Page 97 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Waaiz stopped beside an older man with a gray beard who was sitting in a chair in the middle of the room. His wife and children stood in the corner, held there by somemedjay.
Zahra lingered by the wall as Namir walked up to the man. Waaiz eyed her cautiously, switching his focus to Namir as he approached.
“Geb was already under suspicion for tax evasion, my King,” one of themedjaynear Geb said. “Our records show he has been earning more from the lands the Pharaohs lent him than he has paid back.”
Zahra studied Geb’s manner of dress. His neck and fingers were adorned with gold, and thick earrings hung from his ears. He outdressed Namir in every way, who was still wearing his less-than-luxurious clothes.
“I will pay back any money you think I owe,” Geb promised, “but, please, let us not do this in front of my children.”
Namir glanced at Geb’s family. “The crime is found upon your head, not theirs.” With a wave of his hand, Geb’s family was escorted out.
Namir scrutinized the old man’s face, even as Geb quivered beneath his gaze. “Let me keep this simple for you, Geb. If you do not give me the information I seek, your punishment will be far greater than paying the Pharaoh Queen the money you owe.”
Geb swallowed, glancing around the room.
Namir barreled his eyes into him. “Three weeks ago, you sponsored a number of merchants and travelers to enter Aur through Henen-nesut. When they left a week later, three of them were missing. This happened on another occasion five weeks ago. Both times your servant signed off on their entry into Aur.” He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “Tell me, Geb, for what reason did you smuggle in these foreigners?”
“I did not mean to make trouble, my King,” Geb stuttered. “I was simply doing a favor for a friend. His servants missed theirfamilies, and so I offered them safe passage across the border. That is all!”
“If that were true, you would not have gone so far as to cover your connection with them,” Namir argued. “Your name was never recorded, even though you are familiar with the rules and laws of Aur.”
Geb trembled, his face turning an ashy color. “My King?—”
“Furthermore,” Namir continued, “those foreigners have become a threat to my life. I demand you answer truthfully. Why have you sought to kill me?”
Geb’s eyes bulged out of his sockets. “K—Kill you? I would never!” He fell from his chair, bowing with his hands on the floor. “My King, I was one of the Pharaoh King’s greatest supporters! My family has taken care of the Pharaohs’ land for five generations?—”
“I do not care what you have done or what you claim to do,” Namir roared.
Zahra flinched, along with the soldiers beside her. Namir noticed her, and his eyes softened. He turned back to Geb, his voice calm. “Where are the assassins?”
“I—I—I do not know!” The poor man was sobbing. “My King, I did not want to let them in. I would have refused! Their kind—” He stopped upon seeing Zahra, and he pressed his forehead to the ground. “I received a letter, my King, the day before I sent my servant to the border office. The sender threatened my family’s lives and to steal all my riches if I did not meet his demands.”
The letter sounded similar to the one her father had received. Could the sender be the same?
“So, it was a man who sent you this note?” Namir questioned.
“I do not know,” Geb cried. “It was left on my doorstep. All I know is that I was ordered to burn the note as soon as I had read it. The next day, I sent my servant to the border to allow thecaravan in. He returned with four Ionian nomads, as the letter said I should provide them with fresh clothes and one thousanddeben. I received another letter a couple of weeks later with the same instructions, and my servant returned with three more nomads.”
“Where did they go?”
Geb shook his head on the ground. “I do not know, my King. They had a map, but I was not permitted to see it.” He stifled a sob. “I did not know they would seek your life, my King. I was only trying to do what was best for my family.”
Namir considered the man. “Are you sure that you do not know anything else about your blackmailer?”
“No, my King.”
Namir sighed, meeting Zahra’s eyes across the room. She offered a look of sympathy.
“My King?” one of themedjayasked. “What would you like us to do with him?”
Namir stared at Zahra a moment longer. “Give me a moment.” He took Zahra’s hand and pulled her from the room. They stood alone in the hallway.
“What is it?” Zahra asked. “You are doing well.”
“I must give him a sentence, but I don’t know what to do.” He met her eyes. “Tell me, Zahra. What are your thoughts?”
Zahra was surprised by his request. She turned her head toward the room where Geb was, considering his words. “He risked many lives so that he and his family could continue to live in comfort and wealth. But it’s clear that, though his heart is filled with greed, he cares deeply for his family.” She met Namir’s eyes. “Despite this terrible act, he does not deserve death.”
