"Raymond E. Feist - Empire Saga 1 - Daughter Of The Empire" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

confidence. But the armed company at his back lost none of their eagerness, and more men drifted from
the woods to observe the exchange.

Looking past the shoulders of her guards at the slender man, Mara demanded, 'What is your name?'

Regaining his bantering manner, the bandit leader leaned on his sword. 'Lujan, Lady.' He still showed
deference to one obviously noble. 'Since I am destined to be your host for a time, may I enquire whom I
have the honour of addressing?'

Several outlaws laughed at their leader's mock display of manners. Mara's escort stiffened with
affront, but the girl herself remained calm. 'I am Mara, Lady of the Acoma.'

Conflicting expressions played across Lujan's face: surprise, amusement, concern, then at last
consideration; he lifted his sword and gestured delicately with the point. 'Then you are without husband
or father, Lady of the Acoma. You must negotiate your own ransom.' Even as he spoke, his eyes played
across the woodlands behind Papewaio and Mara, for her confident stance and the smallness of her
retinue suggested something out of place. Ruling Ladies of great houses did not place themselves at risk
without reason. Something in his posture caused alarm in his men, nearly a hundred and fifty of them, as
well as Mara could estimate. Their nervousness grew as she watched; some cast about for signs of
trouble, while others seemed on the point of charging Papewaio's position without order.

As if the situation were not about to turn from dangerous to deadly, Mara smiled and fingered her
bracelets. 'My Force Commander said I might be annoyed by an unkempt lot like you.' Her voice
became peevish. 'I despise him when he's right. Now I'll never hear the end of his nattering!' At this some
of the outlaws burst into laughter.

Papewaio showed no reaction to this unlikely description of Keyoke. He relaxed slightly, aware that
his mistress sought to lessen tension and avoid an imminent conflict. Mara looked at the bandit chieftain,
outwardly defiant but secretly attempting to gauge his mood. He insolently levelled his weapon in her
direction. 'How convenient for us you failed to take your adviser's suggestion seriously. In future you
would be well advised to heed such counsel . . . if you have the opportunity.'

Several of the Acoma soldiers tensed at the implied threat. Surreptitiously Mara touched Papewaio's
back to reassure him, then said girlishly, 'Why would I not have have the opportunity?'

With a display of mock regret, Lujan lowered his sword. 'Because, Lady, if our negotiations prove
unsatisfactory, you will be in no position to hear your Force Commander again.' His eyes darted, seeking
possible trouble; everything about this raid was askew.

'What do you mean!' Mara stamped her foot as she spoke, ignoring the dangerous attitude the
bandit's threat roused in her escort.

'I mean that while I'm not certain how much value you place on your own freedom, I do know what
price you'll fetch on the slave blocks at Migran.' Lujan jumped back half a step, sword poised, as Acoma
guards barely restrained themselves from answering such insult with attack. Sure of retaliation, the bandits
raised weapons and crouched.

Lujan scanned the clearing furiously as both sides stood on the brink of combat. Yet no charge came.
A gleam of understanding entered the outlaw's eyes. 'You plot something, pretty mistress?' The words
were half question, half statement.