“And when I do, don’t come back looking for a bedroom in Idumea!”
“Oh, I won’t, Sonoforen. I’ll stay as far away from you as possible, just like I avoided Great Grandmother.”
That was the last time Sonofor—Heth had seen him. He left that night heading south with a butcher knife in this waistband and a determination to rid the world of a certain professor.
But now he had better plans. What Dormin the Doormat was doing now, Heth didn’t care. He stared at the mansion he was going to retake and smiled. Someday when he would be hosting a grand dinner there, and his starving brother would come limping back to beg a chicken wing to nibble upon, Heth would greet him with a bow and arrow.
Or maybe a jagged dagger.
In either case, Dormin would never spend the night in the mansion again.
Chapter 15 ~ “You have deep
dark secrets?”
The next several weeks flew by for Mahrree. Between learning to cook, letting her mother decorate her home—within reason—and overseeing the building of the new study, Mahrree suddenly found herself just four days before her wedding.
And the reality of it all was weighing heavily.
It wasn’t that she was regretting the decision, she considered that evening as she laid out dinner in the eating room. It was that suddenly everything would be changing. She was used to having things her way, but this past week, after Perrin started moving in his things, it finally hit her that she would have to start doing things his way, too. After eight years of independence, she was going to have to live with someone else. That was going to take a little getting used to.
But her fluttering moments of doubt were always blown away by her excitement that she was about to be united with the most intelligent, powerful, and—all right, she’d admit it if she had to put the title on him—handsome man ever to be in Edge. Not that she ever bothered with such designations, but since she ran into Teeria’s mother at the market who placed that label on her future husband, Mahrree decided it would be impolite to disagree with her.
She was still smiling to herself as she set his plate down on the table, and then heard an almost silent step behind her. The first time that happened she cried out in terror when two strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Until she realized it was Perrin. Since then he’d been sneaking up on her at irregular intervals, hoping to elicit that same blood-curdling scream that sent him to the floor laughing while she ran to the washing room to relieve herself.
But she’d improved in detecting tiny noises. That he made it through the back door and kitchen without her hearing was quite impressive. But the wood floor squeaked under his massive frame, proving why he could never succeed as a Guarder.
She spun around quickly. “Nice try!” she declared as she threw her arms around him.
“Wow, you’re getting good at that!” Perrin grinned as he kissed her. A minute later he pulled away.
“You have news again, don’t you?” she asked worriedly. He always kissed her longer when he had an update from Grasses about the captain’s injured sister.
“I do,” he said soberly. “Received the message this morning. They think they’re finally losing her. She’s growing weaker and unresponsive.”
Mahrree’s eyes filled with tears. She’d never met the girl, but she felt as if she was her own little sister. She and her lieutenant should have been married three weeks ago, but that didn’t happen.
Despite the constant attention of the surgeons, her brother, and her intended, she never improved. A few weeks after the attack it was obvious the greatest damage was done to her brain, and she’d never be the same again. Still the fort at Grasses had hoped, and Perrin and Mahrree had written frequent notes of encouragement. But the captain’s sister never showed more than the occasional flicker of recognition. All of them suspected this might be the end, but to hear it from Perrin sucked away the last hope.
“Oh, Perrin . . . I’ll send another letter.”
“I already sent a message,” he said quietly. “The captain and the lieutenant sent us their best regards about our marriage.” His voice grew gruff as he held her closer. “I hardly knew how to respond to that beyond, ‘Thank you, and we’ll be remembering you.’ So unfair. They may be attending a burial while we’re celebrating our wedding.”
Mahrree brushed away a tear. “It’s awful. Any more news about the sightings in Moorland?”
“More than just sightings,” he grumbled. “They made off with over fifty cattle.”
“Cattle can be tracked.”
“Right into the forest?” he said bitterly. “Where no one can go.”
“Why not?” she whispered traitorously.
“Because the first rule of the Army of Idumea expressly forbids it!” he whispered back.
“Your grandfather didn’t know things like this would happen.”
“But the Command Board does, and it won’t allow such radical changes. We’ve discussed this before, Mahrree,” he said heavily. “And considering who’s coming soon, will you please promise me you won’t mention such ideas again?”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m just feeling a little . . . nervous, I guess. With them arriving tomorrow—” She felt his entire body go rigid. “Perrin? Are you all right?” She stepped out of his embrace to look at him.
“Tomorrow. They’re really coming tomorrow, aren’t they,” he said tonelessly.
“Perrin?”
He broke off his stare at the wall to look at her. “They’re great!” he said with forced brightness. “Really!”
“Then why is your voice so high?”
“Looks like dinner’s ready! I’m starving!”
By the next afternoon, Mahrree paced the floor of her house anxiously. Her home would be the Shins’ first stop on their way to inspect the fort. She checked the windows frequently looking for Perrin to arrive and calm her nerves, anxious about impressing her future in-laws.
Her back door flew open and Perrin strode into the kitchen. “I just received a report that they’ve been sighted. They will be here momentarily,” he informed her.
His official tone and dress uniform took Mahrree’s breath, but not in a good way.
He saw her dread and tried to smile. “Really, they’re great.”
“You keep saying that,” Mahrree whimpered. “Why?”
But she wished she could have taken that back when she saw tension had taken over his entire body. If his black hair could stand at attention, it would have.
He clapped his hands suddenly, smiled, and said, “I know what we need—a distraction!” With a spark in his eye he tossed his cap on the table, walked up to her and caught her in an eager kiss.
He was right. It was exactly what they needed.
But then he abruptly pulled away.
“Hmm. Normally that works. But now I feel tense and a bit guilty. Maybe it’s because I know my mother is coming.”
“It was working for me!” Mahrree protested. “Try again?”
He grinned at the offer and obliged her. She felt his broad shoulders finally start to relax until the unmistakable sound of horses and a coach could be heard rumbling down the road.
He tensed and stepped out of her arms.
“They’re here,” he announced the obvious as he brushed down his dark blue dress jacket with extra patches and medals, as if trying to wipe away his deeds of the last few minutes.
Mahrree handed him his cap and told him what she’d been practicing all morning. “You look perfect, Captain. The fort is an amazing piece of craftsmanship. Your men are obedient and disciplined. Everyone in Edge adores you, especially since you’re my intended. They will be impressed.”
He put his cap on and smiled bravely as they heard the coach rattle and clank to a stop in front of the house. “And they’ll be impressed with the power you have over me.” He winked at her and stepped confidently to the door and out into the front garden.
Mahrree followed, but stopped short in the shadow of t
he doorway.
By the road Captain Shin stood at attention as a soldier held the horses and a footman—an armed soldier likely chosen because he could move so stiffly—made his way to the coach door.
Mahrree had heard stories about a massive black cavern on the edge of the forest near Moorland. Stones thrown into it were never heard to hit bottom. It even sucked in animals, sunshine, and joy—or so the stories went.
The enclosed coach standing in front of her home had the same effect.
Nothing like its size or workmanship had ever been seen before in Edge, and Mahrree noticed people down the road cautiously coming out of their houses to glimpse the black beast. Somehow, even after days on the road, there didn’t seem to be a speck of dust on it, as if dirt didn’t dare touch the brass trimmings on the doors and wheels.
Even the four dark brown horses, perfectly matched and fitted with brass-studded harnesses, had an air of aloofness about them. They snuffed in impatience, tossing their manes, and eyeing a few young boys who dared to sneak closer for a look.
Mahrree gulped and wished she could shoo away the boys. They had no idea what was in that coach. And the occupants of that coach, she realized in dread, were about to come into her house.
The footman, after some odd stepping that Mahrree assumed was some kind of formality, finally opened the heavy coach door with a strained flourish.
The little boys by the horses ran back to their homes, and Mahrree wished she could have joined them in ducking into their front doors to peek out the windows with their mothers.
The cavernous coach belched out the general, who stepped out and smartly saluted the captain of Edge. The general wasn’t quite as tall as his son, but made up for it in a little additional girth. Perrin bore a remarkable resemblance to his father. Mahrree felt a bit of guilty relief that the general seemed to have a full head of graying hair under his blue cap, and was aging handsomely. So then too might her future husband.
But everything else about the general was as intimidating as his ride.
His uniform was packed with so many medals and patches Mahrree wondered that any of the dark blue still showed through. His ornate sword hilt glinted in the sunlight and even the air around him seemed to still, as if afraid he would inhale it. His dark eyes were like rocks, and his face was etched with what the originator of the description “rugged” was undoubtedly imagining.
Mahrree had intended to leave the doorway and join Perrin, but the general was more unapproachable than she expected. She waited for the official façade to fall away and the general to hug his son, assuming that might be her cue to appear. But he didn’t.
“Captain Shin!” The general’s voice was more severe than Mahrree imagined. “The cobblestones in this area are much rougher than on the village main. Do you see that as a problem?”
“Only if you do, sir. However, the citizens seem to be fine with the condition of the roads. And it’s only the state of the fort that we can control, sir.”
“That answer will suffice, Captain. At ease.”
“Oh, come now, Relf!” said a woman’s voice from the coach. “Is that any way to greet your son?”
With more oddly crisp movements, the footman helped Mrs. Shin from the blackness and she held out her arms to her son.
She was slender and nearly as tall as her husband, her brown hair twisted into a bun and positioned under a fancy felt hat with a wide brim. Mahrree almost giggled when she saw it, remembering Perrin’s admission to hat shopping, and wondering who helped her pick out her hats now. Her gown of tightly woven cream-colored linen would have won Hycymum’s whole-hearted approval. Mrs. Shin was the very definition of Idumean poise, elegance, and beauty, even after three days of riding in a hot coach. Why her son chose someone like Mahrree . . .
Mahrree whimpered softly and felt underdressed, even though she wore her best Holy Day skirt. She unconsciously tried to smooth the light brown cotton.
The general nodded his permission to his son, and Perrin walked up to his mother and gave her a big embrace.
“It’s so wonderful to see you, Perrin!” she said sweetly as he set her down on the ground. “But I want to see someone else even more.”
“Absolutely, Mother,” Perrin turned to the doorway with a big smile and held out his arm to where Mahrree stood, pretending to be brave. “This is Mahrree Peto. Soon to be Shin.”
“Welcome to Edge, Mrs. Shin, General,” Mahrree said with a flimsy smile and an impulsive curtsey. She knew they did those back in the time of the kings. What people did now when they were terrified to meet someone, she didn’t know, but hoped it was sufficient.
General Shin only nodded in her direction, but Perrin’s mother walked up to her quickly and gave her a hug.
“You have no idea how long I’ve hoped my son would find you,” she whispered.
Perrin sent Mahrree an ‘I told you so!’ look.
Mrs. Shin pulled away and Mahrree knew she was on inspection. Mrs. Shin smiled as she examined her quickly, head to toe.
“Very nice. Very nice indeed. Should be a beautiful grandchild.”
“Mother!” Perrin shouted, offended at her assumption.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Don’t worry—I trust your integrity completely and don’t expect to visit my grandchild for at least nine more moons.”
Perrin looked at his mother as if he had never seen her before.
Mahrree released a nervous giggle.
Mrs. Shin turned back to her. “Come, my dear, let’s get acquainted while the men out there talk about duller things.” She waved to her son and nodded to her husband who tipped his cap.
“What a charming cottage!” Mrs. Shin exclaimed as Mahrree led her to the gathering room.
Mahrree always thought of a cottage as something half the size of her house. Maybe the Shins lived in something twice as big?
They sat on the small sofa and exchanged shallow pleasantries for a time, but Mahrree could see something else was concerning Perrin’s mother. Was it her dress, or her house, or the fact that Mahrree didn’t own a single hat?
After a few minutes Mrs. Shin said, “Mahrree, you seem to be a wonderful woman. I can see why Tabbit told me I’d approve, and I am so happy you love my son. But there’s something I really should explain to you.”
Mahrree nodded apprehensively. “Go ahead.”
Mrs. Shin studied her hands. “Being married to a man in this army will not be easy. As much as he may adore you,” she looked into Mahrree’s eyes, “you’ll always come second. His duty to his government and our civilization comes first. They’re simply more important than you,” she said sadly. “I’m sorry to put it in such a blunt manner, but you should be prepared, so that you . . . in case you—”
Mahrree knew what she hesitated to say. “In case I want to change my mind?”
Mrs. Shin nodded uneasily.
Mahrree sighed and now looked down at her hands. “I’ve heard that before, Mrs. Shin, from your aunt Tabbit shortly after our engagement. It was on her mind, too. He’s told me before he’s here first to defend Edge. I come second. I don’t like that, but I understand it.”
“No, my dear. You don’t,” she said sorrowfully. “The first time he’s taken from you in the night and you hear nothing from him, you’ll realize you weren’t ready for that.”
Even though she couldn’t imagine changing her mind about marrying Perrin now, Mahrree wished she had more time to think about it. But she knew how she felt, and didn’t all married couples have troubles now and then?
“Mrs. Shin, I appreciate that you want me to be warned and I’ll accept any advice you can offer me on how to be married to an officer named Shin.”
Mrs. Shin smiled and squeezed her hand. “I think you should consider this—really consider—at least for the night. Mahrree, please understand: the man you marry this week may change dramatically. The first time he has to take a life, you will feel some of his own life leave him. It’s nature’s way. It’s the Creator’s
way. Even if it’s necessary, a good man will feel it. It’s the evil men who feel nothing.”
Of course that was why he was here, what he’d been training for. Conflict. But somehow Mahrree never imagined it would be her husband directly in it. She just thought he looked striking in his uniform riding a horse and brandishing his sword. That he would actually use that sword on another person or bloody that uniform—.
She shuddered inside. She had known it the entire time, but being caught up in the excitement of planning a wedding made it easy to ignore the important factors that she convinced herself were inconsequential. Still, she couldn’t imagine any other future.
“You can still change your mind,” Mrs. Shin said gently. “As much as I want him to be married, I don’t want either of you to regret that marriage.”
After a silent moment Mahrree said, “Mrs. Shin, I can’t imagine ever wanting to be with anyone else. And I’ve imagined a lot over the years. If it’s not him, then it’s no one. I prefer him to nothing.”
Mrs. Shin sighed and patted her arm. “That’s a good answer, but I still want you to give it until tomorrow. I’ll call on you in the morning, and we can talk some more. Until then, some men outside think we’re discussing only trivial wedding details, so we best not disappoint them.”
After five minutes of wedding talk—primarily Mahrree explaining with some embarrassment how Hycymum was embellishing the light blue dress she made for the wedding with darker blue and gold highlights that she thought would match Perrin’s uniform, and Mrs. Shin nodding politely as if making a wedding dress match an army dress uniform wasn’t the most peculiar fashion idea she’d ever heard—Perrin knocked gently on the door frame.
“Mother, the general says it’s time to be moving on to the fort. Apparently you’ve made arrangements?”
Mrs. Shin clapped her hands on her knees. “Yes, I have! Mahrree, will you please accompany me outside?”
Mahrree gave Perrin a confused look, and he returned it.
The Forest at the Edge of the World Page 25
