tupin was quickly becoming frustrated he was putting everything he had into his swings , but they werent connecting ; gregory kept shuffling back , absorbing the blows as they came , reeling , but staying on his feet : the gypsy leaped : gregory moved in close : the fist took him in the ear he saw stars ; but hed been twisting clumsily , left elbow driving deep into right ribs : the gypsy gasped , but it couldnt have hurt much : then , right fist drove into diaphragm : tupin shuddered , his expression dazed the gladiators discipline : they cant fight if they cant breathe , so make breathing painful those words had made it impossible for gregory to ever lie to himself ; he could always see the false thought forming in his head but it also taught gregory to recognise his thoughts and he could not remember ever actively deciding to trust the gypsy enough to risk asking him for a scrying his mouth had spoken of its own volition .