Page 16 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra understood his meaning. It had never been shared with aforeigner. She brushed the offense aside. “You have no other choice.”
Namir let out a heavy sigh, rubbing the area above his nose. “Yes, you are right.” He dropped his hand and found a stick onthe ground. While he spoke, he drew with the stick, creating an image in the sand. “It is called the Thoth. It is a magical artifact only used on the day of the Pa-sekhemty Feast. When the night is at its fullest, the Thoth renews the day, and the morning of the Pa-sekhemty Feast comes once more.”
Zahra's lips parted as he completed his picture. Though the drawing was crude, she recognized the image—the Thoth was a sandglass.
Panic swelled in her chest, but she fought it from reaching her face.It was a coincidence.
But it wasn’t. Her father had stolen something from the Pharaoh Queen—something her soldiers would kill to get back.
Namir studied her face, gauging her reaction. She hid her fear, avoiding his gaze.
“So, it’s the King who is doing this? Does that mean the day could end at any moment, and tomorrow would truly come?”
Her chest filled with panic. If the King selected his bride tonight, that meant that if she and her father were killed, they wouldn’t wake up unharmed in the morning. They wouldn’t wake upat all.
“In theory, yes.” Namir dropped the stick and rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes. “In practice, no.”
Zahra focused on his face. “What do you mean?”
“The King has chosen a bride already,” Namir clarified, “but he cannot find her.”
A puzzled look crossed her face. “What? Do you mean to say that he lost her? Does he not know what she looks like?”
Namir gritted his teeth. “It is not as simple as that.”
“Simple? Nothing about this is simple.” She turned around and tugged on her curls. “So, the King, in all of his brilliance and glory, lost his bride among the thousands of women in Aur, and now he is making the rest of us pay for his mistake.”
“He did not do it on purpose,” Namir said, his voice low with anger.
Zahra turned on him and pointed an accusing finger at him. “Who are you to know the King’s affairs? If this information is as secret as you claim, how have you, a thief, come to lay hold of it?”
Namir’s eyes narrowed. He sat up straight and raised his head. “Because I am the King.”
Zahra scrutinized him for a moment. Then, she laughed. “First a commander, and now a king! Ha! Do you truly expect me to believe that you are the….”
Her smile vanished. His features were completely serious, except for a small trace of amusement in his eyes.
She swallowed. “You are the King?”
Namir nodded. “I am.”
Zahra stumbled backward into the well, grabbing its edge to steady herself. He was the Pharaohs’ son. He was the King.The King of Aur. “Why were themedjaychasing you?”
“They were following orders.” Namir sighed and looked off into the distance. “My uncle leads the chase whenever I venture too far from home.”
The military official in the marketplace. He was the Pharaoh King’s brother, the Great Overseer of Aur’s armies. That was why he was there today when he had not been yesterday or the days before. He had been following Namir.
“Why did you tell me that they would stop you from fixing this mess?”
Namir rolled his eyes. “They would have brought me back to thepr-aa, forcing me to wait another day. Is that what you want?”
“You lied,” Zahra spat. It shouldn’t have, but the betrayal hurt.
“I exaggerated.” He shrugged. “I could not help it. You would not have listened to me otherwise.”
“You could have told me you were the King!” How could this man—this cocky, arrogant man—be the King of Aur? “This is all because of you! The day repeating isyourfault.”
Namir scoffed. “You say that like it is a bad thing.”
