The Forest at the Edge of the World (Book One, Forest at the Edge series) Read online

  The Forest at the Edge of the World

  Published by Trish Mercer

  Copyright ? 2014 Patricia Strebel Mercer

  All rights reserved.

  Cover design and photography by David Mercer's wife, who forced him to dress up and stare "meaningfully into the distance," which, for the dear sweet life of him, he just couldn't figure out how to do.

  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.

  All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental, but would be totally awesome.

  This book is also available in print.

  Please remember to leave a review for my book at your favorite retailer.

  Dedicated to my sisters, because Judy and Barbara

  knew how to hold their tongues,

  but usually wouldn't.

  MAPS visit https://forestedgebooks.com/maps/ to see Edge and the World, in startling 2D.

  A pronunciation guide to some of the more unusual names . . .

  Nicko Mal- NEE-koh MAL

  Querul-KWER-el

  Idumea- i-doo-ME-uh

  Hogal Densal- HOE-gal DENS-al

  Mahrree Peto- MARR-ee PAY-toh

  Cephas Peto- SEE-fus PAY-toh

  Hycymum Peto- HIE-si-mum PAY-toh

  Hierum- HIE-rum

  Tuma Hifadhi- TOO-muh hi-FOD-hee

  Sonoforen- sun-uv-OR-en

  Terryp- TARE-up

  Jaytsy- JAYT-see

  Brisack- BRIZ-ak

  Gizzada- gi-ZAH-duh

  For background information on all character names and derivations, visit https://forestedgebooks.com/characters

  Contents

  Prologue ~ "Words for Weeds?"

  Chapter 1 ~ "The chicken thing was just a misunderstanding."

  Chapter 2 ~ "I'm not about to argue who has the prettier hog."

  Chapter 3 ~ "The sky really is blue, and they can count upon that fact."

  Chapter 4 ~ "All science is about proving a bias."

  Chapter 5 ~ "Tell me what you know about Guarders."

  Chapter 6 ~ "Miss Peto, it's obvious you have very little experience with men."

  Chapter 7 ~ "You're just afraid of my blob and what it may represent."

  Chapter 8 ~ "Uhhh, sometime I am available should be fine, when we, uh you, can make it."

  Chapter 9 ~ "Debate the merits of Perrin and Mahrree continuing the debates--"

  Chapter 10 ~ "Not at all coincidental, is it?"

  Chapter 11 ~ "So I've actually rendered you speechless?!"

  Chapter 12 ~ "We've done this kind of backward, haven't we?"

  Chapter 13 ~ "Love is just a cover-up. Always is."

  Chapter 14 ~ "Keep a closer eye on this one."

  Chapter 15 ~ "You have deep dark secrets?"

  Chapter 16 ~ "Expectations? I didn't expect this!"

  Chapter 17 ~ "Some rules are meant to be broken by the right men."

  Chapter 18 ~ "Then they did the strangest thing . . ."

  Chapter 19 ~ "He's finished, Shin! Out of the army!"

  Chapter 20 ~ "Doorknob, I don't want to see everything differently."

  Chapter 21 ~ "Something like this shouldn't happen for quite a while considering . . ."

  Chapter 22 ~ "Do I look like I'm about to do something stupid?"

  Chapter 23 ~ "And if it is Your will, let me walk out of here again."

  Chapter 24 ~ "Remarkable the kind of damage a mere tree branch can do, isn't it?"

  Acknowledgements . . .

  About the author and Visit Me . . .