princess violet glared at him. “my mother says that confessor kahlan will come
back and that we’ll have a surprise for her the next time she comes here. i just want
you to know because my mother said you’ll be dead by then. my mother says i get to
decide what to do to her. first, i’m going to cut off her hair.” her hands were in fists,
her face red. “then i’m going to let all the guards rape her, every one! then i’m going
to put her in the dungeon for a few years so they’ll have someone to play with! then
when i get tired of hurting her, i’ll have her head chopped off and put it on a pole
where i can watch it rot!”

richard actually felt sorry for the little princess. the sadness for her came over
him in a wave. at that feeling, he was surprised to feel the thing in him that had come
awake rise up.

princess violet squeezed her eyes shut and stuck her tongue out far as she could.
it was like a red flag.

the strength of the awakened power exploded through him.

when his boot came up under her jaw he could feel it shatter like a crystal goblet
on a stone floor. the impact of the blow lifted the princess into the air. her own teeth
severed her tongue before they, too, shattered. she landed on her back, a good distance
away, trying to scream through the gushing blood.

denna’s eyes snapped to him. for an instant, he saw fear pass across them. richard
had no idea how he was able to what he had done, why the magic hadn’t stopped him,
and from the look on denna’s face, he knew he shouldn’t have been able to do it.