Page 33 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Surprise and awe crossed Namir’s face, but he said nothing to stop her.
Zahra raised her head. “All that we differ on is our perceived importance of the moon beside the sun. Your Nebthet would shine as bright as Re if only you could see it.”
Zosar considered Zahra before shouting toward the hallway. “Guards!”
The templemedjaywere on her in seconds, pinning her arms behind her back.
Zosar stepped forward, wrapping his hand around her necklace. Zahra tried to pull away, but she couldn’t with themedjayholding her. Zosar tugged hard, and the old chain snapped under the pressure.
“Give it back,” Zahra cried. “Please, give it back! It was my mother’s!”
“Zosar…” Namir started, but Zosar did not listen, handing Zahra’s necklace to a temple servant.
Zahra fought her restraints, but themedjaywere too strong. Namir lingered in the room while Zosar followed them toward the entrance. He stopped themedjay, stepping up to her with a raised hand. “Insolent child.”
Zahra tried to get away, but amedjayheld her face still as Zosar brought his hand down on her.
Surprised whispers and gasps filled the air as Zahra was tossed off the temple grounds. A pained gasp fell from her lipsas her body hit the dirt. A templemedjaykicked dirt in her face before returning to the temple.
Zahra’s lip trembled as she lifted herself from the ground. Her left eye was hurting, and she tasted blood on her lip. Tears formed in her eyes, and she wiped them away. Why was even the great Hem-netjer so unkind? How could her father bear to love a man like that?
The obelisk chimed six times, marking the hour of Re. She had not seen her father once. He was already gone when she arrived. She had been too late.
The sound of rushing water filled her ears, and she stood from her spot on the ground. Past a grove of acacia trees was a small stream.
Zahra fell to her knees by the water, her hand clutching the empty space where her necklace would usually be. Her cheeks grew wet with tears, and she suppressed sobs as she lightly tapped the areas that were starting to bruise and swell on her face. She tore a piece of fabric from the bottom of her dress and soaked it in the river. She cursed herself for what she had done as she applied the wet fabric to her swollen eye. Why could she not have kept her mouth shut? For years, she had kept her necklace safe, and now it was gone. Her last piece of her mother was…
Zahra wiped the tears from her face, gritting her teeth. She should never have entered the temple. She should never have agreed to work with the King. She shouldn’t have searched for her father when she knew he couldn’t be convinced.
Selene had asked Zahra to trust her, but Zahra was not sure if the King would help her now.
Quick footsteps approached her from behind, and Zahra scrunched the wet fabric in her fist and stood.
Namir came around the grove of acacias and stopped upon seeing her. She turned away from him and let her curls hide her face. He crossed his arms. “I thought you had left for good.”
“I thought you would be joining your people in worship,” she countered. “I would have waited here until you were done. You may still have time to go.”
As she said it, she was not sure if her words were true. She could have left. Perhaps it would have been better if she had.
“And leave you to embarrass me further?” he scoffed. “I think not.”
Zahra held her tongue, summoning all her strength to keep herself from shedding another tear. “I apologize that I am an embarrassment to you, my King. I tried to warn you.”
Namir laughed. “Warn me of what? That you could not control yourself?”
She clenched her jaw. “I said nor did anything wrong until your Hem-netjer stole my mother’s necklace.”
“Zosar is a righteous man who only seeks to do right by Re. I should have asked you to remove your token before we entered.” He stepped closer. “That was my mistake.”
“No.” She turned to him. “Your mistake was letting me come with you in the first place. You must have known that I wouldn’t be welcome there, whether my feet were rinsed of dirt or not.” She gritted her teeth. “My people are seen as the stain of Aur. That will always be true.”
His eyes narrowed, though not in anger. Within his gaze sat conflicting feelings of confusion and worry as he studied her face.
Zahra’s eyebrows drew together, and she turned away, letting her hair hide her face once more.
“Why do you not look your King in the eye?”
Zahra’s hands shook at her side. “I do not think it wise.”
