Page 54 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“The letter did not say. I assumed they would come to me.” He hesitated, glancing between Zahra and Namir. “What happens to me?”
“You are captured.” Namir leaned forward. “As you said, your blackmailers must have come to you and taken the stolen object before we found you.”
Omar buried his face in his hands, quieting his sobs. “Re will punish me for what I have done.” He looked up at Zahra. “Did they hurt you? Please, tell me you are safe when I am captured.”
Namir’s gaze landed on her.
She ignored him and continued rubbing her father’s back. “You have no reason to fear, Patér. I am safe every night.”
Namir leaned back, a shocked expression on his face.
Zahra turned away from him, and Omar let out a relieved gasp. “I am so thankful they did not hurt you.”
Zahra chanced looking at Namir once more. He was focused on her father now, deep in thought. He noticed her staring, and his discerning brown eyes focused on her.
Omar looked up from his tear-soaked hands. “My King, what is my punishment?”
Namir’s gaze settled on Zahra, his jaw tight. He took in a breath and opened his mouth.
The door flew open. Amedjaystood in the doorway. Namir jumped to his feet. “What is the meaning of this intrusion? I asked not to be disturbed!”
Themedjaybowed and stepped aside. Waaiz strolled in and raised his head. “These two are guilty of high treason and theft of one of the temple’s sacred relics. Under the Pharaoh Queen’s orders, I am to arrest them and escort them to the prison.”
Zahra shot to her feet. He couldn’t possibly mean the Thoth was stolen.
“I moved it this morning,” Namir stated. “Perhaps you did not hear?—”
“It was stolen from its new location,” Waaiz spat. “Evidence was found in this man’s things that he was behind the theft.”
“No!” Zahra stepped toward Namir, who appeared as confused as she was. “We were with you this entire time. Before this, he was at the temple. You heard my father. He’s being framed!”
Namir stared at Zahra with uncertainty. He turned toward Waaiz and stuttered a response. “Th—They may be innocent. From their account, they were threatened.”
“The Pharaoh will decide whether they are innocent or not,” the Great Overseer proclaimed, lifting his hand. “Detain them.”
Medjayfilled the room, securing Omar and Zahra and pinning their hands behind their backs.
“I have done nothing wrong,” Omar cried. “We are innocent!”
Namir stepped forward. “The girl has nothing to do with this. The evidence you found only incriminates him, not her.”
“The letter you intercepted suggests otherwise.” Waaiz held up Zahra’s letter. “And she lied about the assassins.”
“I did not lie,” Zahra cried. “Just because you have not found them does not mean?—”
Waaiz closed the space between them, grabbing Zahra’s arm and pulling her toward him. She cried out, whimpering as he tightened his grip. “There was no sign of them. You lied about their whereabouts.”
“No!” Zahra glanced back at Namir, but she couldn’t see him in the chaos of the room. “My King, please! Believe me, I told the truth!”
Omar was pushed out of the room first. His shouts echoed in the hallway. “Someone is framing me!”
Zahra’s heart fell as Waaiz released her arm and themedjaypulled her toward the door. She had failed. She had done all she could, and she had failed.
“Wait,” Namir called. Themedjaystopped. “The Pharaoh has not convicted you yet. I will speak to her. I will share what I have learned.”
Zahra trembled. As much as she wanted to believe him, she couldn’t. “They have bound us for execution.”
“Perhaps not—” Namir started, approaching her.
