After accepting the role of the Seeker, Richard formulates a plan with Zedd, Kahlan and his friend Chase to find Fane. Darken Rahl attempts to bring down the magical boundary that separates the Midlands and Westland, which will allow Fane to return with the Book of Counted Shadows. Fane kidnaps Chase's daughter and forces a sorceress to give him the Night Stone to cross the boundary. Richard and Kahlan pursue Fane to the boundary, where Richard kills him and retrieves the Book. Meanwhile, Rahl's soldiers destroy the boundary. Richard throws the Book into a fire to stop the soldiers from taking it. Together with Kahlan, he defeats them. Having recovered from his injury, Zedd joins Richard and Kahlan as they set off into the Midlands.