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Did we lose them?
I think so.
Those bees were more relentless
than the Dragon Corps.
A lot of work
for so little reward.
Oh, that's not enough for two.
You take it.
No.
You.
I insist.
But you did all the work.
I'll eat at the next
tavern we pass.
It can't be far.
Come on.
Which direction
are we headed, anyway?
East.
East?
Towards the D'Haran border?
To Caddock, to be precise.
Ah, breakfast.
I'm starving.
I spoke with a friend
in the resistance
while I was getting supplies.
It seems King Gregor
is facing a new enemy
and has requested
the Seeker's help.
King Gregor?
His kingdom borders D'Hara.
He's a strong ally
of the resistance.
One of the few leaders
brave enough
to stand against
Darken Rahl.
Apparently, he's done
better than that.
Our friend says the king
has driven back the D'Harans.
They've pulled their troops
away from the border.
Well, why does he need our help?
What could be a bigger threat
than the D'Harans?
The Caddock border
shouldn't be much further.
Stop where you are!
Guards, lower your weapons.
Unless I'm mistaken,
this is Richard Cypher.
The Seeker.
I'm Marius,
brother of King Gregor.
Thank the Spirits
you received my message.
We came as quickly as we could.
Wizard Zorander.
Confessor.
It's an honor.
This is Flynne,
Captain of the Guard.
Forgive the rude welcome.
All our nerves
are a little frayed lately.
Would that have anything to do
with why you asked us to come?
It's best if you hear that
from the king himself.
Thank you
for coming so quickly.
It pains me to delay you on your
mission to defeat Darken Rahl.
Helping those who stand against
Rahl is part of that mission.
My kingdom is being terrorized
by a vicious beast
that's ravaging
our countryside
and I need your help
to destroy this monster.
Tell me where
to find this beast.
You already have.
It's me.
Five months ago the D'Harans
began amassing troops
along this border.
From there,
Rahl's soldiers launched
raids on our farmland,
burnt our crops.
With our food stocks dwindling,
Rahl knew we couldn't
repel a siege.
An invasion was imminent.
I had no choice but to seek
an alliance with our neighbor.
Here, in Agaden Reach.
The domain of that
she-devil Shota.
Forgive me, Your Majesty,
but why would you
seek an alliance
with someone
as dangerous as Shota?
The witch-woman has the ability
to see the future.
I was hoping she would
help us change it.
I reminded Shota that our
kingdom was all that separated
her from Rahl's tightening grip.
That if Caddock were overrun,
Agaden Reach would soon follow.
So I struck a bargain with her.
In exchange for my pledge
to defend her,
she promised
to give me the power
to protect my kingdom forever.
And how exactly did she do that?
She cursed me.
Each night, I would
be transformed into a Calthrop.
An awful beast that haunts
the nightmares of all D'Harans.
The Calthrop is one
of the few things
D'Haran children
are taught to fear.
For centuries,
they've frightened each other
around campfires with tales
of the creature's bloodlust.
For weeks I ventured close
to the D'Haran camps.
At nightfall,
I would become the creature.
The few who survived
the slaughter
fled back to D'Hara,
spreading stories
of the brutal Calthrop
that stalked the forest
around Caddock.
Soon Rahl's forces were
too terrified to cross
into our kingdom.
With morale suffering
and his troops stretched thin,
Rahl abandoned his attempt
to conquer us.
Once the D'Haran troops
pulled away from our border,
her to remove the curse.
I couldn't risk
butchering my own people.
But she refused.
And once the Calthrop's hunger
couldn't be quenched,
I had my most loyal men,
all sworn to secrecy,
chain me in the woods,
but the beast broke through
the chains and killed them all.
I then spent half my treasury
on purchasing this:
A rada'han.
I'd hoped its ability
to suppress magic
would be enough
to overcome Shota's curse.
I locked the rada'han
around my brother's neck.
Yet he still transformed
and somehow managed to escape.
I was too ashamed
to have my people know that
their king was the Calthrop.
So now each night
I head to the most remote part
of the forest,
a place called Knollwood Grove.
Anyone venturing into the woods
after dark rarely
makes it out alive.
I have no memory
of these attacks,
but each morning I awake with
the taste of blood on my tongue.
Three days ago,
I awoke to find the savaged
remains of my latest victim.
The face staring
back at me was
that of my own wife.
I had murdered
my beloved queen.
It's not your fault, brother.
You were only trying
to protect your kingdom.
And now the kingdom
must be protected from me.
I've tried to end my life.
Poison, hanging,
a dagger to my heart.
But you can't be killed,
because Shota gave you exactly
what you asked for:
the power to protect
your kingdom forever.
Your Majesty,
what makes you think
I can help you?
According to legend,
the only thing that
can kill a Calthrop
is the Sword of Truth.
Can't you lift the curse?
Only the one who
made it can break it.
I'll go to Agaden Reach
and try to reason with Shota.
Are you sure?
Few who have gone there
have ever returned.
I know.
I'm one of those few.
And if you fail?
What then?
I can't bear the thought
of killing another
innocent person.
While Zedd is gone,
I'll watch over you
and keep you from
harming anyone.
How? The monster can
break through
our strongest chains.
I may have a few tricks
that your blacksmith doesn't.
When the evening bell chimes,
I will come find you, Seeker.
Your Highness,
I'm coming with you.
Forgive me, but I've already
harmed too many people.
I couldn't bear to add
the Mother Confessor
to that toll.
Father?
This is Princess Corah,
my daughter.
We're honored to have
the Seeker here in Caddock.
Our people have lived
in fear for so long.
We were very sorry to hear
about your mother, princess.
Just promise me
you'll find the horrible beast
that murdered my mother
and you'll kill it.
You're sure these
chains will hold?
Zedd's magic has made
them unbreakable.
I hope you're right, Seeker.
But swear to me.
If it's a question of my life
or yours, you'll kill me.
I swear.
But we'll make sure
it doesn't come to that.
As much as I enjoy
your company, Seeker,
you can't watch over me
every night.
I just have to do it until Zedd
can convince Shota
to lift the curse.
I've been expecting you,
Zeddicus.
Then you know why I've come.
I can't imagine it's to
apologize for scorning me.
I was once a foolish,
young Wizard, I--
I never meant to hurt you.
And yet you left,
without a word
of explanation.
Those words may
have been my last.
I showed you our
future together.
With our combined powers,
we could have moved mountains.
Our children would have ruled
for a thousand generations.
And now look at you, Zeddicus,
reduced to crawling back,
begging me for a favor.
Why should I do
anything for you?
Not for me.
For King Gregor, with whom
you share a common enemy.
He's beaten back
the D'Harans
and insured the safety
of his lands and yours.
The king killing his own people
doesn't benefit you at all.
Release him from the curse.
Put an end to this
pointless bloodshed.
Without the Calthrop,
this is what will come to pass.
What I bestowed
on King Gregor,
it's not a curse, Zeddicus.
It's a blessing.
I met your mother once.
You did?
She visited Aydindril
when I was a young Confessor.
She was very kind to me.
I can see the resemblance.
I still can't
believe she's gone.
I lost my mother
when I was very young.
I know how painful it can be.
It would be easier if I knew
why she left the castle.
What she was doing out there
the night she died.
Princess Corah.
What is it, Duncan?
Where's Helena?
We took a wagon to fetch
her family, as you asked,
when we were passing
through Knollwood Grove
our horse was bit
by a snake vine.
I ran back here as fast
as I could to get another horse.
They're still
at Knollwood Grove?
That's one of the beast's
hunting grounds.
It's almost sundown.
No one's allowed
to leave the castle.
- But there are children out there.
Just tell me where to find them,
and I'll bring them back.
I'm going with you.
No, it's too dangerous.
I'm the one who
put them in danger.
With the Calthrop loose,
my lady-in-waiting
worried about her family.
I sent her to go get them.
Putting yourself in danger
won't help them.
No, it'll help you.
We can move faster
if I show you the way.
It's started.
Please, Seeker,
don't let me hurt anyone else.
Stay back!
I don't want to hurt you.
It's all right, little ones.
We'll be on our way soon.
Hey!
Corah, no.
Run!
Take the children.
Run!
Kill it!
Richard!
Kahlan.
Kahlan, are you all right?
Kahlan, stop.
Kahlan, stop!
Kahlan, it's me, Richard.
Kahlan, it's me.
It's me, Richard.
Stop.
It's okay.
Are you all right?
I think so.
Now that that beast is dead.
Father?
The Calthrop wasn't the only
monster out there last night.
That's the second time
I've gone into the Con Dar
and I still don't
have control over it.
The first time
I almost destroyed you,
and last night
I almost destroyed Corah.
But you didn't.
Only because you stopped me.
Once it gets a hold of me,
it's like I'm some wild animal.
I don't know what I'm doing.
You were trying to protect
me from the Calthrop.
If my mother were alive,
she could teach me
to control it.
But on my own,
it's only a matter of time
before I hurt someone.
Someone I care about.
Richard.
Kahlan.
We killed the Calthrop.
Yes, I heard.
And that's the problem.
Shota showed me a vision
of what would happen to this
kingdom without the Calthrop.
I saw a D'Haran invasion,
soldiers storming the castle,
and one of their commanders
taking the king's throne.
Well, we know Shota's
visions can be averted.
Yes, but I'm afraid
in order to do that,
we may need Shota
to curse someone else.
The D'Harans will
prepare their invasion
once they learn the Calthrop
has been slain.
As much as the people feared
and hated the beast,
it kept them safe from Rahl.
Then we have to make sure
the D'Harans don't find out.
If we can keep the legend
of the Calthrop alive,
we can keep the D'Harans
from invading.
And spare anyone else the burden
of carrying Shota's curse.
Maybe.
But how long could
we keep up such a ruse?
Long enough for me
to defeat Rahl.
Why didn't my father tell me?
He was trying to protect you.
If my father didn't think I was
strong enough to hear the truth,
how can I lead this kingdom?
I know you can.
But maybe I shouldn't.
Maybe I should ask Marius to
assume the throne in my place.
If you decide it's too much,
no one would fault you.
But if I'm not mistaken,
your mother wasn't much older
than you when she took
the throne.
But she had my father.
And you have both
of them inside you.
I've seen your strength.
You made the decision
to ride out
to save Helena
and her children,
even though you knew
the dangers.
I don't think
your people could ask
for a more courageous leader.
As Queen,
I pledge my fealty
to this great kingdom,
to defend its people
from all enemies,
and lead it into peace
and prosperity.
Spirits, bless our kingdom.
Spirits, bless our Queen.
Spirits, bless our Queen.
The only way
the D'Harans will believe
the Calthrop is still alive
is if there's been
another attack.
My Queen,
Captain Flynne
and I will slaughter sheep
and leave the carcasses
at the border.
We'll spread word
along trade routes.
The D'Harans will believe
it's the work of the Calthrop.
I may have something
that will help those efforts.
that borders D'Hara
and cast a spell on them.
The slightest disturbance
in the air--
Say, from an approaching
D'Haran.
--and the chimes will ring out.
Only it won't be just
any chime they'll hear,
it will be the awful howls
of the Calthrop.
The ear is more easily
frightened than the eye.
We'll make preparations
at once, Your Majesty.
I want to thank you.
I don't know
what I would've done
if you hadn't been here.
If there's anything
I can do for you
There is one favor you could
grant me, Your Majesty.
Why are you bringing that?
Because I can't trust myself.
I'm used to having control.
Being a Confessor
is about certainty,
about knowing the truth.
When I'm in the Con Dar
I don't have any of that.
The rada'han gives
a little of it back to me.
But we don't even know
if it works.
It didn't stop King Gregor.
It works.
I can feel it suppressing
my power already.
Maybe it's something
that shouldn't surprised.
You said only the most powerful
Confessors have it, right?
Yes.
Then maybe this is a gift.
One you shouldn't deny.
It's a part
of who you are.
When I'm in the Con Dar,
I don't know who that is.
More news from our spy in the castle.
Not only is King Gregor dead,
but so is the Calthrop.
Then the kingdom of Caddock
is ripe for the taking.
But we must act quickly
if we want the Seeker as well.
According to our spy,
he will not remain
at Caddock much longer.
He would leave
the kingdom defenseless?
No.
The child-queen wants us
to believe that
the Calthrop still lives.
They plan to deceive us.
To deceives us?
And how do they
intend to do that?
If Kahlan could learn
to use the Con Dar,
just think of how
powerful we could be.
There are some things
that even a Wizard
of the First Order
doesn't fully understand.
This is one thing I--
I can't teach Kahlan.
But Zedd--
Maybe we should
respect her decision
to wear the rada'han.
A power is only valuable
if it can be harnessed.
If not,
then it's no power at all.
That sounded just like
a Calthrop.
I haven't cast
the spell yet.
Another monster?
- Zedd's on his way
to find out
who Shota cursed.
What do we do when we find
this person?
We prevent them from hurting
innocent people.
My Queen, shall I
inform Prince Marius?
Is there something else
bothering you, Your Majesty?
I was going through
my mother's things
and found her diary.
I know why she was outside
the castle the night she died.
She believed my father
was unfaithful,
and that at night
he would meet a woman.
Who?
The diary doesn't say.
Only that the woman lived
near Knollwood Grove.
My mother went there
to confront them.
But the king couldn't have
been unfaithful.
By night, he was the Calthrop.
But my mother didn't know that.
My father kept it a secret,
even from her.
Why would she think
he was unfaithful?
Because someone told her.
The diary doesn't say who,
only that it was
someone she trusted.
Whoever told her knew where
the king would be at night.
And sent her to her death.
There's only one person
besides your father
who knew the truth
about the Calthrop.
Prince Marius.
Think about it.
Marius stood the most to gain.
An entire kingdom.
Maybe he orchestrated
the queen's death
at the hands
of the Calthrop.
And he knew the king
would be so grief-stricken
over killing his own wife,
he would want to die.
So the prince summoned
the Seeker to fulfill his wish.
And if it's the kingdom
that Marius wants
Then only one person
stands in his way.
Me.
No sign of Prince Marius.
My men have searched.
He's not here.
When's the last time
anyone saw him?
When I informed him
of the second Calthrop.
Well, he can't have gotten far.
I'll find him.
Keep the queen safe.
This way,
Your Majesty.
What's the safest place
in the castle?
I'm afraid there's
no place safe for you.
You're part of Marius' plot.
Take them.
She wears a rada'han.
Her magic cannot harm you.
Where are you off to
in such a hurry?
Where were you last night?
The sun's going down soon.
Maybe you came out here
to transform into the Calthrop?
You think I'm the monster?
I know you're a monster.
You arranged the death
of the queen
and your brother.
Why would I do such a thing?
Maybe because you thought
he was too weak
to protect the kingdom.
I loved my brother.
But you loved his power more.
And you would do anything
to get it and hold onto it.
Even if it meant
striking a deal
with Shota
to make you the Calthrop.
You've gone mad.
We'll find out soon enough.
Who is it, Shota?
Who have you cursed now?
You still don't understand,
do you, Zeddicus?
I didn't curse anyone.
Enough games.
I promised King Gregor
that his kingdom would be
protected forever.
So I cursed the royal scepter.
Whoever inherits the kingdom,
inherits the curse.
It won't take them long
to break down this door.
I'll have to Confess one
of the guards.
But I'll need your help
to take off the rada'han.
Corah.
Corah!
Corah.
Wait.
We need to get everyone
out of the castle.
Take them to the caves
until you get word
that it's safe to return.
- Right away.
What's happening?
Corah is the Calthrop.
She's loose inside the castle.
We have to stop the beast
without hurting Corah.
Maybe we could use the rada'han
to change the queen back.
But it didn't work on the king.
And why was that?
- I have no idea you're--
You were in charge of locking
King Gregor into the rada'han.
Yes.
But each night
I laced his meal
with a sleeping potion.
Once he was asleep,
I unlocked the rada'han,
unleashing the Calthrop.
So all we have to do is get this
thing around the beast's neck.
I think Marius
can help with that.
How may I serve you?
You're going to be the bait.
Ha!
It's all right.
It's all right.
It's all right.
I'm here.
I don't understand.
If I'm the monster,
then why did Marius sneak
out of the castle
before sunset?
I was on my way to warn
the D'Haran
that the Calthrop
was still alive.
You murdered my mother
and father,
all so you could kneel
before Rahl.
In exchange for swearing
my allegiance to Darken Rahl,
the D'Harans agreed
to leave me on the throne.
But you weren't able to deliver
your message to the D'Harans.
So they think
the Calthrop is dead?
Yes.
They're planning
to invade Caddock.
They'll be here soon.
Let them come.
I'll remove the rada'han
and the Calthrop will slaughter
every last one.
It's too late.
There's no escape.
Bring the Seeker to me.
You won't kill me.
Rahl wants me alive.
True.
But he didn't say
in how many pieces.
You'll find it
difficult to escape
without your hands
No!
Fools.
See what you've done?
This will come to pass
within the hour.
And we are too far away to do
anything to prevent it.
You were right
when you said
together we had the power
to move mountains, Shota.
In fact, I think we could move
something far greater.
Bring the Seeker to me.
You won't kill me.
Rahl wants me alive.
True.
But he didn't say
in how many pieces.
You'll find it
difficult to escape
without your hands.
What witchery is this?
Don't you see, Zeddicus?
Together we can
accomplish anything.
Nothing can stop us.
That's precisely the reason
why I left you
all those years ago.
Ultimate power
must not go unchecked.
You know this
as well as I do, Shota.
We would become monsters.
That's the very reason
we must defeat Darken Rahl.
Then there is something else
I must show you.
The D'Harans
won't stop running
until they reach
the People's Palace.
And once the stories spread
of the Calthrop
terrorizing the kingdom,
they'll think twice
about invading again.
What happens when my people
learn the truth
about the Calthrop?
Maybe they don't need to know.
You can wear the rada'han
at night to suppress the curse.
My power is part of who I am.
I tried to deny it,
and it only put
people in danger.
I need to embrace it,
learn to control it.
I think I have to do the same.
My father was too ashamed
to tell his people
the truth about himself,
and look what it cost him.
If he'd told my mother
he was the Calthrop,
she never would have left
the castle that night
and they'd both be alive.
Nothing good can come
from hiding who I am.
What's wrong?
When the D'Harans had you,
I tried to bring on the Con Dar,
but I couldn't.
Even when I needed it most.
You told me it took
your whole life
to learn how to use
your Confessor powers.
Give it time.
Zedd.
We have to hurry.
What is it?
Shota showed me a vision.
There is another
Book of Counted Shadows.
Long ago, in secret,
an ancient monk transcribed
a copy of the book.
If we could get our hands on it,
we could defeat Rahl.
Did Shota's vision show you
where it is?
Yeah.
But there was more
to her vision.
Soon Rahl will also learn
of the Book's whereabouts.
And when he does,
he'll send men to retrieve it.
The only question is,
can we get there first?