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Once； he offered Sister Nicci one of his rare flowers from a restricted area。 His explanation of where it had e from and the story of why he was giving it to her flew right out of his head。 She took the white rose gingerly between a finger and thumb； as if it might soil her hand； and while her gaze held his； she gave him one of her subdued smiles and said in an indifferent tone； ‘Why； thank you； Richard。’ What Pasha had told him about boys bringing Sisters frogs came to his mind。 He never gave either Sister Nicci or Merissa a flower again。 Anything less than priceless jewels seemed an insult。
Neither ever offered to sit on the floor for their sessions。 In fact； the very idea of Sisters Merissa ar Nicci sitting on the floor seemed ludicrous to him。 The older Sisters； Tovi and Cecilia； sat on the floor； the same as Pasha； and it seemed perfectly natural。 Sisters Merissa and Nicci sat in chairs； and held his hands across a small table。 It somehow seemed an erotic experience。 It made him sweat。
They both spoke with a quiet economy of words that added an air of nobility to their bearing。 While neither ever made a clear offer； they managed to somehow leave no doubt in Richard’s mind that they were available to spend the night with him。 Richard could never pin down anything specific in what they said to confirm the impression； but he had no doubt。 Their oblique words left him room to feign missing their intent； and neither ever deigned to clarify what she had said。
He prayed that they would never make the offer any more explicit； because if they did； he knew he would have to bite his tongue in half to keep from saying yes。 Both brought to mind what Pasha had told him about men having uncontrollable urges。 He had never been around anyone who could make him stammer and fumble and in general make himself appear a fool as those two did。 Sisters Merissa and Nicci were the embodiment of pure； unadulterated lust。
When Pasha found out that Sisters Merissa and Nicci were two of his teachers； she gave a small shrug； and said that they were very talented Sisters； and she was sure they would help him reach his Han。 But her cheeks broke out in red blotches。
When Perry and Isaac found out about Sisters Merissa and Nicci； they both nearly succumbed to apoplexy。 They said they would give up all the women in the city； forever； just to have one night with either。 They said that if Richard was ever offered the opportunity； he had to take it； and tell them every detail。 Richard assured them that women the likes of those two would never be interested in a woods guide like him。
He dared not say out loud that the offer had been made。
The fifth Sister； Armina； was older； a mature woman who was pleasant enough； but all business。 When he had no more luck finding his Han with her than any of the others； she told him that it would e with time； and not to feel disappointed； but perhaps he should try to put more effort into it。 Over time； she warmed to him； and smiled more。 She was surprised and flattered by the special flowers。 She blushed at her own blushes。 Richard liked her straightforward personality。
The last Sister； Liliana； was Richard’s favorite。 Her easy smile was disarming； her plain； bony looks somehow alluring because of her open； friendly nature。 She treated Richard like a confidant。 Richard felt relaxed with her； sometimes spending more time than he could afford； talking with her late into the night； simply because he enjoyed her pany。 Though he had no friends among his captors； she came closer than any。
When Richard gave her the special flower； she hooked some of her brown hair behind an ear and leaned in。 Her eyes were wide with mischief； wanting to know how he had gotten past the guards。 She giggled when he told the story he invented of sneaking behind their backs。 She stuck each rose proudly through a buttonhole； and wore it until it wilted or he gave her another。
When she touched him in a friendly way； it somehow seemed the natural thing to do。 He found himself laying a hand on her arm in the same manner when he told her funny stories about when he had been a guide。 They roared with laughter together； holding their ribs and getting tears。
Sister Liliana told him how she had grown up on a farm； and loved the country。 Several times Richard invited her on a picnic out in the hills。 She was fortable and happy in the countryside。 She didn’t care if she got her dress dirty。 Richard couldn’t imagine either Sister Merissa or Nicci setting a foot to dirt； but Sister Liliana would flop right down on the ground with him。
She never made an offer to sleep with him。 That in itself put him at ease。 She never displayed any pretense； she seemed to genuinely enjoy her time with him。 When he opened his eyes after a session with her and admitted he felt no Han； she would squeeze his hands and tell him that it was all right； and that she would try harder the next time to help him。
Richard found himself telling her things he told none of the others。 When he confided how much he wanted the Rada’Han off； she put a hand to his arm as she gave him a wink； and told him that she would see to it that he had his wish； that when the time came； she would do it herself。 She said she could understand his feelings； and for him to have faith。
She promised that if one day he was at the end of his tolerance； and he truly could stand it no longer； she would help him； she would remove the collar。 But she wanted him to know that she had faith in him； and wanted him to put in his best effort to learn to control his Han before she even considered it。
She said that other young men tried to forget their collar by bedding every woman willing。 She told him that she could understand urges； but she hoped that if he chose to sleep with a woman it would be because he liked her； and not because he was trying to forget the collar。 She told him not to go to the prostitutes because they were dirty and he would catch something。
Richard told her that he was in love with someone； and didn’t want to be unfaithful to her。 She grinned and clapped him on the back and said she was proud of him。 Richard didn’t tell her that Kahlan had sent him away； but he wanted to。 He knew that someday； if he could stand it no longer； he could tell Liliana and she would listen； and understand。
Because he was so fortable around her； he felt that if anyone could help him find his Han； it would be her。 He hoped it would be her。 Richard had had only a brother； and didn’t know what it would be like to have a sister； but he imagined that if he did have one； she would be like Liliana。 The name Sister Liliana had a different meaning to him than was intended。 She seemed his soulmate。
Still； he couldn’t let himself open up pletely to her。 The Sisters were his captors； not his friends。 They were the enemy； for now。 But he knew that when the time came； Liliana would side with him。
Richard’s lessons with the six Sisters took up at most two hours a day。 A waste of two hours as far as he was concerned。 He was no closer to touching his Han than he had been the first time Sister Verna had him try。
When Richard could manage to be alone； he explored the land around the palace； and found the limits of his invisible chain。 When he reached the farthest distance the collar would allow him to go； it felt like trying to walk through a ten…foot…thick wall of mud layered over solid rock。 It was frustrating to be able to see beyond； without obstruction； yet not be able to continue walking。
It happened； as near as he could tell； about the same distance from the palace in any direction。 It was a good number of miles； but once he found the limit； his world began to feel very small indeed。
The day he found his boundary； the limits of his prison； he went to the Hagen Woods； and killed a mriswith。
His only true solace was Gratch。 Richard spent most nights with the gar。 He wrestled with his furry friend； ate with him； and slept with him。 Richard hunted food for Gratch； but the gar was learning to hunt on his own。 Richard was relieved to learn that； he didn’t have the time to be with him