Naked Empire   ::   Goodkind Terry

Richard let his hand drop back. "Condition?"

"Sure. I'm a Rahl, so… I was kind of thinking that I ought to have some proper protection. I could be a target, you know. People want to kill me. Jagang would love to-"

Richard laughed as he drew her into a hug with one arm to silence her.

"Tom, being as you are a protector to the House of RahJ, I'm assigning you to protect my sister, Jennsen Rahl. It's an important job and it means a great deal to me."

Tom lifted an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Lord Rahl?"

Jennsen swatted him with the back of her hand. "Of coursldie's sure. He wouldn't say it unless he was sure."

"You heard the lady," Richard said. "I'm sure."

The big blond D'Haran smiled with a boyish grin. "All right, then. I swear I will protect her, Lord Rahl."

Jennsen gestured vaguely back at the men and the town behind her.

"Since I've been with them, they have come to see that I'm not a witch, and Betty is not a spirit guide-although for a time there I was afraid they might be right about Betty."

Richard peered down at the goat. Betty cocked her head. "I guess none of us but Betty knew the truth of what Nicholas was up to." At the sound of her name, Betty's ears pricked forward and her tail went into a fit of expectant wagging.

Jennsen patted Betty's round middle. "Now that these people understand that I'm not a witch, but I do share some of their traits, I suggested I might play an important role." She drew the knife at her belt and held it up, showing Richard the ornate letter «R» engraved on the silver handle. "I suggested that I be the official representative of the House of Rahl-if you approve."

Richard grinned. "I think that's an excellent idea."

"I think that would be wonderful, Jennsen." Kahlan pointed to the east with her chin. "But don't wait too long before you get back to Hawton to see Ann and Nathan. They will be a valuable help in insuring that the people here are no longer the prey of the Imperial Order. They will help you."

Jennsen twisted her fingers together. "But aren't they going to want to be going with the both of you? Helping you?"

"Ann thinks she should direct Richard's life," Kahlan said. "I don't think some of her directions have been the best thing." She slipped her arm through Richard's. "He is the Lord Rahl, now. He needs to do things his way, not theirs."

"They both feel responsible for us," Richard explained. "Nathan Rahl is a prophet. Prophecy, because of the way it functions, actually does require balance. The balance to Prophecy is free will.