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

Sheepfarmer 's Daughter
Chapter One

"And I say you will!" bellowed the burly sheepfarmer,
Dorthan Kanasson. He lunged across the table, but his
daughter Paksenarrion sidestepped his powerful arm and
darted down the passage to the sleeping rooms. "Pakse!"
he yelled, slipping his broad leather belt from its loops.
"Pakse, you come here now!" His wife Rahel and three
smaller children cowered against the wall. Silence from
the sleeping rooms. "Pakse, you come or it will be the
worse for you. Will you go to your wedding with welts on
your back?"
"I'll not go at all!" came the angry response.
"The dower's been given. You wed Fersin Amboisson
next restday. Now come out before I come in."
Suddenly she stood in the mouth of the passage, as tall as
he but slender, long blonde hair braided tightly. She had
changed to her older brother's clothes, a leather tunic over
her own shirt, and his homespun trousers. "I told you not
to give dower. I told you I wouldn't wed Fersin or anyone
else. And I won't. I'm leaving."
Dorthan glared at her as he wrapped the belt around his

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Elizabeth Moon - The Deed of Paksenarrion [vol 1] Sheepfarmer's Daughter


right hand. "The only place you're going, you arrogant
hussy, is Fersin's bed."
"Dorthan, pleaseтАФ " began Rahel.
"Quiet! She's your fault as much as anyone's. She should
have been spinning at home, not running out on the moors
hunting with the boys."
Paksenarrion's gray eyes glinted. "It's all right, Mother;
don't worry. He'll remember someday that he's the one
who sent me out with the flocks so often. Father, I'm
leaving. Let me pass."
"Over my dead body," he grunted.
"If need be тАФ " Paksenarrion leaped for the old sword,
Kanas's sword, over the fireplace. As she lifted it from the
rack, the belt caught her shoulders with its first stroke.
Then she was facing Dorthan, sword in hand, with the
firelight behind her. The sword felt easy in her grip.
Startled, Dorthan jumped back, swinging the belt wildly
in her direction. Paksenarrion took her chance and ran for
the door, jerked it open, and was gone. Behind her came
his furious bellow, and questioning calls from her