Page 42 of Dark Rover's Gift

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AREZOO

Arezoo held Cyra's tiny hand as they walked along the tree-lined path toward the playground. Her other hand gripped a canvas bag filled with water bottles, snacks, and the inevitable collection of toys that was necessary on an outing with her little cousins.

"I want to go on the big swing!" Rohan skipped ahead with the boundless energy of a six-year-old.

"Me too!" Arman followed.

"Don't rush ahead!" Arezoo called after them, using the same commanding tone her mother employed often and with great effectiveness. "Stay with me, or we are going back home."

The threat achieved the desired results, and the two little rebels slowed down, grumbling under their breath that she was worse than their mother.

Behind them, the older boys walked together, occasionally shoving each other in the way brothers did. Kavir and Zaden considered themselves far more mature than the others, thoughthey'd been just as eager to leave the house when their mother suggested the playground.

"Why can't we run ahead?" Kavir complained. "Maman says it's safe here."

"I promised your mother I'd watch all of you," Arezoo replied patiently. "And I can't do that unless we are all together."

The boys grumbled some more but stayed by her side.

Taking five kids to the playground was a challenge, but Kavir was right about the village being safe, and save for her, everyone had things they needed to do. Donya and Laleh were studying, and so were the other older kids.

It wasn't easy for any of them, and their mothers needed a break too. Between Yasmin's grief, the adjustments to their new life, and the challenge of homeschooling a horde of children for the first time, they had a lot to deal with.

"Look!" Cyra pointed with her free hand. "Your friend. The tall girl!"

Arezoo only had one friend in the village, and that was Drova, who also matched the description. Sure enough, she saw the willowy Kra-ell walking over to them, wearing something that looked a lot like her training uniform, just without the insignia marking her as a Guardian-in-training.

It seemed that everything Drova wore, even on weekends when she wasn't training, was black cargo pants with a black T-shirt, sometimes with a matching jacket and sometimes without. Today, it was absent as it was getting too warm for that.

"Hello," Drova called out as she reached them. Her large, dark eyes swept over the group. "Heading to the playground?"

"Yeah. My mother and aunts needed some quiet time," Arezoo said, feeling a little self-conscious about her decidedly less cool appearance—a pair of loose jeans and a girly blouse with puffy, short sleeves. "I volunteered to take the little ones."

"You are a good daughter and niece," Drova said. "Small humans can be tiring, but not as tiring as small Kra-ell. Watching over them is like herding a bunch of demons." She tilted her head, studying the children who had gone unnaturally quiet at her approach. "I don't bite, you know. Not without provocation."

Rohan pressed closer to Arezoo's leg, while Arman tried to look brave despite the fear in his eyes. Even Kavir and Zaden, who were older and should have understood that Drova was joking, seemed a little scared.

"Drova is just being funny," Arezoo said, keeping her tone light and friendly. "And just so you know, she helped rescue me and my sisters and Azadeh. She even got injured doing that."

"You are very tall and skinny," Cyra observed with the directness of a four-year-old. "And your eyes are too big for your face. You need to eat more."

Drova's lips curved in amusement. "I'm a Kra-ell, little girl. We're built differently than humans." She glanced toward the playground. "Mind if I join you there?"

"I'd love that," Arezoo said, though she wondered what Drova could possibly find interesting about supervising a bunch of human children at a playground. "I could use some adult company to keep me sane."

As they walked, the boys gradually moved ahead, their natural energy overcoming their initial hesitation. Only Cyra remained pressed against Arezoo's side, stealing glances at Drova.

"Do you do this a lot? I mean, take care of the children?"

Arezoo chuckled. "I'm the oldest among my siblings and cousins. It kind of comes with the territory."

"I understand. Your mother and aunts depend on you."

At the playground, Rohan and Arman immediately claimed the swings, while Kavir and Zaden headed for the climbing structure, competing and shoving each other on the way to the top.

Boys were like monkeys, but Arezoo wasn't going to intervene. Not unless someone got hurt. So far, it looked innocent enough.

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