Naked Empire   ::   Goodkind Terry

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Those just going off watch were often tired and already thinking of otherthings, considering watch the duty of the next guard. Those just coming on watch were often not mentally prepared for a sudden attack. People tended to think that the enemy would not come until they were properly settled in and on the lookout. Victory favored those who were ready. Defeat stalked those who were unwary.

Kahlan made her way to a formation of rock not far from Richard. She scooted back, sitting atop a high spot in order to get a better view of the lifeless surroundings. Even in the middle of the night, the rough rock still radiated the fierce heat of the previous day.

Kahlan pulled a skein of damp hair away from her neck, wishing there were a breeze. There had been times, in winter, when she had nearly frozen to death. Try as she might, she couldn't seem to recall what it felt like to be truly cold.

It wasn't long after Kahlan had gotten herself situated before she saw Jennsen get up and step quietly through their camp, trying not to wake the others.

"All right if I sit with you?" she asked when she finally reached Kahlan.

"Of course."

Jennsen pushed her bottom back up onto the rock beside Kahlan, pulled her knees up, and wrapped her arms around them, hugging them close to her body. For a time she just gazed out at the night.

"Kahlan, I'm sorry-about before." Despite the dark, Kahlan thought she could see that the young woman looked miserable. "I didn't mean to sound like a fool who would do something without thinking. I'd never do anything to hurt any of you."

"I know you wouldn't deliberately do any such thing. It's the things you might do unwittingly that concern me."

Jennsen nodded. "I think I understand a little better, now, about how complicated everything is and how much I really don't know. I'll not do anything unless you or Richard tells me to, I promise."

Kahlan smiled and ran a hand down the back of Jennsen's head, letting it come to rest on her shoulder. "I only told you those things because I care about you, Jennsen." She gave the shoulder a compassionate squeeze. "I guess I'm worried for you the same way Betty worries for her innocent twins, knowing the dangers all around when they rarely do.

"You need to understand that if you go out on thin ice, it doesn't matter if the lake was frozen over by a cold spell, or a magic spell. If you don't know where you're stepping, so to speak, you could fall into the cold dark arms of death. It matters not what made the ice-dead is dead. My point is that you don't go out on that thin ice unless you have a very powerful need, because it very well could cost you your life.

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