❝death is only the beginning.❞
Mara El-Masri's fascination with the long-ago world of ancient Egypt started with the stories her stepfather would tell her when she was a child. Her brother Talib El-Masri is missing, left after their mother's funera...
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THE AREA OUTSIDE WHERE TALIB PRACTICED ARCHERY was more accurately described as a small alleyway with a dead-end, and at that dead-end did Talib set up a paper target which already had several holes in it from previous shots pinned to a soft block he said he'd found in Athens. He'd dragged it out of the second bedroom in his flat and set it up at the end of the alley so he and Mara would have an actual target to practice on. He was eager to compete with her again and was confident he'd win out.
His confidence, it seemed, slowly began to dwindle when it became clear that Mara was still an excellent archer. She'd hit the bullseye in the middle of the target nearly every time she shot, whereas Talib had hit it only a third of the time. His sister was even becoming smug herself, but in a subtler way than he would have if he was in her place.
"Oh, I was a bit afraid I wouldn't get that one," Mara remarked nonchalantly as she lowered the bow, eyeing the arrow in the middle of the bullseye. Jonathan, who stood against the wall watching the competition between siblings, laughed to himself. "How many points does that give me, Talib?"
Talib's arms were crossed over his chest, and he didn't look at all pleased with the fact that he was losing badly. He said plainly, narrowing his eyes at her, "I hate you." Mara smiled widely at him. Talib stepped forward and took the bow from her. "Give me that, my turn. How did you get better at archery?"
"I suppose having some real-world practice," said Mara as she moved to stand beside Jonathan, "will do that." He gave her an inquisitive look. "I'll explain when Baba arrives."
Jonathan chuckled lightly and told Talib, "Your sister's a regular Robin Hood."
"Robin Hood?" repeated Talib.
Mara rolled her eyes in jest and nodded to her friend, explaining the odd nickname, "I told him what you did for Maama a few years ago. I may have described you as Robin Hood and he decided to call me that, though I can't tell you why."
"You said you helped him go Robin Hood-ing," replied Jonathan at her pointed look, "and you know how to shoot a bow and arrow, ergo you being Robin Hood."
Talib frowned as he took one of the arrows from the quiver, which sat against the opposite wall. As he nocked the arrow, he questioned, "Wouldn't that make her one of my Merry Men, though, if she said I was Robin Hood and she helped me?"
"Robin Hood's far catchier," Jonathan said. Talib lifted the bow and aimed at the block target, and he let go. The arrow embedded itself in the inner ring, close to the one Mara had shot. Talib looked pleased with himself. "Nice shot. I think Mara's better, though."
