Main Events
Richard and Kahlan leave Michael's house and walk away from the celebration. Kahlan explains that Michael's inappropriate behavior was actually directed at Richard out of jealousy, not genuine interest in her. She tells Richard that Michael wants whatever Richard has, and that by handling the situation herself, she prevented it from becoming a contest Michael would feel compelled to win. Richard struggles with his anger toward Michael, feeling he's letting his father down by being angry, but Kahlan helps him understand that Michael's actions were about power and control, not attraction.
As they walk toward Richard's house, Kahlan reveals more about herself, explaining that she is hunted because those who pursue her fear truth. She tells Richard that Lord Darken Rahl is the name of the wicked man whose followers hunt her, but asks him not to press for more details yet. When they approach Richard's house, he notices something wrong—there are no spiderwebs on the trail, indicating someone has recently passed that way. They discover his house has been ransacked, just like his father's house was, with possessions scattered everywhere and windows broken.
Richard realizes someone is waiting inside his house, sitting in his squeaky chair. He sneaks around to the back and retrieves his backpack and the leather thong with the triangular tooth his father gave him, but cannot get his knife. They escape and continue toward Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's house. As darkness falls, they encounter a terrifying long-tailed gar—a massive winged beast that hunts using blood flies. Kahlan saves them by forcing Richard to remain absolutely still while the gar hunts nearby, eventually catching and eating a rabbit. She explains that gars are from D'Hara and that the boundary between the Midlands and D'Hara is already down.