Main Events
Richard and Kahlan continue their journey to Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's house. Richard is developing a fever from the vine bite, experiencing chills, headaches, and weakness, but he doesn't tell Kahlan how serious it is. Along the way, Kahlan stops to make a flower offering to the spirits of their mothers, asking for protection and help in finding the wizard. When Richard offers her an apple, she nearly attacks him, thinking he's trying to poison her—in the Midlands, red fruit is deadly poison. After he demonstrates that apples are safe to eat, she apologizes and explains her reaction.
They arrive at Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's house to find him standing naked on his "cloud rock," studying the sky. Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander immediately recognizes that Richard has a fever and will be unconscious within hours if not treated. He also recognizes Kahlan as a confessor and initially reacts with fear and anger, but Richard defends her as his friend. When Richard mentions the quad attack, Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's attitude softens and he embraces Kahlan protectively. Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander explains that he knew the vine that bit Richard was a snake vine, and now knows which root to use for the cure, but must find it first.
Richard tells Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander the full story of what happened, including finding the vine at his father's house, being attacked by the quad, and the events at his own house. When Kahlan reveals that Lord Darken Rahl has put the three boxes of Orden into play, Richard is thunderstruck—this connects to the secret book of counted shadows that his father made him memorize. The prophecy from the book states that when the three boxes of Orden are put into play, the snake vine shall grow. Richard realizes his worst nightmares are coming true, and the fever overwhelms him as he collapses.
Notable Quotes
Zed's Reaction to a Confessor
He straightened himself up to have a look at her face. When their eyes met, his smile evaporated, and his eyes went wide. His keen features transformed to anger. He released her hand as if he had discovered himself holding a poisonous snake.
Zed spun to Richard. "What are you doing with this creature?"
Kahlan was calm and impassive. Richard was aghast.
"Zed, has she touched you?"
"Well, I..."
Richard was trying to remember the time she had touched him, when Zed cut him off again. "No, of course not. I can see she hasn't. Richard, do you know what she is?"
Richard Defends Kahlan
Kahlan gave Zed a look of such cold danger that it froze him in place.
Richard kept his voice calm but firm. "I know exactly what she is. She is my friend. A friend who yesterday saved me from getting killed as my father was, and again saved me from being killed by some beast called Agar."
Zed's Compassion for Kahlan
He saw what he was looking for, a quick flash of hatred, softening into empathy. Zed looked to Kahlan as if seeing her for the first time. They faced each other for a long while. At the mention of the quad, the look on Kahlan's face became one of torment.
Zed came forward and put his spindly arms around her protectively, holding her head to his shoulder. She reached around and embraced him gratefully, burying her face in his robes to conceal her tears.
"It's all right, dear one. You are safe here," he said softly. "Let's go down to the house, and you can tell me of this trouble, and then we must tend to Richard's fever."
The Snake Vine Prophecy
Zed sat back. "Well, the good part is now I know the root to use to cure the fever. The bad part is I have to find it."
Zed asked Kahlan to tell her part but to make it short, as there were things he must do and not much time.
"Darken Rahl, son of Panis Rahl, has put the three boxes of Orden in play," Kahlan said simply. "I have come in search of the great wizard."
Richard was thunderstruck. From the secret book, the book of counted shadows, the book his father had had him commit to memory before they destroyed it, the line jumped into his mind:
"And when the three boxes of Orden are put into play, the snake vine shall grow."
Richard's worst nightmares, everyone's worst nightmares, were coming to pass.
Red Fruit is Poison in the Midlands
She slapped his hand away and in a blink had him by the throat with her other hand. Anger flared in her green eyes. "Why would you do this?" she demanded.
Shock raced through his mind. He went rigid. Something told him not to move. "Don't you like apples? I'm sorry I'll find you something else to eat."
The fury in her eyes faltered, changing to doubt. "What did you call them?"
"Apples," he said, still not moving. "Don't you know what apples are? They're good to eat, I promise. What did you think they were?"
Her hand loosened its grip a little. "You eat these...apples?"
Richard kept himself still. "Yes, all the time."
Embarrassment replacing her anger, she released his throat and put her fingers over her mouth. Her eyes were wide. "Richard, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you could eat these things. In the Midlands, any red fruit is deadly poison. I thought you meant to poison me."