Chapter 32 The First Night
The First Night
Avision of the pr-aa unfolded before them. Namir’s past self was sitting on his bed, the Thoth in his hands.
Zosar stood above him, his hands folded in front of him. “Welcome back, my boy. Here is to another day.”
Namir grinned playfully. “The spell has only just begun, Zosar.”
“Tomorrow it will be a new day,” Zosar said with a slight smile. “The least I can do is welcome you each morning.”
Namir placed the Thoth on his bed, looking at his chest. He traced the mark of the circle and the wings that surrounded it. He let out a long sigh. “Do you think I can find her in one day?”
“The Thoth allows you to take as much time as you need,” Zosar said, picking up the Thoth. “Do not feel pressured to rush. You know what will happen if you choose wrong.”
“I know.”
Zosar left the room, and the vision changed. Namir was dressed in his clothes for the Feast, and he leaned over a balcony, looking at Aur below. The sun was setting, and the people below were busy with celebrations. Namir watched the scene with worried eyes.
Nubia leaned in the doorway, watching him. She stepped forward. “Jt said the first night was the worst.”
Namir looked back in surprise. His shoulders relaxed as his sister joined his side. “That was Jt. I am not worried.”
Nubia tilted her head, leaning on the balcony’s wall and raising her eyebrows. “I know you too well for your tricks, brother.”
Namir’s smile faded, and he looked back down at the crowd. “My choice will decide the kingdom’s fate. What if I choose wrong?”
“You will not,” she said. “Just because Jt chose Mwt quickly does not mean you need to. Take your time. The spell allows you to.”
“But I do not wish to use it more than necessary.” He placed his palms on the wall, and his brow creased. “I cannot help but feel as if I am going to fail.”
Nubia’s gaze drifted down to the kingdom. She bumped her arm playfully against Namir’s, mimicking his posture. “They are not only cheering for Re, you know. They are cheering for you. You will be their Pharaoh soon. Are you not excited?”
“Of course, I am,” Namir said, looking out at the kingdom. “I am honored to be their King.”
“Then remember that,” Nubia said with a smile. “They believe in you, and so do I.”
Namir grinned. He opened his arms, and Nubia shook her head. “You know I am not—”
Namir pulled her into a hug, smiling at her annoyed face. “Thank you, sister.”
The balcony was quiet as the vision changed once more. Namir was standing at the Feast, surrounded by thousands of maidens. He had a smile on his face, but he was clearly overwhelmed. Girls clamored for his attention. Femi and Keket pushed a few to the side.
Femi bowed. “My King, I am the daughter of Darius, the hour priest.”
Keket shoved Femi to the side, smiling sweetly at Namir. “I am his youngest daughter.”
Femi pushed Keket back. “I was talking to him!”
“No, I was!”
Namir watched the pair with intense apprehension, and he darted away from them as soon as they were not paying attention to him. More maidens flocked to his side. The clock rang three Atum, and Namir looked exhausted and overwhelmed.
Suddenly, the music and loud chatter quieted. Namir followed the gazes of the maidens, who were all looking at someone. They whispered to each other, and someone laughed. “Why is she here?”
Namir pushed through the crowd. Some girls looked up with smiles as if he was walking toward them, but when they realized he was going toward the source of the confusion, they stepped out of his way.
Before him, many more maidens stepped aside.
He froze in place as his gaze caught hold of a beautiful blue dress.
Startled amber eyes met his across the room.
It was Zahra. Her hair was tied back in a fishtail braid decorated with silver star-like pins, and some of her curls hung around her ears.
She was wearing Isadora’s wedding dress, and Isadora’s silver stefana—wedding crown—was on her head.
A purple bruise was visible on her face.
The voices picked up, and other maidens stepped in Namir’s path. “My King!”
“My King, can I get you something to drink?”
“Dance with me!”
Zahra disappeared into the crowd, her amber eyes vanishing from his sight.
Namir stood in the center of the room, stunned. He ignored the others’ calls for attention, pushing his way toward the edge of the room. He left the Feast, searching the maidens standing outside. His gaze landed on a form leaning against one of the pillars.
Zahra’s eyes were turned toward the sky. She clutched her necklace tight, and her mouth moved as if speaking. She was praying.
Namir slowed his pace, watching her curiously as he approached. He paused some distance from her. “There are better places to watch the stars.”
Zahra startled at his voice, tripping on her own foot and falling hard on the floor. Her sandal flopped off her foot, and sheer terror filled her face.
Namir’s forehead creased as he fought back a laugh, diving to grab her sandal. “I apologize. I did not mean to frighten you. Let me.”
“Oh, you don’t need to—” Zahra started.
Namir took her foot in one hand and slipped the sandal back onto it with the other. Zahra’s face flushed, and she avoided his gaze as he offered his hand to help her stand. Once she was standing, she looked down at her feet, her hand still in his. “Th—Thank you, my King.”
He smiled softly, letting go of her hand. “Call me Namir.”
Zahra tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear, biting her lip. “V—Very well, Namir.”
Namir tilted his head as she avoided his gaze. “I am sorry if I interrupted something.”
Zahra looked up through her eyelashes at him. “N—Not at all. I was just…” Her voice faded, and she smiled sadly. “There are many who don’t think I belong here.”
Namir turned his ear toward the whispering that came from the maidens watching. He studied Zahra, noticing her hands as they played with her necklace. “But you do belong here. You were invited, just as everyone else was.”
She smiled. “Thank you for the invitation.”
Namir grinned and extended his hand to her. “If you wish to watch the stars, I know a place that has the best view… If you wish to see it.”
Zahra’s eyes lit up, and she placed her hand in his. “I would love to.”
Namir led her to the hidden garden, ignoring the gawking maidens who whispered angrily behind them.
Zahra’s face filled with wonder as Namir lifted the bush so she could enter the hidden garden unscathed.
He guided her to the bench, where they sat and watched the stars without the bright lights of the pr-aa in the way.
Zahra pointed up at the sky, naming each constellation. “That one is Alkaois. Do you see him kneeling?”
Namir followed her gaze, pointing up. “There?”
Zahra moved her head closer to his, and she moved her hand to the left a little. “There. See?”
Namir dropped his hand to his lap and nodded. “Yes, I see him now.”
Zahra grinned at the sky. “His story is my favorite.”
Namir glanced at her, smiling at her face. “Will you tell me it?”
Zahra turned to Namir in surprise. She smiled and began to tell her tale.
After she finished, they continued to speak under the stars.
Zahra asked about his life at the pr-aa, and he inquired about the bruise on her face.
Her smile faded into a frown, but she showed him her earring hiding beneath her hair and told him the truth about her debt.
He was surprised by her words, but he only asked more questions.
His face grew confused and angry as she explained what Bahiti had done to her.
Her shame turned into shocked relief as he spoke about the laws he would enact so that this would not happen again.
There were tears in her eyes, and she smiled and denied them when he asked if she was crying.
Namir introduced Zahra to Ramses, and she immediately tried to learn sign language. As the moon grew dimmer, more and more maidens left the Feast, but Namir and Zahra continued to talk for hours.
Zahra’s feet came to a stop as they entered the pr-aa for some food and drink, a stunned expression on her face. There were some maidens who were still enjoying the music or the food, but most had gone home.
Namir, seeing the empty space, turned and extended his hand to her. “Dance with me.”
Zahra looked at his hand in surprise. She smiled, taking it, and he pulled her onto the dance floor.
The pair danced, spinning and twirling in the empty space.
Zahra laughed as Namir spun her, and he smiled as he pulled her close.
Zahra looked deeply into Namir’s eyes, and his lips brushed Zahra’s. He whispered, “I love you.”
Zahra’s eyes shimmered with silver moonlight, and her gaze shot up past Namir’s head. On the balcony above them stood Pesha, who had an arrow aimed at Namir’s back.
Zahra shoved Namir forward as Pesha released the arrow. The arrow flew right over his shoulder, striking Zahra in the chest. The force threw her back.
Screams surrounded them as Namir and Zahra fell to the floor. Zahra touched her hand to her chest, blood dripping from her trembling fingers as she pulled them away.
Namir’s face filled with horror as he scrambled to his feet. “No!”
Medjay tackled him from behind, dragging him into the halls of the pr-aa.
He reached out for Zahra as they pulled him away. “Help her! Help her!”
Namir was forced through the halls. The other assassins were in the pr-aa, and they had already killed a few medjay.
Nubia stood in one of the halls, barely visible in the chaos. Namir’s terrified gaze found her. Light glinted off a dagger. One of the assassins stepped up to Nubia as she tried to run past, thrusting a blade into her side. Nubia fell to the floor with a scream.