JК
Faith of the Fallen :: Goodkind Terry
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She wondered in passing why Jagang had been able to come into her mind now. Sometimes, he couldn't. It didn't happen that way for any of the other Sisters-he always had access to their minds.
As her vision cleared, she saw people staring at her. They didn't know why she had paused. The young men-and a few of the older ones, too-were sneaking peeks at her body. They were used to seeing women in drab, shapeless dresses, women whose bodies exhibited the toll taken by endless hard work and almost constant pregnancy from the time they were old enough for the seed to catch. They had never before seen a woman like Nicci, standing straight and tall, looking them in the eye, wearing a fine black dress that hugged a nearly flawless shape marred by neither hard work or the labor of birth. The stark black material contrasted the pale curve of cleavage revealed by the cut of the laced bodice. Nicci was numb to such stares. Occasionally, they suited her purposes, but most of the time they didn't, and so she disregarded them.
She began walking down the line of people again, ignoring Emperor Jagang's orders. She rarely complied with his orders. She was, for the most part, indifferent to his punishment. If anything, she welcomed it.
Nicci, forgive me. You know I don't mean to hurt you.
She ignored his voice, too, as she studied the eyes peering up at her.
Not everyone did. She liked to look into the eyes of those courageous enough to risk a glimpse of her. Most were filled with simple terror.
There would soon be abundant justification for such apprehension.
Nicci, you must do as I tell you, or you are only going to end up forcing me to do something terrible to you. Neither of us wants that.
Someday, I am going to end up doing something from which you will be unable to recover.
If that is what you wish to do, then do it, she thought, in answer.
It was not a challenge; she simply didn't care.
You know 1 don't want to do that, Nicci.
Without the pain, his voice was little more than a fly annoying her.
She paid it no heed. She addressed the crowd.
"Do you people have any concept of the effort being put into the fight for your future? Or is it that you expect to benefit without contributing?
Many of our brave men have given their lives fighting the oppressors of the people, fighting for our new beginning. We struggle so that all people will be able to share equally in the coming prosperity.
She wondered in passing why Jagang had been able to come into her mind now. Sometimes, he couldn't. It didn't happen that way for any of the other Sisters-he always had access to their minds.
As her vision cleared, she saw people staring at her. They didn't know why she had paused. The young men-and a few of the older ones, too-were sneaking peeks at her body. They were used to seeing women in drab, shapeless dresses, women whose bodies exhibited the toll taken by endless hard work and almost constant pregnancy from the time they were old enough for the seed to catch. They had never before seen a woman like Nicci, standing straight and tall, looking them in the eye, wearing a fine black dress that hugged a nearly flawless shape marred by neither hard work or the labor of birth. The stark black material contrasted the pale curve of cleavage revealed by the cut of the laced bodice. Nicci was numb to such stares. Occasionally, they suited her purposes, but most of the time they didn't, and so she disregarded them.
She began walking down the line of people again, ignoring Emperor Jagang's orders. She rarely complied with his orders. She was, for the most part, indifferent to his punishment. If anything, she welcomed it.
Nicci, forgive me. You know I don't mean to hurt you.
She ignored his voice, too, as she studied the eyes peering up at her.
Not everyone did. She liked to look into the eyes of those courageous enough to risk a glimpse of her. Most were filled with simple terror.
There would soon be abundant justification for such apprehension.
Nicci, you must do as I tell you, or you are only going to end up forcing me to do something terrible to you. Neither of us wants that.
Someday, I am going to end up doing something from which you will be unable to recover.
If that is what you wish to do, then do it, she thought, in answer.
It was not a challenge; she simply didn't care.
You know 1 don't want to do that, Nicci.
Without the pain, his voice was little more than a fly annoying her.
She paid it no heed. She addressed the crowd.
"Do you people have any concept of the effort being put into the fight for your future? Or is it that you expect to benefit without contributing?
Many of our brave men have given their lives fighting the oppressors of the people, fighting for our new beginning. We struggle so that all people will be able to share equally in the coming prosperity.