"Elizabeth Moon - Paksenarrion 3 - Oath Of Gold" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

The man stopped, still gripping her arm. тАЬWere you, now? And do you know the
Kuakgan's name?"
"Master Oakhallow," said Paks.
...тАЭAnd you were to stay there?"
"I..I think so, sir. I had a question to ask him, that's why I came." Paks realized
as she said this that it was true.
"Hmm. Well if it's kuakgannir business you say you were going to the grove: can
you show me where it is?"
The entrance to the grove lay a hundred paces or so along the road. Paks
nodded toward it.
"You know that much at least. Well, I'll just see you safely there. And remember,
girl: I don't expect to see you dodging around town this evening. If I do, it's to the
captain with you. And I'll have the watch keep a lookout, too." He urged her along
until they came to the grove entrance, marked by white stones on the ground
between two trees. тАЬYou're sure this is where you're going?"
Paks nodded. тАЬYes, sir, thank you." She turned away, ducking into the trees to
follow the winding path picked out in white stones.
In the grove was silence. Sunlight filtered through green leaves. As before, she
could hear nothing of the village, close as it was. Abird sang nearby, three rising
notes, over and over. Paks stopped to listen her trembling stilled. Something
rustled in the bushes off to her left, and panic rose in her throat. When a brown
rabbit hopped onto the path, she almost sobbed in relief.
She went on. Far over her head leaves rustled in a light wind, but it was quiet
below. Under one tree she heard a throbbing hum, and looked up to see a haze of
bees busy at the tiny yellow flowers. At last she heard the remembered chuckling
of the Kuakgan's fountain, and came into the sunny glade before his dwelling. It
was the same as on her first visit. The low gray bark-roofed house lay shuttered
and still. Nothing moved but the water, leaping and laughing in sunlight over a
stone basin.
Paks stood a moment in the sunlight, watching that water. She thought of what
she'd told the soldier, and how the lie had felt like truth when she told it. But there
was no help for her, not this time. The Kuakgan had nothing to do with what she
had lost. Kuakkgani didn't like warriors anyway. Still she had to stay, at least until
night. She could not go back to the village. Maybe she could sneak through the
grove and escape to the open country beyond. Paks sighed. She was so tired of
running, tired of hiding from those who'd known her. Yet she could not face them.
Make an end, she thought.
She slid out of the pack straps, and dug into the pack for her pouch of coins, the
reserve the Marshal-General had given her. To it she added the coppers and two
silvers from her belt-pouch. A tidy pile. Enough to live on for a month, if she were
frugal enough for one good feast, otherwise. Her mouth twisted. She scooped up
the whole pile and dumped it in the offering basin the clash and ring of it was loud
and discordant. She looked in her pack for anything else of value. Nothing but her
winter cloak, an extra shirt, spare boot-thongs тАУ no, there was the ring Duke
Phelan had given her the day he left Fin Panir. тАЬSend this, or bring it, if you need
me," he'd said. Paks stared at it. She didn't want it found on her when sheтАж She
pushed the thought aside and tossed the ring onto the heap of coins. She looked
at her pack and decided to leave that too. The Kuakgan would find someone who
needed a cloak and shirt. She piled the pack on top of the money, and turned
away, wondering where she could hide until nightfall. Perhaps she should start