While the Keeper wages war on the living, Richard, Kahlan, Zedd and Cara set out to rescue a group of villagers who may have been kidnapped by banelings -- dead souls returned from the Underworld by the Keeper in exchange for killing someone every day to stay alive. As the rescue attempt grows intense, Cara proposes a deadly covenant with the ruthless Darken Rahl to protect the Seeker. Meanwhile, a dubious magic peddler strikes a deal with Zedd's wayward brother to sell a potion that might threaten Rahl's plan and cure banelings of their bloodlust once and for all.