The Falcon in the Barn (Book 4 Forest at the Edge series) (83 page)

In a way she was glad it was Mrs. Shin who
stood up, because Mrs. Braxhicks was so irate that she was about to
leap to her own feet, although she knew that would have been the
very worst thing in the world for her to do. Many years ago her
aunt, a midwife in Idumea, had dared to speak up, then found
herself being questioned by Administrator Gadiman himself, and so
she made a mad dash for the seclusion of the trees. Several moons
later the Administrator of Family Life released a study explaining
how having more than two children made a woman insane, and it would
have been laughable if it hadn’t been so finite. There was a lot of
speculation about how much her aunt had influenced the creation of
that study, and several debates as to whether things had gone too
far, but Hifadhi had put an end to all of that by saying that what
was done, was done, and all that anyone could do moving forward was
to remain very quiet and very anonymous.

Shem Zenos had failed at that, miserably, but
many others maintained a subtle presence. Mrs. Braxhicks knew her
position was only temporary, and surely she could maintain a low
profile for just a few moons, couldn’t she?

So she watched in morbid fascination as Mrs.
Shin finally—
finally
—recognized the truth, only to have her
husband stand in her way.

That’s when Mrs. Braxhicks’ mouth hung open
so far she didn’t know if she could ever shut it again. Something
was very wrong. Colonel Shin was suddenly
General
Shin, and
while in one way that was likely right, it was also very, very
wrong.

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way, was
it?

A part of her began to panic that maybe—just
maybe—it wouldn’t end the way it was
supposed
to.

Then Mrs. Shin was forced back to her bench,
where she still sat now being watched over that nasty Thorne, and
General Shin huffed off the platform with such fury that Mrs.
Braxhicks shrank back a bit in worry, just in case his determined
glare happened to shift over to her as he headed down the back
stairs. Fortunately he seemed to be lost in his own swirling
thoughts, and Mrs. Braxhicks was finally able to make her legs
stand up and work her way around to the front of the platform.

While nearly everyone else had hurried out in
a dismayed hum, a few villagers lingered, making their ways to the
exits to pick up their copies of the dubiously fascinating
findings, but also trying to see what would happen to Mrs. Shin and
her children sitting restlessly next to her.

Mrs. Braxhicks knew she was doing the same
thing, but she had a purpose besides simply being a nosy neighbor.
She wanted to catch their eyes—at least poor Jaytsy Briter’s, who
seemed to be nearly hysterical—and she wanted to somehow
communicate that she . . .

Well, what
would
she say to them if
she had the opportunity? She hadn’t been trained
that
thoroughly. Her additional responsibility—should it come up—was
only to report. Not to contact, not to speak, not to interfere.
That was most important—
don’t interfere.

Mrs. Braxhicks sighed, knowing there was
nothing else she could do except pick up a copy or two of the
findings and deliver them to her husband and the others in the
trees, then go about her business as midwife to Mrs. Briter and the
other two future mothers she found in Edge looking for someone a
little more experienced than what Idumea was sending around.

She tried one more time to make eye contact
with any of the Shins or Briters, but felt distinctly this was
beyond her ability. Increasingly anxious, she picked up her pace to
bustle out of the amphitheater.

---

The amphitheater was emptying rapidly, with
no villagers daring to look at the Shin family. That was fine with
Mahrree. Anyone whose eyes she met would most likely have burst
into flame. She continued to stare at the now-empty platform,
waiting for every last person to leave before she’d finally stand
up.

That’s when she heard Peto say, “No, that’s
all right. I’ll see that she reaches home safely.”

Mahrree shifted her glare to the four
soldiers now surrounding her family.

Deck stood up quickly. “Thank you, but we can
take care of her. Come, Mahrree.”

With surprising gumption Deck took his
mother-in-law’s arm and pulled her up. Peto quickly took the other
side and Jaytsy tried not to wobble to her feet.

“
Dessert must be ready,
don’t you think, Mother?” she asked in forced brightness, wiping
tears off her face.

Mahrree went along only because she didn’t
want her children see her fight off four soldiers. At least, that’s
what she told herself.

They left the amphitheater and walked across
the green in quiet dread through crowds that instantly silenced
when they saw them. Despite Deck and Peto’s assurances, the four
soldiers followed several paces behind.

Mahrree’s thoughts reeled. He once called me
a traitor, she remembered. Years ago, right after Peto was born,
and she told him she wanted more children. But he had traitorous
thoughts as well, in Idumea. Had he forgotten that? Has he
forgotten everything except that ridiculous title? That must be
what power does to a man: erases what he knows and makes him
remember only what services him at the moment. Why didn’t he speak
up? He knew the truth as well as she did. Together they could have
changed things! If only he would have said something!

“
Mahrree, just a little
slower,” Deck murmured as he marched next to her. “Jaytsy can’t
keep up.”

Mahrree tried to slow down but her anger
propelled her onward.

“
I’ve got her, Deck,” Peto
said on the other side of Mahrree. “Go help your wife.”

Mahrree cringed at the sound of his voice. So
like Perrin’s. He’d be seventeen soon, but he was already acting
like a man. He seemed to have aged a decade that evening.

“
Don’t worry, Mother. This
isn’t going to last.”

“
You of all people should
be happy about his becoming a general, Peto,” Mahrree said in a low
snarl. “Then going to Idumea? Your grandfather would’ve been
pleased. So why aren’t you?”

Peto sighed. “It’s not right. Relf wouldn’t
have wanted this either, I know. I can’t explain it, but I won’t
allow it. Nothing will happen to this family. We won’t go to
Idumea, I promise you.”

Mahrree clutched his arm. “Thank you!” she
whispered. “It’s all a lie, Peto. Nothing’s wrong with those lands.
It’s a way to keep us all here, just like Querels’ servants.”

“
I know,” Peto murmured. “I
feel it too. Really, you need to slow down a little. Jaytsy’s going
to be run over by the soldiers. I think she’s waddling on
purpose.”

The soldiers maintained their quick step, but
could go no faster than Jaytsy and Deckett. Several neighbors on
their way home steered clear of the odd parade.

When they reached home Mahrree strode through
her front gate, up the stairs to the door, flung it open, and waved
to her three followers who quickly headed inside. She sent a
stabbing glance to the soldiers and slammed the door shut.

Mahrree stomped to a chair at the table and
sat down in it almost hard enough to splinter it. She stared at the
stone wall trying to think, trying to understand what happened to
Perrin . . . to their entire world. Everything was wrong.

In her fury she barely noticed her children
exchanging anxious looks. Peto and Deck murmured together, and then
Peto bounded up the stairs. Deck came over to the table and did
something around the secret drawer. Peto came down a moment later,
motioned to Deck, then darted into the kitchen with Deck right
behind him.

Jaytsy kneeled in front of her mother, an
admirable thing to do for a woman just two moons from birthing.

“
Mother, I’m sure there’s
an explanation for all of this,” she said as optimistically as she
could, which was rather grim. “I’m sure Father will be home soon
and, and . . .”

“
And what?” Mahrree
snapped. “What will come next?”

Jaytsy bit her lip and nervously glanced at
the front door.

Mahrree sighed. “Oh, Jaytsy, I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean that. Well, I
did
, but . . . I can’t think right
now. Come here—you should be sitting, not me.” She got up and
pulled Jaytsy on to the chair. Kneeling in front of her she said,
“I promise you, I’ll not be going to Idumea. Neither will Peto.
We’ve already decided: we’ll be here for you and Deck and the
baby.”

“
But Father—”

“—
will do whatever he feels
he must do, even if he thinks his duty is to defend this ridiculous
development and deny everything we believe. He’s going to do it
alone! I’ll not leave this house. Ever. Do you understand
me?”

Jaytsy seemed as if she were about to burst
into tears again, but she nodded. “Of course.”

Mahrree stood up and brushed down her skirt.
“I need to do something. This house is too clean. We already ate,
so there’s nothing to cook. I need to . . .” She looked around,
wringing her restless hands.

The idea hit her so clearly she couldn’t
imagine why she didn’t think of it before.

“
Garden!” she clapped her
hands. “It’s time that front garden was tended to!”

“
Mother?” Jaytsy’s eyebrows
rose.

“
Yes, time to learn to
weed. Deckett!” she called. “Tell me what tools I need to
garden.”

Deck stuck his head out of the kitchen,
startled. “Uh, well usually for
your
garden I would
recommend . . .” But when he saw his wife frantically shaking her
head he tried again. “You need a hand digger,” he said, knowing
full well she didn’t have one. “It looks like a big fork—”

“
Then I’ll get one!”
Mahrree strode into the kitchen, pushing past Deck.

Peto was by the back door looking out the
window. “Mother, I’m pretty certain there’s a soldier or two in the
alley.”

Mahrree rummaged in a drawer until she found
one of the good serving forks, taken from Hycymum’s house. “What do
I care for soldiers?” She brandished the fork with fearsome glee
and marched to the front door.

Her son and son-in-law watched from the
kitchen, and Jaytsy shifted in her chair to observe her mother’s
madness unfold.

Mahrree yanked open the door to the evening,
began to take one step, but stopped.

The burly soldier blocking her way asked,
“May I be of service?”

“
You can get off my
property. I didn’t ask for you to be here.”

“
I’m here for your
protection, Mrs. Shin.”

She wasn’t buying that. “Protect me from
what?”

“
Guarders, Mrs. Shin. Some
have been sighted this evening. I’m here for your protection,” he
repeated.

“
Oh
really
?” Mahrree
put her hands on her hips. “So why are there no banners up? No
citizens running around terrified?” She gestured with the large
sharp fork to the neighbors across the road talking in hushed tones
to passers-by.

It wasn’t difficult to guess the topic at
hand. They took one look at Mahrree wielding the oversized utensil
and quickly made their way down the road.

“
Tell me,” Mahrree squinted
at the sergeant, a man whom she’d known for six years but who now
seemed quite unfamiliar, “are you really here to defend the wife of
the colonel,” she sighed in exasperation as she corrected herself,
“the
general
, or is your duty something different
entirely?”

“
I’m here for your
protection,” he recited, growing uneasy under the examination of
Mrs. Shin.

“
And I’m here to weed my
garden,” she pushed past him.

“
That’s your right,” he
replied and remained at attention.

Mahrree looked around in the twilight at her
patch of land. She didn’t even know where to start, so she found
the biggest weed that she didn’t think was a tree in disguise.
Kneeling in the dirt, she began to hack away with her fork. Every
ounce of anger she poured into that unfortunate bit of hard ground,
and it splintered and flaked, sending bits of gravel into the air.
One of the tines of the fork bent when it hit a rock, but Mahrree
kept pounding.

It was unexpectedly satisfying.

“
I should have taken this
up years ago!” she exclaimed, stabbing the dirt harder and harder
as if she had to kill it, her hair flipping wildly, and sweat
building on her forehead.

Eventually she paused. “At some point I’m to
pull something out of the ground, aren’t I?” she asked the dirt.
She glanced at the soldier, daring him to answer.

He shrewdly didn’t.

Vaguely aware of three pairs of eyes watching
her from the open front door, she was about to speak to them when
she heard a commotion down the road.

She scrambled to her feet, and her three
children joined her.

Around the corner on the main fort road they
appeared, at least twenty soldiers marching, with Captain Thorne
and General Shin in the lead.

“
In the house, NOW!”
Mahrree ordered, but she didn’t need to. Already Peto was pulling
her to the steps.

Jaytsy stood rigidly on the porch. “Father
will stop for me—”

“
I’m more worried about
Thorne,” said Deck, and pulled her inside. He shut the door when
everyone was in.

Mahrree planted herself back in her chair,
her stomach twisting.

The soldiers? She had expected them to pay
her a visit. Led by Captain Thorne? Naturally.

But the general?

What does this mean?
What does this
mean?