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Tell her the Creator said it was to help her deal with her new one； as he would be the most difficult any novice has ever been given。 Tell her the Creator revealed to you that He made this night hot； so she would sweat between her breasts； over her heart； to awaken her to His wishes。’ She gave him a smooth smile。 ‘Then； I want you to teach her how to please a man。’
He stared incredulously at her。 ‘What makes you think she will believe any of this； or go along？’
Her smile widened。 ‘You tell her what I told you to tell her； Neville； and you will have a great deal more than your hand up her skirt。 She will probably have her legs around you before you finish talking。’
He nodded dumbly。 All right。’
She glanced deliberately down at him。 ‘I’m glad to see that you are 。。。 up to the task。’ She looked back to his eyes。 Teach her everything you can think of to please a man。 At feast everything you can teach her by dawn。 Teach her well。 I want her to know how to make a man happy； and keep him ing back for more。’
He smiled。 ‘Yes； Sister。’
She put the tip of the rod under his chin； lifting it a little。 ‘You be gentle with her； Neville。 I don’t want you to hurt her in any way。 I want this to be a very pleasant experience for her。 I want her to enjoy it。’ She looked down at him again。 ‘Well； do the best you can with what you have。’
‘I’ve never had any plaints；’ he snapped。
‘Idiot。 Women don’t plain about that to men’s faces； they plain to the backs of their heads。 Don’t you dare jump on her； please yourself； then fall asleep。 You have until dawn。 I don’t want you sleeping tonight。 You make sure this is an experience she remembers fondly。 You teach her well。 Everything you know。’
She pushed up with the rod a little more。 ‘This may be a pleasant task； but it is a task for the Keeper just the same。 Fail in this； as in any other； and your service will end abruptly。 But your pain will go on and on。 Keep alert when you are with her。 In the morning； I expect a detailed report of everything you have taught her。 You will report every bit of it。 I need to know what she knows so I may guide her。’
‘Yes； Sister。’
She glanced past him to the man against the wall。 The sooner you finish here； the sooner you can be with Pasha； and the more time you will have to teach her。’
He nodded with a grin。 ‘Yes； Sister。’
She took the rod away and he let out a breath。 With a gesture； she made his robe float to her hand。 She shoved it at him。
‘Put this on。 You’re embarrassing yourself。’ She watched as he began gathering the material and pulling it over his head。 Tomorrow the real work； the real task； begins。’
His head poked through the robe； his arms following one at a time。 ‘What work？ What task？’
‘After you are released； you must be off at once； in the service of your homeland。 You do remember your homeland； don’t you？ You are going to go to Aydindril； as an advisor to High Prince Fyren。 You have things to do there。 Important things。’
‘Like what？’
‘We will talk about it in the morning。 But now； before you can do the first task； and the second； and the rest of it； you have an oath to give。 Is this of your free will； Neville？’
She watched his eyes。 They darted briefly to his friend huddled against the wall。 Then he turned to glance at the knife and the quillion。 She saw his dark eyes go out of focus； and she knew he was thinking about Pasha。 He answered her in a whisper。
‘Yes； Sister。’
She nodded。 ‘Very good； Neville。 Kneel。 The time of the oath is upon you。’
As he went to his knees； she lifted her hand。 The flame of the torch puffed out； plunging the room into total blackness。
The oath to the Keeper；’ she whispered； ‘is given in the darkness that is his homeland。’
CHAPTER 14
Gently； Kahlan pulled the door open。 He was awake and sitting in front of the fire。 When the door closed； it shut out some of the eerie sound of the boldas and the drums ing from the center of the village。 She stood next to him and tipped his head against her leg and then bed her fingers through his hair。
‘How is your headache？’
‘It’s all right。 The rest and that last drink Nissel gave me helped。’ He didn’t look up。 They want me out there； don’t they？’
Kahlan sank down to sit on the ground next to him。 ‘Yes。 It is time。’ She rubbed his shoulder。 ‘Are you sure you want to eat the meat； knowing this time what it is？’
‘I have to。’
‘But it’s still meat。 Will you be able to eat it？’
‘If I want a gathering； I have to eat it。 The way is the way。 I will eat it。’
‘Richard； I’m worried about this gathering。 I’m not so sure you should go through with it。 Maybe there’s another way。 The Bird Man is afraid for you too。 Maybe you shouldn’t do it。’
‘I have to。’
‘Why？’
He stared into the fire。 ‘Because this is all my fault。 I am responsible。 It is my fault the veil is torn。 That’s what Shota said。 My fault。 I caused it。’
‘Darken Rahl caused it 。。。 somehow。’
‘And I am a Rahl；’ he whispered。
Kahlan glanced over； but he didn’t look back。 ‘The crimes of the father； passed on to the son？’
He smiled a small smile。 ‘I don’t believe that old line。 But maybe there is a little snip of truth to it。’ His eyes turned to her。 ‘You remember what Shota said？ That only I could restore the veil？ Maybe because Darken Rahl tore it through the Magic of Orden； and my intervention； I have to restore it。’
She watched the firelight flicker in his eyes。 ‘So you think 。。。 what？ That maybe since a Rahl tore it； it takes a Rahl to close it？’
He shrugged。 ‘Maybe。 That could explain why only I can close it。 It may not be the reason； but it’s the only one I can think of。’ He smiled。 ‘I’m glad I’m marrying a smart woman。’
She grinned。 It made her happy to see him smile。 ‘Well； this smart woman can’t see how that could be the reason。’
‘It might not be； but it’s a possibility I have to consider。’
Then why do you have to go thro