Page 78 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
Zahra’s hand went to her debt tag. “I can get it removed once my father’s debt is paid. You know that.”
“I know your mistress lies,” Ahmose growled, “and I think you know it, too. If you simply accepted my money, you would have already left that place.”
“I will not risk your reputation or Heba’s safety. Besides, this is something I want to do on my own.” She pulled her curls in front of her ear. “I am not here for myself, Ahmose. I am here for our people. These men are close to the King. If we help them, we can ensure these assassins are caught before something terrible happens.”
Ahmose sighed. “What if they are tricking you?”
“They’re not.” She stepped toward him. “Please, Ahmose, hear them out. For me.”
He stared at her. “I will help you.” He pointed a finger at her. “But if this comes back on this village or Meter, I will hold you just as accountable as I will hold them.”
Zahra swallowed. “I understand.”
Namir was leaning against the wall when Zahra and Ahmose returned, and Ramses was studying a vase. Namir straightened and signed to Ramses, who quickly joined his side. “Is everything alright?” Namir asked.
Zahra smiled. “Everything is fine.”
Ahmose walked toward the table and gathered his papyri. “Sit. Tell me about these assassins.”
The group sat around the table by the light of a rushlight, and Namir relayed what they knew about the assassins to Ahmose. “The assassins are believed to be outsiders to Aur. We believe they were staying at an Ionian village until this morning. I have asked the people there about theseforeigners, but they will not tell me anything.”
The way Namir saidforeignersunnerved her. She knew Ahmose felt the same.
Ahmose clasped his hands on the table. He stared at the table’s varnished wood, considering Namir’s words. “You wish me to get the information from them?”
“Or convince them to answer honestly,” Namir added.
“Why this particular village?”
Namir and Zahra glanced at each other, and Namir answered, “There have been signs of their presence in that area.”
Ahmose raised his eyebrows, though he was not amused. “Signs? What sort of signs?”
Namir hesitated. “I cannot say, but it was clear that these people were not from Aur.”
Ahmose looked between Namir and Ramses in disbelief. “So you would accuse an innocent village and sentence the people there to death for a crime yoususpectthem of committing?”
Namir's jaw ticked. “I did not say that.”
“Let me ask you this.” Ahmose placed his hands flat on the table. “Why would the King suspect an outside source when many of his so-called loyal followers could have done the same thing?”
Zahra sucked in a breath, and Namir’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“The nobility,” Ahmose began. “Your generals, priests, craftsmen, and merchants. Why would the King not suspect the people with close ties to him and access to his power?”
Ramses leaned forward. “The people of this kingdom wouldn’t hurt their King.”
“Would they not?” Ahmose gestured with his hands. “I assume Zahra told you of my profession. I work for Aur’s finest. Their wealth reaches far.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “For many, that reach is not enough. I have overheard conversations disrespecting the Pharaohs, the Vizier, and even the King. Conversations that would be considered treasonous.”
Namir clenched his fists. “What conversations?”
Ahmose eyed Zahra, and she shook her head. He was always stubborn as a youth. It was how he became so successful, but he did not know when to stop. She knew he would fight before doing anything to help Auran nobility.
Ahmose turned away from Zahra. “Without naming names, there are many who don’t trust the Pharaohs’ heirs. They question the Vizier’s intelligence, and they don’t respect the King as they did his father. They fear the Pharaoh Queen is too consumed with grief to rule properly. They think that others outside of Aur’s ruling family would do a better job.”
Zahra’s chest seized with anxiety, and suddenly she couldn’t breathe. She clutched her skirt. She should never have brought Namir here.
Ramses stared at Ahmose’s face in confusion, glancing at Namir.
