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Naked Empire :: Goodkind Terry
Страница: 10 из 495When he had earlier been out scouting alone, she had confided in Kahlan that she was worried at how weary Richard looked and had suggested that, since there were enough other people, they shouldn't wake him for a turn at watch that night.
"I'll check the area," Cara said, "and make sure there aren't any more of those birds sitting on a rock watching us with those black eyes of theirs."
Jennsen peered around as if fearing that a black-tipped race might swoop in out of the darkness.
Richard countermanded Cara's plans with a dismissive shake of his head.
"They're gone for now."
"You said they were tracking you." Jennsen stroked Betty's neck when the goat nudged her, seeking comfort. The twins were still hiding under their mother's round belly. "I never saw them before now. They weren't around yesterday, or today. They didn't show up until just this evening. If they really were tracking you, then they wouldn't be gone for such a stretch. They'd have to stick close to you all the time."
"They can leave us for a time in order to hunt-or to make us doubt our suspicion of their true intent-and, even if we keep going, they can easily find us when they return. That's the advantage the black-tipped races have:
they don't need to watch us every moment."
Jennsen planted her fists on her hips. "Then how in the world could you possibly be sure they're tracking you?" She flicked a hand out toward the darkness beyond. "You often see the same kind of birds. You see ravens, sparrows, geese, finches, hummingbirds, doves-how do you know that any one of them aren't following you and that the black-tipped races are?"
"I know," Richard said as he turned and started back toward the wagon.
"Now, let's get our things out and set up camp."
Kahlan caught Jennsen's arm as she headed after him, about to renew her objections. "Let him be for tonight, Jennsen?" Kahlan lifted an eyebrow.
"Please? About this, anyway."
Kahlan was pretty sure that the black-tipped races really were following them, but it wasn't so much an issue of her being sure of it herself. Rather, she had confidence in Richard's word in matters such is this. Kahlan was versed in affairs of state, protocol, ceremony, and royalty; she was familiar with various cultures, the origins of ancient deputes between lands, and the history of treaties; and she was con-versant in any number of languages, including the duplicitous dialect of diplomacy.
In such areas, Richard trusted her word when she ex-pressed her conviction.
In matters about something so odd as strange birds following them, she knew better than to question Richard's word.
"I'll check the area," Cara said, "and make sure there aren't any more of those birds sitting on a rock watching us with those black eyes of theirs."
Jennsen peered around as if fearing that a black-tipped race might swoop in out of the darkness.
Richard countermanded Cara's plans with a dismissive shake of his head.
"They're gone for now."
"You said they were tracking you." Jennsen stroked Betty's neck when the goat nudged her, seeking comfort. The twins were still hiding under their mother's round belly. "I never saw them before now. They weren't around yesterday, or today. They didn't show up until just this evening. If they really were tracking you, then they wouldn't be gone for such a stretch. They'd have to stick close to you all the time."
"They can leave us for a time in order to hunt-or to make us doubt our suspicion of their true intent-and, even if we keep going, they can easily find us when they return. That's the advantage the black-tipped races have:
they don't need to watch us every moment."
Jennsen planted her fists on her hips. "Then how in the world could you possibly be sure they're tracking you?" She flicked a hand out toward the darkness beyond. "You often see the same kind of birds. You see ravens, sparrows, geese, finches, hummingbirds, doves-how do you know that any one of them aren't following you and that the black-tipped races are?"
"I know," Richard said as he turned and started back toward the wagon.
"Now, let's get our things out and set up camp."
Kahlan caught Jennsen's arm as she headed after him, about to renew her objections. "Let him be for tonight, Jennsen?" Kahlan lifted an eyebrow.
"Please? About this, anyway."
Kahlan was pretty sure that the black-tipped races really were following them, but it wasn't so much an issue of her being sure of it herself. Rather, she had confidence in Richard's word in matters such is this. Kahlan was versed in affairs of state, protocol, ceremony, and royalty; she was familiar with various cultures, the origins of ancient deputes between lands, and the history of treaties; and she was con-versant in any number of languages, including the duplicitous dialect of diplomacy.
In such areas, Richard trusted her word when she ex-pressed her conviction.
In matters about something so odd as strange birds following them, she knew better than to question Richard's word.