickled from his mouth. He smiled. “Why hello, pretty thing. You have quite the aim.”
“Leave her alone!” Zahra readied another rock.
The man raised his eyebrows in amusement. He stepped away from Heba, approaching Zahra. His eyes glowed red.
Zahra stumbled back, the hand holding the rock trembling. “S—Stay back!”
Her brain urged her to run, but she kept her feet planted in place. If it was thekeresthat were making these Aurans attack her people, perhaps they would stop once she was dead.
Zahra dropped the rock by her side and whimpered as the man drew closer. He grabbed her arm, and she closed her eyes.
The man cried out, and Zahra opened her eyes to see Heba standing behind him with the stone Zahra had thrown at him. He dropped Zahra and turned around toward Heba. “Why you?—!”
A glint of bronze pulled Zahra’s eyes to a dagger on the ground. The man reached for Heba. Zahra grabbed the dagger and jumped, sinking the dagger into the back of his neck.
The man cried out, throwing Zahra off. Blood spurted from the wound, and he turned with glowing eyes toward her.
“Zahra!”Heba cried.
