Main Events
Richard decides to help the woman being stalked by four men. He realizes he must intercept her before she reaches a trail fork, so he races down the path ahead of her pursuers. Despite being winded and unarmed, he reaches the cut-off trail first and waits for her. When she arrives, he convinces her that four men are following her and offers to help her escape. The woman, initially cautious, agrees after Richard confirms the men are dangerous. She introduces herself as Kahlan Amnell, and they begin their escape up a narrow side trail that leads away from the boundary toward the town of Heartland.
Richard carefully conceals their tracks and guides Kahlan through the forest, showing her how to step quietly on moss-covered rocks to avoid making sounds that would echo off the granite walls. They climb steadily upward, moving from dense forest onto open ledges. Kahlan proves to be a strong and experienced traveler, keeping pace with Richard without complaint. As they climb higher, Richard feels confident their plan has worked and the men are no longer following them. However, Kahlan continues to push forward urgently, as if the danger is still imminent.
Their confidence is shattered when they reach a cliff trail crossing a sheer rock face. Two of the men suddenly appear ahead of them on the path, blocking their way forward. When Richard and Kahlan turn to retreat, the other two men drop down from ropes above, cutting off their escape. The four men are heavily armed and much larger than Richard. The leader offers Richard a chance to leave, saying their business is only with the woman, but Richard refuses to abandon Kahlan. As the men prepare to attack with weapons drawn, Kahlan gives Richard cryptic instructions to keep between the men and not touch her when they come.
The men charge with battle cries, but just before they reach Richard and Kahlan, a mysterious event occurs—a thunderous impact with no sound that causes sharp pain throughout Richard's body. In the chaos that follows, Richard kicks one attacker off the cliff, while the other men seem to turn on each other, with one killing his companion and then the leader before falling to his death. Richard and Kahlan survive the encounter, though Richard is left confused about what happened. They introduce themselves properly—Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell—and she reveals she has never had a friend before. When Richard presses her about how they survived, Kahlan claims the good spirits protected them, though Richard doesn't believe her explanation. She reveals that the men were a "quad"—assassins sent to kill—and that they tracked her out of the Midlands and through the boundary, a claim that shocks Richard since no one is supposed to be able to cross the boundary.