The Forest at the Edge of the World (Book One, Forest at the Edge series)

by Trish Mercer

"And so that resolves the concerns about soldiers patrolling along the canal system, but we're still having some complaints from farmers in the east. It seems that-" Captain Shin's face began to contort.

  Karna started to smile and glanced over to the new staff sergeant and master sergeant who were sitting with him in the forward command office. The master sergeant glanced over at the sand clock on Shin's bookshelf, nodded in admiration, and glanced at the lieutenant.

  Shin's face continued to twist until he could no longer fight it.

  He yawned.

  The rotund staff sergeant smiled. "Well done, sir! Nearly time for dinner, and that's your first yawn."

  The three men chuckled as Shin glared good-naturedly at them. "You said you weren't doing that anymore."

  "There's so little to entertain us now, Captain," Karna sighed in feigned sadness. "Quiet forest for over a year, and now that it's the Raining Season again-well, Guarders hate the snow. Nothing will be happening for at least another moon until Planting begins. We keep ourselves sharp by guessing how much sleep you lose each night."

  "And it's only going to get worse when that second baby comes, sir," the gnarled master sergeant drawled. "Why, we can take bets for at least another three seasons."

  Shin smiled reluctantly as the men laughed. "Grandpy Neeks, knowing you there's a chart somewhere in your quarters. You know how I feel about gambling."

  "No slips of silver-only bragging rights. And being right is better than being rich around here. We all accept that, sir," he said with a smile in his eyes. "So far, I'm the rightest one around."

  "You always are, Neeks." Shin couldn't help but chuckle.

  For as long as Perrin knew Neeks, the man had been called Grandpy. His red hair went prematurely gray when he was twenty, and he had a naturally weather-beaten look as if he were a decades-old stockade fence. He also had a monotonous way of slow-talking that said, "Don't interrupt me boy, or I'll take you out to the woodshed after I finally finish this story and make you chop four cords of wood then make you build another shed to hold it all, so help me, now sit down, shut up, and show some respect because I'm not gonna take no mouth from no one."

  He was perfect for whipping the new recruits into shape.

  Perrin had requested him specifically as Wiles's replacement, and was stunned to realize that, when he opened Grandpy's file from the High General, Master Sergeant Neeks was only forty years old. Perrin wondered if he would seem as ancient and gnarled in ten more short years of serving in the army. Maybe the weathering effect only occurred to the enlisted men.

  The other new addition to the fort, Staff Sergeant Gizzada, replaced the master sergeant who retired right after the forest raid, and was almost a complete opposite. While Neeks was as pale and gray as the strongest mortar, Gizzada was as dark and brown as the richest soils. And even though he was six years older than Perrin, he looked more like an overgrown boy with a round face that matched the rest of his body, dark cheeks that were hued a deep red, and a tongue that was always licking his lips as if knowing dinner was on the way.

  The former head cook of midday meal at the garrison was a good fit as supply master. "Sir, I'm not for lack of things to do around here," Gizzada said jovially. "I keep myself well entertained."

  "So that's the problem, Karna? Not enough entertainment for you?" Shin asked. "I didn't realize you were so eager to get back into the forest. I can arrange for that, if you insist."

  His lieutenant paled as the sergeants sniggered. "No, sir, I don't want you violating your father's orders again. Why, he might promote me ahead of you."

  Shin's eyebrows went up as the sergeants chuckled.

  There was a knock on the office door and Neeks opened it. "You're alittle late today, messenger," Grandpy said severely to the young man holding the bag from Idumea. Neeks never passed up an opportunity to dress down a young soldier.

  "Yes, sir. Sorry, sirs," he nodded toward Captain Shin. "The messenger I met in Vines said there were some last minute administrative additions to the pack in Idumea. And as you know, we're not allowed to leave until all of them are satisfied." He took the pack off his back and handed it over to Grandpy, who kept the eyebrow up.

  "Then I suppose it's remarkable you get to leave at all," Karna mumbled daringly.

  Shin nodded back to the messenger. "I won't have anything to return for at least an hour while I sort through this. Might as well take your meal here rather than in Mountseen."

  "Be first in line at the mess hall," Gizzada recommended. "Roast venison in a button mushroom sauce with buttered spuds. Mmm!" He kissed his fingers.

  "Thank you, sirs," the messenger said happily, before having his grin wiped away by Neeks' still-menacing eyebrow.

  As he bolted down the stairs, Neeks dropped the pack on Shin's large oak desk. "Feels a little heavier today, Captain. Need some help going through it?"

  "Probably," Perrin said, pulling out some of the contents. "More notices. We're going to have to build larger notice boards around Edge to hold them all."

  "Or ask the Administrators to be more concise," Karna nodded as he picked up a large document detailing something mundane.

  Shin sat down at the desk and sorted through the pile. "Ah, this one looks promising. Nice and small."

  He grinned as he looked at the plain beeswax seal. Something in his belly tightened, but maybe it was because he was now thinking about venison, and he could hear Gizzada's round abdomen rumbling. As the other soldiers sorted through the message pack, Perrin opened the small folded document, frowned at the unfamiliar writing, then swallowed as he read the sentence.

  For a minute none of the other men noticed that he hadn't moved, until Neeks glanced up and saw the dead look in his eyes. "Sir? Something wrong?"

  Shin didn't answer.

  "Captain?" Karna tried.

  Shin only swallowed again and refolded the message. "Men, take care of the rest of this for me, please. Anything important, leave on the desk. I'll be back in forty-five minutes." He stood up and put on his cap.

  "Sir?" Karna said, stunned that the captain would leave while messages needed addressing.

  "And when I come back, you may find something far more interesting to do than timing my yawns."

  ---

  Rector Densal released a heavy sigh and looked at the note in his hands. "Perrin, I think your father might have more insight than me."

  "I don't think I have that kind of time," Perrin said gravely as he sat across from Hogal at his eating table.

  Tabbit stood behind Hogal, reading over his shoulder. "Are you going to tell Mahrree?"

  Perrin shrugged. "According to number three on my mother's list, I shouldn't give Mahrree anything unnecessary to worry about. One never knows when the mother bear instinct may arise."

  Tabbit nodded. "Joriana was always very smart in these things."

  "I don't know," Hogal mused. "Mahrree might need to know that a dozen Guarders have her and little Jaytsy marked."

  "Oh, that's not really what it means," Tabbit blanched. "Is it?!"

  "What else would it mean, Auntie?" Perrin said, trying to keep his growing rage and worry out of his great aunt and uncle's house, unsuccessfully. "It's written in a hand I'm not familiar with, and by the tightness of it, it looks like they even took pains to disguise it just to be sure. Somehow it got smuggled into the message bag. Only Administrators and the army can submit messages to that service. The messenger said the pack was delayed in leaving Idumea early this morning, and that's why!" he gestured furiously at the note. "Someone took great risks to get me that warning, and they wouldn't bother unless it was a real threat!"

  Hogal patted Perrin's hand. "It will be all right, my boy-"

  Perrin stood up abruptly, knocking his chair backward. "HOW will it be all right, Hogal? They want my wife and babies! They've been successful before, in eight different villages. How do I know those people weren't warned like this, and failed to stop them?"

  Tabbit covered her mouth in
terror and slipped into a chair next to her husband.

  "They're cowards!" Perrin bellowed at the message. "Going after the most vulnerable and innocent? What could be easier targets than an expecting woman and her nine-moons-old daughter? NO!"

  "Perrin, sit down," Hogal said firmly. "Now."

  Perrin's broad chest heaved up and down as he met Hogal's determined gaze. For a tiny old man, he was profoundly persuasive.

  Perrin eventually sighed, picked up his chair, and sat down again. With his head in his hands he murmured, "How do I fight this, Hogal?"

  "With one hundred soldiers, Perrin!" Hogal reminded him. "Keep her under guard, at all times."

  "Or make up an excuse and move her and Jaytsy to the guest rooms at the fort," Tabbit suggested. "Say there are bugs infesting the house, and it needs to be cleaned out with herbs that might affect your next baby."

  Hogal nodded. "Not a bad idea."

  "There are no bugs in the middle of Raining Season," Perrin mumbled in irritation. "Not under a foot of snow. And Mahrree would never agree to living at the fort. Sorry, Auntie," he said more quietly. "I didn't mean to get angry."

  She patted his hand. "You have every right, Perrin."

  "Perrin, just tell her. She's an intelligent, thoughtful woman. She can handle this," Hogal promised.

  Perrin looked at him glumly. "When she's not expecting, yes, she's a very intelligent, thoughtful woman. But when she's expecting? She's a little emotional. Even though she's only halfway through this expecting, she's still-well, take last week, for example. She said that since the fort had been so quiet, maybe my father would consider shutting it down and letting me take on less dangerous work, like being a rancher."

  Hogal and Tabbit laughed sadly.

  "Obviously she doesn't know that cattle run away from you," Hogal said.

  Perrin smiled halfheartedly. "She didn't believe me. But then she went on to list all kinds of other work I could do. Something safer that will ensure that our children always have a father."

  "Perrin," Tabbit said gently, "she knew what she was getting into when she married an officer. I talked to her about it, and so did your mother."

  "But this is precisely the kind of thing she's fretting about," Perrin explained. "I know once she's birthed this next baby, she'll be a little more rational, but for the next three moons or so? She's terrified something will happen to me. So how am I supposed to tell her that it's not me she should be worried about? There's something more," he said, his shoulders sagging. "We haven't been getting much sleep lately again-"

  Tabbit frowned. "I thought Jaytsy was sleeping through the night."

  "She is," Perrin sighed, "but recently Mahrree's been . . . There's a problem. For the past week she's already been feeling strong pains. We were up most the night last night counting them. It's far too early, and the midwife says Mahrree needs to relax and not feel any stress so that she doesn't risk birthing too soon. Hycymum knows, and has been coming over every day to clean up and cook, and drive Mahrree a bit crazy with too much attention, but can you imagine what this kind of news would do to Mahrree? She could lose the baby," his voice cracked and he stared at the table again.

  "I had no idea," Tabbit whispered. "I'll go over tomorrow to help Hycymum. Maybe I can entertain Jaytsy."

  "Thank you, Auntie," he smiled at her, but his eyes were wet. "We didn't want to worry either of you, but now I see that we need all the help we can get."

  "That's why we're here, my boy." Hogal examined the message again. "No time frame given."

  "I know," Perrin said. "Something could happen tonight, or in five weeks from now."

  "They always attack at night, correct?" Hogal said.

  "So far. Which means I need to beef up patrols every night until something happens, but we can't look like we're expecting something. They'll strike when we appear the most susceptible. They likely won't want to be out in the freezing temperatures for long. Their black attire stands out rather well against the whiteness . . ." His voice trailed off. "Black against white . . ."

  Hogal and Tabbit exchanged glances. Tabbit immediately recognized the rector's look of, We need to be alone, dearest.

  She nodded at her husband, got out of her chair, and went over to kiss her niece's son on the cheek. "You'll find a way to succeed, Perrin. I have complete faith in you. Mahrree, Jaytsy, and the new baby will all be fine."

  "Thank you, Auntie." He gave her a practiced smile.

  After Tabbit left, Hogal said, "Perrin, why did you come to see me? You're surrounded by far more experienced men than me in matters of battle and Guarders."

  Perrin stared at the table. "About eleven years ago I sat with you talking about things," he said vaguely.

  "I remember," Hogal smiled. "That was a wonderful time."

  Perrin scoffed. "I was an insufferable eighteen-year-old beast! You're too kind. Always were." He hesitated before saying, "One evening you were teaching me about . . . the Refuser."

  Hogal nodded slowly. "I remember that quite well, too. What did I say to you then?"

  Perrin continued to examine the table, yet without fully seeing it. "That he was a son of the Creator who refused to take this test we're all in, and that many of the Creator's children followed him into exile. Their spirits are here, in this world. While the Creator gave us this world, the Refuser stole it for himself and has sought to control and destroy those of us willing to take the test. He's here, with those who followed him, making this existence as miserable as possible."

  "Very good," Hogal said. "You could teach it for me this Holy Day."

  Perrin didn't smile.

  "But that wasn't all I told you, was it, my boy?"

  Perrin shook his head. "No," he whispered. "You said something else that I've chosen to forget over the years, but keeps coming back at the most unexpected moments. It came back again today, when I opened this message."

  "What did I tell you eleven years ago, Perrin?"

  Eventually Perrin said, "That the Refuser knows me intimately, and that while he hates all of us, he feels that hatred even more keenly for me. There are a few he most ardently seeks to destroy, and I am near the top of that list. The world really is out to get me."

  Hogal sighed. "Perrin, you have no idea how hard it was for me to say that to an eighteen-year-old boy. But you had to know it. I didn't know if I would ever get another chance, and I also knew I would never get a decent night's sleep until I did. For weeks I was plagued with the same dream and the same message that I had to deliver to you."

  "Why me, Hogal?" Perrin whispered. His chin began to tremble and he pressed his lips together tightly for a moment to regain control. "Why my wife? My children? They're so innocent."

  "I really don't know, Perrin." Hogal's voice grew husky. "You must have a great future ahead of you. Enormous power, influence, abilities. The Refuser targets those who can do the most damage to him and his plans. You could take it as a great compliment that he hates you so much."

  Perrin rolled his eyes. "I've done nothing special, Hogal. Not as if I'll do anything important, either."

  "What did you tell me you were going to become, the first day of that visit eleven years ago, Perrin? Remember?"

  Perrin closed his eyes. "I don't want to be a general anymore, Hogal," he said. "I look at what my father does, and who he does it with-I want nothing of that life. But I could never tell him that. I don't ever want to leave Edge. I can't be the general."

  Hogal put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't think about that right now, Perrin. Much can happen in the next twenty years. Think instead about the next twenty days. Or twenty minutes. You're not alone in this. When the Refuser targets someone, who steps in to help?"

  "The Creator," Perrin said, his voice breaking.

  Hogal slid the note over to him. "Here's the first bit of assistance. Someone with knowledge, on their side, went to extraordinary measures to get this to you."

  "And I wonder why." Perrin picked it up. "If they're so evil-"
/>   "Not necessarily, Perrin. Each one of us has tendencies toward good and evil. The test of this existence is to see how often we listen to one side or the other. Whoever sent this to you has spent much of his life in darkness, but occasionally a spark of light catches his eyes, triggers his conscience, and reminds him of who he truly is-a child of the Creator, not a slave of the Refuser. For one moment the author of that note followed that memory and was seared by a conscience he's neglected for who knows how long. I'll pray tonight that he clings to it."

  "Then so will I, as well as pray for many other things," Perrin murmured.

  "For what it's worth, Perrin, I think you would make a fantastic general. The world needs to be led by men like you."

  "Right now, I think I'd do better leading a herd of cattle."

  Hogal smiled faintly. "You need to go, Perrin. I feel that nothing will happen tonight, but very soon. You need to start preparing immediately."

  "I feel it too. We'll be up all night working on plans. I refuse to give in to the Refuser. Hogal, pray for me?"

  "I always am, my boy."

  ---

  Mahrree's mouth moved up and down before she could make any words come out. "But . . . you barely got in! And you have to go out again? All night?"

  "I'm sorry, again," he said, kissing her on the lips. "But you just said you haven't felt any pains since midday meal, right? Maybe the danger has passed."

  She didn't kiss him back. "But . . . I was really counting on you being here tonight."

  His eyes sparked mischievously. "Mm, so was I! A few things to argue about . . ."

  Mahrree exhaled in exasperation. "You know what I mean! Besides that," she giggled in spite of her frustration. "I need an extra set of hands to help me with her," she gestured to Jaytsy who was crawling fast to her father.

  "I ran into Tabbit this afternoon, and she said she can come over to help tomorrow. She can give Jaytsy a bath in the morning, and I'll get her tired before I leave." He picked up his daughter, grunting loudly as he pretended to strain at the effort, and Jaytsy squealed. "You're so big!" he rubbed noses with her. "Look at my big girl, and those tiny teeth, sharp as knives. I should start feeding you steak."

  Mahrree couldn't stay mad at him, not when he played with his daughter who adored him.

  Jaytsy grabbed at his face and squealed again as he tried to bite her fingers. They always played more aggressively than Mahrree did. She sat and read books to her daughter, which was about all she could handle right now. But Jaytsy didn't mind; she saved up all her energy for her father. He growled at her, she screamed at him-they were a great combination.

  Mahrree plopped on the sofa and grumbled.

  Perrin put Jaytsy on the floor and started crawling and growling after her. Jaytsy growled too, screamed in delighted terror, then turned to bat at her father.

  "You're turning her into a wild animal. You know that, don't you?" Mahrree accused.

  "I'm toughening her up!" Perrin said in a loud growl which Jaytsy matched.

  "When do you have to leave?"

  "In about ten minutes!" he roared. Jaytsy screamed and laughed.

  "And when will you be back?"

  "I'm not sure!" he howled in a wolf impersonation. Jaytsy started to chase him back, gnashing her small teeth.

  "And your father didn't tell you about this until now?"

  "The message came in the late afternoon." Perrin scrambled to hide behind a stuffed chair. Jaytsy kept up her pursuit, giggling all the way.

  "So for how many nights?"

  "Unsure!" he cried in a mock squeal of horror as Jaytsy touched his leg and roared at him.

  "Days? Weeks?"

  "Maybe!"

  "Can you come home during the day? To sleep? For us to see you?"

  "I'll try!" he squealed in a high pitch as he scramble-crawled away from Jaytsy. "Have to get a clean uniform!" Jaytsy was laughing so hard she could barely crawl.

  "Yes, Jaytsy's looking exhausted now. I thank you for that," Mahrree said, dejected. "It's so cold outside, too. Full fort night patrols? Really, what kind of Guarders will be out now?"

  "We're drilling in case they change their tactics!" he said in the frantic tone of one being pursued by an infant with sharp teeth and a desire to taste her first meat. He came around the sofa where Mahrree sat, got up on his knees and kissed her belly. Panting, he looked up into her worried face. "I'll dress warmly, and I'll be just fine. You stay here and . . . don't worry." He kissed her again and this time she returned it.

  "I don't like the sound of this, Perrin. For some reason I'm feeling very uneasy."

  He waved that off. "That's just your condition," he assured her, putting his hand on her belly. Whoever was in there rolled and kicked at his hand. Perrin chuckled as Mahrree grimaced. "Jaytsy never kicked that hard, did she?"

  "Not that I remember," Mahrree said. "But the motion is very much like you at night. I'm guessing Little Perrin is in there this time."

  "That's why I need to toughen up Jaytsy," he said to her, "to handle a little brother. I heard those can be rough-OW!" He'd forgotten about Jaytsy in pursuit.

  Mahrree and Perrin looked down at their daughter, her teeth sunk deep into her father's calf. She released him, his trouser's leg clearly showing eight small indentations in a circle. She looked up at them with dark brown eyes, enormous with worry.

  "Oh, she's tough all right." Mahrree giggled. "Jaytsy, don't cry, sweety. Your father didn't mean to startle you."

  Perrin twisted to pick her up, gave her kiss, and placed her on the sofa next to Mahrree. "Did I at least taste good?"

  Jaytsy giggled.

  Perrin sat down on the floor and pulled up his trouser's leg to inspect the damage. "Look at that. She nearly punctured my flesh. No, she can handle a little brother, all right." He chuckled and looked up into Mahrree's face.

  Her eyes were filled with tears. "Why am I so worried, Perrin?"

  He placed a hand on her belly. "No pains, right?"

  "No pains, but-"

  "Your condition, my darling wife. Merely your emotions running away with you again. I'll be fine, all will be secured, and you and Jaytsy will be fine, too."

  "Dress warmly?" she sniffed.

  "I've got my overcoat and gloves, so don't worry."

  "Telling me to not worry is like telling Jaytsy to not bite you. Useless."

  "I love you," he said before giving her one last kiss.

  "So much that you leave me?" she moped.

  He stood up and put his cap back on. "So much that I have to. See you in the morning."

  ---

  Tuma Hifadhi didn't feel even a twinge of guilt for knocking loudly on the door so early in the morning. He kept pounding to make sure the message was received. It was.

  Hew Gleace yanked opened his door, still blinking the sleep out of his eyes. "Tuma? Tuma! What's wrong? Why are you here so early?"

  Without waiting for an invitation, the stooped man with faded gray hair and skin stepped quickly into the room so Hew could shut the door to the outside cold.

  "We have very little time, Hew. We need to move men out, immediately."

  Hew massaged his bleary eyes. "What? Why?"

  "It was made known to me very early this morning. We need them readied and on their way within the hour."

  Hew both nodded and shook his head to shake out the sleep and to make sense of Tuma's words. "Are you sure?"

  Tuma didn't move a muscle.

  "I'm sorry," Hew said. "Of course you're sure. Who am I to question . . . So, how many do you need?"

  "How many do we have?"

  ---

  Staff Sergeant Gizzada stood outside the shop trying not to look conspicuous as he waited for it to open. He shifted nervously not because he was cold-his army-issued woolen overcoat kept him quite toasty-but because he never visited this part of the market. He was usually several shops away at one of the bakeries awaiting the fresh goods to come out of the ovens. They even knew his name down there, but
no one here was familiar with him.

  That was probably why the older woman coming up to her door regarded him suspiciously. "Is there something wrong, soldier?" she asked, looking him up and down as she pulled out her key for the latch on the door.

  "No, no!" he beamed, his dark rosy cheeks nearly purple with the cold and his nervousness. "I just need a . . . coat."

  She unlatched the door. "That overcoat is as fine as anything I have in here."

  "It's not for me," he said quickly. "It's for my brother. His birthday. Want to get him something nice."

  The woman shrugged and opened the door to let him in. "I hope you can find something you like. Anything in particular?"

  "Yes, actually," he said with an awkward chuckle. "Do you have anything in . . . white?"

  "A white coat?" she pulled a face. "White in Raining Season?"

  He nodded eagerly. "My brother has always liked white. Why? Is that wrong?"

  "Nothing wrong with white," she answered quickly. "It's just not very common."

  Gizzada nodded and looked at the clothing hanging on rods along the walls of the shop. His eyes were drawn immediately to one in particular. "Ah, this one, perhaps?" He walked over to a long white coat with a hood, edged in fur. "This is white!"

  The woman winced. "Yes it is, but-"

  "This is fur, isn't it?" Gizzada stroked the fluffy white edges along the front and bottom. "Feels like a bunny I had once as a child."

  "It is rabbit," the woman said gently trying to take it out of his hands. "The latest Idumean fashion. Perhaps such a coat would be inappropriate since it reminds you of a beloved pet-"

  "Not that beloved. We turned it into an excellent stew. Carrots, turnips, onions-"

  "Well, you see," she said, clenching her teeth as he put it on and strained to wrap it around the front around his ample body, "it being the latest Idumean fashion means it's also very expensive-"

  The staff sergeant, stroking the white fur on the front, paused. "How expensive?"

  "Twenty full slips of silver!" She looked appropriately shocked.

  The sergeant went back to petting the memory of the stew. "That's within my range, actually. At the very end of it, but-"

  "It's a woman's coat!" the shop owner blurted. "You can't buy it for your brother!"

  Gizzada only slowed in his petting. "Doesn't look like a woman's coat to me."

  "But it will to everyone else. Look at the design of the rabbit fur-it's stitched in butterflies!"

  "Do you have any other white coats?"

  "No," she admitted, looking around frantically in case a coat decided to pale overnight in order to fit the sergeant's odd need. "And it doesn't close completely on your front. If your brother is the same size-"

  The sergeant shook his head. "Need it only to close around the chest area. My brother is the same size there, but not down here," he chuckled as he patted his round belly. "I'll take it! It's perfect."

  The woman rubbed her cheeks with one last protest. "But . . . people will laugh at your brother if he wears that in public."

  "He's not expecting to be seen much in public with it, ma'am. And certainly not in Edge."

  "Not in Edge? Oh, well then. That's different. Shall I wrap it for you?"

  ---

  Karna walked tensely to the feed barn outside the compound as the sun was setting. Although the entire reason for what was about to take place had been explained to him, he still felt very ill at ease. His only consolation was that he wasn't the only one unhappy about it.

  He glanced around before stepping into the barn, but it was unnecessary. Nearly every soldier was out on patrol on the new all night training regime devised by the Command Board in Idumea.

  Or so they were told.

  Edge was the first to try the "experiment," and while the soldiers weren't too thrilled about altering their sleep schedules so that every last one of them was on the night shift, they were obedient. Besides, it had been dull for the past year, so this was definitely something new and even a bit exciting.

  The lieutenant slipped into the barn and saw the lamp light coming from the middle of it. He quickly made his way there, weaving around large bales of hay, and when he saw the scene, kept his pfft! in his head.

  "I still can't believe you're doing this, sir."

  "Not 'sir'," Perrin said as he finished unbuttoning his uniform jacket. He took it off and handed it to Grandpy Neeks, who also groaned in displeasure. "Without my uniform, I am no longer the captain. Just call me . . . Perrin," he said. "Told you that before, Brillen." He stood in the frigid air in only his thin white undershirt, goose bumps developing on his large shoulders.

  Gizzada winced and looked at the other two soldiers.

  "When Idumea finds out . . ." Karna shook his head. "You remember what General Cush said after that first raid?"

  "Yes, Brillen, I remember," Perrin intoned. "If Idumea finds out, I'm out of the army. Well you know what? I don't care what Cush, Mal, or even my father has to say about this. I'm not about to sit waiting for Guarders to come after my family! It's not as if I'm violating the Creator's law. It's a rule made by a man who didn't anticipate such a scenario. I have no doubt Pere Shin would approve of my breaking his rule to save his granddaughter-in-law and great grandchildren."

  Karna, Neeks and Gizzada exchanged dubious looks as Perrin began to unbutton his trousers.

  "But you could lose your commission-"

  "Brillen," Perrin stopped unbuttoning midway, "I'd rather be an impoverished sausage-on-a-stick vendor in Moorland with a family, than be the next High General of Idumea knowing that I let my wife and children die. Mahrree would prefer to live as well, I'm sure. So I'll do what's right and let the Creator decide my fate."

  Grandpy Neeks sighed loudly and shook his head, while Gizzada bit his lip.

  Karna cleared his throat. "So she believed your 'night training' story?"

  "Of course she believed my story," he said tersely, removing his trousers. "She trusts me completely, as she should. She knows I have to go out a second night, and perhaps for many more, to do my duty. But since none of you is married, I can see why you don't understand."

  Neeks rubbed his mouth. "Can't believe I'm watching this happen," he murmured as Captain Shin-Perrin-handed him his trousers.

  "You have no choice, Grandpy," Perrin said, almost as coldly as he felt. "So quit complaining, all right?" He glanced down at himself in only his thin undershirt and shorts. "At least these are white, too." He shivered, picked up a thick knitted wool tunic-white-that lay on a bale of hay and pulled it over his head. Next he took a pair of brown woolen trousers and pulled those on.

  "Sorry if they're a little loose," Gizzada apologized as Perrin fastened them in the front. "I had to guess at the size."

  "Not a problem," Perrin said. "Better than being too tight." Over the trousers he put on the only kind of white leg coverings Gizzada could find in the middle of Raining Season-thin linen dress trousers.

  "Fit for a picnic, those are!" the staff sergeant smiled. "That's what the shop keep told me. He wasn't even sure why he still had them in stock, but fortunate for us, right sir? I mean, Perrin?"

  Karna and Neeks glowered at Gizzada.

  He looked back at them confused, unsure of the cause of their irritation.

  "And now, for the final touch," Perrin said as he lifted the long white coat off another bale of hay.

  Gizzada sighed. "It's simply lovely, isn't it?"

  Perrin stopped in mid-motion and stared at the staff sergeant.

  "Could let your wife wear it when you're finished. They do alterations at that shop," Gizzada assured him.

  "Do they also remove blood stains, Gizzada?" Perrin said heavily."Because when I'm done with it, I anticipate this rabbit fur looking worse than the day it was slaughtered."

  Gizzada swallowed. "Perhaps Mrs. Shin would prefer another coat, then."

  "Perhaps Mrs. Shin will never hear about this coat, or any other coat from you, Staff Sergeant!
That's the entire reason I sent you, so no one would see me purchasing these things and telling my wife she might be getting a surprise. This is one surprise I never intend for her to find out about, right?" He thrust a fist through the sleeve.

  Gizzada shrank in his own overcoat and nodded quickly. "Of course, sir. Of course."

  "We all understand, Captain," Karna said walking up to him. From his overcoat pocket he pulled out thick white gloves and a white knitted hat.

  Perrin pulled the hat over his head, concealing his black hair underneath.

  "Not that we approve, Perrin," Karna added.

  The nearly all-white man acted as if he didn't hear Karna finally calling him by his first name. It was likely because Brillen's tone was as foul as a sulfur pit.

  Shin slipped on the gloves and said to his lieutenant, "Where are they?"

  Karna pulled out the two long knives from another pocket, dulled so as to not catch any light that might reflect down from the two moons, nearly full that night.

  "Excellent," Shin said with a half smile. "Good work." He slipped the two dulled knives into his waistband and put on his boots-the only things still black. He took two more shiny knives from a bale of hay and put them into the sides of his boots.

  "Four knives," Neeks said, slowly shaking his head.

  "Yep," Perrin said easily. "Not that I'm planning to lose all of them, but one can never be too sure." He took up the full quiver of arrows waiting on another bale of hay and slung it over his shoulder. "Are the other two quivers placed where I wanted them?"

  Karna nodded. "Did it about half an hour ago. You have enough arrows to kill an army now."

  Perrin picked up the large bow and checked the string. "Nice choice, Brillen."

  "Your strength is in the sword," Neeks reminded him.

  "A sword is loud and obvious," Perrin reminded back.

  "Just like you," Karna bravely whispered.

  "Karna, I can't help but notice my 'second mind' gets more vocal and braver the closer I get to the forest. And Grandpy, I'm sufficient with the bow," Perrin assured him. "Not as skilled as Brillen, mind you, but I can take something out from a distance this way, unseen and mostly unheard."

  "This is madness," Neeks hissed. "Goes against every single rule in the book. If the High General knew-"

  Perrin rounded on the older man. "He will know nothing, Neeks! Not unless something goes terribly wrong. And then it will be too late for him to demote me. But if everything goes right, then what I'm about to do won't matter at all. Is that understood, Master Sergeant?"

  Neeks simply folded his arms. He'd been in the army too long to be intimidated by mere officers. "You said you're no longer the captain, remember? And since I have more experience than Karna, in a battle situation I'm in command. And if I don't like what I see happening, I'll use that position and pull rank. Is that understood, Perrin?"

  Perrin took a deep breath, accentuating his broad chest. Implausibly, even the white bunny fur stitched into butterflies appeared threatening. "You do something stupid, Neeks, you'll have to explain why to my wife and my daughter. Tell them why they are now vulnerable. Is that understood?"

  Neeks didn't flinch. "Don't do anything stupid then, Captain."

  Shin pulled the fur-trimmed hood over his knitted cap. "Do I look like I'm about to do something stupid?"

  Karna couldn't hold in the pfft! "Are you expecting an honest answer for that, sir?"

  "Not really," Shin said, almost smiling. "Now remember, tell the men I'm still point commander, but I'm at a hidden location in order to observe without interfering. Any questions from the soldiers will be funneled directly to you two," he pointed to Karna and Neeks, "with the understanding that I will receive the message only from either one of you. The moment I see or hear anything, I'll sound the signal, and you call for defensive positions. Gizzada, you're in charge here at the fort."

  "We know, we know," Lieutenant Karna said impatiently. "Let's get this over with."

  "That's the problem," Neeks mumbled. "We may be doing this nonsense for weeks."

  "I don't know why you're still complaining, Grandpy," Shin glared at Neeks. "I'm the one wearing a woman's fur coat to go on a midnight picnic in the middle of the forest during Raining Season."

  ---

  Mahrree didn't even hear him come into the bedroom. When she opened her eyes, there he stood hovering over her. All she could do was whimper.

  "I'm not very happy with you," Perrin growled. "You didn't even lock the doors! What's the point of reinforcing the windows and doors with iron bars if you don't use any of it?"

  Mahrree pushed herself up in a sitting position. Jaytsy stayed snoozing next to her. "I wanted to make sure you could get in this morning. You realize you're such a bear when you've been up all night?"

  He'd taken off his uniform jacket and was setting it properly on the chair again. "I thought I explained to you, very clearly last night, that we're practicing for attack scenarios. That, Mrs. Shin, includes YOU!"

  Mahrree's eyes grew large.

  "You will BAR those windows and LOCK those doors as you have been instructed, as soon as I leave the house tonight. Understand?"

  "Yes." She blinked back tears. "You have to go out again tonight?"

  "Yes!"

  Jaytsy sat up, her light brown hair in wild disarray, and beamed at her father. Then she screamed at him.

  "Not now, Jayts." He sat down on the side of the bed and Jaytsy crawled over to him. He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Want to rest with me for a while?"

  She roared in response. He lay down on the bed and she immediately thumped his chest with her fist.

  "So how did it go last night?" Mahrree asked timidly.

  "Fine. Boring." He closed eyes. "Which is good. Sort of."

  She dared to kiss him. "I missed you."

  He only grunted.

  Mahrree pulled Jaytsy away, quietly got off the bed, and shut the bedroom door behind them.

  ---

  That night in the barn Perrin put on two extra pairs of socks. "My feet started to go numb last night. Until I found that one spot."

  Neeks, holding his weapons, squinted. "What spot?"

  "A place where the snow was all melted and steam rose from the ground. Even some scrawny deer were there, eating the last of the grasses. Fascinating, really. You see-"

  "I don't want to hear it," Neeks shook his weather-beaten head. "I can't claim innocence about your doings if I know too many details."

  "Ah, Grandpy," Perrin chided as he put on the white knitted sweater again. "I told you-I left the letter with the surgeon. Should anything go wrong, that letter exonerates you, Karna, Gizzada and everyone else at the fort. My father will know that I acted alone and that no one else at the fort participated with me, or had any power to prevent my activities."

  He slipped on the two pairs of trousers.

  "The surgeon even signed it, verifying that I was of sound mind. What he was signing, he still doesn't know, nor will he know unless . . ." He left the rest up to Neeks's imagination as he put on the white coat. "This really did the trick last night. Kept out the chill quite nicely. Indeed, a lovely coat."

  Grandpy grunted that he was not amused and handed Perrin his long knives, then his quiver and bow. "Just bring that lovely coat back again tomorrow morning, still white."

  ---

  Deep in the forest the man in white and gray mottled clothing peered up at the boulder field faintly illuminated by the light of the moons. It was another cloudless night, which meant it would be exceptionally cold again. But that wasn't a concern as long as he sat by the warm steam vent.

  His mouth dropped open as he saw them come, pouring out from a thick stand of trees, as if the entire neighborhood was dropping by his eating room for a snack.

  "What are . . . what's going on?" he whispered to the first man to reach him. "Why so many?"

  "Something different," the man told him as he was joined by many others eager to warm their hands and feet by t
he vent.

  "But, but," stammered the man whose cozy surroundings had been invaded, "it's cold! Nothing ever happens in the snow-"

  "I told you-something different, and we have little time to find our positions."

  ---

  Mahrree was watching the back door as she stirred the cracked wheat for breakfast. She smiled when he marched up the back stairs and yanked on the door. She would have heard his yelp of surprise all the way up in her bedroom.

  "All right, all right, you locked the door. Very good. Now let me in!"

  Mahrree chuckled and went to the back door, unlatched the locks and slid away the three long iron rods that secured it.

  He pulled it open. "Now, how did you know it was me? What if I was a Guarder?"

  "I knew it was you, Perrin. I watched you jump over the fence."

  "But what if I wasn't alone? What if a Guarder was holding a knife to my throat, making me say those things?"

  Mahrree sighed. "You'd never submit to that. I'd sooner find a dead husband at my door."

  To her surprise, he smiled. "Yes, you would. Very good."

  "Another boring night?" she asked as he kissed her on the cheek.

  "Yes."

  "How many more?"

  He shrugged. "Not sure."

  "Breakfast, then bed?"

  He nodded. "Where's Jaytsy?"

  "Actually asleep in the cradle in her room."

  They heard a high-pitched scream.

  "But now she's awake and wants you." Mahrree sighed.

  He smiled. "I can give her, and you, ten minutes."

  ---

  It was Karna's turn that night to help prepare the captain. "No more finding warm spots in the forest, all right?"

  "Grandpy told you about that?" Perrin adjusted his gloves.

  "I have to admit, I'm curious as to what else you find out there. In the dark. Everything covered with snow-"

  Perrin shook his head. "Not everything is covered with snow. The ground is warm, even hot, in many areas we were in before. Then there's-"

  "Stop! Stop-I don't want to hear it." Karna covered his ears like a toddler. "Grandpy said you'd start talking again, and we really shouldn't know."

  "Your name is on that letter too, Brillen. You won't be in any kind of trouble."

  "But I already feel I am! Perrin-" Karna dared say his first name because sometimes 'second minds' really needed to get through to the first ones, "-maybe, maybe it is nothing," he said earnestly. "Maybe it's an elaborate hoax. Was there anyone mean-spirited that you went to Command School with?"

  "Brillen," Perrin said as he put on the quiver, "only about half of my class. But this is no trick. I feel it, deep in my bones."

  "Sure that's not just the cold you're feeling? It's another clear night."

  "It's real, Lieutenant."

  Brillen took a deep breath. "And you're sure you're the only one who can break this rule, go over this wall, barge into this forest?"

  "You know it as well as I do. I can see it in your eyes. Besides, your skin's not pale enough."

  Brillen exhaled in unwilling agreement.

  ---

  Mahrree was putting the iron bars back into her windows again, grunting as she did so. "Why did your Grandmother Peto insist on taking these down today, Jaytsy? So what if they look 'uninviting'? That's kind of the point! She knew I'd have to put them back up again."

  Jaytsy pulled out some wooden blocks from the bottom shelf.

  "Good idea, Jayts. Trip up any intruders on your scattered toys. We could-"

  The sudden knock on her front door filled her with immediate fear. No one would be coming by this late at night, unless . . .

  She hesitated until she heard the knock again.

  "Mahrree? It's cold out here!"

  "Hogal!" She rushed to the front door, unlatched the bolts and opened it as quickly as she could. "What are you doing here? Is Tabbit well?"

  Hogal stepped quickly inside and shut the door behind him. "Tabbit's just fine, my dear," he said as he undid the long scarf wrapped around his face and unfastened his thick coat. "We're actually worried about you, with these all night training sessions. Tonight I had a feeling that maybe you might appreciate a little company. I'd be happy to sleep on the sofa there, keep the fire going, and get Jaytsy for you when she wakes in the night," he offered, a little bashfully.

  "Oh, Hogal," Mahrree felt herself growing weepy. "I'd hate for you to sleep on the sofa, or to spend the night away from Tabbit." But that wasn't what she meant at all.

  And Hogal could tell. "It was Tabbit's idea, and I was more than happy to agree with her. If you send me home, she'll only be angry with me."

  Mahrree swallowed and nodded, sniffing her gratitude.

  "Any recent pains?"

  "Some this morning," Mahrree admitted, "but after I rested this afternoon they stopped again."

  "Well, let's make sure it stays that way. Now," Hogal said, clapping his hands, "I see some bars that need replacing. I think I'm up to that! Why don't you get little Jaytsy ready for bed and let me finish down here?"

  "Thank you, Hogal." She kissed him on the cheek.

  About fifteen minutes later Mahrree left her bedroom after lulling Jaytsy to sleep. Mahrree really didn't want Jaytsy disturbing her great-great-uncle tonight, so she would stay in her parents' bed. From the storage trunk on the landing, Mahrree pulled out a thick blanket and two pillows, and started to make her way downstairs. She paused when she saw that Hogal, who had finished securing the iron rods in the windows and doors, was now standing near the eating room table.

  Not realizing he was being watched, he slowly slid open the secret drawer and retrieved the long knife. He peered suspiciously at the blade as if it might suddenly come to life. Hogal touched it gingerly, winced and then did something extraordinary-he slipped the long knife into his waistband, making sure the handle was concealed under his knitted tunic.

  Mahrree was stunned motionless. What in the world did an eighty-two-year-old rector think he could accomplish with a long knife? She stepped noiselessly back up the stairs to her bedroom and sat down on the massive bed to think.

  Why was Hogal here, and so worried about securing the house? Why-

  Mahrree realized she was the dumbest woman in the world. How could she have been so self-absorbed to not see it? Last year Perrin spent Raining Season teaching his soldiers hand-to-hand combat in the indoor training arena. He said he wouldn't force the men into the bitter cold unless there was a legitimate-

  "Oh, dear Creator!" Mahrree whispered and held her belly. "There really is something happening, isn't there? Why wouldn't he tell me?"

  A tightening of muscles in her lower back that spread around to her front told her why. She took a deep breath to calm herself, although that never worked.

  "He didn't want me to worry. So, naturally, I'm worrying even more. And the only reason Hogal is here is because-"

  She closed her eyes to try to stop the tears, the stupid tears that so easily trickled out whenever she was expecting a baby.

  "Because tonight, the world is out to get my husband."

  Chapter 23 ~ "And if it is Your will, let me walk out of here again."