Page 59 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“So you would let me die countless times to ensure that your defense of me does not ruin your reputation?”
“I—I did not mean to say it like that,” Namir stammered. “I only meant?—”
“Don’t think that I did not see your hesitance in the throne room,” Zahra growled. “You could have said more. You could have done more, but once the Pharaoh Queen showed her disappointment in you, you decided it would be best to try again tomorrow.” Her hands trembled as she spoke. “I come from a land where my leader forsook his people for his own freedom and safety. I had hoped the leaders of Aur would be better, but you and your father have proven that your kind is not to be trusted.”
Namir whipped his hand out toward her, his jaw clenched. “Do not speak of my father that way. Whatever you may think, he was a good man, and the kingdom prospered because of him. He let foreigners—people that were not his own—stay in our kingdom. You are alive because ofhim. Do not dare insult the man that saved your people from destruction.”
“Is that what you think? That hesavedus?” Zahra stepped back and shook her head. “You know nothing. You did not see what he did to my people. You don’t see what happens to them now. You even let your army tear apart their homes. We may not live as nomads in Deshret, but we are treated the same as sand beneath your people’s feet!”
A loud thump came at the door. Nubia’s voice echoed on the other side. “Menes, open this door! She is dangerous!”
Namir looked at Zahra in panic, opening his mouth, but Zahra wouldn’t let him speak. “I should never have saved you. I hoped that you would bring about a brighter future for my people, but I was wrong.”
Namir’s face fell. “Zahra?—”
Zahra clenched her fists by her side. “Don’t come looking for me, Namir. I will not help you.”
The door fell to the floor, and an army ofmedjaytackled Namir. Waaiz ran at Zahra. She turned away from Namir as thekhopeshstruck her.
13
The King’s Letter
The city of Inebu-hedj was alive with merchants selling wards against evil spirits, along with delicious food and beautiful art, in anticipation of the eclipse.
Zahra pulled her hood further over her head and left the merchants’ stalls behind. She walked a familiar path to the temple, slowing down as two children with a ball ran across her path. One of the children kicked the ball, and it flew toward her head. Zahra caught it and tossed it back to the children in one smooth movement, keeping her attention focused on the path.
She had made this trek to the temple in Inebu-hedj many times, bribing a man with all of her savings to drive her there, and covering her debt tag with a scarf so as not to be identified as an indentured servant. Rescuing her father from the temple was the first step in getting them both out of Aur and away from the Pharaoh Queen and the King. Like yesterday and the days before, she joined a group walking to the temple.
The temple was bright and busy with worshipers. Zahra kept her head down, ensuring the scarf still covered her debt tag. There was something off about the templemedjay’smovements, something that was different than the other times she had been there.
Zahra clenched her jaw when she saw the familiar clothing of the King’s personal guard. Ramses stood with the othermedjay, searching the faces of the incoming worshipers. If Ramses was here, Namir was not far behind. She had to get her father out without either of them seeing.
Zahra knelt with the others by the statue, clasping her hands and bowing her head as they did. Omar stood mere feet from her, holding a bowl of grains with a creased forehead.
For a moment, she thought of her father back in the Pharaoh Queen’s throne room, gasping as blood pooled around him. She shoved the image away, focusing on him now. He was alive, and she would do all she could to keep it that way.
Finally, the other worshipers stood, blocking the view of themedjayand Ramses across the way. As Omar stepped forward, Zahra grabbed his hands and the bowl and leaned in close. His jaw dropped. “Poulaki mou, how are you?—”
“Listen to me,” she whispered. “The King has a device that makes this day happen again. We have lived today many times, and the Pharaoh Queen will kill us both if we don’t leave Aur together.”
Omar opened his mouth, trying to pull away. “What are you?—”
“There is a way out of Aur, but we must take it together.” She held his hands tight, knowing that any hesitancy in her next words would make him doubt their truth. “I will die if I go alone, Patér. Do you understand?”
Omar stared in confusion, but he nodded.
Zahra took the bowl from his hands. “Meet me down by the stream as soon as you can.” She placed it beside the other offerings and followed the group away from the temple.
Ramses was still standing by the othermedjay, but he was no longer searching the crowd. His gaze was trained on one of the pillars near the temple entrance. There was a cloaked man standing there, signing to Ramses.
Namir.He would surely recognize her if she walked past.
Zahra stepped away from the crowd, cutting across the temple’s courtyard. There was an entrance on the other side that she could escape through. Zahra walked around the edge of the temple. A few priests saw her pass, but none moved to stop her.
The other entrance came into Zahra’s sight, and she picked up her pace, walking past an opening into the temple. A hand grabbed her arm, tugging her back toward the building.
Zahra looked up in fear, expecting amedjayto be standing there. Her gaze darkened when she saw who it was. “Let go.”
