The Forest at the Edge of the World(164)

“—grow into the biggest pains.’” Perrin sighed and finished the familiar phrase. “‘It’s not the boulders in your way that slow you down, but the pebble in your boot.’”

“Exactly. And your children? I believe the Creator doesn’t randomly send souls to families. He has a plan. For you, your wife, your daughter, and your son.”

Perrin’s eyebrows shot upwards.

“They’ll all someday do things to anger the Refuser. The four of you are in the same family for a reason—you must all fight this war together.”

Perrin closed his eyes, not only because of the increased twingeing in his back, but now also because of the twingeing in his mind.

“War,” he whispered.

“I’m afraid so,” Hogal whispered back. “I wished I was a guide—they could bestow blessings of protection. I can only pray. But remember, you’ve won two battles in the war so far. I also don’t think the Refuser’s going to give up easily. Whoever he’s influencing isn’t about to quit. The third battle—who knows?”

“And how many more after that?” Perrin murmured, his eyes still shut.

“I wouldn’t even dare guess,” Hogal said softly. “This isn’t a war that will end anytime soon. Maybe not even until the Last Day.”

“You couldn’t even give me one full day to enjoy my victory, could you?” Perrin opened his eyes to glare, only half in jest.

“Oh, they’re cheering you, Perrin Shin!” Hogal declared with smile. “In the Paradise of our ancestors, there’s great rejoicing!”

Perrin scoffed. “If you say so, Hogal Densal. I’m not hearing much.”

“We rarely do, but trust me: they’re there.”

His nephew smiled faintly, and then it faded. “How can I tell Mahrree any of this?”

“Don’t tell her my impressions about your family, my boy. Simply tell her about what happened in the forest.” Hogal put the soiled bandages in a bag to be washed later. “She already suspects something else happened. Your lieutenant told me—of all your planning and care, there was one detail that was overlooked.”

“What detail?”

“Your uniform. Completely undamaged and unbloodied?”

Perrin groaned. “My uniform! How could I have forgotten that? What did she say?”

“Not much, but thanked your officers for taking care of you and her. Uh, Perrin,” Hogal paused. “Exactly what were you wearing, if not your uniform?”

“White furry butterflies,” his nephew grumbled.

Hogal pondered that. “I see. And exactly how hard do they hit you to knock you unconscious? They’re sure planking doesn’t cause any memory problems?”

A voice prevented Perrin’s response. “I believe you’re expecting this?” Tabbit said brightly as she came in with a bucket half filled with snow, the weight of it slowing her down to a shuffle. Her smile vanished when she saw the ragged wound that was nearly the width of her nephew’s back. “Oh. My. If Joriana saw that she’d—”

Hogal held up his hand for the bucket. “Thank you, my dearest. Why don’t you go back and help with dinner?”

“Hycymum’s got it,” she said, her voice breaking and her eyes transfixed by the oozing around the stitches.

“Then ask Mahrree for some thick cloths to put around the snow on his back, so as it melts it won’t make the bed wet.”

“We have enough of that with Jaytsy in our bed so often,” Perrin chuckled quietly, trying to lighten his great aunt’s—and his—mood.

Tabbit’s shocked expression softened to hear her nephew joking. “Yes, of course,” she said, backing up. “Thick cloths, on the way!”

Mahrree’s voice came from the washing room. “I’ve got them already, Tabbit. Why don’t you go help my mother? I still can’t follow her kitchen talk.”

Tabbit nodded and willingly headed back to the kitchen as Mahrree came and kneeled down next to her husband.

Perrin glanced at her furtively, trying to see that small woman with delicate hands, growing belly, and soft yet piercing eyes of green—

No, wait.

Gray, or . . .

Moldy mud?

Well, while he still couldn’t figure out the exact color of her eyes—her eyes that were trying hard to be brave, but were unsuccessfully masking her horror—there was something he did know: she wasn’t nearly as brave as she pretended to be. Oh sure, she talked a supposedly dangerous talk on the platform, but no one ever took Edgers seriously. Idumea knew all intelligence was centered in the middle of the world, and it became diluted the further one travelled away. By Edge of the World, people were considered geniuses if they could put a hat on the correct body part.