Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [374]
“Put her on the ground and hold her down,” he growled.
Kahlan’s knee came up into his groin. He doubled over with a groan while the other two laughed. There was fire in his eyes as he straightened. His fist cut her lip open. Blood gushed over her chin.
Chase, his arms still tied securely behind him, crashed headfirst into the man’s middle. They both fell to the ground, the pants around the man’s ankles tripping him up, and before he could react, Chase clamped his thighs around the man’s thick neck. His blue eyes bulged. The boundary warden rolled onto his side, pulling the head back sharply. There was a loud pop, and the man went limp.
Demmin Nass kicked Chase in the ribs and head, until he didn’t move anymore.
Seemingly from midair, fur and fangs landed on Nass. The wolf growled savagely as he tore at the big man. They tumbled to the ground, rolling over in the dirt, through the fire. A knife flashed through the air.
“No!” Kahlan screamed. “Brophy! No! Get away!”
It was too late. The knife slashed into the wolf with a sickening thud as the fist holding it slammed against the ribs. Over and over, Nass tore the wolf open. In moments, it was over. Brophy lay sprawled on the ground, his fur matted with blood. His legs jerked a little, then were still.
Kahlan hung by her arms and hair, crying and sobbing the wolf’s name.
Nass came to his feet, panting from the effort of the short but fierce fight. Blood ran from wounds on his chest and arm. Anger flared in his eyes.
“Make her pay,” he hissed to the two men holding her. “Do her good.”
Kahlan struggled and twisted against them. “What’s the matter, Demmin?” she screamed. “Not man enough to do it yourself? Have to have real men do it for you?”
Please, Kahlan, Zedd begged silently in his mind, please, keep your mouth shut. Please, don’t say anything else.
Nass’s face heated to red. His chest heaved. He glared at her.
“At least these are real men! At least they have what it takes to handle a woman! You probably don’t! You only have enough for little boys! What’s the matter, little boy? Afraid to show a real woman what you have? I’ll be laughing at you while real men do what you can’t!”
Nass took a step closer, his teeth gritted. “Shut up, bitch.”
She spat in his face. “That’s what your father would do if he knew you couldn’t handle a woman. You’re a disgrace to your father’s name!”
Zedd wondered if Kahlan had lost her mind. He had absolutely no idea why she was doing this. If she wanted to provoke Nass to do worse, this would do it.
Nass looked as if he might explode, but then his face relaxed, his smile returned. He looked around and saw what he wanted.
“Over there,” he pointed. “Hold her face down over that log.” He put his face close to hers. “You want it from me? All right, bitch, you’ll get it from me. But you’ll get it my way. Now we’ll see how good you can squirm.”
Kahlan’s face was crimson with fury. “I think your talk is all that’s big! I think you’re going to embarrass yourself. Your men and I will have a good laugh. Once again, they will have to do the job for you.” Her mouth spread into a defiant smile. “I’m waiting, little boy. Do it to me like your father did it to you, so we can all have a good laugh, thinking about you on your knees under him. Show me how he did it to you.”
The veins on his forehead threatened to burst; his eyeballs bulged. Nass’s hand sprang to her throat, tightening, lifting her. He shook with rage. His grip tightened, choking her.
“Commander Nass,” one of the men cautioned in a low voice, “you’re going to kill her.”
Demmin looked up, glaring at the man, but then relaxed his grip. He looked back to Kahlan. “What does a bitch like you know of anything?”
“I know you’re a liar. I know your master wouldn’t let a little boy like you know what had been done with the Seeker. You know nothing. You couldn’t tell me because you don’t know, and you’re so worthless you couldn’t even admit it.”
So that was it.