Perrin’s eyebrows flew upwards. “She said what?”
“That no matter what anyone said, you really weren’t a spy. At least, you wouldn’t be a very good one, since you hadn’t been by to get any good gossip off of her yet.”
Mahrree gripped his arm in a futile gesture of calming.
“Mahrree . . .” Perrin growled.
“I’m on it!” she promised, and jogged next door to her mother’s house where her sewing ladies were just arriving. Their nervous glances fell frequently on the major who stood glaring at his mother-in-law’s house, his arms folded and his stance tense.
Several minutes later Mahrree came out and over to her husband and family. “She’s agreed to not try to help us anymore, but only if you’ll come over to her club meeting and sample her new ee-clares in front of all her ladies—”
Mr. Arky chuckled as Perrin groaned.
“Mahrree . . .”
“And tell her friends how much you like them.” She squinted meaningfully.
He had to admit later they were rather tasty, even though the women giggled at him when cream filling dribbled down his chin in an undignified manner.
“Undignified is precisely what they needed to see,” Mahrree assured him as they walked home that warm afternoon, the children lying on top of each other and dozing in the wagon. “You were much more a long-suffering son-in-law than a fearsome commander. That goes a long way with the gray hairs.”
“Hopefully it goes all the way through the rest of the village,” he sighed.
“Give it a few weeks,” she said, hugging his arm. “Let Edge talk amongst themselves as they weed this season. People love to gossip when they’re hands and knees in the dirt. Let’s see what stories grow and then go on from there.”
“Stories,” Perrin whispered as if it was a disgusting word.
“Yes, people believe stories. They like stories, much more than they like facts,” Mahrree insisted. “And today the story is, Perrin Shin is a devastatingly handsome man with an utterly charming wife, two adorable children, a hideous dog, and he is—best of all—nice to his mother-in-law. You’re golden.”
“The whole village doesn’t see me the same way you do.” He smiled.
“Right there! That smile. Get rid of that stiff, fake one and let others see that one.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t need that kind of competition, my wife.”
She laughed.
His smile faded. “You’re right about stories, Mahrree. But too often they twist the wrong way. Nothing even has to change—and actually, nothing has—but everyone perceives there’s been a change, and their imaginations create far worse ‘facts’ as to what that means. They could just as easily assume that Perrin Shin is a devious man who uses his family to make a good impression. Then, when the people trust him again, he sweeps in with his army and takes over the village! Just like the army did when they rebelled against King Querul the Second.”
Mahrree exhaled. “I don’t think people know history well enough to remember that happened. And it was only for several moons that the army and the king sparred against each other. There wasn’t even that much bloodshed, only a lot of posturing and assuming and insinuations—”
“Just like now,” he said dully.
She groaned. “Can’t think like that. Keep smiling. And waving.” She demonstrated by waving to a couple of girls walking a cow along the side of the road opposite of them.
They smiled timidly at Mahrree.
She elbowed her husband. “I said smile, soldier!” she hissed.
He attempted a sort-of-handsome-but-trying-too-hard-so-it-was-actually-creepy grin and waved reluctantly.
The girls broke into a nervous jog, dragging the complaining cow behind them.
---
Lieutenant Heth marched smartly up the wide white stone stairs into the Administrative Headquarters, nodding to the pages in short red jackets who held open the doors.
Another Command School student was marching out at the same time, slightly pale. His bi-annual interview with Chairman Mal must not have gone as well as he hoped.
Heth smirked and continued on down to the Chairman’s office, and was soon ushered in.
“Sit, Heth,” Mal said simply as he perused a document in his hands. “You know which chair.”
“Yes, sir,” Heth said, taking a seat directly in front of Mal’s large desk. He waited, sitting at attention. Part of the interview was the waiting. Mal liked to see how long it took a young man to squirm.
“I’m looking at your marks here,” Mal said after several minutes.
“May I explain, sir?” Heth licked his lips. “You see—”
Mal looked up at him. “Did I give you permission?”
Heth gulped. First failure, already. He shook his head. “No, sir.”
“Truly surprising,” the Chairman said slowly rereading the page. “Well, then, I suppose all that’s left to say is, Congratulations on graduating early.”
Heth was stunned silent, his eyebrows furrowing. “Uh, but sir, my marks—”
Mal tossed the page into the fire.
Heth had wondered why Mal had a fire burning on his hearth on one of the hottest days of the year.
“Oh, dear,” Mal said plainly. “Well, I knew the numbers on that. Lieutenant Heth, you will retrieve your things from the dormitories and move into your new room tonight.”
Heth dared to smile. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir! Who do I report to at the garrison?”
“Not the garrison,” Mal smiled thinly. “My mansion.”
Heth couldn’t have prevented his eyebrows from shooting upwards even if both hands were holding them down. “The mansion, sir?”
“Been a few years since you’ve been there, hasn’t it, Sonoforen? Thought you might enjoy staying there again.”
“I would, sir, I would! My father had a guest room for me—”
“Which has remained untouched, I assure you. A bit of cleaning, but otherwise . . .”
Heth grinned fully now. “Dormin will be so jealous—”
“Where is he?” Mal said, his cutting tone suddenly so frosty it nearly extinguished the fire.
“I still don’t know,” Heth admitted. “Haven’t heard anything from him. But if I do, you’ll be the first to know.”
Mal nodded once. “Now, you understand I’m not letting you stay at the mansion as a reward, but so that I can train you more fully.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course, sir.” He licked his lips again. “Does this mean the time is getting ripe?”
“There’s something being planned right now, yes. But that’s not what I want you for. Twice already my testing of a certain general’s son has produced unsatisfactory results. Despite all my efforts, there’s a slim chance there will be a third failure, so that’s why you’ll be in place for the fourth attempt. You’ll be my fail-safe.”
Heth smiled formally. “Thank you, sir. I look forward to serving you and the general in any ways that I can.”
“Well said,” Mal nodded. “Now, I want you to keep very quiet and to yourself. Now more than ever it’s essential that we keep your identity unknown. No one in my mansion has ever seen you before, and it will be known that I have selected you, along with another new officer, as additional guards because I’m feeling insecure about my safety.”
“Understood, sir.”
“Good. Now, when you arrive at the mansion, I’ll have someone waiting who will prepare you for the next situation.”
“Yes, sir. How will I recognize him, sir?”
“Everyone can recognize Gadiman, Heth. Ever seen a nauseated weasel?”
---
“So,” Perrin said with the weight of boulders as he trudged into the kitchen for dinner. “Heard any new stories today?”
Mahrree bit her lip. “Unfortunately yes,” she sighed. “What is it with these people? Did you know that the commander in Winds has supposedly stationed soldiers at every intersection? And in Coast, anyone coming to see the wa
ves at the shore has to sign a form first? And no one knows why, but soldiers are holding the forms!”
Perrin groaned and slumped down on a chair in the kitchen. “I know why those things are happening, but what’s the rumor in Edge?”
“The soldiers are plotting,” Mahrree said mysteriously, “And no one knows what, but it’s creeping to Edge, just you wait and see! That major is plotting something!” She rolled her eyes. “Edgers are the most suspicious people in the world.”
He shrugged. “Sounds like people in Winds and Coast are suspicious, too.”
“So, what are the facts?”
“Not nearly as interesting as the stories. Except for maybe Coast,” he added thoughtfully. “You see, some visitors there a few weeks ago were actually wading in the water—”
“They went in?” Mahrree was aghast.
Even the bravest fishermen never waded in the salt water if they could avoid it. What dangers it held, no one knew. It was no wonder that the Guarders that tried to attack by sea several moons ago drowned in it.
Perrin nodded soberly. “Then the strangest thing happened. These huge fish, larger than people, came right up to them. Had these tall fins on their backs and blew air out of a hole on top of their heads. They even seemed to be trying to communicate, making these squeaking sounds.”
“Did the people die?” she asked breathlessly.
“No, they ran right out of there. The giant fish swam off, a few even leaping in the air, as if patrolling the waters to make sure no people go in. So yes, there are a few soldiers posted there to watch for any more incidents, and to warn people. Several visitors have even given their names and home villages to the soldiers in case something happens to them and a giant fish rushes out of the water and eats them or something.”
Mahrree exhaled. “The soldiers are there protecting them. But that’s not what the world wants to believe, is it?”
“And in Winds, they’ve had some problems with too many wagons on the roads. The main bridge over the Wind River washed out, so soldiers were redirecting wagons to other roads, which caused a few jams. Until the bridge is repaired, yes, soldiers are on a few intersections trying to prevent accidents.”
“Well, there goes all the mystery from that story,” Mahrree said. “But no one in Edge will believe it. And giant fish? They’ll think that’s a diversion from the real story—the commander at Coast is taking over!”
“Ha,” Perrin said mirthlessly. “The commander at Coast is a fat colonel older than my father who wants nothing more than to eat crabs and watch all the old men walk along the shore with their old wives for their twentieth wedding anniversaries.” He rolled his eyes. “The only thing he’d ever take over is the best bench.”
Mahrree blinked. “You think we’ll be old at age forty-eight for our twentieth anniversary?”
“You know what I mean.”
She went to stand behind him and massaged his broad, tight shoulders. “I think you’re going to have to do something.”
“Our twentieth anniversary isn’t for seventeen more years. We just celebrated our third, remember? Shem came over to watch the children and—”
“No!” she laughed. “I mean—”
“I know what you mean,” he said, dejected. “Phase Two. I have to put a stop to this, at least here in Edge. I have to win their hearts and minds all over again.”
Mahrree cringed. “I really don’t want to debate in public again. It’s been so long—”
“I was thinking about a debate, but I wasn’t thinking about you,” he assured her.
“Why not?” she asked, suddenly feeling insulted.
“There’s someone else who needs to make himself known here, too. And for that, I’ll need your help.”
---
It was with almost perverse pleasure that Mahrree knocked on the door of the small shed the next afternoon. She held her breath with anticipation.
“Come in?” called the timid voice.
Mahrree threw open the door, hitting the large desk as she did so.
“Ah, Mrs. Shin!” Mr. Hegek was visibly relieved as he stood to greet her. “I thought you were someone else looking for another shovel.”
“No, no. You’re exactly the man I want to see. You see, I have a problem—” She leaned towards him, friendlier than she ever had before.
The poor man actually attempted a small smile.
“As it is, the entire village has a problem, and I believe you’re the man who can help fix it.”
His smile vanished as his little green eyes tripled in size. “Me? Are you sure?”
“Oh yes, absolutely. You see, Edge is . . . well, edgy right now. Administrative changes to the schools, the forts, the magistrates—everyone is imagining the worst about people they used to know and don’t know at all,” she hinted.
“Are you talking about me?” he whispered.
She really didn’t know what people thought of him, but she knew what she thought. “I swear you live in this shack, Mr. Hegek.”
He glanced nervously around as if she could tell.
She suddenly felt enormous sympathy for him, and regretted ever thinking him to be an arm of the Administrators. He was barely a fingernail, and a clipped one at that.
“Mr. Hegek,” she smiled sweetly, sincerely, “let’s give Edge an opportunity to get to know and trust you. You’re in charge of all the schools that begin again next week, but how many parents have you met?”
“A, a, a, a few,” he stammered.
“You’re going to meet them all, and this is how: you mentioned that you enjoyed debating as a boy, right? Well, no one here has dared have a public debate since the changes were made with the fort. I think everyone’s afraid they may say something wrong.”
“With, with, with . . . your husband now, now in charge.” He nodded too frequently.
“He’s not happy about any of this either, Mr. Hegek,” Mahrree confided quietly. “And he also enjoys debating. He hasn’t had a worthy opponent since we married, and I think he may be a bit rusty, but that’s all right—”
“Wait, wait, wait . . . whoa, hold on,” Hegek held up his hands to stop her. “Are you suggesting that I debate . . . debate . . .” His hands moved, but his mouth couldn’t anymore. Slowly he sank back into his chair.
“My husband, yes. On the 63rd Day of Weeding, the day school starts next week. It will be perfect—you can go to each of the schools, introduce yourself, tell them that you expect to see all the children and their parents in the amphitheater that night—”
That’s when Mahrree realized that many parts of the director still hadn’t moved. His hands were still up, failing to stop any of her words, and his mouth twisted oddly.
She bit her lip as his chin began to tremble.
“Oh, Mr. Hegek, he’s really a big softy!” she assured him, hoping her voice didn’t carry out of his office-shack. “This will be good! It will allow the village to get to know you better and show that Major Shin approves of debates. You have yet to meet my husband. I promise his reputation is much more fearsome than the real man. People used to love him, up until several weeks ago.”
Mr. Hegek’s hands finally came together to start massaging each other.
“I, I, I, I . . . understand he’s killed a dozen Guarders,” he whispered as if it were a great secret.
Mahrree leaned in closer. “There’s some debate about the actual number single-handedly,” she whispered back, “but . . . are you a Guarder?”
He gasped and blinked. “No! Of course not!”
Mahrree stood back up and smiled. “Then you have nothing to worry about! Perrin?”
The director nearly slid out of his chair in terror when his door flew open, catching again on the great desk. Ducking so as to not crack his head on the low door, the major marched into this office with a big smile and an outstretched hand.
“Good afternoon!”
“Major!” Hegek whimpered. He braced himself with his toes and tried to push himself back up i
nto sitting position. He looked at Perrin’s still outstretched hand and, deciding he should probably stand in his presence, looked for a clean spot on his desk to push himself up. Instead, he knocked over a large stack next to the edge of the desk and a landslide of directives floated aimlessly to the floor.
Perrin stepped quickly around the desk, grabbed the traumatized director’s hand, and pulled him effortlessly to a standing position.
“Just call me Perrin,” he said as kindly as he could.
Mr. Hegek, shriveled to shorter than Mahrree, looked up into Perrin’s face and nodded. Then he turned to Mahrree with pleading in his eyes.
“I’ll leave you two alone to decide a topic. You don’t need me meddling!” and she closed the door. A distinct whimper leaked from the shed as Mahrree walked briskly onto the school grounds to start giggling. Once she composed herself she circled the shack for several minutes, trying to hear what the muffled voices were saying.
Eventually she heard a distinct laugh from Perrin.
A few minutes later she heard an unfamiliar laugh; Perrin had won over the director.
About ten minutes later they emerged like old friends.
“Until three nights from now, Major Shin! And don’t be too confident. I may be only as tall as your wife, but I do more than flutter eyelashes to win a debate.” Mr. Hegek waved to Mahrree and walked back into his office with what Mahrree thought was almost a jaunty little step.
Mahrree turned on Perrin as they walked home. “Well done! And what did he mean by that, ‘flutter eyelashes’? What did you say to him?” She jabbed him gently in the ribs.
“I only gave him my version of our debates,” he said. “I told him I didn’t want any tricks played, and he became so nervous I thought every paper on his desk would slide away. So I told him what kinds of tricks I was talking about.” He winked at his wife and put his arm around her. “He lightened up considerably after that. I was sure you wouldn’t mind.”
“Well, when you put it that way, what can I say? What’s your topic?”
Soldier at the Door (Forest at the Edge) Page 25
