by Trish Mercer
Copyright © 2017 Patricia Strebel Mercer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical re-views and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copy-right law.
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental but I know they’re alive somewhere.
Cover design by Trish Mercer, who timidly asked her daughter’s anthropology professor (with perfect hair) to stand in as Perrin Shin. Dr. David Crandall of Brigham Young University responded to my lengthy email with a brief, “Sure, why not?” then sportingly wrangled two little boys running in opposite directions through the trees while I did nothing to assist but took pictures with my son-in-law, Austin Pearce. Dr. Crandall proved to be the perfect Perrin.
Contact author via website: https://forestedgebooks.com
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More important than knowing when an answer
is “yes” is recognizing when it’s “no.”
MAPS
A pronunciation guide to some of the more
unusual names . . .
Idumea— i-doo-ME-uh
Mahrree—MARR-ee
Peto—PAY-toh
Hierum— HIE-rum
Tuma Hifadhi— TOO-muh hi-FOD-hee
Jaytsy— JAYT-see
Fadh—FOD
Jothan—JOH-thun
Asrar—AZ-rar
Lorixania—Lor-ix-ZYAN-ya
Cephas—SEE-fus
Boskos—BOSS-kose
Barnos—BARN-ose
Contents
Chapter 1—“Young Pere is an interesting young man.”
Chapter 2--“You’re as bad as your father and grandfather.”
Chapter 3--“But even then, the world still saw you as a hero.”
Chapter 4--“I didn’t sleep much last night—”
Chapter 5--“I got to watch a falcon for quite a while.”
Chapter 6--“We leave at dawn, by the way.”
Chapter 7--“Rector Shin, how look the trees?”
Chapter 8--“What are you hiding, Puggah?”
Chapter 9--“That’s one nasty stick.”
Chapter 10--“Does it ever hit you, just what we have?”
Chapter 11--“Those are the greatest soldiers we’ve ever produced.”
Chapter 12--“And it’s the Creator’s will.”
Chapter 13--“I’ve had enough surprises in my life.”
Chapter 14--“Show me the miracle now!”
Chapter 15--“We can do this for him, and for you.”
Chapter 16--“Discover anything thought-provoking?”
Chapter 17--“How long has this been in here, Father?”
Chapter 18--“The world’s not so simple.”
Chapter 19--“Why am I taking you?”
Chapter 20--“I don’t even know how to say it.”
Chapter 21--“You’re going to have to do much better than that.”
Chapter 22--“Oh, are you new?”
Chapter 23--“You can stay, look around a little.”
Chapter 24--“We give you a bed, a uniform, and a purpose.”
Chapter 25--“I’ve always been able to count on you.”
Chapter 26 --“So General Thorne is the most reasonable person in the world?”
Chapter 27--“The world seems to be heavier for you today.”
Chapter 28--“I’m hoping he’s gone for a very long time.”
Chapter 29--“I’ve lost my touch.”
Chapter 30--“Run, run, run?”
Chapter 31--“Does the general know what you are?”
Chapter 32--“You’re bringing back hope.”
Chapter 33--“Is this real?”
Chapter 34--“Men, we’re looking at Mount Deceit, right now.”
Chapter 35--“Where are the other soldiers?”
Chapter 36--“Third problem is the identity of that corporal.”
Chapter 37—“I think I know who he is.”
Mahrree’s Family Charts
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter 1--“Young Pere is . . .an interesting young man.”
