Chapter 35 The Last Day
The Last Day
Zahra hummed as she walked, the basket of fruit by her side, and the payment from Fukayna sitting on top of it.
“Sobki!” Bahiti stormed down the stairs, her jaw clenched as she saw Zahra. “Where have you been, girl?”
“I was buying your fruit,” Zahra said with a slight bow.
“We already ate, you foolish thing!” She swiped her hand at the basket, but Zahra stepped out of the way.
Zahra took the pouch of deben off the top and handed the basket to Bahiti. “Here you are, Mistress.”
The servants began to gather. Even Femi and Keket watched from the stairs.
Bahiti smacked the basket from Zahra’s hand, spilling the fruit all over the floor. “Never mind the fruit. What is that you have?”
“My payment from Fukayna,” Zahra said, stepping to the side again as Bahiti tried to take the pouch. “I will be saving this now that my debt is paid off.”
Bahiti laughed. “Paid off? Your tag says otherwise. You still have much left to pay, girl.”
“Oh, this tag?” Zahra moved her hair, revealing her bare ear. “I paid off my debt this morning. Apparently, my father’s debt is separate from mine. I only owed forty deben.”
Bahiti gawked at Zahra’s ear. “You thief. What money have you stolen from me and my husband to pay for this?”
A voice came from the kitchen. “None.”
Bahiti turned in horror as Darius stepped out from the kitchen. A practiced smile came to her face. “My dear! I did not expect you to be back so soon.”
“The King let me off early,” Darius said. “It was fortuitous, it seemed, because I received a message from my scribe about possible foul play under my own roof.”
“Foul play, indeed.” Bahiti pointed an accusing finger at Zahra. “She has been stealing from us. She removed her debt tag and claims she is free!”
Disappointment filled his features, and he shook his head. “I wish you had not said that.”
Bahiti looked at him, confused. She scoffed and glanced at Zahra. “You believe her over me?”
“No. I believe my records and the words of my closest financial advisors.” He stepped toward his wife.
“Not only has someone been updating our financial records incorrectly, but the servants have been charged for ridiculous reasons. After I saw you waste that fruit, I wonder if any mistakes were made at all.”
“Then it is one of the scribes,” Bahiti insisted. “She is working with that Ionian one.”
“He is the one who pointed out the discrepancies to me,” Darius said, “and the records are in your handwriting, not his.”
“I have done nothing wrong,” Bahiti defended, her voice growing shrill. “I may not have explained the changes accurately, but the servants are sloppy and cost us much.”
“They cost me very little. You, however, have been spending well over your monthly limit. I did not notice for so long because you were stealing from our servants’ pockets. Our daughters were very helpful in pointing me to your secret stash of deben.”
Unanimous gasps and whispers erupted from the servants, and Femi and Keket darted upstairs when their mother turned to glare at them.
Bahiti looked around, her face burning. “I can explain. It is not what it looks like.”
“Do not embarrass me further.” Darius turned toward the stairs. “She is down here.”
Bahiti’s eyes bulged from her head as medjay came down the stairs. “Darius!”
“It will not be for long, dear,” Darius said, indifferent. “Only a few days. You see, I have to ensure our daughters make it to the Feast in time, and I must investigate how much we owe our servants and the Pharaoh Queen because of you. Do not worry. I hear it is furnished.”
“You cannot do this to me,” Bahiti cried as the medjay grabbed her arms.
The servants cheered and surrounded Darius, asking questions as Bahiti was hauled away. He excused himself for a moment and walked to Zahra. “I apologize for my wife’s behavior. It shall not happen again. I am glad I caught you this morning on the road so we could get your debt taken care of.”
Zahra nodded. “I am glad as well. Thank you, Master Darius.”
“It is only Darius now, remember?” He smiled. “Would I be right to think you will not be able to help my daughters prepare for the Feast?”
“I would normally love to, but I plan on attending the Feast myself and visiting my father, who lives in the area.”
Darius nodded. “Oh, yes, Omar! I have not seen him in some time. I hope he is doing well. I will be sure to investigate your father’s debt first thing in the morning. I hope you enjoy the Feast.”
Zahra smiled. “Thank you. I think I will.” She retrieved her invitation to the Feast from Jala, then she placed her deben from Fukayna in her chest, grabbed her prayer beads and fabric and stuffed them into her bag.
Ahmose waited in a cart outside the estate. He smiled upon seeing Zahra. “I saw Bahiti leave on horseback, so I assume everything went well.”
Zahra grinned. “I am finally free of her.”
Ahmose took her bag and helped her into the cart beside him. “Finally? I offered to help you long ago.”
“I know, but I had to come to my senses.”
Ahmose elbowed her and laughed. “Yes, you did. Now, did you say something about going to the Feast?”
The people of Heba’s village were talking loudly to each other as Zahra and Ahmose approached. There were several medjay standing around the village and talking happily with the people.
Zahra grinned at Ahmose, waving toward the serving line. “Heba!”
Heba looked up from her task, her eyes crinkling upon seeing Zahra. “O chara, you made it!”
Zahra hopped off the cart and hugged Heba.
Heba whispered in her ear, “I thought you would be at the pr-aa.”
“I will be,” Zahra said, “but I have nothing to wear.”
Heba winked. “We can fix that for you.” She placed her hand on Zahra’s back and pushed her toward the houses. “Everyone, Zahra is here!”
Friends and family greeted Zahra. She picked up Eboni and talked excitedly with them all. Heba’s smile faded as her gaze drifted to Zahra’s arms and legs.
Worry bit at Zahra, but she still smiled at everyone.
Heba’s smile returned, and she put her hand on Zahra’s back. “Meet us at my house in a short while. I wish to speak to Zahra before she gets ready for the Feast.”
Zahra followed Heba to her house. “What did you want to speak about, Heba?”
Heba guided Zahra to a chair. “Wait here.”
Zahra swallowed. “Heba—”
Heba left the room before Zahra could finish.
Zahra sighed, but leaned back in the chair. When Heba returned, she once again had her crystals. Zahra obeyed Heba, letting her put the crystals on her arms. After a few moments, her skin lit up, showing that the cracks were almost to her elbow.
“How has this happened?” Heba’s eyes narrowed on Zahra’s chest. “What is that?”
Zahra looked down. Through the fabric of her shawl glowed the Thoth’s mark.
“What have you been seeing in your dreams?” Heba asked.
Zahra pulled her hands away from Heba, letting the crystals fall onto the table. “There’s no need to worry, Heba. The cracks will fade after today, I promise.”
“They will not fade while an evil spirit is attached to you. Do you know what this is?”
“Yes, it’s apollos. The evil spirits will be gone come dawn, and I will be well again,” Zahra promised.
Heba studied Zahra’s face. “Zahra, what has changed last we met?”
Zahra smiled, suppressing a laugh. “Out of all of the days you could have asked that, I am glad you chose today.”
Heba’s face filled with confusion, so Zahra explained. She was glad to tell Heba the truth about the Thoth, the Feast, and the King that would become her husband tomorrow.
Heba leaned back, stunned by the information. “So you will end this spell over Aur tonight at the Feast?”
Zahra nodded. “The King and I will finally put this to rest. Once I see the new dawn, the curse of the keres will be broken, and my psyche can finally heal.”
Heba blinked hard, tears forming in her eyes. “And you finally found your calling as a sibyl.”
Zahra smiled softly, taking Heba’s hands. “I did. Mamá has been with me since this day began. She has taught me much.”
Heba smiled, wiping at her eyes. “I prayed you would find your way.”
Zahra was surprised. Heba had always told her to listen to her dreams and that she was gifted, but she had never told Zahra the truth about her mother. “Why didn’t you tell me about Mamá’s gifts? You two were best friends.”
Heba bowed her head, ashamed. “Your father forbade me to tell you anything about who your mother truly was. Like him, I feared you would be punished or killed if you discovered the truth. Rina had always told me you would do great things, and I knew Selene would reach out to you when it was time.”
Tears swelled in Zahra’s eyes, and Heba pulled her into a hug. Zahra sniffled. “Thank you for raising me all of those years, Heba.”
Heba squeezed her tight. “Thank you for being my daughter.” She pulled away after a few moments, wiping at her eyes as she walked toward the door. “I will tell the others it’s time to get you ready. You don’t want to keep your King waiting.”
Zahra smiled. “Thank you, Heba.”
Heba returned with other women from the village and they set to work, washing Zahra’s face and styling her hair. They dabbed small amounts of a rose-smelling oil on her neck, and accented her features with small applications of makeup.
Heba left the room and came back bearing her daughter’s dress. Though Zahra remembered wearing it, her heart still hurt thinking about it. “Oh, Heba, I can’t. It’s Isadora’s.”
“Nonsense,” Heba said. “If Isadora was here, she would have told you to wear it. Now come, try it on. I will have to hem the bottom for you.”
Zahra put on the chiton, its delicate blue fabric draping around her legs.
She stood still as Heba hemmed the fabric with the help of the others.
By the time they were finished, the dress hovered just above her toes.
Bronze bracelets were slipped onto her wrists, and Isadora’s silver stefana was placed upon her head.