Page 96 of A Thousand Nights Before Dawn
“I see.” Nubia dropped her arms and turned away. “Then, I should let you return to your work.”
Zahra bit her cheek and stepped forward. “Vizier.”
Nubia paused and glanced back.
Zahra swallowed. “Will you tell the Pharaoh Queen about me?”
Nubia considered Zahra. “No.” She turned toward Zahra and stepped toward her. “But if I could offer you some advice. I would not entertain the King’s wishes to find the assassins. If what he has told me is true, it has been a long time this day has gone on. The longer this day repeats, the more danger he is in. We can always search for the assassins another day, but we cannot protect him if we do not have time to prepare. He should find his bride and end the spell before it is too late.”
Zahra nodded. “Thank you, Vizier. I will consider that.”
Nubia nodded to Zahra before turning and walking out of sight.
Zahra let out a breath, leaning against the table. “Why is his whole family so frightening?” she muttered to herself, picking up scrolls to take back to her table. As she was walking back, she paused by one of the rows of shelves. She placed the scrolls on the floor, making her way to the middle row and getting on her knees. On the bottom shelf, hidden among the older papyri, was a new, clean scroll.
Zahra plucked it from its hiding place and opened it. It was a record about a current landowner. Why was it here?
The most recent note about the landowner was scribbled on the bottom, a note from a few years ago about the birth of his daughter. Zahra’s eyes narrowed on the signature at the end, and she jumped to her feet, tripping over her dress as she ran out of the row of shelves.
Zahra followed themedjayon her horse, doing her best to navigate around the people and animals occupying the road into Yamu. She had been training with Ramses for some time, but she still had much to learn. Themedjayslowed down for her, and Zahra caught up to him.
After several minutes, Zahra finally caught sight of Namir and his group of soldiers accompanying him. He was signing something to Ramses when he saw her. “Zahra?”
“Namir!” She slid off her horse, stumbling as she ran to him. She pulled some papyri from her bag. “I found him! I found the one who brought the assassins into Aur.”
Namir took the papyri, his brow furrowing as he read the documents. “These are the records about those caravans we found.”
“Yes. We couldn’t figure out whose signature that was, but I found that it matched the signature on this record of the landowner Geb.” She pointed at the papyrus, and Namir brought it to the front of the pile. “One of the other scribes said that he knew the servant, and that Geb was known for sponsoring visits from merchants. And he is here! In Yamu!”
“This is excellent.” He handed the papyri back to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. “You are incredible, Zahra.”
Zahra hid a blush. “I—I already sent someone to alert your uncle. He will meet you there.”
“Then I must get going.” He pulled away, calling to one of hismedjayto bring him his horse.
Zahra stepped forward as Namir got on Victory, motioning for his soldiers to follow him. She put her hand on Namir’s leg, and he met her gaze, shocked out of his focus. “Be careful, Namir. Use your best judgment.”
Namir’s eyes softened, and he offered his hand to her. “Come with me.”
Zahra’s eyes sparkled. “You want me there?”
“Of course.” He smiled. “I value your input.”
She grinned and took Namir’s hand. He helped her onto the horse, and she sat behind him, wrapping her arms around his stomach. Once Ramses and the othermedjayhad mounted their horses, they rode off.
By the time they arrived, Geb’s house was surrounded bymedjay. Waaiz stepped out of the house as Namir helped Zahra off the horse. He scrutinized her as she pulled her wind-tousled hair over her debt tag. He stepped up to Namir, ignoring her entirely as amedjaytook Namir’s horse. “Welcome, my King. We have Geb detained inside.”
“Excellent. Let us go inside.”
Waaiz eyed Zahra and Namir’s joined hands before he turned around and led them to the house.
Namir lowered his voice and leaned toward her as they entered the house. “Stay close to the walls, if you can. I don’t know what Geb might do.”
Zahra’s stomach knotted as she followed him up the stairs.
“I assure you, I have done nothing wrong,” a voice cried. “I demand you summon the King here at once!”
Namir released Zahra’s hand as he stepped into the room. “There is no need for that, Geb.”
