Wizard 20

Chapter 20
We're back with Richard and Kahlan, who are creeping through the Narrows. They're finding the trail by the green light of the boundary-boundary. Shadows and armored pillbugs are chasing them. It's tense. Take my word for it.
The shadows start to catch up, so Richard (the trained woods guide) turns around and walks backwards, holding hands with Kahlan, who continues to press forwards. 
There's something wrong about this course of action; I just know it. \~/ 
The shadows advance on Richard, and suddenly he realizes they're actually nice and kind and good, and not at all creepy, soul-stealing demons from the netherworld. He decides to go away with them, but he wants to bring Kahlan with him. Somehow, thinking of Kahlan snaps Richard out of the charm spell and he realizes the shadows are trying to lure him into the boundary. He goes apeshit and kills bunches of shadows (my 3rd Edition Monster Manual says the technical term for a bunch of shadows is a “swarm”).
But Kahlan is gone! Oh noes! The shadows must have killed her! Although, to Mr Goodkind's credit, Richard does not scream “Noooooo!”
Richard's father appears and offers to help him. He says Kahlan is safe and Richard can go to her. Richard, having overcome his earlier bout of idiocy, stabs the ghost and destroys it, then wanders on his merry way.
Jump to D'Hara! (Huh? What?) Darken Rahl is hanging out with buried-up-to-his-neck Carl. Rahl listens to Carl talk about his home life, and is friendly and sympathetic. He also implies that Carl's parents don't really love him or they wouldn't beat him with a belt. You know, for an Evil Overlord this guy's making a certain amount of sense.
Rahl promises to get Carl some blueberry pie, and has a nice chat with Denim. It turns out he's only pretending to be nice (gasps of surprise) because “I must have his complete trust, the freely given pledge of his unconditional loyalty.”
There's reference to a dragon, which Rahl has apparently coerced into his service. Denim also mentions that someone has hidden the tracer cloud. This isn't a problem, as it turns out Rahl can track Richard through the underworld shark tooth he wears.
Rahl feeds Carl some gruel, enchanted to taste like blueberry pie, through a “feeding horn.” And the chapter ends.
About time.
Drinks: 1
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