“Dear Creator!” she whispered. “My husband’s not coming home tonight, is he? Please, help him!”
Much can be done in five minutes. Mahrree had practiced it, so she knew. Every window can be shut and barred with the exactly fitting iron reinforcements. Two sleeping children can be moved to their parents’ large bed upstairs which was secured with rails to prevent them from rolling out. The door to that room can be locked at the top and the bottom. The front and back doors can be bolted and secured, and Mahrree could still have time to kneel in prayer by the front window with the iron rod from her bedside clenched firmly in her hands. Barker was in the back garden, but she knew he’d be useless. Unless Guarders were afraid of drool.
Fast approaching horses’ hooves stopped suddenly behind her house. Her eyes flew open.
“Thank you!” Mahrree murmured to the ceiling and rushed to the back door. She saw a soldier leap over her back fence and run to the door. He ran right past the dog who rested, unperturbed, in his shelter. Mahrree opened the back door.
“Mrs. Shin, I have been sent by the fort to . . . Are you going somewhere?!”
---
Major Shin had been trying to go home for the past half hour, but each time he finished a conversation with one person, another took his place. Most of the residents of Edge were either staying to watch the acrobats or had gone home for the evening. But a few people still hung around the exit to the amphitheater waiting for their few congratulatory minutes with the major.
Perrin felt a bit guilty for being so late. He was sure his wife would understand about his having to win the hearts and minds of the people again. But now, for the past few minutes, he was feeling agitated.
A sudden flood of concern overwhelmed him. His left hand automatically patted his sword strapped to his side. Twice at home he had taken it off, thinking that a debate was no place to be armed. But each time as he removed it, a gnawing in his belly forced him to put it back on. Part of the uniform, he rationalized to himself as he finally left the house with his family, the heavy steel glinting at his side. Now he was thankful it was there, but he wasn’t sure why.
Something in the air felt wrong. The sun had set, but something else was changing the atmosphere besides the cool breeze coming from the north. Again a wave of concern overcame him, and in his mind he saw clearly Hogal and Tabbit. He knew he was no longer concentrating on the conversation he was having with a young miller. He couldn’t think of anything but his sword and the Densals.
The feeling came a third time so powerfully he started shaking his head at the confused young man.
“I’m very sorry, but you must excuse me. I need to—”
He didn’t finish his sentence. Instead, he sprinted his fastest across the village green towards the Densals’ house.
---
Mahrree was fastening her black cloak around her neck. This was not a time to be sitting in the house fretting. Something was happening near her mother’s house, she was sure of it.
“Yes, I’m leaving,” she said calmly to the soldier who stared at her in shock. “Now, Private, upstairs in the bedroom are the major’s children, asleep. They’ll most likely not awake until dawn—”
“Mrs. Shin,” the soldier sputtered, “I am here under strict orders to protect—”
“The major’s family, correct? Well, his family’s upstairs, where you should be.”
She ignored his wide open mouth which she could see clearly, even though it was growing dark.
“Don’t count on the dog for any assistance. Won’t even bark, as I’m sure you noticed. Now, every window is barred, and you’ll secure this door behind me. The main bedroom window is impossible to reach from the outside. All other entry points can be seen from the landing at the top of the stairs. That’s where I suggest you draw your sword and wait. No one gets to that bedroom, understand? Only the major or me. Do you understand?”
He nodded his head in surprise. “Yes ma’am, but, but . . .”
“But what, soldier?” she asked impatiently.
“I’m . . . I’m a soldier, not a baby tender!”
“Where’s Corporal Zenos?” Mahrree demanded, already knowing the answer.
“Most likely on patrol, ma’am.”
“Then you’re my new baby tender this evening! Now draw your sword!” She’d been practicing that commanding voice for the past year, matching the cadence her husband employed on the dog whenever he was on the sofa. It rarely worked.
But it worked on the soldier. The private drew his sword immediately and stared in surprise that he was obeying a woman.
Mahrree stepped out of the back door and glared at the young private. He nodded in startled obedience. Mahrree shut the door and heard it latch securely behind her. She turned around in time to see two more soldiers come running down the alley and jump over her fence. She wondered why she even had a gate.
“Mrs. Shin! We’ve been sent by Karna and Neeks to—”
“I know, provide protection. Very good. One of you take the front door,” she said authoritatively, “the other take the back. And don’t let the private that’s locked in my house out until the danger’s passed, even if he’s got a crying baby.”
The soldiers looked at each other in amazement as Mrs. Shin slipped quickly past them and down the alley into the night.
She heard a frantic, “Mrs. Shin! You can’t leave!”
But she was already out of their sight.
---
Perrin knew the fastest route to his great aunt and uncle’s house. North past the village green, between the rows of shops, up to the northwest along the road, turn west at the third intersection, then two houses down the alley to their back door. No, maybe he should go to the front instead, although he never used that door—
He saw the route over and over as he sprinted, wishing his legs would travel as fast as his mind. He leaped over a small fence, darted around another corner, and just as he came into view of the Densals’ house, he saw a figure in dark clothes dash to the back door of the Densals. It glanced his way before turning and kicking in the door.
“NO!” Perrin roared.
The figure lunged through the open door into the kitchen of the Densals.
Perrin was only seconds behind him, but seconds was all the intruder needed. As Perrin rushed to the opened back door he saw the Guarder punch the old rector in the jaw. Hogal slumped to the floor just as Perrin burst into the kitchen.
With a swift kick Perrin knocked the legs out from under the man in dark clothing, grabbed him around the throat, and dragged him, gasping for breath, out of the house to the back garden. The writhing Guarder produced a jagged dagger and twisted to slash Perrin. But Perrin kicked him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him.
In one smooth motion practiced thousands of times for this very moment, he swiftly drew his sword and plunged it into the man’s heart.
The Guarder was dead.
---
Mahrree’s bravery lasted until halfway to her mother’s house where she stopped to catch her breath and wonder what in the world she thought she was doing! She slipped into the relative safety of a large bush and tried to calm her heart that was beating far too rapidly.
“My mother,” she reminded herself as she took deep quiet breaths. Perrin’s duty was to Edge, her children were watched over, but her mother . . .
She peered out of the bush and looked cautiously around. What was she even running from? Or into? What was the danger that caused Karna or Neeks to send soldiers to guard her? Mahrree chided herself again for not asking the soldiers what was going on, but she knew if she went back now they’d never let her leave again. Major’s orders.
Somewhere in the distance glass tinkled, as if a large window had shattered, and she heard another cry for help.
---
Perrin pulled out his sword with grunt of satisfaction and spun back to the kitchen. “Hogal! Are you all right?” he shouted as he rushed in.
Tabbit was already on the
floor next to him, sobbing silently.
Hogal opened his eyes. “I’m sorry, my boy. You were right. I should have kept that door locked.”
Perrin shook his head as he crouched down next to him and carefully touched his cheek that was turning purple.
“That’s all right,” he said gently. “That’s what I’m here for.” He looked up at the open door, then quickly around the kitchen. “Always in twos . . . so where’s the other one?”
Tabbit fell into Perrin’s arms and he cradled her small, shaking body.
“It’s all right, Auntie. You’re safe now. I’m not going to leave you alone. You’re both coming with me.”
---
Mahrree peered out to the road. For some reason she thought it would be busy, but it was unnervingly still. She strained to see any activity and realized with a shudder that not every person running in the dark might be coming to her rescue. She thought of running back home but then remembered three armed soldiers were guarding her house.
Her babies were safe. Her mother wasn’t.
Mahrree took a deep breath, wished she had relieved herself at home before she left, and ran across the cobblestones in her best quiet run. Focused only on reaching her mother’s house, she heard a dog barking, then a distant shout on another road, but kept running.
I’m the brave wife of the major, she repeated to herself. I’m the brave wife of the major.
If she kept thinking it, she might believe it. To the right and a road or so away she heard men shouting. In front of her, two soldiers darted across the road towards the voices.
At least, she hoped they were soldiers.
I’m the brave wife of the major . . .
She surprised herself with how quickly she reached her mother’s. She ran first to the front door then changed her mind and crept around to the back. Through the windows she saw several candles were lit and she wondered how to enter the house without terrifying her mother. She peered through the new expensive, thin clear glass windows her mother had just installed and saw Hycymum already had company in the form of her neighbors, the Arkys, sitting around the kitchen table.
Mahrree stopped, strangely disappointed. Here she had run, bravely she reminded herself, and her mother was . . . entertaining guests?!
Then another thought struck her. Maybe her mother wasn’t in trouble. Maybe she didn’t even know anything was wrong. They were probably in there gossiping and Mahrree had run in dead terror to interrupt their dessert!
She sighed, feeling a little foolish, and knocked on the back door. Without waiting for a response she walked in.
“Merciful Creator!” her mother cried out. “Child, I thought you were one of them!”
The pale look of surprise on Hycymum’s face told Mahrree her mother did know there was trouble. That made her feel better, and a bit self-satisfied.
“Intruders don’t knock, Mother!” Mahrree insisted, shutting the door and locking it. She pointed at the door. “And why wasn’t that locked?!”
“How would you know intruders don’t knock?” Mrs. Peto demanded, now fanning herself.
Mahrree stopped. “I don’t know, I just assumed.” She shook her head in exasperation and latched the door herself. “I came to see if you’re all right. I heard a scream—”
That’s when she looked at closely at the Arkys for the first time. Mr. Arky was holding a thick wet cloth that was slowly growing red around his arm. His face looked bruised and cut, and he was visibly shaken, but he offered Mahrree a weak smile. Mrs. Arky was quietly sobbing as she took another cloth and dabbed small cuts around his face with it.
“Oh no!” Mahrree sat down on the remaining chair. “What happened?”
“They were in our house!” Mrs. Arky sniffled.
Her husband tried to pat her on the arm soothingly as she wiped his face again. He shifted uncomfortably in the chair, but Mahrree was sure it wasn’t because of her mother’s new lilac colored sheepskin covers.
“Who?” Mahrree looked at her mother.
“They’re still after him.” Hycymum shook her head. She stood up and picked up a large bowl which Mahrree hadn’t noticed until then. She dumped the water in the sink then pumped fresh cold water into the bowl and replaced it on the table. Mahrree was surprised at her mother’s relative calm, and the fact that she didn’t care blood was staining her second best table cloth or her third best kitchen cloths.
“We all came home from the debate together,” Hycymum explained. “By the way, Perrin looked so handsome up there tonight in his new jacket. It’s about time his father sent that. I’m sure I saw a few women swooning—”
“Mother!”
“I’m sorry. We came home together and the Arkys went into their home to find—,” her mother stumbled on the words, her voice suddenly becoming emotional, “—men fighting in their gathering room.”
“It was in shambles, Mahrree!” Mrs. Arky sobbed. “I don’t know if the Guarder did it or if fighting with the soldier did it.”
“Guarder!” Mahrree gasped. “Are you sure?” Guarders had never made it into the village before; Perrin had always stopped them at the forest’s edge.
But not this time.
Mr. Arky nodded. “He wore dark clothing and even had something smeared on his face to make it shadowy.”
“I think it rubbed all over the sofa when the soldier slammed him down on it,” Hycymum shook her head sadly. “We’ll have to spend some time on that stain, I’m afraid.” She picked up another cloth, soaked it in the water, and handed it to Mrs. Arky. As she wrapped her husband’s bleeding arm, Hycymum took the reddened cloth to the sink and wrung it out.
Mahrree was beside herself with anxiety. “So what happened?!”
Mr. Arky stopped his wife’s wiping for a moment and gently held her arm. He was a man who liked to get right to the point.
“We saw the door was opened when the three of us came home. Your mother was going to join us for some dessert. We looked in, saw two men throwing each other around the room—”
Mahrree put a worried hand to her face.
“—my wife screamed, your mother gasped, my wife screamed again—”
The two screams she heard, Mahrree thought. She nodded her head for him to continue.
Mr. Arky plowed onward. “—The soldier and the Guarder continued fighting, I tried to help,” he held up his arm lamely in illustration, “and was shoved through the large window,” he pointed to his cut-up face. “Then the Guarder,” his voice grew husky as he recalled the image, “smashed the head of the soldier into the corner of the table—”
Mahrree winced and put both hands in front of her mouth. When Mr. Arky said the word “soldier,” she felt as if she had been hit in the stomach.
“As the soldier tried to stand up, the Guarder ran out the back door,” he continued, and seemed to be losing his breath. “Two more soldiers came out of nowhere in the alley and chased him down the road. I don’t know where they went. The soldier that was hurt . . . well, he wouldn’t even stay for us to help him. He had quite a gash on his head.”
Mrs. Arky started to sob again and Hycymum wiped a tear from her own face.
“He couldn’t run, or even walk straight,” Mr. Arky whispered. “He looked in bad shape as he stumbled from the house. I wished I could have stopped him, but,” Mr. Arky’s lip quivered as he tried to regain his composure. He shook his head and tried to smile instead. “Your husband’s men did a fine job tonight, Mrs. Shin.”
Mahrree sat with her hands covering her mouth, as if she could stop the terrible stream of words that were uttered. She half wished he hadn’t reached his point so quickly.
“Mahrree,” her mother said softly, tears falling down her face. “The soldier fighting the Guarder, I wished I could have helped him, but by the time I thought to go find him, it was too dark.”
“Well Mother, you shouldn’t have. You didn’t know who was out there! The Guarders always work in twos, so the other one could have been—”
“But Mahrree, I think the injured soldier was your Shem.”
Mahrree felt another punch to her stomach.
“Oh, Mother, no!” But she already knew. She knew it as soon as Mr. Arky mentioned a hurt soldier. Mahrree looked out the dark window, wondering if maybe her favorite corporal was lying out in the garden, or if she dared run out into the night again . . .
“Mahrree, I’m so sorry,” her mother’s words cut into her thoughts. “It’s too dangerous to consider going out again.”
Mahrree turned quickly to her mother.
“Yes, I know what you’re thinking. If you were foolish enough to come find me, you’d be foolish enough to go out looking for Shem. Don’t do it, Mahrree! Just stay here with me. Please?”
Mahrree hadn’t noticed before how fearful her mother’s eyes were. “Of course, Mother! That’s why I’m here. Three soldiers are watching the children, and Perrin wore his sword—”
She felt her chest tighten and suddenly into her mind flashed a horrible vision of Perrin lying on the ground in splashes of red. What she imagined must have reflected on her face.
Her mother reached over and grasped her hand. “He’ll get them, Mahrree! I have complete faith in our Perrin. You should too.”
Mahrree nodded her head and blinked back worried tears. She was the brave wife of the major, after all. She shouldn’t think of Perrin right now. Or their children, or of Shem. Or of anyone or anything else. It was no use. She was powerless to change anything, no matter how much she worried. She was stuck there. It would be worse than foolish to try to leave again alone. She felt chaos swirling throughout the village like a demented twister, and wondered how far it would travel before it died away.
She looked at the back door and suddenly knew what to do. It must be part of every woman’s constitution, because for generations women have done the same thing when faced with a crisis they were powerless to prevent or fight. Besides, it would give her an opportunity to look at the gardens for a blue uniform.
Soldier at the Door (Forest at the Edge) Page 27
