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

"Oh no! I didn'tтАФ I don't want to marry at all. I want to
be a warrior like my cousin Jornoth. I've always liked
hunting and wrestling and being outdoors."

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


"I see. Here, have a seat on the stool." While she sat
down, he fished under the table and came up with a
leather-bound book which he laid on top. "Let me see
your hands тАФ I have to be sure you don't have any prison
brands. Fine. Now тАФ you like wrestling, you say. You've
arm wrestled?"
"Surely. With my family, and once at market."
"Good. Give me a try; I want to test your strength." They
clasped right hands, and on the count began to push
against each other's resistance. After several minutes,
with neither moving much, the man said "Fine, that's
enough. Now let's go left-handed." This time he had the
greater strength, and slowly pushed her arm to the table.
"That's good enough," he said. "Now тАФ was this decision
to join a sudden one?"
"No. Ever since Jornoth left home тАФ and especially after
he came back that time тАФ I've wanted to. But he said I
had to be eighteen, and then I waited until the recruiting
season was almost over, so my father couldn't trace me
and cause trouble."
"You said you'd been on the moors тАФ how far from town
do you live?"
"From here? Well, we're a half day's sheep drive from
Three Firs тАФ "
"Three Firs! You came here from Three Firs today?"
"We live up the other side of Three Firs," said
Paksenarrion. "I came through there before dawn, just at

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


first light."
"But that's тАФ that's twenty miles from Three Firs to here,
at least. When did you start from home?"
"Late last night, after supper." At the word, her stomach
rumbled loudly.
"You must have gone ... thirty miles, I don't doubt. Did
you eat in Three Firs?"
"No, it was too early. Besides I was afraid I'd miss you
here."
"And if you had?"