Page 126 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra swallowed. “It isapollos.”
Namir raised his eyebrows. “Is that the name of your curse?”
Zahra shook her head. “It is a sickness on my soul, on myka.It is because of the strain thekeresand death has had on my soul.” She indicated the map. “Now please, look. Someone else can remember.”
Namir’s brow furrowed. “Is that why you are always tired?”
Zahra’s brow wrinkled. “Namir, please.”
His eyes softened, and he let go of her hand. The glow from his chest and the glowing city disappeared from before her eyes. She sighed and let go of the wall, allowing the vision of thepr-aafade.
Namir stepped back. “We need to get you to Zosar.”
“But Namir,” Zahra said, following him as he left the remains of the building. “Don’t you know what this means? Whoever is against you can also remember. It’s why the assassins keep escaping us. It may be why we can’t find your bride.”
“I can’t think about that now,” Namir said, walking up to Ramses. “We need to go to the temple.”
Zahra planted her feet into the ground. “Namir, this is serious. Your life is in danger!”
“And so is yours.” Namir turned toward her. “We have lasted this long, and whoever remembers has not caught up with us. I will look into it later, but I will not delay visiting Zosar any longer.”
Zahra let out a frustrated sigh before joining Namir’s side.
The temple was quiet when they finally arrived. Several of the priests came out to greet Namir. Her father was not among them, having been sent somewhere else by Namir that morning.
Namir dismounted from Victory, offering his hand to Zahra. He spoke to the priests. “Please announce my presence to Zosar.”
The priests glanced at each other as Namir lowered Zahra from the horse. One stepped forward. “He has gone to thepr-aa.”
Zahra’s eyes narrowed.
Namir held her hand as he turned toward them. “For what purpose?”
“The Pharaoh Queen called upon him,” a priest responded.
Namir clenched his jaw.
Zahra looked at him with worried eyes as he lifted her onto Victory’s back. “What did you tell the Pharaoh Queen this morning?”
“The same thing as always,” Namir said, hoisting himself up behind her. He thanked the priests and motioned for Ramses to follow, wrapping his arms around Zahra as he urged the horse forward. “I must have done something to incite a different reaction.”
Doubt stirred in Zahra’s heart. “What if someone in the royal court remembers?”
Namir let out a heavy sigh. “Zahra, we have talked about this.”
“I know what I saw.” She looked back at him. “I know they’re your family, but we have looked everywhere else.”
“We are not even close to exhausting our other options,” Namir reminded her. “I promise, once we have broken your curse, I will continue my investigations and locate the one with the mark. Until then, my priorities lie elsewhere.”
With me.Zahra leaned against him, letting out a heavy sigh. Her chest grew tight as her worries filled her mind. Zosar was a powerful priest of Re. He would be able to help her, or tell Namir if the effort was pointless. Either way, she decided to let it go, at least until they visited Zosar like Namir wished.
Thepr-aawas eerily quiet as Namir led Zahra toward the throne room. He turned to Ramses. “Please, stay out here with her while I speak to them.”
Zahra stepped forward, catching his eye. “I am coming with you.”
Hesitance sat in his features, but he nodded grimly.
Waaiz’s voice rang down the hall. “He announced that assassins will attack him tonight, and then he left! He is avoiding his duties and putting his life in jeopardy.”
