Page 18

AREZOO

A rezoo 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, though they'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.

"Can you push me on the swing?" Cyra asked Arezoo, pointing to the smaller swings designed for younger children.

"Of course, sweetie." She lifted the little girl into the swing, making sure she was secure.

"I can push her," Drova offered, surprising Arezoo.

She hesitated, then nodded. "Just be gentle. She's small and she doesn't like to swing too high."

"I might be strong, but I know how to handle small things without breaking them," Drova said.

As she took over pushing Cyra, the child squealed with delight at the attention, forgetting her fear of the tall Kra-ell. Arezoo settled onto the bench and watched. It was strange seeing Drova playing with Cyra. It was like watching a tiger entertain a mouse.

"Higher!" Cyra demanded, her earlier fear completely forgotten.

"This is high enough for you," Drova said. "Arezoo wants me to be gentle."

"But I want to go higher!"

Drova shook her head. "We don't want you flying off to the moon."

"I want to see the moon!"

"Maybe when you're older and have wings."

The boys had abandoned the climbing structure and the swings, gathering near the open area beside the playground. Rohan and Arman were engaged in an impromptu wrestling match that looked about two seconds away from tears, while the other two watched.

"Boys," Arezoo called out. "That's enough!"

They paused, looking guilty, then separated with muttered complaints about who started what and walked over to where Drova was pushing Cyra on the swing.

"I heard that you are very strong," Rohan said.

"I am. Do you want to see how strong?"

Rohan nodded enthusiastically.

Drova spread her arms wide, holding them straight out from her sides. "I bet all of you together can't pull my arms down."

The boys exchanged glances, mischief and intrigue warring with their healthy fear of the Kra-ell.

"That will be easy." Arman pointed at her slender arms that didn't look like they could hold anything over a few pounds. "You're skinny."

"Skinny doesn't mean weak," Drova said. "But if you want to prove me wrong, try to pull down my arm."

"Me first," Arman insisted.

He approached cautiously and grabbed Drova's right arm with both hands, trying to pull it down with all his might. Drova's arm didn't budge. Not even a tremor.

"How do you do that?" Arman gasped, his face reddening with effort.

"Help your brother." Drova gestured with her chin at Zaden.

Before long, both of the older boys were hanging from one arm while Rohan and Arman attacked the other. The sight was comical. The tall, thin Kra-ell, standing perfectly still while four boys dangled from her outstretched arms, looked like a scarecrow with ornaments.

"This is impossible!" Zaden declared, his feet actually leaving the ground despite him being the oldest and tallest of the bunch.

"Kra-ell muscle fibers are different from human ones," Drova explained in a measured tone, as if she were giving a lesson rather than supporting the entire weight of four children. "We're much stronger than we look."

"Can I try?" Cyra called from the swing, not wanting to be left out.

"You're too small, sweetie,” Arezoo said gently. "But you can cheer for the boys."

"Go, boys!" Cyra shouted gleefully. "Pull harder!"

The boys redoubled their efforts, grunting and straining, but Drova's arms remained perfectly horizontal. After another minute, she slowly lowered them so their feet touched the ground.

"That was amazing!" Arman exclaimed. "Are all Kra-ell that strong?"

"Most adults are," Drova confirmed. "Though some are stronger than others, just like with humans."

"Can you lift a car?" Rohan asked, his voice full of awe even before Drova answered.

"With ease, provided it's not a very big one."

"Could you throw a person?"

"Rohan!" Arezoo admonished, even though Drova could and would.

"Of course. But I wouldn't unless it was to protect people that person was trying to hurt." She leaned closer to the little ones, nearly bending in half. "Can you keep a secret?"

The boys nodded eagerly.

"I don't need to throw people to stop them from harming others. I can command them to stop, and they will obey me. I have a special voice just for that."

The boys peppered her with more questions, clustering around her with the fearless curiosity of children who'd already decided that she was cool and not a threat. Even Cyra demanded to be lifted from the swing so she could join the group.

"Can you jump really high?" she asked.

"Higher than humans," Drova confirmed. "Want to see?"

"Yes, please."

Drova crouched slightly, then sprang upward in a movement so fluid it looked effortless. She easily cleared twice her own height, catching on to a branch, and hanging from it for a moment before jumping down and landing with barely a sound.

The children gasped in unison, then immediately began begging for another demonstration.

"One more and that's it," Drova said. "Then you go and play nicely while Arezoo and I get to chat in peace."

This time, she jumped lower but executed a perfect backflip at the apex before landing in the same spot. The children applauded wildly, and even Arezoo found herself clapping.

"I want to do that!" Arman announced.

"When you're older and immortal," Drova said. "For now, work on your strength and agility."