General Demmin Nass brings Darken’s new orders: the seeker must not be killed but captured and enslaved. Richard and Kahlen are totally distracted when she stops his attempt to kiss her passionately but refuses to explain why. Zed can barely escape when D’Haraan torturer-enchanter Denna attacks and imprisons Richard in a dungeon, to be subdued by protracted torture designed to make pleasing his dominatrix his sole purpose. Kahlen resigns her post and agrees to swap places with order sister Lara, but discovers she abused her powers to enslave the village she had to …