Page 137 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Pesha glanced up, interest filling her eyes upon seeing Namir. She turned to her comrades, speaking in Ionic. “The King came to visit us after all.”
“I came to ask you questions,” Namir replied in Ionic, stepping forward and lowering his hood. “And you will give me the answers I seek.”
Surprise flashed on some of the assassins’ faces, but none spoke.
Namir knelt in front of Pesha, tilting his head to try and catch her eye as he spoke in Auran. “Tell me who hired you, and I promise to keep your sentence light.”
Pesha stared at him, no recognition of his words on her face.
Zahra stepped forward. “He knows you can understand him.”
Pesha shifted her gaze to Zahra. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “I know you from somewhere.”
Zahra stepped forward, replying in her native tongue. “And I know you, Pesha.”
Pesha’s eyes went wide. She gritted her teeth, pulling on her chains. “Sorceress.”
“Sibyl,” Zahra corrected. “You are all going against Selene’s wishes. You will suffer if you continue.”
Pesha laughed. “Suffer? We and our people have suffered because of his crimes. We will bring justice to Selene and to our people.”
Namir glanced between Pesha and Zahra. It was clear he understood some of what they had said, but not all.
Zahra narrowed her eyes, turning to the six others. “You need not continue on this path. I have seen Aur’s destruction if this day ends as you plan. All will suffer from its loss, and many will die.”
The assassins glanced at each other. One of the assassins met her gaze. He spat at Namir’s feet. The rest followed suit, and Pesha smirked. She tilted her head back, laughing. “Good luck saving him, traitor. He will die, whether we are in these chains or not.”
Zahra gritted her teeth.
Namir stood, his face twisted in disgust. “I’m guessing they refused?”
“Yes.” She turned her gaze back on Pesha. Pesha’s smirk faltered for a moment, and Zahra saw the slightest bit of fear in her eyes. Zahra walked toward Pesha, knelt in front of her, and brought her hand up.
Pesha flinched. “Wait. No?—”
Zahra focused, pulling them both into the Duat. Pesha fell forward into the sand as the chains disappeared from her wrists. Zahra stood in front of her, studying her cautiously.
“No,” Pesha cried. She looked at Zahra as she shot to her feet. “Where are they? Where are the others?”
“They have not been moved,” Zahra promised.
“Take me back,” Pesha demanded. She pulled out a small knife from her pants, holding it defensively in front of her. “Take me back. Now!”
“So you remember yesterday,” Zahra said, stepping to the side. “Did you dream about this place? Did you dream of the creatures that live here?”
“Stop your questions! I won’t tell you anything. I… Ahh!” Pesha brought her hand to her head, gritting her teeth.
Zahra hesitated to step closer. Purple light shimmered around Pesha’s head, and Zahra saw the faint mark of the thread connecting Pesha’s soul to the Thoth. She was remembering.
“We’ve fought before, and I forgot. Each night…” Pesha looked at Zahra, both confused and terrified.
Zahra nodded. “This is not the first time the day of the Feast has happened.”
“Then you are a sorceress.” She held up her dagger.
Zahra put her hand up, and silver light blew the daggerout of Pesha’s hand.
Zahra hissed as pain shot from the cracks in her arms. She shook her arms and walked toward Pesha.
