Page 69 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Katerina looped in the sky before flying above the trees.
Zahra ran after her. “Wait. Katerina, wait!”
The Iteru roared in the distance, and the buildings she saw were made of sticks and reeds rather than mud brick. Katerina disappeared behind some trees, and Zahra came to a stop by a building, catching her breath.
The building was large and made of stone, and it had colorful columns with Badari covering them. Long tapestries hung outside it, depicting Re and Nebthet standing triumphantover a great snake. The symbol of the Pharaohs were displayed repeatedly over the columns and walls.
Zahra stepped back in awe. This was thepr-aaof old.
The sounds of music drifted into her ears, and she turned away from the building. She followed the music until she found a large clearing filled with people. Several buildings made of stone stood around the clearing. There were a few hundred young men conversing, drinking, eating, and showing off. At the front of the crowd was a young woman. She wore a cream-colored dress, and a crown of brass sat on her head.
Zahra slowed as she approached the woman. She recognized the girl’s beaded braids and brown eyes. This was Asenath.
A few young men moved in Zahra’s path, trying to get Asenath’s attention.
Zahra tried to see around them. “Hello? Asenath?”
One of the young men moved toward her, and Zahra gasped as his arm touched her. His skin turned to sand as his arm passed through her. He became solid once more, and Zahra stumbled back.
This was a vision. This was not real.
Asenath was able to leave her conversations and headed back toward two seats where an older man and woman sat, with high crowns on their heads.The first Pharaohs.
Asenath grinned at her parents. “Mwt! Jt!”
The Pharaoh Queen stood, embracing Asenath. “Have you chosen someone, Asenath?”
Asenath shook her head. “Not yet. There are so many choices.”
Asenath’s eyes drifted over the crowd, and the Pharaoh Queen elbowed her teasingly. “It seems you still have your sights set on that boy.”
“It better not be that foreigner,” the Pharaoh King barked.
“We invited them to the Pa-sekhemty Feast, too,” the Pharaoh Queen argued. “He and his family were the ones that painted thepr-aafor us. They are no longer foreigners in my eyes.”
“They are different from us,” he grumbled.
The Pharaoh Queen sighed, rubbing Asenath’s arms. “Ignore your father. It isyourchoice who is King, not ours. All we ask is that you choose well.”
Asenath smiled. “Thank you, Mwt.”
A voice cut through the air. “You all must leave!”
Gasps and murmurs filled the space as the music and dancing stopped. A woman stood on top of one of the buildings, wearing clothing much different than the Aurans. The moonlight shimmered.
Zahra stood in awe. This was asibyl.
“I have been sent by the one you callNebthet. The blood moon will bring with it much tragedy, and your young Queen will die at the hands of her people.”
Shouts of objection came from the crowd.
“Blasphemy!”
“Foreigner!”
“I implore you, listen,” thesibylcried. “I have sailed and traveled for many days from my homeland. Nebthet has taught me your language so that I may use it to warn you of what is to come! There will come a great war if you do not all leave this place!”
The Pharaoh Queen held Asenath in her arms as the Pharaoh King stepped forward. “Nebthetdoes not have servants in this world. She herself is a servant of Re.”
