“Then so will I, as well as pray for many other things,” Perrin murmured.
“For what it’s worth, Perrin, I think you would make a fantastic general. The world needs to be led by men like you.”
“Right now, I think I’d do better leading a herd of cattle.”
Hogal smiled faintly. “You need to go, Perrin. I feel that nothing will happen tonight, but very soon. You need to start preparing immediately.”
“I feel it too. We’ll be up all night working on plans. I refuse to give in to the Refuser. Hogal, pray for me?”
“I always am, my boy.”
---
Mahrree’s mouth moved up and down before she could make any words come out. “But . . . you barely got in! And you have to go out again? All night?!”
“I’m sorry, again,” he said, kissing her on the lips. “But you just said, you haven’t felt any pains since midday meal, right? Maybe the danger has passed.”
She didn’t kiss him back. “But . . . I was really counting on you being here tonight.”
His eyes sparked mischievously. “Mm, so was I! A few things to argue about . . .”
Mahrree exhaled in exasperation. “You know what I mean! Besides that.” She giggled in spite of her frustration. “I need an extra set of hands to help me with her,” she gestured to Jaytsy who was crawling fast to her father.
“I ran into Tabbit this afternoon, and she said she can come over to help tomorrow. She can give Jaytsy a bath in the morning, and I’ll get her tired before I leave,” he said, picking up his daughter. He grunted loudly as he pretended to strain at the effort, and Jaytsy squealed. “You’re so big!” he rubbed noses with her. “Look at my big girl, and those tiny teeth, sharp as knives! I should start feeding you steak.”
Mahrree couldn’t stay mad at him, not when he played with his daughter who adored him.
Jaytsy grabbed at his face and squealed again as he tried to bite her fingers. They always played more aggressively than Mahrree did. She sat and read books to her daughter, which was about all she could handle right now. But Jaytsy didn’t mind; she saved up all her energy for her father. He growled at her, she screamed at him—they were a great combination.
Mahrree plopped on the sofa and grumbled.
Perrin put Jaytsy on the floor and started crawling and growling after her. Jaytsy growled too, screamed in delighted terror, then turned to bat at her father.
“You’re turning her into a wild animal. You know that, don’t you?” Mahrree accused.
“I’m toughening her up!” Perrin said in a loud growl which Jaytsy matched.
“When do you have to leave?”
“In about ten minutes!” he roared. Jaytsy screamed and laughed.
“And when will you be back?”
“I’m not sure!” he howled in a wolf impersonation. Jaytsy started to chase him back, gnashing her small teeth.
“And your father didn’t tell you about this until now?”
“The message came in the late afternoon.” Perrin scrambled to hide behind a stuffed chair. Jaytsy kept up her pursuit, giggling all the way.
“So for how many nights?”
“Unsure!” he cried in a mock squeal of horror as Jaytsy touched his leg and roared at him.
“Days? Weeks?”
“Maybe!”
“Can you come home during the day? To sleep? For us to see you?”
“I’ll try!” he squealed in a high pitch as he scramble-crawled away from Jaytsy. “Have to get a clean uniform!” Jaytsy was laughing so hard she could barely crawl.
“Yes, Jaytsy’s looking exhausted now. I thank you for that,” Mahrree said, dejected. “It’s so cold outside, too. Full fort night patrols? Really, what kind of Guarders will be out now?”
“We’re drilling in case they change their tactics!” he said in the frantic tone of one being pursued by an infant with sharp teeth and a desire to taste her first meat. He came around the sofa where Mahrree sat, got up on his knees and kissed her belly. Panting, he looked up into her worried face. “I’ll dress warmly, and I’ll be just fine. You stay here and . . . don’t worry.” He kissed her again and this time she returned it.
“I don’t like the sound of this, Perrin. For some reason I’m feeling very uneasy.”
He waved that off. “That’s just your condition,” he assured her, putting his hand on her belly. Whoever was in there rolled and kicked at his hand. Perrin chuckled as Mahrree grimaced. “Jaytsy never kicked that hard, did she?”
“Not that I remember,” Mahrree said. “But the motion is very much like you at night. I’m guessing Little Perrin is in there this time.”