Page 13 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra gritted her teeth. What was he talking about? “You still have not answered my question.”
“I have answered all of your questions.” He smirked. “If you wish to know more, then you must follow me.” He turned around and entered the marketplace.
Zahra pushed air through her teeth as she followed him. “I will not go with you until you tell me why you are here.”
He glanced back at her, satisfied that she was still following, and looked forward.
Zahra stopped once more in the middle of the marketplace. “Answer me!”
The commander spun around, as did many bystanders at the shops. He scanned the growing crowd in panic, grabbed her arm, and pulled her down a different street.
Zahra smacked his arm. “Let go of me!”
“Quiet!” He tightened his grip, tugging her down another path. Everyone was too busy looking at the stalls to notice Zahra being dragged against her will.
“Help,” she cried. Some of the merchants and passersby turned toward her.
The commander ducked down an alley and shoved her against a wall. His forehead was sweaty, his eyes crazed. “Has anyone else but you remembered?”
Zahra shook her head, fighting back tears. “No. No, only you.”
“That is why I am here.” He softened his grip on her arms. “It is only you and I here. Only you and I remember.”
“Why?” Zahra ripped her hands from his grasp. “Will they remember tomorrow? When everyone wakes up and the Feast is over?—”
“The Feast will never end,” the commander stated, “and neither will this day.”
“Where is he?” a deep voice asked from the street.
She looked at the commander in horror. “Are they looking for you?”
He cursed, yanking the hood of his cloak up over his head. He leaned back to see the street. Zahra stepped to the side and followed his gaze. An older gentleman dressed in a cloak stood in the marketplace. His clothes were decorated with colorful embroidery and a symbol she knew belonged to a high military office.Medjaywere speaking with him.
The commander stepped back, and Zahra took another step away from him. “Who are you?”
“I am the only one who knows the truth.” His eyes were intent and focused now. “They do not understand what is at stake. If they find me, it will be over for both of us.” He glanced around, panic-stricken. “Do you know a way out of here?”
Zahra studied him. She couldn’t trust him. She knew that much, but she couldn’t let him get caught or walk away either. Not when he had more of an idea why the day was repeating than she did. “Why should I help you?”
“You want answers, do you not?” He sighed with exasperation as themedjaygrew closer. “I am not a commander as I claimed, but I do serve the Pharaoh Queen. It is in your best interest to help me.”
The Pharaoh Queen?Zahra thought of her father and his cryptic warning. If she helped this man now, then he might be willing to help her later.
Zahra sighed. “Tell me your name, at least.”
“Namir.” He stepped aside. “Please, lead the way.”
4
The Wandering King
Namir stuck close to Zahra’s back as she led him down the street. He kept his hood up, looking around as if themedjaywould show up at any moment. Farmers and other local sellers saw her from their stalls, but they did not give her or the mysterious man following her another glance.
A familiar voice came from one of the stalls as they turned a corner. “Zahra.”
She paused, smiling at Riyad and his fruit stall. So this was where he had gone. She walked up to him. “Riyad, how are you?”
“Splendid,” the old Auran man answered with a smile. His eyes wrinkled as he peeked past her. “Who is your friend?”
