Forgotten Soldiers (25 page)

“You’re right. And considering the luck I’ve had in getting what we need to travel, maybe we should have gone straight to Tamra as you suggested.”

“We did get some food from the feed store though,” said Zadok as he tried to look on the bright side.

I snorted. “We did. And we’re already here now so we might as well continue on while we wait for your clothes to be ready. C’mon. We still have a couple places left to try.”

“And if they act the same as most others?” asked Myra.

I tried to make light of the situation. “Then we won’t have to worry too much about our burden as we travel, right?”

She scowled. She wasn’t buying the joke.

I sighed. I hoped Ira and Dekar were having it better than me.

* * *

The pungent smell of limed cowhide permeated my nostrils as we neared the tanner. A blacksmith was always far from any inns due to the noise generated there. But a tanner was kept far away from just about anyone because of its reek. Strong winds would move some of the stench toward the town center, but at least it would have a chance to dissipate by then.

I stepped from the wooden sidewalk to the dry earth. The kids were a step behind. With a glance down the side of the building I saw large hides hanging on hooks, drying like laundry on a line. Except in this case, lines were replaced by thick dowels of wood to handle the extra weight. Big barrels sat nearby—some empty, some filled with water, some filled with lime. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what filled others.

After crossing the fifty feet separating the last building to the tanner, I stepped up to the small porch preceding the door. Unlike many businesses in town enticing customers with the latest fashion, potion, or tool, there was no window to lure shoppers. Anyone who went to the tanner did so out of necessity.

I grunted to myself, eyeing the exterior. Not even a sign. The stink announced the business on its own.

The door abruptly swung inward causing me to jump. The slender man I had recognized when I entered town with Ira and Dekar stared back at me. Nason looked unsettled and frustrated, different than the man I had seen the day before.

“It’s about time,” he said.

“Huh?” A befuddled look was the most I could manage.

“Quit gaping,” Nason said sharply, “and get inside.”

I entered, not sure what else to do. Myra and Zadok followed. Nason closed the door quickly.

“Gods, it took you long enough to get here,” he said, as he locked up.

I gathered myself. “Well, the way you ignored me when I came into town, I didn’t think I would be welcome.”

“So you didn’t come because you thought I was mad at you?” he asked, turning. “That’s ridiculous. We were best friends when we were kids.”

“I thought so too. But most everyone else is ignoring me or berating me because of my time in the army. It seems like doing business with me drives customers away. I figured I’d wait to see you until less people were around so not to make you more angry with me.”

He smiled. “I appreciate you considering me like that. I really do. And I’m sad to say there is a bit of truth to what you said. I’m not mad at you by any means, but I do need to be careful with how I talk to you. Showing kindness to you is a sure way to bring trouble. Jareb has been the most vocal in his opposition to the war and those who served. He’s the most powerful person around here now. I’m sorry, but I can’t afford that trouble. I got a family now,” he said, nodding to Myra and Zadok. “I have to think of their safety first.” He paused. “You know, some people have started going around warning others you might stop by just so they’d have a time to think of how to turn down your business.”

“Well, I’m glad to know that your reaction wasn’t because you wanted nothing to do with me.”

“C’mon Tyrus. Like you said, we were best friends growing up. Gods, I had a crush on your sister.”

That staggered me. “What? I didn’t know that. Why didn’t you say something? Ava would have—”

“—likely thought I was lying. Besides, I wasn’t about to confide in you about her. You were too much of the overprotective big brother.” He paused, finally taking a breath. “Where is Ava anyway? She didn’t . . .”

I shook my head. “She chose not to return.”

He nodded. “I understand.” Finally, a small smile formed on Nason’s face. He came in and embraced me tightly. “It’s good to see you, Tyrus. The stories were that you died.”

“So, I heard.”

I embraced him back. It felt good to connect with an old friend, someone familiar from my past. It also felt good knowing that not everyone in town held an awful view of those in the military. They just simply did not have the guts to stand against the popular opinion and Jareb.

He pulled away, looking at the kids. “Apparently, you haven’t heard everything,” he said, walking away. He began digging in drawers. “Otherwise, you’d be gone by now.”

“Huh?”

“That thing you pulled with Jareb just reached town a couple minutes ago. If anyone was feeling sympathetic toward you, it’s going to be harder to show it with what you did to get your children back. Not that I can blame you. But you shouldn’t be here. The sheriff is at Jareb’s farm now talking to him about you stealing his servants.”

“I stole nothing. I paid him more than what was called for in the contracts.”

“But he claims you broke them early.”

“Details. I did what I had to do to get my children back.”

“Like I said, I don’t blame you. In your position, I’d like to think I would have done the same.” Nason grunted. “Also, Jareb and his friends were pretty bad off according to what I heard.” He shook his head, grinning. “Same old Tyrus.”

He continued. “Listen to me. I’m sure you can see that Denu Creek is a shadow of what you remember.” He closed the drawer he had been searching, carried a small bag over to me. “You need to get out of town. When the sheriff gets back, Jareb will likely be with him. You don’t want to be around.” He thrust the bag into my hand. “Since you paid so much to Jareb, I figured you could use some coin. That’s all I can afford. It should help you along your way though, wherever that is.”

Nason spun me around and pushed me toward the door. “Now, I hate to push you out so quickly, but what I said earlier still holds true. I love you like a brother, Tyrus, but I can’t have you here if Jareb shows. Only the gods know what he’ll do to make me or my family miserable.”

“I understand.”

He unlocked and opened the door with one hand while pushing me through it with the other. “Good.” He paused, then sighed. “You take care.”

“You too, Nason.”

He nodded, then closed the door, leaving me standing on his porch, dumbfounded, staring at the small pouch of money in my hand.

I looked at my kids staring back at me with uncertainty. “Let’s get our stuff from the cobbler and tailor, and get out of here.”

I looked back once at Nason’s place as we walked off, thankful at least one thing in Denu Creek hadn’t changed after all.

CHAPTER 16

It was evening. The streets and sidewalks were slowly filling with people. After my conversation with Nason, we kept our head down and did our best to keep to the shadows as we walked.

Zadok hurried up beside me. “So, you were good friends with Nason, Pa?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm, that explains a lot.”

I cocked my head. “What does it explain?”

Myra cleared her throat. “When things got bad for us, Nason tried to help Ma and Uncle Uriah out as best as he could. After a while, Uncle got resentful though and ran Nason off. Even still, when the rest of the town wanted nothing to do with us, he’d somehow find us and give us a bit of food or a couple of coins when he could spare it.”

I squeezed the money pouch in my hand again while feeling a tug in my chest. “I wish I’d had known that.”

Nason pushed us out in such a rush, I never had a chance to even thank him for his help, let alone for looking out as best as he could for Myra and Zadok.

Maybe one day I’d be able to repay him.

With still half the town to cover, we started to draw notice from passersby. I guided the kids into an alley, then had them jog behind the buildings to the cobbler’s shop. I looked around quickly to make sure no one was following us, then rapped my knuckles on the door.

Nothing.

I knocked again, louder and with a greater sense of urgency. Footsteps from inside followed.

The door cracked open. “You’re early. It’s not sunset.”

He was right. The sun was dropping quickly, but had not yet fallen out of sight. “I know. But we’re in a hurry.”

He mumbled. “I figured you might be. I was just finishing up when you knocked. Wait here. I’ll be back.”

He went back inside, returning after a few moments. The man thrust a pair of boots out the door. I noticed a pair of socks stuffed inside them. “I almost didn’t open the door after what I heard you did to Jareb. He’ll come down hard on anyone helping you.”

I looked up. “Thank you.”

“Don’t. I only did the job because the shoes weren’t for you. It isn’t your son’s fault who his Pa is.”

The door slammed before I could respond. Locks turned quickly afterward.

I turned around wearing a frown. Myra and Zadok wore expressions that matched. I handed the shoes over to Zadok. “C’mon. Let’s get your clothes and get out of here.”

We skirted around the cobbler’s place, moving through an alley to Main Street in order to approach the tailor from the front. The hard jingle of the bell tied to the door announced our arrival as we hurried inside Sivan’s place.

Damaris appeared, smiling.

“Perfect timing,” she said, coming around the counter. “Father just finished Myra’s trousers.” She came over to grab Myra’s hands. “Come this way and I’ll help you change so we can determine what the final adjustments will be.”

“No.” I glanced out the window at the front of the shop, looking for potential trouble. “I’m sorry, but we won’t have time for that.”

She tilted her head. “But it will only take a few moments, and it is crucial to ensure the clothes fit properly.”

“They’ll just have to do as is.” I moved away from the window. “We’re in a hurry.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I couldn’t hide the tone in my voice. Damaris let go of Myra’s hand. “Just give me a moment, and I’ll be right back.”

As she ducked inside the back, I turned to Zadok. “Get on those socks and boots while you have the chance.”

He ran over to a chair and hurried along. When finished, he stood and took a few steps, almost awkwardly—like a boy unused to wearing footwear.

“Well?” I asked.

“They’re more comfortable than I thought they’d be. Though they’re also a little big.”

“You’ll grow into them.”

Damaris reappeared carrying a bundle in her arms that she plopped onto the counter. “Father is wrapping up your boy’s clothes. He’ll be out shortly.”

I walked over and began pulling the agreed upon amount from my money pouch when a voice called out from the back. “Here is the other bundle. I wish I could persuade you to stay sir. A better fit is—” An older man with a bald pate and neatly trimmed salt and pepper beard came out.

I paused in my counting and looked up at his worried expression. Damaris turned around and frowned.

“What’s wrong, Father?”

Sivan cleared his throat. “I wish you would have told me who this man was, Damaris.”

“What does it matter?”

“Because I’m a soldier. Or was. You won’t do business with me either, right?” I grumbled, growing ever more tired of this routine.

Sivan shook his head. “No. I understand what it means to be in the army. I fought in the Byzan wars in my youth. I also lost a son in the early years of the Geneshan conflict.”

I felt a tug in my chest for him. I had lost a lot of friends, but I couldn’t imagine losing a son. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“What is it then?” asked Damaris.

“Sered came by earlier when you were sweeping out back. This is the man who struck Jareb and stole his property.”

“News travels faster than I remember,” I muttered.

Damaris frowned.

Sivan nodded to my children. “I’m assuming they are the property in question.”

I nodded. “I stole nothing, though I could have. I paid more than their contracts called for. Things only got physical when he refused to release my daughter.”

Sivan tightened his jaw. “I’m not surprised.” He looked over his daughter’s shoulder at the pile of coins resting on the counter. “That should cover the cost of materials. No other payment is necessary.” He handed over the other package.

“Father,” Damaris snapped in a hushed voice. “We can’t afford to give our goods away.”

He reached under the counter and came up with a wool blanket, throwing it on top of the pile. “We don’t have the money to make our next payment to the bank anyway, Damaris. If we’re going to lose the place. Might as well do something good first.”

Damaris stared, dumbfounded, looking like she didn’t know how bad things were for them.