And at the end of those days, Private Zenos would shyly tip his blue cap at her and Sareen, and say, “Good evening, ladies.” Then he’d rush out the door, much to the girls’ weekly disappointment.
“Captain Shin,” Teeria bravely approached him one afternoon, “can’t you order him or something?”
Perrin folded his arms across his chest. “Order who to do what?”
Teeria gestured to the retreating jacket of Private Zenos, who was out the door in a flash. “Him! To talk or something!”
“What kind of something are you hoping for?” Perrin asked slyly.
Teeria turned bright red and mumbled, “Never mind,” as she stormed off to the kitchen to help start dinner.
One night, Perrin noticed when he arrived home as the boys were leaving, Teeria didn’t even try talking to Shem, but was banging some pots noisily in the kitchen.
So instead Sareen was giving it a worthy go as Shem gathered the arrows and bows he had brought to introduce the boys to archery. Next week Mahrree would bring them up to the indoor training arena at the fort, and four more soldiers would help Shem supervise the boys’ first attempts at shooting arrows.
Actually, Perrin realized as he looked around his gathering room, today was their first attempts, if the three arrows lodged in the oak ceiling were any sign.
“I mean, what’s it like, riding along the forest’s edge, never knowing when someone could pop out at you with a dagger?” Sareen giggled at Zenos who was crouched on the ground putting the arrows back into the quiver. The seventeen year-old hovered over the soldier like an eager bee waiting for Planting Season.
“Just . . . nothing much,” Zenos said, shrugging. He glanced up and regarded his commander with a combination of relief and dread in his eyes. “Sorry about that, sir,” he gestured to the ceiling.
Perrin stared at the odd sight of the fletching of an arrow just at his eye level. His gaze followed the shaft that went straight up into a timber.
“Remarkable that it’s my ceilings that suffer the most when it’s Zenos Day.” He yanked the arrow out, pursed his lips, and looked down at his cringing private.
“The boys—they get a little over-eager,” Zenos explained anxiously as he took the arrow out of the captain’s hand. “Mrs. Shin stepped out of the room to try to put Peto down for a nap, and since the wind was blowing quite fiercely today . . . I suppose it wasn’t the best idea to bring these in to the house.”
Perrin winked forgivingly at him. “That’s all right. It’ll look like some more knotholes once I pull them out.”
“Like the doors, sir? Can hardly tell, can you?” he asked hopefully. If he noticed Sareen so close to his side that she was practically crawling into his uniform, he gave no indication.
Perrin’s eyebrow arched. “Just how many went into the doors, Zenos?” He looked around.
Zenos snatched up the two bows on the ground. “I’m on duty in an hour, sir. Best get up to the fort for dinner—”
“You could stay here!” Sareen offered. “Eat with us!”
Perrin blinked at that. The girls never stayed to eat. That was probably why Sareen was avoiding his questioning glare.
“Have to get my sword,” Zenos said without looking at Sareen. “At least I’m wise enough not to wear that down here. Mrs. Shin?” Zenos looked past his ardent admirer and called to the kitchen, “I’ll be leaving now. Again, sorry about the arrows.”
Mahrree poked her head around the kitchen door. “You know my philosophy: if there’s no bloodshed—well, at least not a lot—then it was another successful day. Thank you, Shem!”
“Good-bye, ladies,” Zenos said, still not looking directly at Sareen.
A loud scoffing sound came from Teeria the kitchen, and Sareen gripped Zeno’s arm. “Good-bye, Private. Or may I call you Shem?”
Perrin held open the door for his private as Zenos’s ears turned pink. Without another word he charged out of the house, and Perrin shut the door behind him before Sareen could follow.
Sareen smiled in triumph. “I get to call him Shem!” She grinned and set off to tidy the gathering room.
Perrin shook his head. “I’ve got a lot to learn about teenage girls before Jaytsy becomes one,” he whispered to himself as he made his way over to the eating room table. A folded piece of parchment caught his eye. Before he could pick it up, Mahrree came through the door.
“Look what finally came!” she beamed as she unfolded it. “Dated three days ago, the 49th Day of Raining Season, and all the way from Idumea!”
Perrin held his breath as he took the letter from her hands. A moment later he sighed in relief.