The Falcon in the Barn (Book 4 Forest at the Edge series) (65 page)

Perrin grinned at her. “And why do I have the
feeling there may be more uniforms in Mountseen than in Idumea that
night?”

---

Knock-knock . . . knock-knock-knock.

Perrin really shouldn’t sigh so loudly, he
knew. Someone might hear him.

Then again, maybe
someone
would and
get the hint.

“
Come in.”

The door opened and there was the toothy
grin. “Sir, I just wanted to make sure that midday meal was
satisfactory to you.”

Perrin sat back. “Midday meal, Thorne?”

“
Yes, sir,” the captain
stepped in. “I know you usually bring something from home. Mrs.
Shin must be an excellent cook—”

Perrin’s chest began to puff up with another
exasperated sigh.

“—
but I noticed that today
you ate in the mess hall.”

“
I did.”

“
With Lieutenant Offra and
some other soldiers, sir?”

“
Yes.” He slowly let out
the breath or he would have exploded.

“
So . . .” Thorne was
hedging to know what they were talking about, but Perrin wasn’t
about to bore him with his conversation with the young men about
how to build their stamina. “You see,” Thorne continued when Perrin
was silent, “we recently acquired a new supplier of beef—not
Trum—and knowing how much you enjoy steak, I was hoping you found
the beef to your satisfaction.”

“
I had the leftover chicken
stew.”

“
Of course you would,”
Thorne simpered. “Leaving the fresher meal to the men—”

“
I
like
the chicken
stew, Thorne, now
without
mushrooms.”

“
Good, good! An army is
only as happy as its stomach!”

“
Came up with that all on
your own, did you, Captain?”

Thorne swallowed. “Uh, yes sir? About the
chicken . . . we’ve used the same chicken supplier for several
years now, and—”

Perrin leaned forward and took up his quill
again to suggest,
I’m ready to get back to work, aren’t you?
“The chicken supplier is fine. And the men seem to be enjoying the
beef. If there’s nothing else?”

Thorne shook his head. “Just making sure
you’re completely satisfied, sir. That’s why I’m here.”

He shut the door behind him and Perrin
exhaled.

“
Of course that’s why
you’re here. At least I’m satisfied
you’re
not about to
become my son-in-law.”

And for the first time after a Thorney visit,
Perrin chuckled.

Last night poor Deckett Briter had been more
nervous than any man should have to be. He’d asked Perrin to sit
down at the kitchen table, then paced around it. Because his hands
didn’t know what to do without a hoe or an udder in them, they were
everywhere gesturing stiffly, hiding themselves in Deckett’s
pockets, and fumbling with his buttons.

“
Sir, I need to speak to
you about something very important. Rather, an important situation,
I suppose . . .”

It always took him a few minutes to relax
around Perrin. Until then Deckett treated his sentences like an
indecisive farmer, cutting off bits here, pulling out something
then burying it away again, and throwing weedy words
everywhere.

Perrin settled in for the show.

“
You see, sir . . .
colonel, sir,” he said, even though Perrin reminded him yet again
to call him by his first name, “I spoke to my uncle about this . .
. Your daughter is an amazing young woman, who I respect greatly,
and I believe we’ve formed a bit of a . . . I realize that I’m not
exactly what you would have imagined for your daughter—”

Perrin had smiled at that. “You’re absolutely
right.” But he stopped when he saw Deckett growing paler.

“
Yes, sir. And I know I’m
not as smart as she is . . . Did she tell you I had to take the
Final Administrators’ exam twice to get into the university at
Mountseen?”

“
Deckett, you know how I
feel about those exams. They don’t measure a person’s true
worth—”

But Deckett had a speech prepared, and for a
man not normally of many words, he had a lot he wanted to get
out.

“
I never could have got in
to the University of Idumea like you. I’m not much of a speaker or
talker or whatever, like you or Mrs. Shin.”

Or your father, thank the Creator
,
Perrin thought briefly.

“
So I never could have been
a debator, even if it was still allowed. And I’m not as clever with
politics and, and, and stuff like that, or know as many people like
you do, because when I listen to all of you talk at dinner,
sometimes I get a bit lost. And I’ve heard that girls tend to
prefer someone like their fathers, but I’m not as brave as you,
because I’m not aggressive at all. I can’t even butcher the animals
I raise, and honestly, sir, sometimes the chickens intimidate
me—”

“
Deck,” Perrin tried to
interrupt, but the young man was as unstoppable as a stampede, so
Perrin simply watched with amused sympathy.

“
I’m a cattle man, and
becoming a farmer man—actually, that would be just a farmer, I
guess, and I’m certainly not soldier material, sir, because I like
to create life, not destroy it. No offense, sir, I realize you
actually defend life, but even you told me once that you feel more
like a destroyer. But sir, I want to assure you that—”

“
Deck!” Perrin said,
standing up to catch him as he paced around the table yet again.
“You don’t need to keep listing for me all your very admirable
traits. I’m already sold on you.”

“
You’re what?” Deck said,
blinking to wake his brain out of his speech to focus on what
Perrin was saying.

“
Deck, believe me: I don’t
want Jaytsy interested in a soldier. I want her to be happy, and
honestly, son, I’ve never seen her happier than since she met you.
So if all of this
isn’t
about you wanting to ask her to
marry you, you better think again because I won’t tolerate you
breaking her heart. Instead, you’ll become the 52
^nd
man
whose life I end.”

Deck collapsed on the table at that point,
and Perrin spent the next half hour patting him on the back and
getting him water and helping him slow his breathing, feeling a bit
guilty that Deckett still wasn’t sure when Colonel Shin was just
playing with him.

Eventually he was able to say, “Sir, may I
have your permission to ask Jaytsy to marry me?” while his head
rested on the table with a wet cloth on his neck which Perrin had
placed there.

“
What an excellent idea!
But I have one condition: you have to call me Perrin,” he said,
unable to resist teasing him once more.

“
I’m trying to, sir.
Perrin
.”

“
Excellent, Mr. Briter.
Well done, son.”

---

That evening Shem was already seated with the
family to dinner when Deckett came boldly through the kitchen door
without knocking. He cuffed Shem playfully on the shoulder and
casually sat down by Jaytsy without even an apology for his
lateness.

Shem gave him a reproving look which Deckett
ignored.

Over the past five moons Deck had become as
common a fixture in the Shin household as Shem, but usually he was
more reserved, respectful, and nervous, as a courting young man
should be.

But not tonight, and Shem watched him
warily.

With a twinkle in his eye, Deckett pointed to
the plate of bread. “Perrin, could you hand that to me?”

Shem’s eyebrows rose at his overly casual
tone, and shifted his gaze to Perrin to watch his response.

Perrin didn’t look at Shem. Curiously,
no
one
in the family seemed to be meeting his gaze.

“
Of course, Deck,” Perrin
said easily. “Anything else?”

“
No, but Mahrree, could you
pass the soup?”

Shem dropped his fork in astonishment. Now
that was
completely
inappropriate, calling Mrs. Shin by her
first name?

But Mahrree only nodded, seemingly biting her
tongue, and gave Deckett the bowl.

Realizing neither Perrin nor Mahrree would
meet his questioning look, Shem next sent Peto a demanding
frown.

Peto frowned back as if to say,
Something
wrong?

To his right Shem noticed Deck elbowing
Jaytsy, who stared hard at her plate.

“
And how about something
from you?” Deckett said, with a quaver in his voice that
immediately put Shem on guard.

Jaytsy’s head popped up. “How about this?”
and she kissed Deck full on the mouth.

“
Whoa!” Shem’s eyes bulged
nearly out of his head. He banged the table in Yordin fashion,
sending all of the dishes clattering. “What’s going on here?” He
snatched up his fork again and aimed it at Deckett. “PERRIN! If
you
don’t do something,
I will!
”

“
What, Shem?” Perrin said
coolly, taking a bite of bread. “Do you have a problem with my
future son-in-law?”

Shem sat motionless for at least ten seconds,
his jaw sagging.

The family watched him in eager expectation.
Now
all eyes were on him.

He turned slowly to Jaytsy and Deck, who were
fully red.

Jaytsy, grinning, nodded.

Shem couldn’t help it. Great big tears rolled
down his face as he realized that Jaytsy would be marrying the
kindest, gentlest young man he had ever met.

And
not
Lemuel Thorne.

He stood up, came behind Jaytsy and Deck, and
hugged them, chairs and all.

“
Am I invited?” he asked,
his voice growing husky.

“
Of course! Uncle Shem, are
you all right?” Jaytsy said as Shem pulled away and dabbed at his
eyes.

He stood up and cleared his throat. “Yes,
yes! I’m just so, so . . . surprised. I couldn’t be happier.” He
punched Deck in the shoulder to show how happy he was and kissed
Jaytsy on the forehead.

Deck winced as he rubbed his shoulder.
“Thanks, Uncle Shem.”

Shem shook his head. “I’m an uncle again.” He
sighed as he sat down and stared at the couple. “That’s just
wonderful! Our little Jaytsy.” He couldn’t control his chin
wobbling as he choked out, “Even little Jaytsy, whose cloths I
changed and who used to suck her thumb, is getting married before I
am.”

“
Ah, Shem,” Peto said,
scooping up some soup. “I promise I won’t get married before you.
How’s that?”

“
Not at all comforting,
Peto.”

---

It was late at night by the time Perrin was
able to slip into his office at home. Part of the problem was that
he was battling his wife.

Maybe it was a bit dramatic to cast it in
that light, but that’s how he felt as he tried to shut the door on
Mahrree who kept tossing more ideas at him through the gap while
Jaytsy took notes.

“
Yes, yes, yes. I’ll take
care of the letter to the Mountseen Briters. I’ll be charming and
welcoming, Mahrree, don’t worry. And I’ll write to Yordin. No, I’m
sure it won’t be a problem using the fort for the dinner. Move your
foot, Mahrree. No, I’m not writing to the Fadhs and Karnas yet—it’s
too early! I sincerely doubt they’re going to Idumea for The
Dinner. All right, fine—I’ll send them brief messages in the
morning telling them to keep the date open, so if you’d just let me
shut the—Yes, I’ll remind them all to be discreet. No, the Thornes
won’t find out. Look, I’m going to pinch your fingers in the door .
. . Quit planning the dinner already! Get some sleep, Jayts. The
entire wedding doesn’t have to be figured out tonight!”

He latched the door before Mahrree or Jaytsy
could barge in. Peto, the night owl, had gone to bed two hours
ago.

Perrin pulled out his best ink and newest
quills, setting them precisely on his desk, but not for writing
letters. He rubbed his hands together before retrieving a roll of
parchment, resting horizontally on the shelf and looking like
nothing too interesting.

Filled with renewing energy—and now working
against a deadline to create the best secret wedding present
ever—he silently unrolled the parchments.

He spent the next hour or so illuminated only
by one candle, poring over his work with painstaking care. He
stopped working before he became too sleepy, because he didn’t want
to risk making any mistakes.

This one had to be perfect too, just like the
others.

Chapter 25
~
“Like everyone else, I fell for the
stories.”

A
couple of moons
later, on the 37
^th
Day of the new year 337, once again
two men sat in the dark office of an unlit building.

“
I think you will find all
of this most intriguing,” said Mal, eyeing his new partner and
making mental notes of his every reaction.

For the past year Mal had grown bored with
the world, and it was time to make it interesting again. Brisack
was gone, but Mal’s heart had never felt stronger, so it was time
to get it pumping again. Too long had the chair across from him
remained unoccupied.

“
I’m already very
impressed,” said the second, younger man.

While he was short and a bit on the stocky
side with thinning hair, he had sufficiently beady eyes that no one
thought to cross him. He was a perfect badger; on first glance one
might think it a soft, furry little animal, but quickly one
realizes it’s the most vicious oversized rodent ever to terrorize
the world.