“Sounds like you’ve been watching my mother cook.”
“So, my tiny daughter,” he whispered to her, “how do you feel about . . . Jaytsy?”
Mahrree blinked. “You came up with that rather quickly.”
“Jaytsy,” he said again, trying out her name. “Jaytsy . . . Well Mahrree, what else should I have been doing for the last two hours while pacing between here and the fort? I wasn’t worrying about Guarders.”
“You were coming up with baby names?”
“I should be doing something useful, don’t you think?” He smiled at his baby.
Mahrree grinned. “I like it—Jaytsy Shin. Just out of curiosity, what boy names did you come up with?”
He looked at her. “I didn’t think of any boy names. Only girls’.”
That’s when Mahrree started to cry.
Perrin smiled at his tiny girl. “Don’t be alarmed by your mother’s behavior, little Jaytsy. Your Grandmother Shin left me another list for what to expect after you were birthed. Crying is on top. It means she’s happy you’re finally here. And so am I.”
Mahrree sobbed loudly.
---
Two men sat in the dark office of an unlit building.
“A girl?” the second man said, concerned.
Mal chuckled mirthlessly. “I’m curious to see what happens next. I could tell Relf was trying to make the most of it, but in his eyes I could see his disappointment. Such a manly son, and all he can produce is a female? Ha!”
His partner waved that off. “Oh, I’m sure High General Shin isn’t that perturbed by a granddaughter. Without women, there would be no more men, after all. She could still be the mother of another general someday—”
“But Joriana Shin is apparently quite pleased,” Mal said, narrowing his eyes. “You sure there isn’t some way women can’t influence the kind of baby they birth? Some way they sleep, or eat, or carry it—”
The second man laughed. “If there is, every woman would want to know the secret! Granted, men have suspected since the beginning that women communicated things we’ll never understand, but knowledge as to how give birth to a girl rather than a boy?”
Mal’s shoulder twitched at his companion’s continued laughter. “It was a legitimate question.”
His companion wiped his eyes. “So what do you think will ‘happen next,’ as you so ominously put it?”
“He can’t be happy with this,” said Mal with a developing sneer. “What if having a baby wasn’t even his idea? What if it was hers?”
“So what?”
Mal sighed impatiently. “Sometimes you’re so slow. Of what use is a girl to a man like him?”
“Many men actually enjoy their daughters,” the other man explained. “Find them not as disappointing as their sons.”
“Speculation,” Mal clasped his hands in front of him. “We will soon see evidence that he is disappointed by having a daughter.”
“Such as?”
Mal shrugged. “Some male animals neglect their young. Some leave the mate to raise the offspring herself. Bears have been known to destroy cubs to reduce competition.”
The second man studied his companion. “Interesting that you automatically assume some level of neglect or abuse. That’s what you’re biased to look for, so you’ll likely miss what actually happens. Rather sloppy science, Nicko.”
“I’m expecting a counter speculation, Doctor!” Mal said coldly.
The second man nodded once. “Counter speculation, then: Shin will surprise us—or rather, you—again. We’ll soon see evidence that he does enjoy his daughter, and is open-minded enough to see how females are also necessary to the furthering of the world.”
Mal’s mouth moved into position of a smile, but nothing else on his face did. “Oh, how I enjoy your naiveté. So optimistic. Just fills me with warm thoughts of butterflies and flowers. Will you be travelling to Edge to bring the precious infant a pair of knitted booties, then?”
“What a wonderful idea,” the man said. “I’ve always wanted to check out the fishing in Edge.”
Mal glowered as his companion snorted a laugh.
---
On Perrin and Mahrree’s first wedding anniversary, the 38th Day of Weeding 292, they didn’t celebrate like many other couples did to commemorate their first year together by eating in the marketplace or going to the amphitheater. Instead they sat leaning against each other on their sofa, Perrin cradling their three-moons-old little girl who slept peacefully in his arms, while Mahrree closed her eyes in relief that Jaytsy had been quiet for more than an hour, for once.