Page 6 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra followed Bahiti off the chariot as Keket and Femi whispered threats to each other. Bahiti shoved the two girls aside. “By Re’s eye, have either of you any sense?”
Zahra slipped away while Bahiti was lecturing Femi and Keket, wandering down the hill toward the temple. She would return by the time the Feast ended at six Atum, she was sure. If she was fortunate, Bahiti wouldn’t even notice her absence.
The excited chatter about the Feast faded as Zahra walked toward the temple. The buildings that sat between thepr-aaand the temple were many, and the roads were filled with merchants and visitors alike trying to find a place to set up for the night. Zahra gazed at the moon. It was low in the sky and shimmered with white. It wouldn’t turn red for some time.
Zahra pushed through the crowds, passing by the obelisk as the front of the temple came into view, though it was not open at this time of night. Zahra spotted the temple housing some distance from her. It had been a couple of years since she had visited her father’s residence.
She climbed a set of stairs before knocking on a familiar door on the second floor. The door opened, revealing an older man in wab priest robes. He looked to be five or more years her father’s elder and had curly white hair and a thick beard.
Zahra swallowed. “Good Atum. I am here for the wab priest Omar. Have you heard of him?”
“I am his roommate, Kamil.” He scrutinized her with narrowed eyes. “What business have you with him?”
“I am his daughter.” Zahra glanced past him. Behind him sat an empty room with two hammocks and a desk. She took a breath, trying to control the trembling in her voice. “I have come to join with him in celebration of Nebthet and the King. He said he would be here.”
“He would be if he had not abandoned his work and left the temple early around the first hour of Re,” Kamil grumbled.
The news came as a shock to Zahra. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“He did,” Kamil huffed. “If that’s all, I would like to get back to my celebrations.”
“Of course.” She bowed her head. “Have a blessed Atum, wab priest Kamil.”
Kamil shut the door as Zahra turned and faced the night. She exhaled, rubbing her arms. The night air was growing cold, and she had no idea where her father could be.
Zahra tripped down the last step of the stairs, and a rough pair of hands caught her. “T-Thank you,” Zahra stuttered, embarrassed as she found her balance once more. The blood drained from her face as she looked up.
A man stood in front of her, his clothes decorated with embroidery that marked him as a commander. His eyes were sharp, and a thick scar sat on his nose. Zahra’s breath hitched in her throat as he judged her face. She couldn’t recall how, but she knew this man was dangerous.
“Commander.” Amedjaycame from behind him. “What is it? We must keep looking.”
The commander rolled his eyes. He set her upright and released her. “Careful. There are thieves out tonight.”
Zahra’s mouth went dry as the twomedjaypassed by her to walk up the stairs to the second floor of the temple housing. She stumbled toward the nearby road, clutching her eagle necklace. The crowds were loud and confusing, and she stood in the middle of it all, trying to figure out where to go. Her eyes landed on a large stable house in the distance. A group of singing Aurans came from behind her, spurring her forward into the darkness.
Zahra left the festivities behind and traveled toward the stable house. The area was quiet, all of the celebrations for thelunar eclipse by the obelisk or by the houses some distance in front of her.
Zahra opened the door to the stable house. “Patér?”
The horses stood quietly in their stalls, huffing as she ventured further in. “Patér?” He wasn’t there. Zahra sighed, turning to leave, but a thought stopped her. She waited, turning toward the pair of doors on the other side of the stable house.
After several moments, one of the doors creaked open, and a hooded man walked through. The darkness hid his form, and his face was shrouded in shadow.
The man froze. With one smooth motion, he tossed a bag into one of the horse stalls and ran toward her.
Zahra stumbled backward as he thrust a knife in her direction. She gasped as he threw her against the wall, holding the knife to her throat.
“Who are you?” he asked. “I—Poulaki mou?”
Zahra sucked in a breath as her father released his hold on her. His hood fell back, revealing his gray beard and startled brown eyes.
“What are you doing here?”
She smiled in relief. “Patér,I am so happy to have found you.”
“I told you not to come.” He grabbed her arm. “Did you not receive my letter?”
“Of course, I did,” Zahra said, “but you couldn’t expect me to abandon you, especially with no explanation.” She thought of her dream. If this part had come true, what else was true?
