The Forest at the Edge of the World(163)

Hogal removed the last of the cotton and winced at the stitched bloody gash. In a few minutes they would be packing snow over his wound again.

“Hogal, I’ve run it over and over in my mind.” Perrin rested his chin on his hand and gazed into the fire. “That earlier incident, with the Guarder I hit only in the hip with my arrow, I could imagine a few scenarios for why he suffered a wound in the chest. Fell on his own dagger, or his companion stabbed him, or he fell on a broken stump . . . But that thirteenth Guarder, there’s simply no explanation. I was losing consciousness as he was choking me. It took all my remaining strength to thrust the knife behind me, and I didn’t have a lot force going over my shoulder. There’s no way I slipped and stabbed him in the neck. The wound was too deep, at the wrong angle, and delivered by someone with great strength. Even after he released me, I wouldn’t have been in any condition to take him out until I could breathe easily again. Hogal, someone else was in that forest!”

Hogal nodded slowly. “I can’t think of any other explanation, either.”

“My question is,” Perrin whispered, “who? How? Why?”

“That’s actually three questions, my boy, but who’s counting. Perhaps a sympathetic Guarder? Maybe even your informant?”

“Maybe,” Perrin whispered, patting Jaytsy’s back with his free hand as she slept next to him. “Maybe he heard that more were being sent, and he came to help.” He shook that off. “No, that’s not right. I don’t know why, but I just feel it’s not right.”

“Agreed,” Hogal said. “What happened out there to you—for you—is remarkable. I prayed all night for you to receive help, and you most definitely did.”

“I was on my knees after that twelfth Guarder, Hogal. I was thanking the Creator when I heard the thirteenth come up behind me.”

“He sent you help you didn’t even know you needed.”

“Hogal,” Perrin’s whisper was barely audible, and his great uncle leaned down to hear him better, “only you could understand this but, somehow I felt as if He was in the forest.”

Hogal squinted. “The Creator?”

Perrin shrugged then winced as he regretted the movement that shifted his back. “That’s not quite right either. I’m not saying the Creator was killing that last Guarder, but somehow it felt as if His presence was there. For a place so cold and dark, it was actually comforting. I can’t explain it.”

“I don’t think you have to, Perrin,” Hogal said. “There’s so much in the world that’s beyond our explanation. Sometimes we think we know everything, but when we finally see all that this world really involves, we’ll discover we knew nothing at all. All our ideas were just as pitifully inaccurate as four year-olds arguing over what kind of baby snake a worm is. No, for now our understanding is so limited, our minds so small, the world so large—the Creator’s power is simply beyond our comprehension. Don’t try to explain anything, but be grateful for the experience and, after Mahrree has birthed this next baby and she’s steady again, tell her about it too. She needs to know.”

“Agreed,” Perrin whispered. “I feel awful not telling her the truth.”

“Not only because of that,” Hogal said as he removed the last bit of cotton, “but because . . .” He hesitated.

“What is it, Hogal?”

The old rector was quiet for another moment before he continued. “I wished I didn’t have to say this, but it’s very clear to me now: Perrin, the Refuser isn’t only after you. He’s after you’re entire family.”

“No!” Perrin whimpered, putting his large hand back on his daughter’s small body. “Because of me—”

“No, my boy!” Hogal gripped his nephew’s arm. “Not because of you, but because of who they are. Who they will become.”

Perrin craned his neck to see his great uncle better. “What are you talking about?”

“I wished I could understand more, but I don’t have the sight of a guide. I’m merely a lowly rector who receives impressions.” Hogal sighed. “Perrin, it’s no coincidence you married Mahrree. She poses just as great a threat to the Refuser’s plans as you do. She may prove to be a most dangerous woman some day. In fact,” he hesitated again, “I’m sure of it.”

“Mahrree? My small Mahrree?” Perrin squinted. “Dangerous?”

“That’s why she was targeted,” Hogal nodded. “Remember the saying, ‘The smallest annoyances—”