Chapter 16: Up Close

Most of Hajule's recipes were difficult to cut down. She'd grown up in a big family, full of cousins and nieces and nephews either rejected from other homes or orphaned. Fostering wasn't a new concept to her, so marrying Larmie presented few unfamiliar challenges. Stews naturally fed eight to ten people, and could be stretched for twenty. She'd memorized the measurements for entire sheets of cornbread and batches of oatmeal for all their workers. Lunchtime was her time to love, and afternoons were for kind teas and biscuits. Housewifery wasn't a given career, but a taken one, a work she'd trained for, for many years. No one walked into her home without receiving a comfortable chair, kind words, tea, and cookies.

So, when Larmie brought his children indoors to greet their visitors, both men held a steaming cup and looked quite content with the wait. They sat with their backs to the kitchen, these two men, Hajule had a book open on the table. She pointed at the lists of names and numbers.

Jamie grabbed Edie's arm and held him back, while Larmie continued walking into the dining room. He stood on tiptoes and whispered in her ear. "That better not be the one with the drawing."

"Don't be silly. You looked adorable as a baby."

He pointed. "They're in full regalia."

Edie studied their clothing. Green cloaks, short brown jackets, white shirts, and saddled boots. Dual wings, white and blue, crossed on the patch. Despite sitting in a farmhouse and listening to family stories, the blond-haired one sat straight and with hands crossed on the table. The other sat back in his chair, cup in hand.

Jamie's eyes widened. "That's Captain Levi. He's the strongest scout in the whole Survey Corps."

She leaned forward, staring at the back of his head. "Yeah, we've met."

He kicked her ankle. "You've met? Why didn't you mention this?"

"Honestly, I forgot his name. You were in distress, too."

"I would've snapped right out of it if you said Captain Levi was a quick horseback ride away."

"You would've gone to meet a stranger over comforting your own parents?"

"Don't be silly," he hissed. "I would've come back here, gotten my sword, and had him sign it."

Edie rolled her eyes, grabbed his hand, and pulled him into the kitchen.

Laramie walked behind Hajule. He put one hand on her shoulder and closed the book with the other. "I believe our guests have heard enough about our family for one evening."

"Nonsense," said the blonde-haired scout. "Years of fighting titans help one realize the importance of serene life."

"It hasn't been so serene as of late," Hajule murmured, closing the family book and pulling it away. She stood to return it to the shelf. "But I'm sure that's part of why you're here."

"Indeed it is." He turned his eyes round the home and rested on the pair. "You must be the Jamie I've heard so much about."

Jamie's face turned white. "You're—Commander Erwin, of the scout regiment."

"Will you join us soon?"

"My twelfth birthday's in a few months." He squared his shoulders and stood a few inches taller, surpassing his sister's height. On practice, his feet moved into an attentive position, and he clasped his hands behind his back. "My parents gave me their permission. But not really their blessing."

Hajule and Larmie exchanged a tense glance, but the Commander merely put a hand on his embroidered badge. "Their duty to protect you, and it is no secret that scouting is dangerous work. We're a force to be reckoned with, but regrettably, so are the titans."

"One came through our town a few weeks ago." Jamie swallowed. "I wasn't too brave."

"That encounter will put you miles ahead of our other recruits." He turned a shoulder, glancing at Hajule. "I rarely meet our scouts' families, unless in the case of bereavement. We will do everything in our power to keep your son safe."

Hajule tilted her head, and her eyes watered. "That isn't much power."

"No. But we do what we can."

"I'll be brave," Jamie promised, "when the time comes. I've been training even now."

"Good. We need soldiers like you to protect what's left of mankind." The Commander put his fist across his chest, and his other arm behind his back. Jamie followed suit, then both relaxed.

The two of them sat at the table, but Edie stood, resting her hands on the back of her brother's chair. "Are you here on investigation?"

The captain raised his head. "The military police take charge of all questioning and forensics. They can afford more precision and time with such matters."

"Have they found out how that titan made it on this side of the wall?"

"Not yet, but no other sightings were reported." He met her eyes. "Rest assured, you're safe."

Their first meeting had been quick and preoccupied, but Edie took a moment to study Jamie's future officers closely. Commander Erwin was as commanding as she imagined he'd be, with the height and build of a warrior. He wore his badge well and moved in swift, fluid, and calm manners. His speech was soft, forgiving, and apologetic even in times of strategy. She wondered if that had to do with Hajule and Larmie in the room, or the result of countless friends eaten on the battlefield. She was used to the young farmhands fidgeting, throwing things, and running all about, fiddling their hands when they sat down. She was used to Jamie's and the three stooges' volume. But the Commander stayed serene and still, relaxed yet ready to attack. She could see him drawing swords and standing at the ready at a moment's notice. His hair looked like it had never seen war, slicked back like a schoolboy.

The Captain was quite the opposite. With better lighting and a closer, still seat, Edie knew the soldier had seen war and fought it still behind his eyes. He carried no visible weapons, but she didn't doubt he could subdue all of them without breaking a sweat. His thin, black hair was combed neatly, with a few strands hanging nicely over his eyes. He was relaxed in his chair, though still prompt with his answers, and that stalking kind of quiet. He'd seen something that she hadn't, some places, and kept those secrets under chest and key.

She wondered if he knew.

Larmie sat next to Jamie, and his wife on the corner. "Why are you here, if not for the titan? My wife's meals are incredible, but not enough to draw the scouts from Wall Sina."

"Unfortunately, we hardly enter Wall Sina nor have time for a meal." He looked at Edie. "Our business is with you."

"Because Edie saw the titan," Jamie finished.

"Not just saw; fought. Captain Levi reported your decisive action, saving not only yourself but one of our newer recruits. If you had hesitated or stayed within your own line of duty, to keep the majority of humanity safe, then he would have lost his life." Commander Erwin folded his hands on the table. "That kind of bravery, quiet and quick, is not celebrated enough. The scouts have important work, of course, but the Garrison mans the walls, with a diligence surpassed only by actions like yours."

"The Garrison don't do much," Jamie argued. "They didn't do anything to stop the military police from throwing all those citizens to the titans."

"An unfortunate occurrence, but those soldiers do not account for the mass of the Garrison branch. Many members would have objected to such actions, if given the chance."

Edie and Jamie shared a glance.

"But we don't want your actions to go unnoticed, nor underappreciated."

"We don't need compensation," Edie answered. "There were no injuries or deaths."

"Which is the fascinating part. If the scouts maintained your precision and attention to detail, we would have exterminated the titans and taken back whole districts outside the walls."

She pressed her lips together. "This is a recruitment. Even with homeless children wandering the cities, you come here."

"Humanity must make the best use of our resources to survive. Right now, you are an untapped resource, able to give orders and save lives. We would ask for your services in the scouts."

"And all the inspired children who would sign up when they turned twelve?"

"Indeed."

Well, at least he didn't intend to cover his intentions. Edie pressed her lips together. "Thank you for your praises, and I'm glad I could help humanity. That young man didn't deserve to die, even though he made certain—decisions." She cleared her throat. "I can assure you that Jamie will be an asset to the scouts, and his brave deeds will more than fill the holes in your ranks."

The Commander looked at him and nodded. "I am sure of that."

"But, I'll have to decline your offer. I much prefer a peaceful life to one of battles. We're doing important work here, and I intend to keep at it."

"Of course. Thank you for your consideration."

Edie let go of the chair and took a step back. "I'm sorry if I seem rude, but our horse ran off a little earlier, and I need to go fetch her. Thank you for coming by and promising to look after Jamie."

"You as well." The Commander turned to his up-and-coming soldier. "So, what have you been learning to do?"

"Swordfight, mostly, but Corini taught me some hand-to-hand combat…"

Edie went out the way she came and walked to the barn. She gathered a rope and scowled at the saddle. Dia would have to deal with a barebacked savior today, especially at this time of night and after a long day's work. She tied the waist of her skirt in a knot, raising it a couple inches, and began walking toward the forest. Dia tended to veer toward the special, hidden pond and drink there, but she hadn't got enough time between her escape and the before-dinner rescue. It would be a lot of sore whistling, though. The wind and birds were her only company.

That is, until hoofbeats paraded behind her. She took a deep, impatient breath and turned.

"Captain. I thought you would've been gone by now."

He dismounted, the back of his cape pinned on the saddle. "Erwin took a liking to your little brother. They started talking about ranks and how to move up quickly."

"You must be familiar with that, being a captain and all. How long have you been in the upper ranks?"

He narrowed his eyes. "Small talk is a natural deflection."

"No deception intended."

"I've been a scout for two years and a captain for one. Happy?"

"You're a snippy one, aren't you?"

He walked next to her, his horse's reins in hand. "All that talk about peaceful living doesn't quite line up with what I saw. What are you hiding?"

"Nothing."

"Then why don't you want to join the scouts?"

"I told you. This peaceful life is all I want. I don't want excitement or glory or any suffering. Besides, I'd have divided interests when Jamie joined. You couldn't expect me to stay with my ranks if he was in any danger."

The captain ignored this. "You stabbed a titan through the foot, to save an idiot you'd never met."

"That's not way to talk about your subordinates."

"He turned his back on an enemy and let his emotions get the better of him. The consequences weren't injury, but death, and you prevented that."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"He's certainly learned," the captain mumbled, "but he's more determined than every to stay in the scouts."

"That's a shame."

"But not only did you save his life, you had the forethought to lead the titan away from major populations, knowing you had no method to get to its nape. You located a weapon, acquired it without dismounting, and launched it with enough force to pin it to the ground." He stared straight ahead. "There wasn't anything to grapple on instead of the beast itself, and if it wasn't still, it would've been much more difficult to kill."

"I'm glad to be of service."

"Not of service. Hundreds of people would have died if you didn't take charge, and you're not willing to leave a peaceful life to save more?"

"Yes. Call it selfish, call it lazy, call it whatever you want." She gazed around the field. "But isn't it equally important to sustain the people we have, captain?"

"It's Levi. And there won't be many people to protect if we don't defeat the titans."

"Last I heard, that's the military police's job. It's yours to explore beyond the walls."

"And last I heard, the area outside our wall right now is thoroughly explored."

Edie whistled and scanned for Dia. "Where is that mare?" She whistled again. "You know, she might've stopped at the well. We leave water in that trough for travelers."

"You're not reconsidering," the captain scoffed.

"Captain Levi, if you think I will go back on my word—"

"It's Levi. Just Levi."

Edie stared at him for a moment, then nodded with a little laugh. "I understand now. This was your idea. You wanted me to join the scouts because you thought my talent shouldn't be wasted, but now I've turned it down in front of your superior. If I stick to my word, that doesn't reflect nicely on your plans in the future."

"Erwin's the one with these gambles. I just told him what happened."

"Well, I'm glad your skin is saved. But I'm happy here, and we're making a difference." She whistled again, and a little head popped up from the water trough. "There she is. Thank you for your company, captain, but I'll be going now. I hope you trip home is safe."

"There's not much of a home for us scouts."

"You haven't got a family?" He shook his head. "Well, if you want to take a page from my success story, hit your head hard enough that a loving farmer family takes you in."

"You're adopted?"

"Recently enough. But that's neither here nor there." They reached the runaway horse, who whinnied and accepted some oats from the crease of Edie's skirts. "Just take care of my brother. He means the world to us, and if anything happened to him, we'd…we'd be devastated. All the bravery and tenacity you're speaking of would shrivel up."

He met her eyes. "I will."

Edie threw the rope around Dia's neck and mounted, springing with ease. "Take care, captain."

"Miss—Cartwell."

"Mm?"

He turned around, Dia deciding to walk a bit of the way home. She took a step every now and then, even though Edie tugged on the reins to finish her conversation.

"Have you been to Wall Sina?"

"Not yet. But I hear there's excellent wine and food."

"We don't stay in the area long, but we're stationed there while this investigation finishes. Erwin and other officers are planning the scouts next move, so we're training and strategizing, with most evenings off."

"That's…nice."

"It is." He met her eyes. "Would you spend one with me?"