"Elizabeth Moon - Paksenarrion 1 - The Sheepfarmer's Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

"I've a few coppers. I'd have gotten some food here and
followed you."
"I'll bet you would have, too," the man said. He grinned at
her. "Give us your name, then, and let's get you on the
books so we can feed you. Any girl who'll go thirty miles
or more on foot without stopping to eat ought to make a
soldier."
She grinned back. "I'm Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter."
"PakseтАФwhich?"
"Paksenarrion," she said slowly, and paused until he had
that down. "Dorthansdotter. Of Three Firs."
"Got it." He raised his voice slightly. "Corporal Bosk."
"Sir." One of the men-at-arms turned to look into the tent.
"I'll need the judicar and a couple of witnesses."
"Sir." The corporal stalked off across the square.
"We have to have it all official," the man explained. "This
isn't our Duke's domain; we must prove that we didn't
file:///F|/rah/Elizabeth%20Moon/Moon,%20Elizab...arrion%2001%20-%20Sheepfarmer's%20Daughter.htm (13 of 653) [5/20/03 11:22:30 PM]
Elizabeth Moon - The Deed of Paksenarrion [vol 1] Sheepfarmer's Daughter


take advantage of you, or force you, or forge your
signature ... you can sign your name, can't you?"
"Yes."
"Good. The Duke encourages all his troops to learn to
read and write. Now тАФ " He broke off as a man in a long
maroon gown and two women arrived at the booth.
"Got another one before the deadline, eh, Stammel?" said
the man. The women, one in cheesemaker's apron and
cap, and the other with flour dusting her hands and arms,
looked at Paksenarrion curiously.
"This young lady wishes to join," said Stammel shortly.
The man winked at him and took out a stone cylinder
with carving on one end. "Now," Stammel continued, "if
you'll repeat after me in the presence of the judicar and
these witnesses: I, Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, do desire
to join Duke Phelan's Company as a recruit and agree to
serve two years in this company after recruit training
without leave, and do further agree to obey all rules,
regulations, and commands which I maybe given in that
time, fighting whomever and however my commander
directs."
Paksenarrion repeated all this in a firm voice, and signed
where she was directed, in the leather-bound book. The
two women signed beside her name, and the judicar
dripped wax underneath and pressed the stone seal in
firmly. The cheesemaker patted Paksenarrion on the
shoulder as she turned away, and the judicar gave

file:///F|/rah/Elizabeth%20Moon/Moon,%20Elizab...arrion%2001%20-%20Sheepfarmer's%20Daughter.htm (14 of 653) [5/20/03 11:22:30 PM]