The Falcon in the Barn (Book 4 Forest at the Edge series) (15 page)

Shem grinned. “Well I like them. They’re
improving the diet of the soldiers, and we’ve never had such a
consistent supply of butter until the Briters came with their
cows.”

Mahrree smiled in agreement, but wasn’t about
to let it go, especially since she saw a bit of brightness return
to his eyes. “I’ve got opinions about men who willingly touch those
things
to get milk. That’s not just odd—it’s downright
indecent!”

It worked. Shem laughed out loud and Mahrree
sighed in pleasure. Until Shem’s laugh transferred into another fit
of coughing.

The Briters, not knowing the source of the
amusement, waved again to say farewell to Mahrree and Shem, who
recovered quickly.

“
There they are, waving
those hands,” Mahrree murmured under her breath as she waved back.
“I’ll never shake those hands, mark my words.”

Shem laughed again in his hacking, precisely
as Mahrree hoped he would. She’d apologize to the Briters someday
for using them for a light moment, and she uselessly patted Shem’s
back again.

A shadow at the rectory doors drew Mahrree
and Shem’s attention, for behind a shriveled old woman shaking
Rector Yung’s hand stood Perrin, his arms folded and looking like
an irritated bear with an appetite. Yung had asked Perrin to stay
for a few minutes after everyone had left, and Shem and Mahrree
knew why.

After the old woman, Rector Yung glanced over
the Shem and Mahrree and subtly winked. They nodded back once.

Perrin now took his place at the door,
looking quite put out. “What did you need, Rector Yung?”

The rector patted him genially, which Mahrree
thought was exceptionally brave. “Just wanted to talk, Colonel.
It’s been quite a while and I miss our conversations. Just for ten
minutes?”

Perrin gripped his uniform’s cap in his hands
none too gently. “I really don’t have time to chat—”

“
Five minutes then,
Colonel.”

“
Rector—”

“
Colonel, you’re getting
worse,” Yung cut straight to the point. “I see it in your eyes. And
it’s the weather. The darker days, less sunlight—all of it makes
your condition deteriorate. I know a little bit about this. But if
you can just hold on until Planting—”

Perrin’s menacing eyebrow arched. “
I have
no condition
,
Rector!
” and he stepped in front of the
small man.

Mahrree held her breath and gripped Shem’s
arm in warning when she saw what Rector Yung did next.

He jumped in front of Perrin and put his
wrinkled finger on Perrin’s chest. Amazingly, he stopped the
colonel, even though he barely came up to Perrin’s third brass
button.

“
You do, Perrin Shin, and
it’ll destroy you if you don’t fight it! The Refuser has focused
all of his attention on you. He knows that if he destroys you, he
destroys a great many other plans as well—”

“
Rector,
enough—”

“
Face the nightmares,
Colonel, and order them gone! You haven’t asked for help yet, not
from me—”

“
Rector, you have no idea
what you’re talking about—”

“
Oh, I do. And that’s what
worries you. You haven’t even asked the Creator for His
help—”

“
Shut up, Yung!”

“
Where’s your faith,
Colonel? Find it! Use it! We need you, healthy and solid. Order the
darkness gone, and then hold on until the snows melt and the sun
returns. That’s when you’ll return.”

“
Look,
old
man
—”

“
Perrin, your darkest days
are ahead of you. You cannot give up. Not now. Promise
me!”

Mahrree, transfixed for the past minute at
the sheer bravery of the rector, feared her husband’s very thin
patience was about to snap. She pulled on Shem’s arm to get him to
do something.

But Shem just shook his head. “Yung’s got
this. Watch.”

“
Rector Yung,” said Perrin,
irritated, “you have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“
I know far more than you
ever will, Perrin Shin!” Yung declared. “Now fight. Focus on that
woolen chain on your wrist,” he grasped Perrin’s arm, forcing the
chain to slip. “Remember what’s real, and—”

“
Your five minutes are up.
Remove your hand
.”

“
Fight, Perrin!”

Perrin’s movement was so swift that Mahrree
didn’t even see his hand flash upwards to grab the rector’s arm. He
took a step closer and hovered over Rector Yung, gripping him
tightly. “I fight every minute of every day and night, Yung!” he
growled. “If you don’t believe me, come by some night and see for
yourself!”

He jerked the rector out of his way with such
force that Mahrree gasped. She sent a look of apology at the rector
as he stumbled in the snow to regain his footing.

He just looked back at Mahrree with his usual
sweet smile. “Until next week, Shin family. Shem Zenos,” he called
over to them as if he hadn’t just nearly had his arm pulled
off.

Perrin was already striding past Mahrree and
Shem, barking orders to his children that it was time to go home.
Jaytsy yelped and fell in line, while Peto sent a worried look to
Rector Yung.

Mahrree glanced back as well and mouthed,
I’m so sorry
.

Shem seemed to be doing the same thing.

The rector nodded and waved goodbye.

“
He’s fine,” Shem whispered
to Mahrree as they followed the fury-in-uniform. “Yung looks small
and fragile, but he’s a tough old horse. I’ve seen him deal with
worse.”

Mahrree sighed. “At least he said something
to him. Oh Shem, are you sure he wasn’t injured or insulted or
anything?”

Shem shook his head. “No one’s ever
successfully insulted him, because he refuses to be insulted.
People do their best, but Yung won’t even acknowledge the attempt
of an affront.”

Before Mahrree could comprehend how one did
that, Shem continued with, “Besides, he’s tamed many people over
the years. His wife, to begin with. When they first married,
apparently she was quite the hothead. He taught her to channel that
ferocity. By the time she was middle-aged, she was adept at turning
it off and on when needed.”

“
I can’t imagine him
married to someone like that,” Mahrree said. “I guess I’ve always
pictured a rector’s wife to be like Tabbit Densal. Tender,
concerned, loving—”

“
Oh, Mrs. Yung was all
those things, Mahrree. Not everyone who worries about someone’s
future will tell them so in a loving manner. They may humble and
even intimidate the one they care about. Mrs. Yung was quite
skilled at that. A perfect match for her ever-gentle husband. She
knew precisely what to say to get someone where they needed to be.
Forceful love, I suppose.”

“
I guess I just can’t
picture a woman like that.”

Shem looked at her askance. “You really
can’t? Never in your life met a woman like that? Ever?”

Mahrree shook her head.

“
Interesting,” was all he
said.

---

Two men sat in the dark office of an unlit
building.

“
I must admit, Genev is
proving to be meaner and sharper than Gadiman,” Mal said. “Then
again, cotton’s sharper than Gadiman. Still, Genev’s holding that
department together quite well.”

Brisack knew better than to ask if there were
any updates on Gadiman’s whereabouts. There weren’t, and even
though Brisack followed up on every report about discovered
corpses, none matched Gadiman’s description. The weasel was
gone.

Just . . . don’t mention that to Nicko
Mal.

“
And with so much going on
in the south,” Mal continued brightly, “and our men’s success in
raiding the mines, I’ve nearly forgotten to ask: what about the
latest update on our colonel?”

“
Still terrifying everyone
in Edge, Nicko,” smiled Brisack. “She even asked for another
bottle. Perrin’s still on his knees in the pit, and clawing
uselessly at the walls, according to Thorne.”

Mal smiled in smug satisfaction. “And she
still hasn’t asked for any more advice?”

“
No,” Brisack said, his
previous pleasure turning to consternation. “Maybe she’s found her
own ways to deal with him.”

Mal scoffed. “Not likely. Thorne’s reports
are filled with his erratic behavior. Just how long can he keep
this up, Doctor?”

Brisack shrugged. “It’s truly remarkable.
While he’s at the bottom of that pit, he’s still alive after eight
moons.”

“
I have to admit,” Mal
said, clasping his hands, “I really thought he would have broken by
now. I suppose our Quiet Man Zenos is keeping the fort together.
So,” he said with a tone of expectancy, “what if Shin pulls through
this? Is your latest plan satisfactory?”

“
Satisfactory?” the doctor
hooted. “That would be the understatement of my life. The results
are nothing short of spectacular! Now if he’ll just give me a
reason to employ it, I’ll be a contented man and my scientific
career unparalleled.”

Mal sat back. “My, my. Are we
still
irked about the caravan to Edge?”

Brisack shook his head. “I’m not petty,
Nicko. You can drop that condescending tone. I’m just fascinated.
No matter what’s thrown at him, he comes back up. It’s like trying
to drown a frog.”

“
I know what will destroy
him,” Mal said. “Just give me one of those children—the boy. The
captain has already claimed the girl, so we can’t touch her. At
least not yet. But the boy doesn’t even want to join the army, from
what I’ve heard.”

Brisack shook his head. “Trust me, Nicko—this
new project will be far more devastating to the colonel than merely
losing half of his children. Just think: what would happen to him
if he lost half his village? In a season or two, you’ll be amazed
at the results. If he makes it out of his trauma, he just may think
he’s invincible. And we certainly couldn’t have him thinking like
that.”

“
No, no we could not,”
Nicko Mal agreed. “With thinking like that, he might begin to think
he’s our equal.”

Chapter 6
~
“I’m an object of
pity.
”

S
hem Zenos wrapped
the thick overcoat around him and wished it actually rained in
Raining Season. He reached the vent and sat down on a log.

A moment later a large man joined him, sat on
the log, and pulled off his thick gloves.

“
Vent seems to be hotter
tonight,” he said to Shem.

“
Yes, and I’m grateful for
that. The hike always feels further in the snow.” Shem broke out
into another coughing fit.

His companion pulled a flask from his hip.
“Got what you need. Can’t have you giving away our position to
soldiers on patrol.”

“
Thanks.” Shem pulled the
cork from the flask and swallowed down the liquid. He paused only
to say, “Still warm, too. Perfect.”

“
Works best that way. Too
bad you can take the recipe down with you and sell it in the world.
You’d be the richest man in the world simply because you have a
cure for the cold.”

“
Well, we both know none of
this has ever been about gold and silver,” Shem said, and he
finished off the flask and handed it back.

“
I know you’re here for
more than just a remedy. So how is he?”

“
Bad, Jothan. He even
turned on Yung.”

Jothan sighed. “The setbacks were to be
expected. This season is always the worst, even for those not
traumatized.”

“
I just hate seeing him
like this,” Shem whispered. “I feel like my best friend has
died.”

Jothan nodded. “I hate to tell you what I
must, then.”

“
Oh no,” Shem whispered.
“What is it?”

“
They’re moving north. The
activity is coming back here.”

Shem moaned. “He can’t take it. He’ll
crack.”

“
They’re taking over the
abandoned houses in Moorland.”

“
Smart move,” Shem had to
agree. “I wondered that they didn’t do it earlier. Snow must have
driven them to it.”

“
Been waiting for
reinforcements. Now that they’ve arrived, it’s time to strike
again.”

“
It’s too soon, isn’t it?”
Shem asked, with pleading in his voice. “We can’t end it for him
yet, can we?”

“
No, I’m sorry,” said
Jothan. “Keeping your route free is more important now than ever,
now that we’ve lost Moorland. First group of the season’s coming in
two weeks.”

“
Shouldn’t be a problem,”
Shem sighed, “since I schedule everyone at the fort—still, despite
Thorne’s meddling. It’s easy enough to keep the way
clear.”

“
Good, and . . .” Jothan
paused, “how are your
other
concerns?”

“
Well, Beneff is still as
effective as a toothless dog, thankfully. But as for the
other
one? He’s still the most sniveling, insincere, beast
of a boy I have ever met!”

The large man chuckled. “Shem Zenos, I have
never
known you to dislike
anyone
. You actually
loathe Captain Thorne.”

“
I do, may the Creator
forgive me! Something about his smarmy ways just gets under my skin
and . . .” He stopped when he realized his hands were outstretched
in front of him, as if choking someone.

Jothan smiled cautiously.