Soldier at the Door(46)

“I am the commanding officer of the Administrators’ Army of Idumea, ordered to protect the citizens of Edge,” he declared in a worrisome tone. “The area is unsafe and would present an inviting target to Guarders looking for food, weapons, animals and . . . unsuspecting women wearing silk.” His voice dripped doom. “They love silk.”

Mrs. Hili began to swoon backwards again. “I’m . . . I’m sure it will be rethought, Captain. It was only a suggestion by some of the developers, you see . . . when they were looking for land for new school buildings, they noticed the catapult fields across from the fort—”

“Wait a minute,” Mahrree interrupted her. “Developers are already looking for land?”

“Of course! Our children will undoubtedly perform well on the test, and we’ll get our building.”

“And if they do poorly on next year’s test, do they have to give back the bribe?” Mahrree asked in all seriousness.

Jaytsy pulled on her mother’s dress and began to holler for her attention.

Mrs. Hili shook her head. “This is so hard for you, I can see. Don’t worry, Mahrree,” she said as Mahrree bent down to pick up Jaytsy, who had sprung a leak from her nose. “This difficult time will be over soon enough, then you can get back to living in the world with the rest of us.”

Mahrree was bewildered. “What do you mean, this difficult time will be over soon enough? What time?”

“The time you’re tied up by demanding little children! Truly, you’ll soon forget how difficult this was once they’re old enough to go to school.” She winced as Jaytsy demonstrated her high pitched scream and ability to kick in all directions at the same time.

Mahrree tried to hand her to Perrin, and Jaytsy added flailing to her list of skills. Perrin took Jaytsy, held her at arm’s length to avoid being bruised, and walked her back to the kitchen.

Mahrree sighed and said, “It’s bathing time, but I guess that’s obvious. My children have me tied?”

The thought had never occurred to Mahrree. True, her life was completely different now. And she didn’t participate in anything outside of the house. And she hadn’t thought about the condition of her hair in nearly two years. Or the condition of her clothes. Or her house. Or garden.

But caring for these little children, who she thought were funny more often than frustrating, loving more often than loud, was an honor. It said so in The Writings, and she’d chosen to believe it from the moment she knew she was expecting her firstborn. And choosing to believe it had made all the difference in her attitude as a mother.

Were they difficult? Yes.

Demanding?

For some reason that word just didn’t seem right. It suggested that she and Perrin hadn’t invited them to be part of their family. An infestation of roaches suddenly filled her mind.

Mrs. Hili shook her head gently at Mahrree’s mystified face. “You really need to get out once in a while. Captain!” she called past Mahrree. “Find someone to stay with your children one evening, and take this poor thing out to see the world.”

Perrin poked his head out the kitchen door. In his arms was Jaytsy, squirming to put back on the clothes Perrin was trying to take off. “Are you volunteering?” he asked with a wicked smile.

Mahrree knew he would never want Mrs. Hili watching his children, but he was never one to pass up an opportunity to tease an unsuspecting citizen. Mahrree sighed to herself.

It was useless to ask her mother to watch the children. Hycymum was the kind of woman who loved the idea of children, but struggled to know how to deal with the actual manifestations. She lavished clothing and gifts on them, but she couldn’t stand their noise, energy, constant demands, sticky parts, and wet patches.

Their great-great-aunt loved them too, but Tabbit was slowing down considerably to the point that Peto could now out-crawl her.

When Joriana had visited at the end of Weeding Season for a few weeks, Perrin and Mahrree actually escaped a few times to the concerts. Mahrree enjoyed getting out, albeit for only an hour at a time because she worried about her babies, but now with her mother-in-law gone there was no else they trusted.

Perrin certainly didn’t trust Mrs. Hili, but Mahrree knew he was looking forward to her reaction.

She turned almost as red as the burgundy stripes on her dress. “Gracious, no!” she flustered and fanned herself despite the cold outside.

Perrin smiled in satisfaction.

“I have too many things to do,” she tried to explain. “But certainly you can find someone to help poor Miss Mahrree. Now, I really must go. The performance will have started.”

Mahrree stood at the door for a few moments watching Poe’s mother glide down the cobblestones in a hurry. She wondered what Poe was doing now. And where was his father?