Chapter 3 The Commander #2
The commander paused as Zahra appeared in the doorway.
The group was sitting at the family’s table, with Femi and Keket on either side of him.
Bahiti conversed with him from the opposite side of the table.
The commander himself was tall, even compared to Bahiti’s daughters, who had their father’s stature.
A leather vest covered a white shirt, which was simple and clean.
He was young, perhaps a year or two her elder.
As he turned to her, Zahra recognized his star-filled eyes.
“Ah, there she is.” The commander stood, smiling. “Zahra, is it?”
Zahra stared in shock. All manner of propriety and respect left her mind. This was the man from the Pharaohs’ Gardens last night. How had he found her?
Bahiti shot Zahra a dangerous look. Zahra, shocked out of her stupor, fumbled with her dress and bowed. “Commander, it’s an honor to make your acquaintance.”
Bahiti raised an eyebrow. “I thought you had met before.”
“Briefly,” the commander explained. “We met last night. In our enthusing conversation, I learned she worked for the wonderful Bahiti. I wanted to continue our conversation.”
Bahiti stood from the table, her eyes narrowing on Zahra. “Zahra was finishing my daughter’s dress last night. If I recall, she was supposed to be sewing all yesterday evening after dinner. Isn’t that right, Zahra?”
“Y-Yes.” Zahra glanced at the man with increasing panic. “I finished early, Mistress. I helped my roommate with a quick errand, and I ran into the commander.”
Zahra and the commander met eyes. He grinned, which only unnerved her more.
“If it was only a conversation you were in pursuit of,” Bahiti said, annoyance in her eyes, “then perhaps you can continue it tomorrow. Zahra has much work to do to help my daughters prepare for the Pa-sekhemty Feast. I am sure you understand.”
The commander nodded. “I understand completely. Your beautiful daughters must take all the time they need. I am sure the King will be pleased to see them.” He turned to Zahra. “Our conversation will not take long. I will have her back in no time.”
A wary look crossed Bahiti’s face. She sighed. “Very well. If you are ever nearby again, Commander, we would love to host you once more.”
Her daughters giggled, and the commander smiled. “I would like that very much.” He stepped away from the table, grabbed his cloak, and gestured to Zahra. “Shall we take a walk?”
Zahra stared at him with apprehension. She glanced at Bahiti, then took a deep breath and nodded. She had wanted a conversation with him, did she not? At least now she did not have to find him.
The commander grinned as she stepped forward, and he led her through the door. He guided Zahra toward the marketplace.
Zahra clutched the fabric of her dress, unsure of what to do or say. He was silent, studying the plants by the path as they walked. His intentions were unclear. If he remembered her from last night, why had he not already said so? What was he waiting for?
Zahra summoned her courage. “Commander, I do enjoy a walk, but I can’t bear lying to my mistress. We have never met before. Why have you sought me out at my master’s estate?”
He looked down at Zahra with a playful expression. “Do not lie to me. You and I met each other last night, to be certain, though it was not on an errand with your fellow servants.”
“Then when?” she asked, raising her eyebrows. “Please, enlighten me.”
He smiled coyly. “Must I prod your mind for the memory? I recall it plainly—you, alone, in the garden.” Zahra sucked in a breath, and his smile widened. “I was confused to see a lone shoe, but when I saw you, it all made sense.”
So she was right, then. He remembered.
Zahra stopped in her tracks. The commander walked a few more paces before he turned to her. She clutched the fabric of her dress tighter. “You remember as well?”
“Of course I do.” His smile fell. “I did not appreciate what you did last night.”
“You attacked me,” Zahra defended.
He scoffed. “I did not attack you. I stopped you from running, and it was your bird who dropped a shoe on my head.”
“It was an eagle, and it stole my shoe. I had no control over where it dropped it.” She clenched her jaw. “Meanwhile, you grabbed me, and then you had your soldiers kill me!”
The commander looked past Zahra at a woman behind her.
Zahra stepped to the side, avoiding the woman’s suspicious gaze as she rushed past the pair.
He offered the woman a smile before she walked past. He turned to Zahra.
“It was my intention to have you captured, not killed. It will not happen again.”
Zahra doubted his words, but she tried not to show it. “How did you find me? We never spoke. I told you nothing of who I was or where I lived, let alone who I worked for.”
The commander pointed to his left ear, and Zahra’s hand flew up to her earring. “I am not unfamiliar with debt tags. It did not take me long to track you down once I remembered the markings on your earring, though the ride from Inebu-hedj was unexpected.”
Zahra dropped her hand. “What do you want from me?”
“From you?” He shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Then why have you come?” She tried to control her trembling voice. “Are you going to arrest me? I have done nothing wrong.”
“You assaulted me,” he pointed out. “But that was yesterday. Today is a new day, and all your sins are forgiven.”
Zahra gritted her teeth. What was he talking about? “You still have not answered my question.”
“I have answered all of your questions.” He smirked. “If you wish to know more, then you must follow me.” He turned around and entered the marketplace.
Zahra pushed air through her teeth as she followed him. “I will not go with you until you tell me why you are here.”
He glanced back at her, satisfied that she was still following, and looked forward.
Zahra stopped once more in the middle of the marketplace. “Answer me!”
The commander spun around, as did many bystanders at the shops. He scanned the growing crowd in panic, grabbed her arm, and pulled her down a different street.
Zahra smacked his arm. “Let go of me!”
“Quiet!” He tightened his grip, tugging her down another path. Everyone was too busy looking at the stalls to notice Zahra being dragged against her will.
“Help,” she cried. Some of the merchants and passersby turned toward her.
The commander ducked down an alley and shoved her against a wall. His forehead was sweaty, his eyes crazed. “Has anyone else but you remembered?”
Zahra shook her head, fighting back tears. “No. No, only you.”
“That is why I am here.” He softened his grip on her arms. “It is only you and I here. Only you and I remember.”
“Why?” Zahra ripped her hands from his grasp. “Will they remember tomorrow? When everyone wakes up and the Feast is over—”
“The Feast will never end,” the commander stated, “and neither will this day.”
“Where is he?” a deep voice asked from the street.
She looked at the commander in horror. “Are they looking for you?”
He cursed, yanking the hood of his cloak up over his head.
He leaned back to see the street. Zahra stepped to the side and followed his gaze.
An older gentleman dressed in a cloak stood in the marketplace.
His clothes were decorated with colorful embroidery and a symbol she knew belonged to a high military office. Medjay were speaking with him.
The commander stepped back, and Zahra took another step away from him. “Who are you?”
“I am the only one who knows the truth.” His eyes were intent and focused now. “They do not understand what is at stake. If they find me, it will be over for both of us.” He glanced around, panic-stricken. “Do you know a way out of here?”
Zahra studied him. She couldn’t trust him. She knew that much, but she couldn’t let him get caught or walk away either. Not when he had more of an idea why the day was repeating than she did. “Why should I help you?”
“You want answers, do you not?” He sighed with exasperation as the medjay grew closer. “I am not a commander as I claimed, but I do serve the Pharaoh Queen. It is in your best interest to help me.”
The Pharaoh Queen? Zahra thought of her father and his cryptic warning. If she helped this man now, then he might be willing to help her later.
Zahra sighed. “Tell me your name, at least.”
“Namir.” He stepped aside. “Please, lead the way.”