Chapter 41: Captured by Mord-Sith

Richard arrives at the sacred caves and finds thousands of drawings on the walls. He uses the night stone to see in the darkness and finds his own drawing—a figure with the Sword of Truth, surrounded by a circle with a map. He tries to erase the sword, but that doesn't work. James, the artist, arrives and starts drawing another spell. Richard realizes he must alter the drawing to break the spell. He erases the figure's right hand and draws a stump like James has, which breaks the spell. James dies, crushed by his own spell, and whispers "The Mored Sith" before dying.

Richard leaves the cave and is immediately surrounded by soldiers. A woman in blood-red leather named Denna orders him captured. When Richard tries to use the Sword of Truth against her, she gains control of the sword's magic, and the pain of the magic brings him to his knees. Denna reveals she is a Mord-Sith, sent by Lord Darken Rahl to train Richard. She explains that she now controls the magic of his sword, and if he thinks angry thoughts about her, the pain will come. To stop the pain, he must think pleasant thoughts about her. She uses a device called the Agiel to torture him, explaining that Mord-Sith wear red so blood won't show. She tells him he will be trained to answer Lord Darken Rahl's questions, and then he will be hers for life.