Chapter 18 A Walk With an Eagle
A Walk With an Eagle
Zahra hugged her shivering frame as she left Bahiti’s estate. The sun had breached the horizon, but the world was still cold.
“Zahra.” Jala ran out of the house after her. “Zahra, where are you going?”
Zahra dug her nails into her arms, glancing back at Jala. “Leave me, Jala. I wish to be alone.”
Jala came to a stop, watching Zahra disappear into the trees.
Zahra only focused on what was in front of her, and her vision blurred with tears that she couldn’t stop.
The river came into view, but she continued on mindlessly, until the plants and trees were so frequent she felt she wouldn’t be disturbed.
Zahra fell to her knees, noticing one of her sandals was gone.
Her nightdress was thin, and her shoulders and back were exposed.
A small stream trickled by her leg. The images of last night spurred her whimpers into sobs.
The lives of the innocents sat heavy on her shoulders.
She could still see Ahmose’s lifeless eyes and hear Eboni’s cries.
So much suffering. So much pain. And it was all her fault.
A branch of a tree creaked above her, and Zahra looked up. Katerina was sitting on the tree, looking down at her somberly.
Zahra dug her fists into the earth, grinding her teeth as hot tears streamed down her face. “Why? Why did Selene punish my people because of me? They did nothing wrong!”
Katerina lifted her wings and pushed herself into the air. She looped in the sky, coming down by Zahra’s side. As she neared the ground, her form grew in size, and the plants and stream made way for the endless sands of the Duat.
Katerina landed in front of Zahra and lifted her head high. “They were not punished.”
“It was because of my curse that they were attacked.” Zahra’s lip trembled. “Why didn’t you warn me? Why did you show me a useless vision instead?”
“There was a reason you were shown the hours leading up to Asenath’s death,” Katerina said, “but it was not because of what happened last night, nor was the violence because of your curse.”
“But I saw the keres there,” Zahra countered, confused.
Katerina nodded. “In the people that came close to you, yes, but their rage was all their own. The deaths that occurred would have happened regardless of your presence there.”
Zahra struggled to understand. “Then why did Selene not intervene?”
“She did,” Katerina said. “Why do you think you were there in the first place?”
Understanding dawned in Zahra’s mind. It had been shown to her early on in the night, but she had not realized it.
Yes, Namir was meant to see her people’s ways, but he was also meant to see their sufferings, so that he could prevent the deaths that occurred.
Ahmose, Eboni’s mother, and everyone else would be safe.
She and Namir would ensure it. The realization left her speechless, and she hugged herself as the information swirled around in her head.
After several moments, Katerina turned and motioned with her head. “Walk with me.”
Zahra got to her feet, following the eagle numbly through the Duat.
A soft wind blew golden sand over her bare feet.
She looked down at her hands, considering all that occurred yesterday—her vision of the night Asenath died, her conversation with Namir, and the attack on her people’s village.
She had so questions and things she did not understand.
Katerina waited expectantly as they walked, looking down at Zahra when she finally spoke. “The sibyl in the vision you showed me—are you her?”
“No,” Katerina answered. “Her name was Chreste. She was your ancestor, and she was tasked with protecting Asenath and stopping a prophecy from coming to pass.”
Zahra thought of Chreste’s lifeless eyes. “But she failed.”
“She prevented a worse fate.”
Zahra raised her eyebrows in doubt. “Worse than the war that divided Aur?”
Katerina leveled her gaze at Zahra. “Yes.”
Zahra’s eyes went wide. She looked down. “What will happen if Namir dies tonight?”
Katerina paused, looking out over the Duat. “Aur and the lands around it will suffer a fate worse than any war, famine, or plague.”
Zahra watched in horror as the golden sand became cracked. Inebu-hedj sat before them in flames. The pr-aa was destroyed, and creatures much like the keres walked through the ruined city, preying on any living soul they could find. The people’s screams were haunting.
Zahra’s mouth went dry as the image before them faded. “Why was I called to protect him? Surely there’s another descended from Chreste who can help Namir better than I can.”
“There is only one sibyl a generation,” Katerina stated. “Only you can help the King.”
Zahra’s chest tightened. “But I can’t see what is to come. I can’t learn a new language or warn Aur’s people.”
“You can do all of those things,” Katerina said, “and you have. For generations, each sibyl has taught her successor these things, but you have had to discover them on your own. With some time, you will cultivate your gifts so that you can use them to protect yourself and your King.”
Zahra shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes once more. “What if it’s not enough? So far, I have failed like Chreste did. How am I to prevent this future from happening when I can’t prevent my own death?”
Katerina lifted her wings. “Follow me.”
She took off into the sky, and Zahra ran to keep up, following her to a small oasis nearby.
Katerina landed by the oasis. “Come here.”
Zahra stepped up to the edge of the water. A glowing crescent moon, the mark of the sibyl, was on her forehead.
“There are dark forces working against you. The King may be protected by Re from being cursed as Asenath was, but his life is still at risk. Each day that passes brings more opportunities for danger.” Katerina indicated the water.
“But Selene is with you. She will teach you, but you must be willing to learn.”
Zahra traced the mark on her head. When she pulled her hand away, she noticed the faint glowing cracks on her fingertips. “And my curse? Is there a way for me to survive it? Or will I die as Asenath did?”
“Selene is doing all she can to heal the effects of the curse on your psyche, but her efforts will only slow down its effects. The apollos will consume you if this day does not end, and there are some answers Selene cannot give you, but I will tell you this. You will not succeed in saving the King’s life or surviving this day if you continue to deny who you are.
Your heritage is your strength. Use it.”
Zahra took a deep breath, looking up at her. “Thank you, Katerina.”
“Of course.” Katerina lowered her head so she was eye to eye with Zahra. “I will be here for you if you have need of me. All you must do is call.”
Zahra opened her eyes with a soft breath. Katerina was gone from before her, and the trees and stream had returned. She placed her hand on her chest, expecting to feel nauseous, but she did not. The sun had risen further, and a soft breeze blew her curls off her shoulders.
A voice came from behind her. “Did you lose a shoe?”
Zahra’s hands flew to her shoulders, her fingers desperately covering the scars that lay there as she turned toward the voice. Namir stood some distance from her, his hood down and his eyes sparkling. Her sandal hung from his hand, dripping in mud.
“Let me guess.” He grinned, shaking the sandal. “An eagle stole it?”
Zahra managed a smile before the misery from last night returned. Her lip trembled, and she let her curls hide her face. “Why have you come?”
Namir’s grin faded. He stepped closer and held the sandal out for her to take. When she did not take it, he dropped the sandal in front of her and removed his cloak. He draped it over her shoulders and sat on the grass beside her. “I came to see how you were.”
Zahra pulled the cloak over her shoulders. Though Katerina’s words had comforted her, her body was still tense and trembling. She couldn’t stop thinking of those she had lost, and she couldn’t stop fearing that her efforts to save her family wouldn’t be enough.
Silence filled the space between them. The stream whistled as it passed, and the songs of birds could be heard.
“We escaped with many,” Namir whispered after a few minutes. “I informed my medjay, and several of those responsible were captured.” He inhaled sharply. “But—”
There was great loss. Zahra could hear it in his voice. It had been a massacre.
She rubbed the fabric of Namir’s cloak between her fingers. “Did Heba survive?”
“Yes.” His voice was deep and comforting. “She stayed with you until we came.”
Zahra swallowed. “Did she see Ahmose?”
Namir hesitated. “Eventually, yes.”
Tears pricked at Zahra’s eyes once more. She pulled the cloak around herself, hiding her face in her hair. Namir’s warmth was still upon the fabric. He had seen all that she had seen and more. She was thankful that he was there. She did not know what would have happened if he had not been.
Namir was silent for several minutes. Then, he took a deep breath. “I gave an order to have your people’s lands protected during the celebrations tonight.”
Zahra looked at him through her curls. “What of the assassins?”
Namir’s eyes narrowed on the stream. “I will deal with them.”
“What if they find you?” Her voice was hoarse, and she was ashamed of her red and puffy eyes. “You need to be protected. If they—”
“They will not.” He turned to her. “I will stay ahead of them, and Ramses will be with me. What happened last night will not happen again, I promise you that. Your people deserve to worship and celebrate in peace, and the attackers will be punished—every last one of them. Your people will not suffer tonight.”
Zahra held his gaze, stunned by his words. Her lip quivered, and she looked down. “Thank you, my King.”
“Namir.”
“Thank you, Namir.”
He opened his mouth as if to speak more, but he did not say anything for another minute. “There is something else, Zahra.”
Zahra looked up at him.