Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Three by Joshua P. Simon Page A

scouting without my knowing and made no effort to continue our conversation. Then, rather than using an opportunity to mend our relationship by reforming our old unit, he chose instead to go off on his own.
    Molak-be-damned.

CHAPTER 5
    “C’mon Aunt Ava, it’s your turn,” said Zadok, nudging her with his elbow as the two sat at the top of the small tower.
    Zadok had found her staring out at the landscape where Balak and his army had stood less than two days ago. She had been contemplating the gruesome fate awaiting her brother and friends. It was an awful way to spend her time, but it at least distracted her from worrying about the results of Sivan’s efforts scouting with the others.
    My luck he’ll come back with a change of heart and singing of dark, rich soil.
    Ava sighed. “Do we really need to play this game? It’s a little beyond your age. And way beyond mine.”
    “It passes the time. Nason’s kids like to play it.”
    “That should tell you something.”
    He gave her a cross look. “You’re not suggesting a better alternative.”
    She shook her head. That boy. As much as Myra is like Tyrus, Zadok is definitely like Lasha.
    Ava remembered when Tyrus first brought Lasha home all those years ago. Ava hated her at first because she was a foreigner who looked like no one else, and was beautiful to boot. To make matters worse, Tyrus married Lasha without ever bothering to get Ava’s approval.
    But the hate didn’t last long.
    After a ten-minute conversation that ended with them both laughing uncontrollably, she had understood Tyrus’s decision. In fact, she would have been angry at him for not marrying her.
    She snorted to herself. “You remind me so much of your mother at times.”
    Zadok smiled, obviously pleased at the comment. “How so?”
    “Because of something like that,” she said, pointing to his smile. “Despite all we’ve been through, and the uncertainty still out there, you’re smiling and trying to cheer me up with children’s games. Somehow you always look on the bright side. Just like your mother. And, just like Lasha, your propensity toward the positive doesn’t annoy me like it does with just about anyone else.”
    “Thank you.” He smiled wider. “But you still need to take your turn.”
    “Ao-be-damned. Why can’t I have a stupid niece and nephew? It’d be nice to put one over on you two from time-to-time.”
    “Aunt Ava,” he urged.
    “You ever thought that maybe I don’t want to pass the time? That I like being miserable?”
    He scowled. “If I remind you of Ma, then you remind me of Pa and Myra. You both like to go off alone and dwell on every little thing. You worry that if you don’t, something awful will happen that you won’t be prepared for. That’s a bad way to live.”
    “It’s worked so far.”
    “Has it? Were you able to prepare for everything that happened the last few months?”
    She didn’t like that questioning and snapped. “No.”
    “Yet, we’re doing all right for ourselves.”
    She chuckled. “You call this all right?”
    “We’re alive. And we have each other.”
    He’s got me there.
    “Definitely like your mother,” she grumbled.
    She sighed, deciding to give in to her nephew rather than continuing to argue. Especially since the only way she could fight back and make her point was bring up all the stuff that could happen to them or Tyrus now that they had separated.
    And that won’t exactly win me the title of best aunt.
    “Fine,” she huffed. “I spy with my eye, something gray.”
    “Seriously? Gray?”
    “Yes. Is that too hard for you?” she teased.
    “Aunt Ava, almost everything is gray thanks to the last eruption.”
    “If you want me to play a game, then I’m going to play to win. You have ten questions. Go.”
    Zadok never had a chance to ask his first. They both caught sight of dust being kicked up in the distance. Three approaching figures on horseback emerged from the cloud.
    “That looks like Sivan out