Page 141 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Namir slowed his pace, watching her curiously as he approached. He paused some distance from her. “There are better places to watch the stars.”
Zahra startled at his voice, tripping on her own foot and falling hard on the floor. Her sandal flopped off her foot, and sheer terror filled her face.
Namir’s forehead creased as he fought back a laugh, diving to grab her sandal. “I apologize. I did not mean to frighten you. Let me.”
“Oh, you don’t need to—” Zahra started.
Namir took her foot in one hand and slipped the sandal back onto it with the other. Zahra’s face flushed, and she avoided his gaze as he offered his hand to help her stand. Once she was standing, she looked down at her feet, her hand still in his. “Th—Thank you, my King.”
He smiled softly, letting go of her hand. “Call me Namir.”
Zahra tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear, biting her lip. “V—Very well, Namir.”
Namir tilted his head as she avoided his gaze. “I am sorry if I interrupted something.”
Zahra looked up through her eyelashes at him. “N—Not at all. I was just…” Her voice faded, and she smiled sadly. “There are many who don’t think I belong here.”
Namir turned his ear toward the whispering that came from the maidens watching. He studied Zahra, noticing her hands as they played with her necklace. “But you do belong here. You were invited, just as everyone else was.”
She smiled. “Thank you for the invitation.”
Namir grinned and extended his hand to her. “If you wish to watch the stars, I know a place that has the best view… If you wish to see it.”
Zahra’s eyes lit up, and she placed her hand in his. “I would love to.”
Namir led her to the hidden garden, ignoring the gawking maidens who whispered angrily behind them. Zahra’s face filled with wonder as Namir lifted the bush so she could enter the hidden garden unscathed. He guided her to the bench, where they sat and watched the stars without the bright lights of thepr-aain the way.
Zahra pointed up at the sky, naming each constellation. “That one is Alkaois. Do you see him kneeling?”
Namir followed her gaze, pointing up. “There?”
Zahra moved her head closer to his, and she moved her hand to the left a little. “There. See?”
Namir dropped his hand to his lap and nodded. “Yes, I see him now.”
Zahra grinned at the sky. “His story is my favorite.”
Namir glanced at her, smiling at her face. “Will you tell me it?”
Zahra turned to Namir in surprise. She smiled and began to tell her tale. After she finished, they continued to speak under the stars. Zahra asked about his life at thepr-aa,and he inquired about the bruise on her face. Her smile faded into a frown, butshe showed him her earring hiding beneath her hair and told him the truth about her debt. He was surprised by her words, but he only asked more questions. His face grew confused and angry as she explained what Bahiti had done to her. Her shame turned into shocked relief as he spoke about the laws he would enact so that this would not happen again. There were tears in her eyes, and she smiled and denied them when he asked if she was crying.
Namir introduced Zahra to Ramses, and she immediately tried to learn sign language. As the moon grew dimmer, more and more maidens left the Feast, but Namir and Zahra continued to talk for hours.
Zahra’s feet came to a stop as they entered thepr-aafor some food and drink, a stunned expression on her face. There were some maidens who were still enjoying the music or the food, but most had gone home.
Namir, seeing the empty space, turned and extended his hand to her. “Dance with me.”
Zahra looked at his hand in surprise. She smiled, taking it, and he pulled her onto the dance floor. The pair danced, spinning and twirling in the empty space. Zahra laughed as Namir spun her, and he smiled as he pulled her close. Zahra looked deeply into Namir’s eyes, and his lips brushed Zahra’s. He whispered, “I love you.”
Zahra’s eyes shimmered with silver moonlight, and her gaze shot up past Namir’s head. On the balcony above them stood Pesha, who had an arrow aimed at Namir’s back.
Zahra shoved Namir forward as Pesha released the arrow. The arrow flew right over his shoulder, striking Zahra in the chest. The force threw her back.
Screams surrounded them as Namir and Zahra fell to the floor. Zahra touched her hand to her chest, blood dripping from her trembling fingers as she pulled them away.
Namir’s face filled with horror as he scrambled to his feet. “No!”
Medjaytackled him from behind, dragging him into the halls of thepr-aa.
