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he questions anymore。 By focusing on what you will say； you make it less likely you'll say that which you don't wish to。〃
But his theoretical advice might not do much for me。 Regal did not seem to have any questions to ask。
Bolt was taller than I was； heavier than I was。 He looked as if his diet included a lot more than bread and water。 He limbered and stretched as if we were going to wrestle for a Winterfest purse。 I stood watching him。 He met my look and smiled at me liplessly。 I watched him pull on a pair of fingerless leather gloves。 He'd e prepared for this。 Then he bowed to Regal； and Regal nodded。
What's this？
Be silent！ I ordered Nighteyes。 But as Bolt stepped purposefully toward me I felt a snarl twitch at my upper lip。 I dodged his first punch； stepped in to land one of my own； and then moved back as he swung again。 Desperation lent me agility。 I had not expected a chance to defend myself； I had expected to be bound and tormented。 Of course； there was plenty of time for that。 Regal had all the time he needed。 Don't think of that。 I had never been good in this kind of a fight。 Don't think of that either。 Bolt's fist grazed my cheek stingingly。 Be wary。 I was luring him to open up； taking his measure； when the Skill wrapped me。 I reeled in Will's onslaught； and Bolt landed his next three blows effortlessly。 Jaw； chest； and high on my cheek。 All quick and solid。 The style of a man who did this a lot。 The smile of a man who enjoyed it。
There followed a timeless period for me。 I could not both shield myself from Will and defend myself from Bolt battering me。 I reasoned； if the thinking one does in such a state can be called reasoning； that my body had its own defenses against physical pain。 I'd pass out； or die。 Dying might be the only victory I could hope for here。 So I chose to defend my mind rather than body。
I veer away from recalling that beating。 My token defense was to move away from his blows and force him to pursue me； to keep my eyes on him； to block where I could as long as it did not distract me from my vigil against Will's Skill pressure。 I heard the guards jeer at my supposed lack of spirit as I scarcely fought back。 When one of his blows sent me staggering back against the soldiers who ringed us； their shoves and kicks drove me back toward Bolt again。
I could not devote my thoughts to strategy。 When I swung； I swung wildly； and the few times my fists landed； it was with small impact。 I longed to release myself； to tap my fury and just fling myself at Bolt and hammer at him any way I could。 But that would have left me wide open to Will's intentions。 No。 I had to remain cool and endure。 As Will increased his pressure on me； Bolt had a leisurely time of it。 Eventually； I was reduced to two choices。 I could use my arms to shelter either my head or my body。 He merely shifted targets。 The horror was that I knew the man was holding back； striking only to inflict pain and minor damage。 I dropped my hands once and met Will's gaze face…on。 I had the very brief satisfaction of seeing the sweat that streamed down his face。 At that moment； Bolt's fist connected solidly with my nose。
Blade had once described to me the sound that he heard as his nose broke in a brawl。 Words did not do it justice。 A sickening sound bined with incredible pain。 Pain so intense it was suddenly the only pain I was aware of。 I blacked out。
I don't know how long I was out。 I fluttered to the edge of consciousness； hovered there。 Someone had flipped me over onto my back。 Whoever it was straightened from inspecting me。 〃Nose is broke；〃 he announced。
〃Bolt； I said； nothing broken！〃 Regal remonstrated with him angrily。 〃I have to be able to show him intact。 Bring me some wine；〃 he added irritably in an aside to someone else。
〃Not a problem； King Regal；〃 someone assured him。 That person bent over me； took a firm grip on the bridge of my nose； and dragged it straight again。 That crude setting of it hurt worse than the breaking； and once more I dipped down into unconsciousness。 I lingered there； hearing the voices discuss me for some time before they resolved into words and the words into sense。
Regal's voice。 〃So what is he supposed to be able to do？ Why hasn't he done it yet？〃
〃I know only what Serene and Justin told me； Your Majesty。〃 Will's voice was tired。 〃They claimed he was weary from Skilling； and Justin was able to force his way into him。 Then the Bastard 。。。 fought back in some way。 Justin said he believed himself attacked by a great wolf。 Serene said she actually saw the marks of claws on Justin； but that they faded shortly afterward。〃
I heard the creak of wood as Regal flung himself back in his chair。 〃Well； make him do it。 I wish to see this Wit for myself〃 A pause。 〃Or are not you strong enough？ Perhaps Justin was the one I should have held in reserve。〃
〃I am stronger than Justin was； Your Majesty；〃 Will asserted calmly。 〃But Fitz is aware of my intent。 He was not expecting Justin's attack。〃 More quietly he added； 〃He is stronger far than I was led to believe。〃
〃Just do it！〃 Regal manded in disgust。
So Regal wanted to see the Wit？ I drew a breath； gathered what little strength was inside me。 I tried to focus my anger at Regal； to repel at him hard enough to drive him through the wall。 But I could not。 I was too riddled with pain to concentrate。 My own walls defeated me。 All Regal did was start； and then look at me more closely。
〃He's awake；〃 he observed。 Again his finger lifted lazily。 〃Verde。 You may have him。 But have a care to his nose。 Leave his face alone。 The rest of him is easily covered。〃
Verde devoted some little time to hauling me to my feet so he could knock me down again。 I wearied of that repetition long before he did。 The floor did as much damage as his fists。 I could not seem to keep my feet under me； nor lift my arms to shield myself。 I retreated inside myself； smaller and smaller； huddling there until sheer physical pain would force me to alertness and make me struggle again。 Usually just before I passed out again。 I became aware of another thing。 Regal's enjoyment。 He did not want to bind me and cause me pain。 He wanted to watch me struggle； to see me attempt to fight back and fail。 He watched his guard； too； noting； no doubt； which ones turned their eyes away from this sport。 He used me to take their measure。 I forced myself not to care that he took pleasure from my pain。 All that truly mattered was keeping my walls up and keeping Will out of my head。 That was the battle I had to win。
The fourth time I awoke； I was on the floor of my cell。 A terrible snuffling； wheezing sound was what had wakened me。 It was the sound of my breathing。 I remained where they had dumped me。 After a time I lifted a hand and pawed Brawndy's cloak down from the bench。 It fell partially atop me。 I lay a time longer。 Regal's guards had listened to him。 Nothing was broken。 Everything hurt； but no bones were broken。 All they had given me was pain。 Nothing I could die from。
I crawled over to my water。 I will not enumerate the pains it cost for me to lift it and drink。 My initial attempts to defend myself had left my hands swollen and sore。 I tried vainly to keep the edge of the water pot from bumping against my mouth。 Finally； I managed to drink。 The water strengthened me； to make me all the more aware of everywhere I hurt。 My half loaf of bread was there as well。 I stuck the end of it in what was left of my water； and then sucked the soaked bread from the loaf as it softened。 It tasted like blood。 Bolt's initial battering of my head had loosened teeth and cut my mouth。 I was aware of my nose as an immense area of throbbing pain。 I could not bring myself to touch it with my fingers。 There was no pleasure in eating； only a partial relief from the hunger that clawed at me alongside my pain。
After a time I sat up。 I dragged the cloak around me and considered what I knew。 Regal would batter at me physically until I either manifested the Wit in an attack his guards could witness； or until I dropped my walls enough that Will could get in my mind and inspire me to confess。 I wondered which way he would rather win。 I did not doubt he would win。 My sole way out of this cell was by dying。 Options。 To try to make them beat me to death before I either used the Wit or dropped my Skill barrier to Will。 Or； to take the poison I had made for Wallace。 I would die from it。 That was definite。 In my weakened state； it would probably be faster than I had planned it for him。 Still painful； though。 Wretchedly painful。
One kind of pain seemed as good as another。 Laboriously I folded back my bloodied right cuff。 The hidden pocket was secured by a thread that should have e loose at a slight tug。 But blood had matted it closed。 I picked at it carefully。 Mustn't spill it。 I'd need to wait until they gave me more water to get it down。 Otherwise I'd just gag and retch on the bitter powder。 I was still working at it when I heard voices down the hallway。
It did not seem fair they would e back at me so soon。 I listened。 It wasn't Regal。 But anyone ing down here meant something to do with me。 A deep voic