Page 103 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“Yes, yes. Those and more.” His voice quieted, and he focused on something Zahra couldn’t see. “So much more.”
Conflicted feelings rose in her chest. “So you knew that I shared her gifts.”
“It was not as simple as that,” Omar defended, looking at her.
Zahra pulled her hand away from him. “Not simple? You told me my dreams were dark magic!”
“I was trying to protect you,” Omar stated. “The Pharaohs were very strict. If you had been seen?—”
“But you could have told me when I was older.” Zahra stood. “Why did you continue to lie? Why did you turn me against the ways of my mother?”
Omar jumped to his feet. “Because it was her gifts that got her killed!”
Zahra froze. “What do you mean?”
Omar sighed, collapsing back into a chair. He leaned forward on the table, a hand over his eyes. “It is late, child.”
“Tell me.” She returned to her seat. “Please, Patér.”
Omar removed his hand from his pain-filled eyes. “Your mother had always been gifted. She learned from your grandmother, who was the prophetess of the King, until he was succeeded by his son. When your grandmother disappeared, your mother took over her role assibyl. She informed our people of when to plant their seeds for the most fruitful harvest and where to store our food and precious things during the cold months when famine and thievery were more common.” For a moment, she saw a spark of a love lost long ago in his eyes. “Rina was a walking miracle, and she dedicated every impossible act to Selene.” He folded his hands together, his brow creased. “One night, she had a nightmare. She had seen Ionia’s destruction. Many lives would be lost if our people did not evacuate. I told her to take the premonition to the King. When she returned from her journey, she told me the King had laughed at her words and declared her a false prophetess. She had tried warning others, but no one would believe her except for those in our village. We decided to leave Ionia on our boat to avoid the calamity before it was too late.”
Zahra considered her father’s words. “What happened?”
He pulled in a shaky breath. “That night, Parsa attacked. I was helping our people get loaded on the boats, and you had disappeared. She went to look for you.” He shook his head. “There was a look in her eye as we said goodbye, as if she had expected this to happen.” His lips formed words, but no sound came out. His voice broke. “I found you beside her, but it was too late. She had died protecting you from one of Parsa’s soldiers.”
Zahra sat, stunned. “She knew.”
Omar nodded. “The soldier would have killed you if she had not intervened.”
Zahra leaned back in her chair, letting his words sink in. She did not remember much about that night, but she remembered her mother handing Zahra her necklace before succumbing to her injuries. She swallowed. “Did you blame me for her death?”
Omar was silent. “I did,” he finally said, “but I don’t anymore.”
Zahra’s mother was like her. She had saved Zahra’s life at the cost of her own, and she had left Zahra with a great legacy.
He continued. “I am sorry I did not tell you of this before. I hoped that if I did not, you wouldn’t suffer as your mother had.”
Zahra smiled softly. She placed her hand on her father’s arm. “Thank you for telling me now.”
Omar raised his head, though he did not meet her eyes. “Have you had visions?”
Zahra was surprised at the question. She took a deep breath and nodded. “A servant of Selene has visited me in both the waking world and the other world.”
“Haides,” Omar breathed. At Zahra’s confusion, he explained, “That was what your mother called it, but it has other names. In old Auran records, it’s called theDuat.”
Of course. Her mother likely had gone to the Duat as well.
“What has Selene called you to do?” Omar asked.
Zahra took a deep breath. “Protect the King.”
Doubt filled Omar’s eyes.
Zahra spoke before he could say anything. “I know you will tell me to ignore Selene’s call, but I cannot. The eagle has come to me for a reason. I am helping the King, even if—” Even if this night would end in her death. “I don’t need your words of warning or wisdom. I am scared. I need my father.”
Omar stared at her. Then, he stood. Zahra’s brow furrowed as he grabbed his bag, which held some of his things. He pulled out a blue-and-gold scarf. Zahra recognized it, though she knewnot from where. She took it with shaky hands as he handed it to her.
“This was your mother’s,” Omar said. “Heba made it for her when they were young. It is the only thing I have left of her. Now, it’s yours.”
