The Mansions of Idumea (Book 3 Forest at the Edge series) Read online



  The Mansions of Idumea

  By Trish Mercer

  Copyright © 2014 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 and utterly remarkable.

  Cover design and photography is by Alexandria Mercer’s mom and Dave Mercer’s wife. The photographer would like to thank Alex for digging the cloak out of the costume box and growing her hair out just long enough, and thank Dave for once again dressing up, even though he kept channelling Bones from Star Trek for his inspiration. (“Dammit Jim, I’m a soldier, not a doctor!”)

  The doors and stairs are from dreamstime.com, and bear a remarkable resemblance to the Parthenon in Paris, or so I’m told.

  Contact author via website: 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.

  Because to the world,

  doing the right thing

  often looks like doing

  the dumb thing.

  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

  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

  Shem Zenos—Shem ZEE-noss

  Qualipoe Hili—KWAL-ee-poe HEE-lee

  Hegek—HEG-ik

  Kuman—KOO-min

  Kindiri—kin-DEER-ee

  Giyak—GUY-ak

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

  CONTENTS:

  Prologue ~ “Oh, I remember Idumea.”

  Chapter 1 ~ “Change isn’t all bad, Perrin.”

  Chapter 2 ~ “Did something happen?”

  Chapter 3 ~ “My . . . my . . . my sofa!”

  Chapter 4 ~ “Your renovations will have to wait, Mrs. Shin.”

  Chapter 5 ~ “Sometimes it feels like the world’s out to get me.”

  Chapter 6 ~ “This is another reason why I hate Idumea.”

  Chapter 7 ~ “Finally found a way to get them to Idumea.”

  Chapter 8 ~ “Peto, have you ever had . . . a dream?”

  Chapter 9 ~ “Says the most competitive woman in the world.”

  Chapter 10 ~ “Just smile and nod. Smile and nod.”

  Chapter 11 ~ “You messed up again, didn’t you?”

  Chapter 12 ~ “In an emergency, you need to preserve the hierarchy to prevent anarchy.”

  Chapter 13 ~ “As if there are different kinds of people in the world.”

  Chapter 14 ~ “The enlisted men are teaching the brassy a thing or two.”

  Chapter 15 ~ “You get yourself ready. I will deal with my son.”

  Chapter 16 ~ “Those kind don’t belong here.”

  Chapter 17 ~ “What we need is someone who has a special talent.”

  Chapter 18 ~ “But the people of Edge are beginning to panic, sir.”

  Chapter 19 ~ “Mother, who’s driving the coach?”

  Chapter 20 ~ “I realize it’s not exactly a mansion in Idumea--”

  Chapter 21 ~ “What we did would be known by now, wouldn’t it?”

  Chapter 22 ~ “This really isn’t in my nature, and I’m very sorry about this, but--”

  Chapter 23 ~ “Once she even caught a falcon.”

  Chapter 24 ~ “Can you help him see reason?”

  Chapter 25 ~ “So the Quiet Man is still our man.”

  Chapter 26 ~ “Snakes, cats—I know you hate them all.”

  Chapter 27 ~ “Then again, Shem impresses everyone.”

  Sneak peek at Book 3, Falcon in the Barn

  Acknowledgements . . .

  About the author and contact me