Resurrected Soldiers: The Tyrus Chronicle - Book Three Read Free

wrong.”
    “Am I? When have you felt the most comfortable, the most like yourself since we were discharged? Was it dragging a bunch of whiny civilians along with you over miles of harsh land? Was it dealing with idiots like Jareb who mistreated those you loved? Was it learning what happened to your wife? Was it dealing with mending a decade apart from your kids?”
    I didn’t say anything. None of those things had been comfortable. All were difficult, some more than others.
    He continued. “I bet you felt the most comfortable when you were strategizing or commanding. Probably when you were fighting people like me. Am I right?”
    Sadly, he was. I also knew I hadn’t been the only one to think that. Dekar and Ira had both echoed those sentiments.
    He took my silence as my answer.
    “That’s what I thought,” he said in a judging tone.
    I shook my head, unwilling to concede his point. “Just because something makes you uncomfortable, doesn’t mean that isn’t the path you should choose. There’s more to life than just doing what you’re comfortable with or what you want to do. Life always was, and always will be full of tough decisions and things you don’t want to do. You have to accept that.”
    “No, I don’t. The army taught me how short life can be. The last thing I’m going to do is waste what little time I might have left doing things I don’t want to do.”
    “And this is what you want to do?”
    “Why not? I’m respected and valued. Plus, I’m good at this.” He paused, and smiled in a way that gave me a chill for I knew it to be sincere. “And when I want a break from soldiering, there’s always a camp follower at hand who’s ready to spread her legs for some coin. What more is there?”
    I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
    I realized I had no idea how to respond to him. My best friend had changed so much, become so selfish, that he was a stranger to me.
    “Captain Hamath!”
    A young soldier, probably near Myra’s age, came running up. The way the soldier’s voice cracked, tugged my heart. A boy that age had no business being in the army.
    The boy stopped and handed over a slip of paper. “General Balak has orders for you to ride out northwest and scout ahead.”
    Hamath sighed, then stopped, and climbed back onto his mount.
    “There’s more to talk about,” I said dumbly.
    Hamath grunted. “Later. Considering that look on your face, it might be best if we take a break.” He paused, situating himself in the saddle. “Hol is a long way off. We’ve got more than enough time to finish our conversation. I’ll be seeing you, Tyrus,” he said before clicking his reins.
    “Yeah. I’ll be seeing you.”
    But did I really want to?

CHAPTER 2
    Hours later we made camp for the night. Hamath hadn’t yet returned from scouting. It saddened me that I felt relieved. I had spent most of the day’s march thinking about our conversation, and despite working through several scenarios of how things could go in our next discussion, I couldn’t find a direction that was satisfying. I hoped a night of sleep would help.
    Balak had made no move to talk to me yet. Even though no one heard me making demands on the terms of my re-enlistment, I knew he wouldn’t let my behavior slide without some repercussions. Withholding information was an easy way to get back at me and something he had done before.
    I didn’t care. My kids and my sister were safe. Well, as safe as they could be given the state of the world.
    Besides, some information I could gather on my own.
    I found Dekar setting up his things near a small fire. I hadn’t spoken with him, Ira, or anyone else from our group since leaving the outpost. I did this in part to give those new to military life a chance to acclimate themselves. In the case of Dekar and Ira, I had asked them to walk among the ranks to determine which veterans we had served with. It’d be nice to know what level of experience the army had. I also hoped to glean some