Forever Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Four

by Joshua P. Simon

  Remiel spoke up. “I think we understand you just fine, sir. We’ll do the memories of these people right.”

  Heads bobbed.

  “Thank you. Let’s get some rest. Tomorrow is a new beginning.”

  Maybe I had buried more than just the bones of the dead. Maybe I had finally buried my own demons and nightmares as well.

  CHAPTER 13

  Despite our exhaustion, we were up at the most miserable time of day. Dawn. Lying out on open land always made for difficult sleep. Last night was no exception. Adding a bright, rising sun only compounded my bad mood.

  I wasn’t alone in my misery. That much was obvious from the curses, grunts, and yelps from sore bodies starting morning chores. Things improved after a brief stop at the well to knock the earth from our clothes and wash up with the fresh, cool water.

  The early morning sun shone brightly by the time we made it back to the rest of the group who waited impatiently for us.

  Reuma came out to greet us. Others wanted to join her, including my kids, but a sharp gesture from her kept everyone back. Myra didn’t look happy about that, but she obeyed, joining Zadok and Damaris who stood with arms around Nason’s kids.

  “Everything all right?” I asked.

  “I was about to ask you the same, sir,” she said. “It isn’t like you to be that vague with a message. Is something wrong?”

  “Nothing now. Just getting the city ready for everyone.”

  She frowned. “You’re hiding something.”

  I shrugged. “I am. I need you to trust me and not pry.”

  It was obvious she didn’t like my answer, but after a moment, she gave a small nod.

  Glancing behind me, my small group waited patiently for my orders. Some exchanged waves with family members ahead.

  “Go on,” I said loudly. “Just remember what we talked about.”

  “Yes, sirs,” came back as everyone moved past me.

  Myra, Zadok, and Damaris waved me over. I motioned for them to wait.

  “How long before we can move out?” I asked Reuma.

  “Whenever you give the word. Been ready for over an hour.”

  “I probably don’t say it enough, but thank you. It means a lot knowing that I can count on you.”

  She gave a small shrug as if trying to downplay the compliment, but I caught the slight blushing of her cheeks. “I just follow orders.”

  “Did Chadar and Galya tell you when we should expect Ira back?”

  “Not until after midday at the earliest.”

  “How many did he take with him?”

  “A dozen.”

  I blinked. “Really? I’m surprised he didn’t keep the group smaller.”

  “Oh, he tried. But gods-be-damned if I was going to let him.”

  I snorted.

  “So when do you want to leave?” Reuma asked.

  “Ten minutes,” I said. “I want to speak with our engineers first. They’re going to make sure each structure is safe before we allow anyone to claim it. I’ll need you and a few others to help me keep everyone from becoming too impatient and frustrated as we admit everyone into the city.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, looking eager to get started.

  * * *

  It took the entirety of the first day to get the people moved into town. Some felt put out by the process, but tears of joy replaced the aggravation as they entered their new houses. Relief was a word echoed over and over again. It was remarkable how quickly families began transforming their residences into homes.

  That’s not to say that everything went smoothly. There were a few arguments as some people just seemed allergic to happiness. Complaints about a home’s size, or it not being as nice as a neighbor’s, I ignored completely. I did address complaints of not being near enough to other families who had become close friends.

  We left most of the northern district abandoned. My thought was that we could fill those homes in the future as older children left their parent’s homes or others from the Southern Kingdoms moved in after we made Kasala a desirable place to live. For now, I wanted people as close to each other as possible for support.

  We didn’t settle Kasala’s main road that first day since there were no homes, only businesses. People were anxious to claim a building for the future, but I thought it would be better to take the evening off and celebrate our first night in town.

  The mention of food seemed to soften the frustration of those wanting a head start on setting up their chosen trade.

  Everyone moved to the southern entrance of town where some had already erected cook fires. I hung back, not wanting to fight through the jostling of people. I drifted over to Nason when I spied him studying a small storefront to my left. His kids bounced beside him, playing.

  “You look like something’s on your mind,” I stated.

  He gestured to the storefront. “Apothecary.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t know you had any interest in herbs and potions.”

  “Not me.” He paused. “My wife did. She always wanted to open up her own in Denu Creek. Talked about it for years. It was a dream she hoped to fulfill when the kids got older. It broke her heart when Irad opened one before she had a chance. No way Denu Creek could have supported another one. I was just thinking that if she were here, she’d have her chance now.”

  “You could always do it for Ma,” said Bara, Nason’s oldest, as she spun her siblings about.

  He smiled at her. “I don’t think I’d be very good at it. Maybe that’ll be something for you to do when you get older.”

  Bara’s face brightened. “Yeah!”

  Nason cast me a look. “I found a tanner’s shop on the eastern edge of town. It’s in pretty bad shape, but I think I can make it useful again.”

  “When we left Denu Creek, you said you wanted to give that up.”

  He shrugged. “Yeah, but it’s what I know. Eventually, Kasala will need one.” He chuckled. “We need to get more livestock in first though.”

  “We’ve got plenty other things with a higher priority that need doing.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose when thinking about those things. “In the short term, everyone not skilled at what I’d call an essential trade, like a blacksmith or a physician, will need to pitch in to work the fields or an engineering project. Once we get things in better order, everyone can go back to establishing their own lives.” I patted his shoulder and grinned. “By then, maybe someone else will have shown interest in smelling like lime.”

  * * *

  The small talk I heard all around me, in the dinner line and passing by campfires, showed that everyone’s optimism had grown by leaps just since morning. Their hopes and dreams were no longer just hopes and dreams.

  “We can’t say thank you enough for everything you’ve done, Tyrus” said an older woman with a bowl of stew in hand. She had spotted me after grabbing her food, and made a point to push her way through to me.

  The woman was a native to the Southern Kingdoms, around sixty years if I had to put a number on her age—short and thin, but not sickly.

  I chuckled when she elbowed the younger man next to her. There was no resemblance between them, but I remembered him to be her son-in-law. I couldn’t recall his name, but the old woman’s personality had embedded itself in my mind so I had not forgotten hers. Ayodele.

  “Absolutely,” the man agreed. “Really can’t thank you enough.”

  Ayodele gave a cross look to the rest of the family as they came up, lingering longest on her daughter.

  “Nothing to thank me over. Just doing what I could,” I said.

  Ayodele laughed. “You’re too modest. Udo, this is the sort of man you should try to emulate. Not that lazy husband of mine you looked up to for whatever reason.”

  “Mother! Don’t talk about Father like that,” said the daughter
.

  “I can talk about him all I want,” she snapped. “That’s a perk of marriage.”

  “But he’s dead.”

  Ayodele clicked her tongue. “If he wanted me to praise him after he was gone, he should have done something meaningful when he lived.”

  The daughter shook her head and lowered her voice. “Mother, I don’t appreciate it when you talk to Udo like that. Especially in front of our kids.”

  “Why? He needs to hear it. And not just from me. But from you. I keep telling you to quit being so soft on him unless you want to end up just as bitter as me one day.” She eyed her grandkids. “And better they start hearing about the mistakes of their father sooner than later. I made the mistake of shielding you from your father’s mistakes. Look at how that turned out. You idolize that bum.”

  I felt sympathy for Udo as he stood there in silence, just taking the verbal abuse. I was just as speechless as him. I couldn’t imagine my mother ever acting in such a way toward me or Lasha. Seeing Udo hunch more with each moment made me realize this was not an isolated incident.

  I studied his wife, wondering if she would tire first of her mother harassing her husband or of Udo for not standing up for himself.

  “Udo, do you have a trade?” I asked.

  He stammered, “Well, I—”

  “None at all,” said Ayodele.

  I ignored her, staring at Udo and waiting for him to finish his reply.

  “Years ago, I apprenticed as a carpenter, but the man I was learning under died suddenly. I couldn’t find another master to take me in. I’ve tried my hands at a few other trades over the last few years, but nothing ever stuck.”

  “That’s because—” started the old woman.

  I spoke loudly. “Tomorrow afternoon, I’m inspecting the fields. It’s a big task and I could really use some help from someone dependable. Interested?”

  He stood there frozen for a moment then understanding hit him. “But I don’t know anything about farming.”

  “I can teach anyone how to farm. What I can’t teach is a work ethic and a sense of responsibility. So again, can I rely on you?”

  He tripped over his words a bit, but finally managed. “Yes. Absolutely.”

  “Since you apprenticed as carpenter that means you know your letters and numbers, right?”

  “I do.”

  “Perfect. After lunch tomorrow, meet me near the center of town, near the old general store.”

  Udo stood a bit taller. “I’ll be there.”

  His wife smiled up proudly at her husband as if oblivious to my plan. Ayodele was not so easily fooled. I found her giving me the fish eye.

  When I gave her a wink, she responded with an approving nod, then said to her family, “Come along. My food is getting cold.”

  “Enjoy your meal,” I called to their backs, before stepping up in line.

  Later, as I exited with a bowl of stew and a heel of bread, Boaz and his family greeted me.

  Boaz said, “We have a home again.”

  “And maybe more . . . “ Dinah added, while giving her husband a nudge.

  Boaz grimaced. “Well, I wasn’t going to bother you tonight after the day you had and what you said to everyone, but an inn up the street caught our eye. I know it will be some time before we have travelers seeking a place to stay, but we wanted to make a claim on it soon to get it ready ahead of time.”

  “Sure. I don’t see why not.”

  “And . . .” nudged Dinah again.

  Boaz sighed. “And we were wondering about names.”

  “Names?”

  “The businesses here all still bear their original names. I don’t even know what most of them mean. Do we have to keep them?”

  “There’s nothing in our charter that says we have to. It’s ours to do with as we please as far as I’m concerned. Just make sure any new names are respectful of the Southern Kingdom culture. I’d clear any ideas with some of those citizens that joined us from Batna. Any preferences?”

  “Not yet. Just wanted to know we had that option.” He gestured to his right as if self-conscious he had forgotten something. “Do you want to join us for dinner?”

  “Yeah, please!” begged Abigail.

  “I’ve been so busy I haven’t seen much of Zadok and Myra today. I’d like to catch up with them before it gets too late.”

  We said our goodbyes, and Dinah pointed me in the direction she last saw my kids.

  I tried to head straight that way with my head down to avoid any more conversations, but my efforts were hampered at every turn. Thankfully, most just wanted to say hello. A few however, wished to complain about details that I couldn’t have cared less about like bedroom window views. I tried to be civil, but each new interaction had my frustration mounting.

  To make matters worse, the bowl in my hand had begun to cool. And by the gods, I hated cold stew. Granted, I ate cold stew many times in the army, but it was out of necessity, not choice. Now, every time I stared at a bowl of cooling stew, all I could think about was how the thickening liquid reminded me of scooping a bowl of sludge out of the latrines.

  My chest tightened as that old nightmare of me practically drowning in waste came to mind. The accumulation of people and all their natural odors pressing around me made matters worse. Sweat formed on my brow. A whiff of someone’s burning tobacco oddly reminded me of recently spent sorcery. My heart thumped rapidly.

  Not sure what else to do, I stopped and closed my eyes to regain my focus.

  Lying face down on a battlefield, my ears rang from a sorcerous explosion. A haze of green smoke covered my line of sight. Sulphur filled my nostrils, causing my eyes to water. I blinked to clear my vision, then wished I hadn’t. Bodies of soldiers who had not survived the blast lay around me. I tried to push myself up, but couldn’t. There was a weight pinning me. I twisted to better leverage my legs and arms. A limp hand fell over my shoulder into my line of sight.

  I fought hard to get free, but I was taking too long. Another Geneshan blast could strike again at any moment. Gods, I couldn’t die without seeing Lasha and the kids again.

  Someone called my name. “Tyrus?”

  I tried to reply, but the blasted weight pressing down on me made it difficult.

  “Tyrus?” said the voice again. Another voice joined the first.

  I gave a grunt, pushed with all my strength against the weight on me while opening my mouth to reply. Then . . .

  I was back in Kasala, blinking rapidly into the baffled expressions from a dozen individuals. They looked as concerned as I felt confused.

  Prax-be-damned, it had felt so real.

  “Tyrus, are you all right?” someone asked. It was the first voice from my vision.

  I tried to speak, but gods-be-damned that weight still felt like it was pinning me. I felt myself slipping again.

  “Oh, Tyrus, there you are. I’ve been looking all over for you,” said a familiar voice, one that brought the world back into focus.

  Lasha. No, not Lasha. Lasha was dead.

  An arm slipped through mine, and Damaris was at my side.

  “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting.”

  “Sorry,” I managed.

  “You didn’t seem yourself for a minute there,” someone else offered.

  “Well—”

  “Can you blame him?” asked Damaris. “He’s been on his feet all day. I’m sure he’s exhausted.” She nodded to my stew. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the first thing he’s eaten since morning.”

  Now that I thought about it, it was. Maybe that was my problem.

  “That will do it,” said another voice. “I get like that myself. C’mon, let him enjoy his dinner. Sorry to keep you from your meal.”

  I started to say goodbye, but Damaris had already turned me away from the group. My wits retur
ned as we walked. We passed more people who seemed to want a word with me, but we didn’t stop. Given the pace Damaris kept, I doubted anyone would have attempted to chase us down. Only then did I realize we still were arm-in-arm. More would probably think of us as a couple than ever before. However, in that moment I found it hard to care.

  Damaris asked. “Better now?”

  “Some. Like you said, I’m sure I’ll be fine after some food.”

  I didn’t really believe that. I’d probably feel better, but with the exception of dreaming, I had never felt anything as vividly as I had with that vision. The unknown of what that might mean had my stomach flinching.

  “It was a memory from the war, wasn’t it?”

  I tried not to jump from my surprise at her question, but it couldn’t be helped. I knew she felt my reaction. How could she have guessed that? It had to be something my sister had passed along.

  As if reading my mind, she said, “Ava told me. Don’t be angry. She’s worried.”

  Sighing, I said, “I’m not angry. Just aggravated. She told Ira too, didn’t she?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thought so by the way you two have been up my rear so much,” I snorted.

  She gave me a joking slap in the chest with her free hand along with a dirty look.

  “Anyone else know?” I asked more seriously.

  “No.”

  “Good. Please keep it that way.”

  “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I certainly don’t think any less of you.”

  I didn’t think she’d feel that way if she knew everything I kept to myself.

  Even though she meant well, her comment still struck some of my worst fears. How would Lasha have treated me if she was alive and knew my thoughts? How big of a disappointment would I have been to her?

  “Promise me you’ll not say anything to anyone besides Ira.”

  She paused. “I promise.”

  “Thank you. And thank you for not prying.”

  She gave my arm a squeeze. For a moment, things felt right. Then I thought of Lasha again, and guilt washed over me. I didn’t pull away from Damaris though. In part, I didn’t want to offend her. I also needed her touch to calm me.