Main Events
The group sets out at dawn, traveling south toward King's Port. Chase is heavily armed and in full boundary warden regalia, making him look like a figure of deadly threat. They travel through the Heartland woods and into the upper Venn forest, following Hawker's Trail. As they approach the boundary, they encounter dead trees killed by the snake vine, and the woods become increasingly dark and dangerous. Chase discovers that creatures from the boundary have killed one of his men. He tells the others to keep moving while he deals with the threat, disappearing into the woods.
The three continue riding through the dead woods near the boundary, hearing terrifying howls and shrieks from creatures following them. Richard wants to go back and help Chase, but Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander and Kahlan convince him that Chase is doing his job—protecting the Seeker by ensuring they reach the pass. They continue, and Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander uses magic to hold up a sabotaged bridge so they can cross safely, then collapses it. That night, Chase rejoins them, explaining that heart hounds—massive creatures twice the size of wolves that hunt by hearing heartbeats and kill by going straight for the heart—were following them from within the boundary. He led them away from the boundary for the night. Kahlan reveals that heart hounds are tan with short fur and are now seen everywhere in the Midlands since the other boundary failed.