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Tyler burst into laughter。 The others all chuckled nervously with him。 ‘You lofty ladies all act better than everyone else； but when it es to it； you’re just a whore； like all the rest。’
His smile vanished in a way that made her heart skip a beat。 ‘I wrung the neck of the last whore what acted like she was better than me； and decided to change her mind。 That wizard told us what he’d do if we were to kill you； but that don’t mean we won’t make you regret it if you go back on your word。’ Kahlan could only manage a smile and a nod。 ‘Let’s get to it。’
A sweep of his arm scattered the others to the opposite side of the pit； while she was desperately seeking the feel of her magic。 He told them they could decide among themselves who went next。 And then he turned to her。 He started unbuckling his pants。
Kahlan wildly searched her mind for a stall。 She needed time to figure out how to find her power。 ‘How about a kiss； first？’
‘I don’t need no kiss；’ he growled。 ‘Open your legs； like before。 I liked that。’
‘Well； it’s just that a kiss from a big； handsome man gets a woman randy to please him。’
He paused a moment； then put his right arm around her shoulders and slammed her to the floor beside him。 ‘You better get randy real quick； before I lose my patience。’
‘I promise。 Just kiss me a bit first。’
Tyler pressed his lips to hers。 She gasped when his other hand suddenly went up between her legs； but this time with forceful insistence； instead of a gentle touch like before。 He thought the gasp was cooperation； and pressed his lips harder to hers。 She wrapped her arms around his neck。 The smell of him almost made her sick。
Kahlan tried to concentrate on finding the calm； as she always had before when she used her power。 She could not find the place。 She desperately sought the swell of magic； but found nothing。
Failure brought tears of frustration。 Tyler’s breathing was being emphatic。 He was pressing so hard that it was hurting her lips against her teeth。 She pretended to savor it。
It was almost impossible to concentrate with the terror of what his hand was doing between her legs； but she dared not stop him。 Panic rose in her throat as she forced herself to hold her legs open for him。 Her heels pressed harder to the floor and her feet trembled in her boots。
Kahlan reprimanded herself。 She was the Mother Confessor。 She had used her power countless times。 She tried again； but nothing happened。 Her memory of the young women in Ebinissia was keeping her from being able to focus。
And then she thought of Richard。 She almost wailed with longing for him。 If she was ever to have a chance of seeing Richard again； she had to use her magic。 She had to be strong。 She had to do it for him。
Nothing happened。 She realized she was whimpering in frustration against Tyler’s mouth。 He took it for passion。
His face pulled back a few inches。 ‘Spread your legs more； so they can all see how much a fancy lady wants Tyler。’
She submissively drew her heels closer to herself and spread her knees wider。 The men all hooted their approval。 She could feel her ears burning。 She remembered what Ranson had said about taking her dignity。 Tyler pressed his lips back to hers。 Tears seeped from the corners of her eyes。
It wasn’t working。 She couldn’t find her power … if it was even there。 She had no choice。 She was going to have to follow through with what she had offered the men。 Failure to do so now would only bring her a beating on top of it。 There was no escape。
She thought about the poor women in Ebinissia。 That was what was going to happen to her。 It was hopeless。 In her mind； she gave up。 She surrendered to what was going to happen。
Something her father had told her sprang to the front of her mind … If you ever give up； Kahlan； you are lost。 Fight with every breath。 With the last； if you must； but don’t give up。 Not ever。 Don’t hand them victory。 Fight with what you have to the last breath。 She wasn’t doing that。 She was giving up。
Tyler sat up。 ‘Enough kissing。 You’re ready。’
She had run out of time。 She wondered if Richard would hate her for this。 No。 He would know she had no choice。 He would be disappointed only if she felt shame for being a victim。 He had suffered unimaginable pain before Denna had done what she wanted。 He knew what it meant to be helpless。 She did not blame him for what was forced on him。 He would not blame her。 He would fort her。
If it didn’t work with this man； she told herself； then maybe it would work with the next。 She would keep trying with each。 She would not give up。 She would keep trying to find her power with each。
‘Keep your legs open；’ Tyler growled as he undid his trousers。 She realized she had unconsciously put her knees together。 She obediently spread them again as a tear rolled down the side of her face。
Dear spirits； she prayed； help me。
No。 The good spirits had never helped her before。 They had never e to her aid before； despite her efforts on their behalf； despite her pleas。 They would not e now。
To the Keeper with the worthless good spirits。
Don’t cry； girl； she told herself。 Fight them。 With your last breath if need be。
‘Please；’ she said。 ‘Just one more kiss？’
‘You had enough kissing。 Time to do as you said。 Time for me； now。’
Kahlan pulled her heels up against herself； spread her legs as wide as she could； and wiggled her bottom as he leered。 ‘Please？ Your kisses are the best I’ve ever had。 Just one more？ Please？’ She watched his chest heave。 ‘Then I’ll please you like no woman ever has。 Just one more kiss。’
He flopped down on her； between her legs。 His weight drove the wind from her lungs。 ‘One more； and then you deliver。’
He crushed his whiskered face to hers。 He was out of control。 His lips were cutting hers against her teeth。 She tried to ignore the burning heat of him pressing painfully against her。
Kahlan slapped her hands to the sides of his muscular neck。 Her lungs burned for air。 This was her last chance。 Her last breath。 Fight with it； she told herself。 Fight。
For Richard。
As she had done countless times； she released her restraint； although she felt no power pushing against it。
It was like leaping into a dark； bottomless pit。
There was thunder but no sound。
The violent jolt to the air brought down a shower of stone dust。
The men all cried out with the pain of being so close when her power was released。
Kahlan almost screamed with joy。 She could feel the magic in her middle again。 It was weak； from having just been used； but she could feel it again。 It was back。 It had never left； Ranson had used magic to make her believe a lie。
Tyler’s jaw had gone slack as he pulled back； looking down into her eyes。 ‘Mistress！’ he whispered。 ‘mand me。’
The other men were scrambling toward them。
‘Protect me！’
Heads cracked against the walls； sending splashes of blood across the stone。 Tyler snapped a man’s arm。 Wails of pain echoed around the room。 There was a furious battle for a few minutes； until Kahlan was able to direct Tyler in acplishing what she wanted … a truce。
She didn’t want him to fight all the men； if they succeeded in getting the better of him； then she was finished。 She wanted them separated； the men keeping their distance； and Tyler guarding her。 That was her best chance of surviving until she could recover her power。
She screamed orders to the men； as well as Tyler。 Six were left standing； in fighting form； and enragedT One was writhing on the ground； screaming in pain； a shattered bone jutting from his forearm； and the other four； including the one she had kicked in the face； were not moving。
Kahlan told the men that she would keep Tyler at bay as long as they stayed in their corner。 Reluctantly； they moved to the opposite side； dragging the others with them。 The screams kept them convinced that they should bide their time before taking on the big man with the wild eyes。 She made them throw her her smallclothes； under threat of sending Tyler to get them。
Kahlan sat in the corner； her back against the wall。 Tyler stood before her； in a half crouch； dancing on the balls of his feet； his arms out and ready。 The men watched as they rested against the other wall。 Kahlan knew that this uneasy truce could not go on for days。 Sooner or later； Tyler would run out of energy。 Then they would have him。 Then they would have her。 The men knew that； too。
CHAPTER 60
The night wore on； with the men watching； and Tyler guarding her。 She caught a few moments of uneasy sleep from time to time。 Kahlan had no idea what time it was； but she judged it to be between the middle of the night and close to dawn。
Though she was afraid； and knew that they were going to e to behead her sooner or later； she felt joy that her power was back； and that she had beaten them with that much of it。 The good spirits hadn’t helped her； she had helped herself。 She felt self…satisfaction at what she had done。 She had not given up。
And the good s