Page 70 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“All of yournetjeruhave servants,” thesibylsaid. “You can find Nebthet’sservants in the sky, where she resides. It is Nebthet who speaks when I say that if you ignore this warning, much destruction and mourning will follow.”
“Lies,” someone from the crowd cried.
The Pharaoh King studied thesibyl. Then, he waved his hand. “Bring her down and bind her tongue.”
“No,” thesibylcried. “Please!”
Zahra stumbled back as the crowd moved forward. Thesibylcontinued shouting her message, even as she was pulled down from the top of the building and cloth was shoved in her mouth.
Zahra hugged her arms, breathing fast as the crowd carried thesibyltoward her. Thesibyl’sblue eyes passed right over her before moving back to her. She stared at Zahra as she was hauled away.
Zahra stepped back, digging her nails into her arms. Thesibylreminded her of her mother moments before her death.
Zahra turned and ran. Katerina cawed from behind Zahra, but she did not listen. The moon overhead turned red, and sounds of fighting came from around her.
Zahra’s foot caught on a rock, and she fell hard to the ground, gasping as pain shot up her leg. She turned around, a small scream escaping her mouth. There were several Auran men on the ground, either dead or severely injured. Those that were still alive had eyes of fire, thekeresin them telling them to stand and attack. Their fury did nothing, as they were all too weak to stand. The red faded from their eyes as thekeresmoved on to different hosts.
The oldpr-aastood next to her, its steps bloody. On the steps lay thesibylfrom before, her sea-blue eyes still as she stared at the sky.
Zahra remembered the sight of her mother on the ground, motionless, the light of the fires from her village illuminating half her face. She let out a cry, standing and backing away.
Asenath’s scream came from inside the building, and Katerina’s voice came as if she was right beside Zahra, echoing Zahra’s memories.
“Rhodopis.Rhodopis!”
“Zahra!”
A hand grabbed Zahra’s arm, pulling her away from the oldpr-aaand the past.
Zahra stumbled backward, gasping as sunlight found her eyes once more. Before her lay what remained of the oldpr-aa. Its painted columns were gone, and only one wall remained, bare and covered in weeds. The stairs and the body of thesibylhad vanished, and the swirling pattern of the stone floor was hidden by dirt and sand.
“Zahra,” the voice came again, and hands turned her around.
Zahra blinked hard as Namir stared worriedly into her eyes. “Can you hear me?”
Zahra put her hands on his arms, pulling in deep breaths as she regained her bearings. Acid crawled up her throat, and Zahra pushed away from Namir, turning and vomiting on the ground. Namir continued to hold her up by her arm, bringing his other arm to his nose. He let her arm go as soon as he was sure she could sit up on her own.
Zahra wiped at her mouth, groaning as the nausea settled in her stomach.
“It has happened again.”
Zahra froze, glancing back at Namir.
He stood at a distance, his cupped hand hovering near his nose and mouth. “This time I did not have the ring, but I did not need to have it. That eagle is a symbol of Nebthet, is it not? That is why it always follows you.”
Zahra’s heart leaped into her throat, and she looked away. “I… I thought it was carrying someone’s possession. That’s why I ran after it.”
Namir stared at her incredulously. “You don’t need to lie to me, Zahra.”
Zahra turned toward him. “It wasn’t a lie.”
“Then why did you not respond when I called your name?” Namir questioned. “It was as before. You could not hear me. You could not see me. If I had had the ring, that mark would have appeared on your head again.”
Zahra’s mouth went dry. “Namir…”
“I am not your enemy, Zahra,” Namir argued, “but I can’t stand by while you continue to lie to me.”
Zahra pushed herself to her feet. “Then I will not lie. But don’t ask me for the truth when I don’t know it myself. Please, Namir. All I ask is that you leave this matter be.”
