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Naked Empire :: Goodkind Terry
Страница: 60 из 495They all were wearing dusty traveling clothes, but somehow Richard didn't suppose that at that moment they looked at all like simple travelers in search of work.
"Please," the man said, "I don't mean any harm."
"Take it easy," Richard said as he stole a sidelong glance at Cara- his words meant not only for the man but the Mord-Sith as well. "Are you alone?" Richard asked him.
"Yes, Lord Rahl. I'm on a mission for my people, just as I told you.
You are of course to be forgiven your aggressive nature-I would expect nothing less. I want you to know I hold no feelings of resentment toward you."
"Why does he think you're the Lord Rahl?" Cara said to Richard in a tone that sounded more accusation than question.
"I've heard the descriptions," the man put in. Still clutching the waterskin to his chest, he pointed with the other hand. "And that sword.
I've heard about Lord Rahl's sword." His gaze moved cautiously to Kahlan.
"And the Mother Confessor, of course," he added, dipping his head.
"Of course," Richard sighed.
He'd expected that he would have to hide the sword around strangers, but now he knew just how important that was going to be whenever they went into any populated areas. The sword would be relatively easy to hide. Not so with Kahlan. He thought that maybe they could cover her in rags and say she was a leper.
The man leaned cautiously out, arm extended, and handed Richard his waterskin. "Thank you, Lord Rahl."
Richard took a long drink of the terrible-tasting water before offering it to Kahlan. She lifted hers out for him to see as she declined with a single shake of her head. Richard took another long swig before replacing the stopper and slinging the strap back over his shoulder.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Owen."
"Well, Owen, why don't you come back to camp with us for the night. We can fill up your waterskins for you, at least, before you're on your way in the morning."
Cara was near to bursting as she gritted her teeth at Richard. "Why don't you just let me see to-"
"I think Owen has problems we can all understand. He's concerned for his friends and family. In the morning, he can be on his way, and we can be on ours."
Richard didn't want the man out there somewhere, in the dark, where they couldn't as easily keep an eye on him as they could if he were in camp.
In the morning it would be easy enough to make sure that he wasn't following them. Cara finally understood Richard's intent and relaxed. He knew she would want any stranger in her sight while Richard and Kahlan were sleeping.
"Please," the man said, "I don't mean any harm."
"Take it easy," Richard said as he stole a sidelong glance at Cara- his words meant not only for the man but the Mord-Sith as well. "Are you alone?" Richard asked him.
"Yes, Lord Rahl. I'm on a mission for my people, just as I told you.
You are of course to be forgiven your aggressive nature-I would expect nothing less. I want you to know I hold no feelings of resentment toward you."
"Why does he think you're the Lord Rahl?" Cara said to Richard in a tone that sounded more accusation than question.
"I've heard the descriptions," the man put in. Still clutching the waterskin to his chest, he pointed with the other hand. "And that sword.
I've heard about Lord Rahl's sword." His gaze moved cautiously to Kahlan.
"And the Mother Confessor, of course," he added, dipping his head.
"Of course," Richard sighed.
He'd expected that he would have to hide the sword around strangers, but now he knew just how important that was going to be whenever they went into any populated areas. The sword would be relatively easy to hide. Not so with Kahlan. He thought that maybe they could cover her in rags and say she was a leper.
The man leaned cautiously out, arm extended, and handed Richard his waterskin. "Thank you, Lord Rahl."
Richard took a long drink of the terrible-tasting water before offering it to Kahlan. She lifted hers out for him to see as she declined with a single shake of her head. Richard took another long swig before replacing the stopper and slinging the strap back over his shoulder.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Owen."
"Well, Owen, why don't you come back to camp with us for the night. We can fill up your waterskins for you, at least, before you're on your way in the morning."
Cara was near to bursting as she gritted her teeth at Richard. "Why don't you just let me see to-"
"I think Owen has problems we can all understand. He's concerned for his friends and family. In the morning, he can be on his way, and we can be on ours."
Richard didn't want the man out there somewhere, in the dark, where they couldn't as easily keep an eye on him as they could if he were in camp.
In the morning it would be easy enough to make sure that he wasn't following them. Cara finally understood Richard's intent and relaxed. He knew she would want any stranger in her sight while Richard and Kahlan were sleeping.