Joshua Simon - Forgotten Soldiers

I looked away, thinking.

No father wanted to listen to advice from his children regardless of how sound it seemed. Especially, when it was not only sound, but something I should have considered myself. The problem was that I was letting emotions cloud my judgment. But then, how could I not? Every dream I had in the last decade involved me returning to Denu Creek, and reuniting with my wife and kids. Now, my wife was gone. As dumb as it sounded, leaving Denu Creek meant I had to completely face the fact that those dreams would never come true.

I sighed and began packing my things. “You’re right. We should probably leave.”

“Good.”

“However, we aren’t ready to go anywhere just yet. You and Zadok need clothes and we’re pretty light in the way of supplies. I don’t have a whole lot in the way of coin left, but I should have enough to get what we need before heading out.”

“Couldn’t we just go to Tamra where your friends are, and buy our stuff there?”

I snorted. The girl was smart. “We could. However, I don’t want to go to them completely empty-handed. Especially, since they’re just getting settled in themselves.”

I wouldn’t say it out loud, but a part of me wasn’t eager to see Dekar and his wife cozying up to each other with Lasha’s death fresh on my mind either. Even still, I’d get over it if I felt it would keep my kids away from danger. I guessed I had a full day, if not more before Jareb got his act together and tried to come after me. He had always been slow in making a decision and I hadn’t left him and his friends in the best of conditions for any speedy action.

Regardless, I’d have more than enough time to get the things I needed, and also check in on Nason. His reaction to me entering town still stung quite a bit. I needed to see what was going on there for my own peace of mind. Maybe he was in trouble himself?

I stood and slung my bag over my shoulder. “Zadok, put out the fire. We’re leaving.”

We reached the edge of town late in the morning. By that point, my clothes had long dried and then begun to dampen anew with sweat.

Though a few people patrolled the streets, for the most part, the town sat empty. As was usually the case in towns the size of Denu Creek, early morning, midday, and late evening were the times it bustled most with life. Time in between was spent working in the fields or in the shops lining the main street.

Few noticed us as we veered to the left side of the thoroughfare. I hoped my worries from when Ira, Dekar, and I had first ridden into town were an overreaction. I doubted it, but hoped all the same that just maybe the idiocy that had plagued other towns on our way home hadn’t completely reached Denu Creek.

I was taking in the town’s changes in more detail when I came to an abrupt halt in front of a local apothecary not yet open for the day.

“I thought you were taking us to a tailor,” said Zadok

“I was. . ” But the tailor wasn’t where I remembered it.

“Oren retired almost six years ago. He sold the space to Irad who turned it into an apothecary,” said Myra, reading my thoughts.

I frowned. “Gods, I never thought Oren would retire. So, who’s the tailor now?”

“We actually have two. Gadiel moved into town right after Oren retired. He’s next to the feed store.”

“What’s he like?”

“Oh, he’s a jerk. He’s apparently from some town near Hol and likes to remind everyone any chance he gets. Looks down on most people.”

“Is he good?”

“Yes,” said Myra.

“Who’s the other one?”

Zadok pointed. “Sivan is a few doors down. He opened up just a year back.”

I looked to Myra. “Any good?”

“From what I hear. Nice too. Problem is Gadiel has been dropping his prices in an attempt to drive Sivan out of business. He over charged everyone for so long he can afford to do that now.”

My hand ran across my money bag. Although I didn’t have much to spare, a part of me felt pulled to at least start with Sivan. I never liked bullies. “We’ll try Sivan first.”

That warranted a smile from Zadok and a slight nod from Myra. I guessed I had made the right decision. Score one for me. I needed all the help I could get where Myra was concerned.

I took note that on our way to Sivan we passed the cobbler. That would be our next stop. Poor Zadok was walking around barefoot. He didn’t seem to mind, but I did. Thankfully Myra’s footwear was actually in good shape. So long as she didn’t incur a massive growth spurt I felt they could easily last her through the winter.

A large window adorned the front of Sivan’s shop. Full ankle-length dresses, shades of blue and brown, hung in the window. Various shirts and trousers lay beneath them on the bottom of the display.

A small bell sounded as I opened the door.

“I’ll be with you in one moment,” rang a woman’s voice. It came from an open doorway in the back of the shop behind the counter.

“Take your time,” I said, not so much because I meant it, but because it seemed like a courteous reply.

I scanned the inside of the shop while waiting. More displays sat against the wall to the left with a large, full-length mirror between them. A box about two hand widths high rested on the ground in front of the mirror. To the right, shelves held stacks of fabric in various colors. A privacy shade stood in the back, obviously used by customers to change. One chair sat not far from the privacy shade.

I faced the doorway in the back of the shop as footsteps against the wooden floor grew in volume. A small woman appeared with hair as bright as the morning sun. Her skin was without blemish or wrinkle even though she looked near my age. I thought the reason for my guess at her age might have had to do with the warm smile she wore, or possibly the way her hair was pinned up in a bun, but then I realized it had more to do with what lay behind her eyes. There was something there that said she was not simply a young, pretty face to be treated like window dressing in order to attract customers.

“Good morning. My name is Damaris. What can I do for you today?”

“I was hoping you and your husband could fit my children with a new set of clothes, something warm for winter.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Tyrus. This is Myra and Zadok.

She smiled. “Well, Tyrus, I’m actually not married. I help my father run the place. He’s in the back working on a recent order.”

“My apologies.”

She waved me off as she walked over. “You aren’t the first to make that assumption.” She changed subjects. “What about something for yourself? Perhaps a new shirt, something dressier? We’ve just received this great material that-”

“No,” I said, cutting her off. “Nothing for me. My clothes might not be much to look at, but they serve their purpose.”

She nodded and turned to Myra. “How about we size you up first?” She took Myra by the hand. “While I’m taking your measurements we can talk about what style you want your new dress to be.”

I thought about Myra shivering last night, and frowned. “No dress.”

“What?” Myra asked, giving me a dirty look.

“I’m sorry, but we need to be practical. You’ll be warmer in trousers and shirt. Plus, trousers are less cumbersome which may be important to us since we aren’t sure how things will play out in the coming days.”

Her shoulders hunched forward, wearing a look of defeat. She saw my reasoning, though she didn’t like it.

I put a hand on her shoulder. “Maybe we can get you a dress in time for next summer,” I said, trying to brighten her mood.

She shifted her stance so my hand fell away. “It doesn’t matter.”