Read The Deed of Paksenarrion for Free Online Page B

relaxed Stammel’s face for a moment. “It is. I suggest you learn what curses mean before you say them. Then what?”
    “He clapped a hand over my mouth, and tried to push me down on the bunk.” She took another swallow of water.
    “Yes?”
    “So I bit his hand, to make him let go, and he did and I got free. But he was between me and the door, and he took off his belt—”
    “Did he say anything?”
    “Yes, sir. He threatened to beat me, to tame me, and then he swung the belt, and I ran at him, trying to get away. I thought I could push past him, maybe, the way I did with my father. But he grabbed my throat—” her hand rose, unconsciously, “—and hit my face, and—and I couldn’t breathe. I thought be would kill me, and I had to fight. I had to breathe—”
    “Hmmph. That sounds more like the recruit I thought I had. Tell the rest of it.”
    “I—it’s hard to remember. I broke the throat hold, but I couldn’t get away, he was so fast and strong. We were on the floor, mostly, and he was yelling at me—hitting—I remember feeling weaker, and then someone was holding my arms, and someone was hitting me. I suppose that was after you came, though wasn’t it?”
    Stammel’s face wore a puzzled frown. “No one hit you after I got there. When I came in Korryn was hanging onto you, Stephi was lying on the floor, and Korryn said he’d just then been able to pull you off. Captain Sejek wanted to hit you, all right, but he didn’t.” Stammel sighed. “If you’re telling the truth, girl, I can see why you fought. But Korryn was there, or says he was, and his story is against yours, as well as Stephi.”
    “He was there, at the beginning, but he just laughed. I—I am telling the truth, sir, really I am.” Paks swallowed noisily. “But I can see why you wouldn’t believe me, if you’ve known him—Stephi?—so long. Only, that’s what really happened, sir, no matter what Korryn says.”
    “If it were only your word against Korryn’s—” Stammel paused and stretched, then shifted his weight to the other leg. “Paks have you bedded anyone here?”
    “No, sir.”
    “You’ve been asked, surely?”
    “Yes, sir, but I haven’t. I don’t want to. And I asked Maia—”
    “Maia?”
    “The quartermaster’s assistant. I asked her if I had to, and she said no, but not to make a fuss about being asked, like I might at home.”
    “Has Korryn bothered you about it?”
    Paks began to tremble, remembering Korryn’s constant teasing, taunting attempts to force her into bed with him. “He’s asked me,” she whispered.
    “Paks, look at me.” She looked up. “Has he done more than ask?”
    “He—he has sometimes.”
    “Why didn’t you say something to me or Bosk?”
    Paks shook her head. “I thought I wasn’t supposed to—to make a fuss. I thought I was supposed to take care of it—”
    “You aren’t supposed to act like a new wench in an alehouse, no. But no fighter should have to put up with that sort of thing from a companion. When you refuse, they’re supposed to drop it; there’s plenty enough that are willing. I wish I’d known; we’d have put a stop to that.” He paused briefly. “Are you a sisli?”
    “I—I don’t know what that is. He—the corporal—asked me that too.”
    “Like Barranyi and Natzlin in Kefer’s unit. A woman who beds women. Are you?”
    “No, sir. Not that I know of. Does it matter?”
    “Not really.” Stammel shifted his weight again and sighed. “Paks, I want to believe you. You’ve been a good recruit so far. But I just don’t know—and even if I believe you, there’s the captain. Sejek is—umph. You’re in more trouble than most people find in a whole enlistment.”
    Paks felt tears sting her eyes. It was hopeless. If Stammel still thought she could be lying, no one else would believe her. She thought briefly of Saben, who had left before the fight broke out—why hadn’t he stayed? Her belly turned again, and she heaved the water