Richard Cypher was once but a simple woodsman, an expert tracker and explorer of the trails that run through and around his home town of Hartland, located in the province known as Westland. He was well liked by the townspeople, and looked up to his older brother, Michael, the First Councilor. Their father, George Cypher, raised the two boys after the death of his wife.
Life was an uneventful series of tasks and duties for Richard, until fate brought him together with a mysterious and captivating female, Kahlan Amnell. From a seemingly crazed old man, Zedd, the truth was soon revealed to Richard. He is a child of prophecy, the first true Seeker the world has known in a thousand years, destined to wield the powerful Sword of Truth and defeat the evil tyrant Darken Rahl.
She is one of an ancient order of magical women known as Confessors. Her people are sworn to find the truth, no matter how hard someone may try to hide it. But Kahlan herself is a woman of many secrets. And her mission was to locate the Seeker, the one prophesized to defeat Darken Rahl, an evil ruler trying to enslave all in his dominion. Kahlan risked everything to find Richard Cypher. But what she didn't expect was to develop feelings for him.
With a single touch, Kahlan can make anyone confess the truth. And she can command any man to do her bidding. However, those who confess to Kahlan also fall hopelessly in love with her. It is her power. It is what makes people in the Midlands respect Kahlan. Fear her. And it is Kahlan's curse, for she finds herself drawn to Richard, as he does to her. But theirs is a love that can never be fulfilled. For Kahlan must endure the lonely life of a Confessor. And her purpose is to make certain Richard realizes the destiny of the Seeker, to stop the ruthless Darken Rahl. Nothing else matters for Kahlan, not even her own happiness.
Richard and Kahlan know they should not develop any feelings for each other. Richard knows he should be worrying about staying focused on the task at hand - defeating Darken Rahl. Kahlan knows she can never act on her feelings. If she shared a moment of passion with Richard, her powers would be released and then he'd be forever under her command, a slave to her, unable to complete his important mission. Despite themselves, they fall in love.