Soldier at the Door(34)
Zenos nodded. “I’m sure your father’s very proud that you gave your son your family name.”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “He passed away when I was a teenager.” She flinched inside again. Why was she saying so much to this boy?
Zenos looked down at Jaytsy. “I’m sorry about your father, ma’am. I lost my mother when I was very young. If ever I have a daughter I’ll name her Meiki, in remembrance.”
Mahrree was surprised at how much sympathy she suddenly felt for him, but she did nothing more than smile slightly. “That’s a nice idea, Private.”
“Well!” he said suddenly and looked up at her. His blue eyes looked a little damp, but his engaging grin was back. “I suppose I’ll be on my way then, ma’am. It was good to meet you and your children. They’re adorable!”
Mahrree laughed. “Really? If you think flattering me will get you promoted more quickly—”
Zenos turned red. “Oh no, ma’am! That’s not my intention!”
“I know, I know!” she chuckled. “I was only teasing you.”
“Understood, ma’am.” He grinned again in such a manner that any woman under twenty-five would have swooned. Probably many over twenty-five as well.
Mahrree’s mind ran through all the girls she knew, wondering which one might be an interesting match for him.
“I hope you have a good evening,” he said as he let himself out of the gate. “And a good evening is when both babies are asleep for an hour at the same time.”
Mahrree pointed at him. “Now, how would you know that?” She raised her eyebrows. “Are you a father?” Maybe it was already too late for her former students . . .
He shook his head quickly. “No, no—not at all! Maybe someday, but . . .” He looked flustered. “It’s just, it’s just what an older woman in my congregation back home used to say. I remembered it because it sounded funny.”
Mahrree nodded. “Well, she’s right. And Private Zenos, thank you again.”
---
That evening when Perrin came home, Mahrree told him she met his latest recruit.
“Really? Because he deserted almost as soon as he signed up.”
Mahrree’s mouth fell open. “Zenos deserted?!”
Perrin’s face relaxed. “No, not Zenos. A new boy I had come in today. Most skittish thing I’ve ever seen. I have to confess, I’m not disappointed he left. I had a feeling he’d be monopolizing my time. General Cush sent a message only last week detailing how commanders need to help along the reluctant soldiers, how we’re ‘each responsible for making the recruits feel needed.’” He rolled his eyes. “Bit of a relief to realize I won’t have to follow Cush’s advice and spend an hour each day turning that trembling thing into a hardened soldier. What are boys like that even thinking when they sign up?”
“That you would take him under your wing like a mother hen, I guess. And then spend an hour each day with him? That doesn’t sound like your father’s idea.”
Perrin glowered. “It sounds like the Command Board’s idea, if you ask me. Three Administrators is three too many. My father sent a note suggesting I discourage, in a most careful way of course, those soldiers that take an inordinate amount of time to train. According to Zenos, the forest discouraged him all by itself.” His face brightened. “So, speaking of Zenos, what did you think of him?”
“He actually walked me and the children home, and taught Jaytsy how to throw rocks. We better make sure she’s not aiming for the windows.”
Perrin chuckled. “That sounds like Zenos.”
“He seems to be a nice young man. Never had a soldier volunteer to walk me home before. Besides you,” she smiled. “And even you didn’t walk me all the way home from the market when we were debating.”
“He is unusual,” Perrin said thoughtfully. “I must admit, he’s fast becoming one of my favorites. Walking my family home certainly helped solidify his claim.”
Earlier Mahrree had a few fluttering doubts about him, but if he was one of Perrin’s favorites, she could let those doubts fly away.
“Mahrree, I just had a thought—what if I make him my messenger to you?”
“He’d be better than Corporal Yip. The last time he came by Jaytsy was throwing a temper tantrum, and by the distressed look on Yip’s face you would have thought she was a Guarder committing suicide.”
“All right, then,” Perrin decided. “Our children require someone with a sterner stomach than Corporal Yip. I guess Zenos is our man.”