Page 99 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“I cannot win against him or my mother. Even as King, they doubt my abilities.” He ran his fingers through his curls. “They have every right to. Look at the mess I have made.”
“I see no mess.”
Namir raised his eyebrows at her.
Zahra smiled. “I mean it.”
He glanced at her hand on his shoulder. He turned away, putting his hand on hers. “Thank you.”
Zahra’s heartbeat sped up at his touch. She swallowed and glanced out the doorway. Themedjayhad all but gone. A few waited at the front entrance for Namir to come down. Her mouth went dry, her thoughts shifting as she thought of Geb’s words and the Great Overseer.
“I wonder if we should question anyone within the royal court.”
Namir turned to her with raised eyebrows. “What?”
Zahra’s heart sank. “I mean, what if someone close to you wanted you dead?”
“You mean my uncle?” He released her hand, and she let it fall by her side. “Why would you think that?”
“He is critical of you,” Zahra stated, “and you said it yourself: he does not trust your abilities.”
“Yes, but he has always been that way.” Namir stood and turned away. “That does not mean he is an evil man.”
Zahra stepped forward, desperate to defend her accusation. “Perhaps he is angry your father took the throne instead of him, and now he is taking it out on you.”
Anger flashed in Namir’s eyes. “Don’t cast such an accusation when you know nothing of him.”
Zahra hesitated. “Namir…”
“No.” He stepped back, his face filled with disbelief. “Who will you accuse next? My mother? My sister?”
“I only meant to say that the Great Overseer or the Hem-netjer could have reason to?—”
“Zosar, too?” He pointed a finger at her. “I know the man is not perfect, but he is like a father to me.”
“I am only trying to help. We are no closer to finding the assassins or who hired them. How long do you think we have until they return and finish the job?”
Namir bristled. “I have increased security. I am taking every precaution?—”
“Precautions are not enough!” Zahra threw her hand in the direction of thepr-aa. “They have found us too many times. What if I can’t protect you?”
“I did not ask you to protect me,” Namir seethed.
Movement caught Zahra’s eye outside the window. Pesha stood on the ground, her head poking out of the bushes. She had a clear shot of Namir’s back, but she had no weapon ready. She was only watching.
“And my uncle is not a traitor,” Namir added. “Trust me on that, at least.”
Zahra reached forward and grabbed his arm. Namir pulled back. “What are you?—?”
Zahra’s gaze darted to the window behind him. His anger fizzled into fear, and he wrapped his arm around her, bolting into the hallway.
“They’re right outside,” Zahra cried, leading him down the stairs. “They must have been following you.”
But why did they not attack? Pesha had a clear shot, and Zahra had not noticed her for some time. Pesha would have been able to make a quick getaway with all of themedjayout in the front. This was not the first time this had happened. Theassassins were still following Namir, but not striking until later in the night.Why?
Ramses greeted them at the base of the stairs, and Namir signed to him with an urgent expression. Ramses’s jaw tightened, and he communicated the information to the soldiers outside. They began mounting their horses, and Ramses gestured for Zahra to come with him.
Zahra grabbed Namir’s arm, shaking her head. “I am not leaving you.”
