Soldier at the Door(51)

Perrin didn’t get it. That wasn’t the way he usually felt the Creator’s promptings.

He rubbed his forehead and stared at the timbers criss-crossing the dark ceiling, trying to deduce what Zenos may have done to trip this trap of worry in his mind.

Nothing came.

You’re the bear he’s tamed. Now consider—why would mountain lions roll over in submission to him?

Not even Hogal picked up anything unworthy about the boy. Perrin had made a point of inviting Zenos to Holy Day services, and to his surprise, the young man was eager to go. No one else from the fort ever went to listen to Rector Densal, but Zenos did, with rapt attention.

After the first meeting Perrin introduced Zenos to his great uncle, and then he watched Hogal as the two of them chatted. No one was a greater judge of character than Hogal Densal, and later he pulled Perrin aside during the congregational midday meal.

“Excellent young man there, Perrin! I see wonderful things in his eyes.”

“Really?” Perrin was surprised, and relieved. Already he had been taken by the boy, but he wanted a reason—and at the same time didn’t—to be suspicious of him. “The name hasn’t struck you as interesting?”

Hogal shrugged. “Haven’t heard it come up, but I’ll do a bit of asking around if you’d like.”

That was exactly what Perrin had wanted. The rectors throughout the world had their own communication system, quietly outside of the forts and law enforcers. Few people besides the rectors and their wives knew about that, and Perrin was one of those few. He understood that not every missing wife wanted to be found, not all runaway children should be returned to their parents, and some young men weren’t really out simply to “explore the world.”

But apparently Shem Zenos was. No one yet had sent word to Hogal that Zenos was wanted elsewhere.

So Perrin had allowed himself to be won over by the perennially cheerful, astute, and charismatic young man. Zenos never let him down.

So why the worry?

He cleared his throat loudly next to his wife dozing next to him, and Mahrree automatically mumbled, “Peto’s crying?”

“No, but I’m glad you’re awake. I’ve been thinking . . . about Zenos watching our children.”

She chuckled groggily. “I can’t believe he agreed to that. In a way, I wish we could spy on him the entire time to see how well he does.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” he nodded in the dark. His spy glass at the fort could come in handy.

“Perrin,” Mahrree said, now more awake and with an earnestness in her voice. “Can I say something about the private?”

Perrin tensed next to her. Here it comes. She could evaluate character as well.

“You may not like what I have to say, but I just can’t keep it in any longer.”

He nodded again, even though he knew she couldn’t see him. He needed to hear it from someone else, and not only from that unfamiliar voice in his mind. He needed confirmation that he should be suspicious, that Shem Zenos—

“Here it is,” Mahrree announced. “While I was watching him with Peto, I couldn’t help but think, ‘Shem Zenos is THE most adorable soldier I’ve ever seen!”

She giggled as Perrin groaned. That wasn’t exactly what he was expecting.

Then again, as he continued to pretend he was annoyed with her evaluation, he realized that was exactly he was hoping to hear: Mahrree liked Shem Zenos, too.

“I still think we should find him a girl,” Mahrree decided. “Some of my former students are his age. One of them might be a good match. I know—Teeria!”

Perrin cringed. “The giggler?”

“No,” Mahrree said. “That’s Sareen.”

“So the hair-tosser, then.”

Mahrree sighed in exasperation. “I told you—Hitty’s visiting her grandmother for a few seasons.”

It wasn’t as if keeping up with the comings and goings of teenage girls was the biggest priority in his life. “So . . . the smart one?”

“Yes! Shem strikes me as the kind of boy that would appreciate a thoughtful girl like Teeria.”

Perrin pursed his lips. “She’s rather calm, though.” That was a nice way of saying dull, sober, and as vibrant as a rotting cabbage.

“And a good balance for his exuberance, I would think. Teeria would be a good match for such an excellent young man.”

Excellent young man.

Everyone thinks that, Perrin thought to himself.

So why wouldn’t the doubting voice leave him alone?





Chapter 6 ~ “We’re trying to make a good impression!”





Leaving the house two days later happened in starts and stops. Mahrree had hoped for an early snow to cancel their plans, but the late Harvest day was sunny and the cold was tolerable. Before they left, Mahrree had to kiss her babies.