Richard and Kahlan save the village of Drendril from illicit magic use as Zedd falls into the hands of a corrupt wizard.

Richard is captured by a Mord'Sith named Denna, who can manipulate any form of magic directed at her.

When Chase escapes a D'Harens labor camp, he finds Richard and Kahlan and tells them about the Gar invasion problems with the boundary open. The three return to Hartland but find that it is no longer the same place that Richard grew up in.

Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd race to find a duplicate copy of the Book of Counted Shaddows before Darken Rahl can get his hands on it.