"Moon, Elizabeth - Deed Of Paksenarrion - 01 - Sheepfarmers Daughter" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moon Elizabeth)

"They'd both better go under guard," said Sejek. "Captain Valichi won't be back for several days, so they can't be confined under ban the whole time, but until tomorrow morning — "
"But - but ask him!" interrupted Korryn. "Ask the corporal! He'll tell you I'm not lying."
The witnesses turned toward Corporal Stephi, who had stood silent through everything. But the captain intervened.
"Before you question him, I want to tell you what happened this morning."
"Very well, Captain," said the mayor.
"This morning when I woke, I had a message from the surgeon. Stephi woke last night, and wanted to see me, but they did not call me because it was so late. This morning I went to see how he was, and found that he had no memory of the events last evening. None at all. I did not want to suggest things to him, so I told him only that he would be examined by witnesses about some trouble. The surgeon could find no physical cause for his loss of memory, and as you can see, the blood I saw on him yesterday was not his own. I must say that since he's been in my cohort, he has always been a competent, sober soldier and a good corporal, with no faults against him. I cannot imagine what caused his behavior, but I can swear that it is not typical."
"Is it likely that he would pretend a loss of memory, if he had done wrong?" asked the mayor.
"I think not," replied Sejek. "He has always been honest, in my experience."
"Hmm." The mayor turned to Corporal Stephi. "You have seen the evidence of the injuries suffered by you and others, and you have heard what testimony has been given. What is your understanding of what happened?"
"Sir, I have no memory from just after supper last night until I woke in the infirmary. When I woke I felt strange - dizzy - and of course my hand and the bruises hurt. I asked the surgeon what had happened, but when he found I had no memory, he would not say anything, only that I had been found hurt. I- when I heard this morning - and saw that girl - Sir, I've never beaten a woman so. I've never forced one to bed. I don't understand how I could have—but I saw her injuries. Someone hurt her, and if it was - if I did such a thing- I know what you must do—" His voice trailed away.
"Why did you ask to see the captain last night?"
"Because I was frightened. I wanted to know what had happened — I thought the captain would tell me. And - and I couldn't remember. "
"But, Stephi," said the captain, "you must remember something - maybe just the beginning - you must be able to say whether this recruit is lying." The witnesses stirred but said nothing. Stephi looked at Korryn with distaste.
"Sir - Captain - I cannot remember anything. But I'll tell you, sir, he must be lying. What we've seen and heard — "
"You say that even if it condemns you?"
"Yes. Sir, it's obvious. That girl didn't beat me up - and honestly, sir, there's no way she could have." Stephi conveyed all the confidence of a senior veteran, sure of his own fighting ability.
"But you can remember nothing?" prompted the mayor.
Stephi shook his head. "No, sir, I don't. But I don't expect you to believe that. You'll want to test me, I'm sure."
"You must remember," yelled Korryn suddenly. "You must- I told you yesterday — " He paled as they all looked at him, and he realized what he had said.
"You told him, eh?" said Kolya softly. "You told him what? "
Korryn drove a vicious elbow into the midriff of the guard on his left, and as the man slumped forward he snatched at his sword. The other guard drew his own weapon and darted forward, but Korryn was free with sword in hand, dancing sideways and looking for a way out.
"Take him!" roared the captain, drawing his own sword. Stammel charged, unarmed as he was, with Bosk and Devlin behind him. Korryn swung at Stammel, cursing; Stammel barely evaded the blow. Korryn backed, edging toward the unarmed witnesses as guards converged from around the courtyard. Suddenly Kolya slipped behind him and wrapped a powerful arm around his neck. Korryn fell backwards, gasping. She held him until the guards had jerked the sword out of his hands and grabbed his arms.
"If it were my decision, he'd be in chains," she said calmly, dusting her hand on her robe.
"At once," said Sejek. The guards grinned as they dragged Korryn away. "Now, Stammel — "
"Sir," said Stammel, "I'd like permission to dismiss the formation now. They've seen as much as they can learn from."
"I think you're right. Go ahead, but I'll want you for the rest of this."
"Yes, sir." Stammel turned away. The captain, frowning, spoke to the witnesses.
"Mayor Fontaine, Councilor Ministiera, I appreciate your efforts. You will want to take more testimony from both Paksenarrion and Stephi, I presume."
"Indeed yes," said the mayor. "You have quite a complicated problem here, Captain."
"You'll remand Stephi to the Duke's Court, I assume," said Kolya.
"Yes. I must. Corporal Stephi — " he gestured to the corporal.
"Yes, sir."
"This must be investigated further. You must consider yourself under arrest from this time. I'll have to see whether Stammel will trust your parole; he's within his rights to refuse it until Captain Valichi returns."
"I understand, sir. I wish I did know what happened."
While they were talking, Stammel had spoken to the other recruit sergeants and the formation had dispersed. He had told his own corporals to take the unit outside to drill. "And keep 'em busy," he said, "until I come out and relieve you. We have a lot to work off. I'll be there as soon as I find out how Paks is, and what the captain is going to do."
So it was in a nearly empty courtyard that the captain turned to Stammel and said, "Well, Sergeant, you were right. I wouldn't have thought it, but — "
"Sir, I was sure Paksenarrion was not to blame - but I'm not sure your corporal is. If Korryn gave him something, a drug or something like that — "
"I hadn't thought of that. Something strange has happened — "
"I agree," said Kolya. "And I think this should be discussed in somewhat more privacy."
The mayor nodded. "I'd suggest the Duke's Court, Captain Sejek."
"A good idea. Stephi, get dressed and come with us. Guard, you'd best come too." The captain turned away and headed for the Duke's Gate. Stammel and the witnesses followed him; Stephi pulled on his tunic and came after them, trailed by the guard.

Chapter Five
In the Duke's Court, the little group clustered near the fountain. The witnesses sat on its stone rim; the others stood.
"Tell us first, Stephi, everything that happened yesterday after you left me in Duke's East," said the captain.
"Yes, sir. Well, I came directly here with the men; we didn't stop at all in Duke's East. When we arrived, I asked a recruit to call the quartermaster for me - I don't know what his name was, a stocky brown-haired boy - and had the men put up their horses and turn in their swords. Then I talked to the quartermaster, and gave him your letter, sir, and we went into the storerooms and started marking what we were to take back. Suddenly I realized that it was getting late, and I hadn't told anyone you were coming yet, so I left the quartermaster and went through the Duke's Gate to speak to the steward."
"Had you had anything to eat or drink, Stephi?"
"No, sir, nothing but water. We got here after lunch. But when I'd spoken to the Duke's steward, he asked if I'd like some ale. Tell you the truth, sir, that's one reason I didn't stop in the village. When I came up here six months ago with a message, the steward gave me some ale while I waited for the reply, and - and I was hoping, sir, he might again. Not that I'd have asked, of course, it being the Duke's own ale. But, sir, you know how tasty it is."
"Indeed I do. So you drank ale, then? How much?"
"Well, the steward brought out a ewer and a tankard, and the ewer was full. I poured out a tankard of it, and he left to go back inside and give orders to the servants. It was as good as I remembered, or better. I finished that tankard, sir, and thought of pouring out another. But I thought how strong the ale was, and I didn't want to be drunk-but he'd said to drink hearty, and it was already out of the cask-he wouldn't pour it back in -" Stephi's tanned face was flushed with embarrassment. "So I -well-sir, I poured it into the flask I was carrying, after pouring the rest of my water out. There was maybe a swallow left in the ewer, and I drank that. Then the steward came back, and asked how I liked the ale, and I said fine, and he asked if I wanted more, or something to eat, and I said no, I'd eat with the men at mess, and thanked him."