The Forest at the Edge of the World (Book One, Forest at the Edge series) by Trish Mercer

Author:Trish Mercer [Mercer, Trish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: family saga, lds, christian fantasy, ya fantasy, family adventure, ya christian, family fantasy, christian saga, lds fantasy, ya lds
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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After two hours of exhaustive discussion, covering what they figured to be at least three moons’ worth of courting information, Perrin and Mahrree left out the back door again, and Mahrree locked it without his prompting. Hogal had told Perrin when the performance at the amphitheater would be ending, and the captain of the fort needed to make an announcement while the villagers were still there.

The plan was for Perrin to go to the fort, change back into his uniform, then take a horse to the amphitheater in time for the announcement. Mahrree would meet him there, and would, in the meantime, walk to the center of the village.

Alone.

That was what bothered Perrin as he stood on her back porch. “It’s just not a good idea, Mahrree. Alone?”

“As I’ve done for years,” she reminded him.

“But it’s already dark,” he gestured to the obvious evidence.

“I know. But you’ve trained your soldiers for this, right? Already they’re patrolling the village. Look. Two more, right there on the main road.”

At that, Perrin stepped back to her back porch and out of all possible view of his soldiers.

Mahrree elbowed him. “Someday they’re going to find out about us.”

He took her by the shoulders and pulled her close to him. “I suppose they are.” He kissed her. “And I suppose they should know something right now.”

Abruptly he stepped off the porch, pulling her along by her arm. He walked so fast to the back alley and over to the main road that Mahrree had to trot to keep up with him.

“Privates!” Perrin bellowed at the soldiers walking away from them.

Obviously startled, the two young men jumped, spun, and faced their commander. The swords strapped to their sides caught up a moment later, slapping awkwardly against their legs. Remarkably, the soldiers didn’t wince but saluted smartly.

Well, one started to wince, likely thinking the dark night hid his pained expression. But the torch he carried gave him away.

Mahrree stifled a chuckle and Perrin grumbled quietly as they neared. “All right, I’m still training many of them,” he whispered to Mahrree. “Clumsy things.” In a louder voice he said, “Men, I need you to escort Miss Peto to the amphitheater. As I’m sure you’re aware, this isn’t a time for anyone to be walking unattended.”

“Of course, sir,” one of the young men answered briskly.

Oddly, Mahrree felt like laughing. Seeing the slightly-terrified-but-completely-obedient response of the soldiers to her future husband was rather impressive. For some reason it hadn’t occurred to her that men in blue uniforms would snap to attention in his presence. Maybe because she didn’t. It struck her as rather comical, in a daunting sort of way.

Fifteen minutes later Mahrree arrived safely and successfully at the amphitheater. She was not successful, however, in engaging the soldiers—large boys of not yet twenty years old—in any kind of conversation. They just marched stoically on either side of her answering her questions in the briefest of ways, and she tried to remind herself she wasn’t their prisoner on the way to visit the Administrator of Loyalty.

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