Trish Mercer
Copyright © 2016 Patricia Strebel Mercer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental but I’m still holding out hope they exist.
Cover art and design by the mother of Teagan Mercer, who agreed to be on this cover to prove he could pose better than his father. Now he sees the problem is that his mother doesn’t give very good direction, but he figured out how to give a cynical-why-are-we-doing-this look all on his own.
The stunning photo of the Polish Tatra mountains in the background is from dreamstimes.com.
Contact author via website: https://forestedgebooks.com
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This book is also available in print.
Please remember to leave a review for my book at your favorite retailer.
For updates about the series, sign up here: When’s the next book being released?
Other titles in the series:
The Forest at the Edge of the World, Book 1: Captain Perrin Shin’s out to uncover the secrets of the Guarders. But first he has to get a nosy school teacher out of the way. Click here to purchase.
Soldier at the Door, Book 2: Just when the Shins least need it, they’re sent some “help.” Click here to purchase.
The Mansions of Idumea, Book 3: When a major disaster strikes Edge, naturally Idumea pulls them away from their village and insists they return to the city. Click here to purchase.
The Falcon in the Barn, Book 4: His enemies have Perrin trapped, but his friends are gathering. Click here to purchase.
You know you’re on the right path
when the world tries to shove you off of it.
MAPS: visit https://forestedgebooks.com/maps/
A pronunciation guide to some of the more unusual names . . .
Nicko Mal— NEE-koh MAL
Querul—KWER-el
Idumea— i-doo-ME-uh
Hierum— HIE-rum
Tuma Hifadhi— TOO-muh hi-FOD-hee
Sonoforen— sun-uv-OR-en
Terryp— TARE-up
Jaytsy— JAYT-see
Gizzada— gi-ZAH-duh
Hegek—HEG-ik
Fadh—FOD
Jothan—JOH-thun
Asrar—AZ-rar
Bustani—BOO-STAH-nee
Caraka—Kuh-RAH-kuh
For background information on all character names and derivations, visit https://forestedgebooks.com/characters
Contents
Chapter 1--“Last night, your mother and I had some visitors . . .”
Chapter 2--“Oh, I’m trying to be helpful.”
Chapter 3--“Shem told me you were conveniently gullible.”
Chapter 4--“We have no chance, do we?”
Chapter 5--“How will we know when we’re safe?”
Chapter 6--“Remarkable return the Guarders have made, isn’t it?”
Chapter 7--“Do you still trust me?”
Chapter 8--“Of knowing the world will never find you again.”
Chapter 9--“Amazing!”
Chapter 10--“So what do you think, Colonel? Can we take them?”
Chapter 11—“A few people might wave as we drive by.”
Chapter 12--“So does everyone know us?”
Chapter 13--“Everything has been given to us freely.”
Chapter 14--“Then it all balances.”
Chapter 15--“What I don’t have is someone like you, Perrin.”
Chapter 16--“Sometimes it takes years to understand how something’s supposed to happen.”
Chapter 17—“Not even one trumpet.”
Chapter 18--“You have a family?”
Chapter 19--“I’m going to have to keep a close eye on the two of you, aren’t I?”
Chapter 20--“Seems . . . there was a lot more going on than any of us realized.”
Chapter 21--“There is now an official story.”
Chapter 22--“I shocked him, didn’t I?”
Chapter 23--“Nothing worked out the way it should.”
Chapter 24--“Just leave me alone for a while?”
Chapter 25--“No, Grandpy.”
Chapter 26--“I think he’s found his calling.”
Chapter 27--“Parchment. Quill. I see it.”
Chapter 28--“Just our luck that Shem is the most famous man in Salem.”
Chapter 29--“Any new predictions for the next year?”
Chapter 30--“Just when I thought Salem couldn’t surprise me with anything else.”
Chapter 31--“I think Peto even enjoyed the cook.”
Chapter 32--“This isn’t Idumea coming, is it?”
Chapter 33--“You see what you want to see, Perrin.”
Chapter 34--“The Creator will provide us with a solution.”
Chapter 35-- “Stay far, far away from those trees.”
Chapter 36--“I can’t believe we’re here.”
Chapter 37--“. . . and we all lived happily ever after.”
Sneak Peek—Book 6
About Salem . . .
Acknowledgements
About the author . . .
Chapter 1--“Last night, your mother and I had some visitors . . .”