Yesterday young Richard was just a forest guide, but today he has fallen to the difficult lot of the Seeker of Truth. Difficult, because magic does not bring joy, and truth, like power, is paid at a high price. Difficult - for the Seeker of Truth must enter into a mortal battle with the greatest of the black magicians of the three kingdoms, the ruthless Darken Rahl, the lord of D'Hara, for the possession of Oden's three magic boxes, one of which grants immortality, the second - death, and the third - brings destruction to everything alive...