Main Events
Richard and Kahlan take shelter in a wayward pine—a large tree with branches that create a natural shelter. Richard builds a fire and makes soup while Kahlan tells him the history of the three lands. She explains how Panis Rahl, the ruthless ruler of D'Hara, conquered all of D'Hara and then turned his attention to the Midlands. When his armies were halted, he turned to magic, using shadow people—deadly magical beings that could kill with a touch. A great and honorable wizard joined the Midlands cause, conjuring battle horns that swept away the shadow people. After years of war, the boundaries were created using magic to separate the three lands, with Westland set aside for those who wanted no magic.
Kahlan reveals that the boundaries are part of the underworld, the dominion of the dead, conjured into the world of the living. Anyone who enters the boundary enters the land of the dead and cannot return—except she was sent through with the aid of magic. When Richard asks what she saw in the boundary, she is overwhelmed by the memory and begins to be pulled back into the underworld, seeing visions of her dead mother and sister. Richard saves her by focusing his strength and drawing her back to the present world. She continues her story, explaining how Lord Darken Rahl, son of Panis Rahl, has taken over the Midlands through manipulation and fear, outlawing magic and fire. Five wizards sent her to find the great wizard in Westland to appoint a Seeker, the only hope of stopping Lord Darken Rahl.
Kahlan reveals Cat, a nightwisp—a magical creature of light that guided her through the boundary. Cat is dying because she cannot survive away from her kind. Cat warns Richard that Lord Darken Rahl hunts them both and will kill them on the first day of winter if he is not stopped. She tells Richard the answer he seeks is within himself, but he must find it or die. Cat dies after Kahlan touches her with her power, causing the same thunder without sound that occurred during the battle with the quad. Richard is left shaken by the warnings and the knowledge that their time is limited.
Notable Quotes
Kahlan's Confessor Loneliness
"Confessor Kahlan, that is not fair. Richard Cypher is your friend."
Tears began rolling down her face. "Don't you see? That is why I cannot tell him. If I tell him, he will no longer be my friend, will no longer care for me. You cannot know what it is like to be a Confessor, to have everyone fear you. He looks into my eyes, Char. Not many have ever dared that. No one could ever look into me the way he does. His eyes make me feel safe. He makes my heart smile."
The Boundaries Explained
Kahlan stared into the fire. "The boundaries are part of the underworld, the dominion of the dead. They were conjured into our world by magic to separate the three lands. They are like a curtain drawn across our world, a rift in the world of the living."
"You mean that going into the boundary is, what, like falling through a crack into another world? Into the underworld?"
She shook her head. "No, our world is still here. The underworld is there in the same place at the same time. It is about a two-day walk across the land where the boundary, the underworld, lies. But while you are walking the land where the boundary is, you are also walking through the underworld. It is a wasteland. Any life that touches the underworld or is touched by it is touching death. That is why no one can cross the boundary. If you enter it, you enter the land of the dead. No one can return from the dead."
The Wizard's Web
"What's that? A wizard's web?"
"It is a spell a wizard casts. As he left, he cast a wizard's web over everyone, making them forget his name, even what he looked like. So that is why no one knows what his name is or who he is."
Char's Prophecy and Warning
"Char, isn't there a way for us to escape?"
The light spun again, making flashes on his face and the branches of the wayward pine. Char stopped again. "If your back is to him, your eyes will not be. He will get you. He enjoys it."
Richard stared. "But is there nothing we can do?"
The tiny point of light spun again, coming closer to him this time before stopping. "Better question, Richard Cypher. The answer you want is within yourself. You must seek it. You must seek it, or he will kill you both. Soon."
"How soon?"
The night wisp stopped. "The first day of winter, Richard Cypher, when the sun is in the sky. If Darken Rahl does not kill you before then, and if he is not stopped, then on the first day of winter when the sun is in the sky, my kind will all die. You both will die. He will enjoy it."
Char's Belief in Richard
The night wisp floated to him and touched against his forehead. Her voice seemed to be as much in his head as in his ears.
"I am sorry, Richard Cypher. I do not know the answers that would save you. If I did, please believe I would give them equally. But I know the good in you. I believe in you. I do know that you have within you what you must to succeed. There will be times when you doubt yourself. Do not give up. Remember then that I believe in you, that I know you can accomplish what you must. You are a rare person, Richard Cypher. Believe in yourself, and protect Kahlan."
Kahlan is the Mother Confessor
"Confessor Kahlan, you are the last of your kind. Darken Rahl has killed all the others, even your sister, Dini. You are the Mother Confessor. You must choose a mate."
"I could not do that to someone I cared for. No Confessor would," she sobbed.
"Sorry, Mother Confessor. It is for you to choose."
Char's Death
Char came forward. "Please, Mother Confessor, I feel such pain of aloneness away from the others. I will never share their company again. It hurts so. I pass now. Please, use your power. Touch me and let me drink in the sweet agony. Let me die with the taste of love. I have forfeited my life to help you. I have asked nothing else of you. Please."
Char's light was growing dimmer, fainter. Kahlan, crying, held her left hand over her mouth. At last she reached out with her right hand until her trembling fingers touched the wisp.
All about there was thunder, but no sound. The violent impact to the air jolted the wayward pine causing a rain of dead needles, some flaring when they touched the fire. Char's dim silvery color changed to a pink glow, growing in intensity.
Char's voice was faint. "Thank you, Kahlan. Goodbye, my love."
The spark of light and life faded and was gone.