Book Two of the The Sword of Truth series
Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind is the second book in the Sword of Truth series. It was first released on September 15, 1995, with the paperback following on August 15, 1996. It follows Wizard's First Rule and is followed by Blood of the Fold.
Synopsis[]
After the death of Darken Rahl, Richard is afflicted by a series of painful headaches. He also learns from Shota of his lineage as the bastard son of Darken Rahl and the grandson (on his mother's side) of Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander.
After having mastered the Wizard's First Rule, Richard learns that the opening of the boxes of Orden has torn the veil between the world of the living and the underworld and thus, he has made a grave mistake; the violation of the Wizard's Second Rule, namely, that "The greatest harm can result from the best intentions".
While trying to receive guidance on how to repair the veil, Richard violates the second rule again, inadvertently bringing his father Darken Rahl through the veil and back into the world of the living. This allows him to continue his task of bringing the Keeper into the world.
Richard later gets a visit from three Sisters of the Light, who inform him that his headaches are caused by the awakening of the gift within him and are fatal and unstoppable, unless Richard receives magical training. The Sisters tell him that he must go with them and wear a Rada'Han, a magical collar, in order to control his headaches and the gift.
Having been collared before in Wizard's First Rule by the Mord-Sith Denna, Richard is extremely reluctant to have another around his neck, let alone voluntarily putting it there himself. After having a surprise meeting with Denna's spirit Kahlan comes to understand that if she wants Richard to live, she must convince him to put the collar on, whatever the cost. Two of the Sisters commit suicide, trying to convince Richard of the need for him to accompany them, yet he still resists.
Richard misinterprets Kahlan's intentions, believing that she no longer loves him. Completely devastated, Richard submits to the Sisters, and leaves with them in search of a cure for his headaches.
Richard travels with Sister Verna, the last of the three Sisters, to the Palace of the Prophets, which is located in the Old World. The Sisters see their job as spreading knowledge of the Creator to the world via their trained wizards.
Before reaching the palace Richard is forced into a battle with thirty Baka Ban Mana blademasters, whose job it is to teach the Seeker to dance with the spirits -- using The Sword of Truth's magic to access the collective knowledge of all previous users of it. Be a feather, not a rock. Float on the wind of the storm is the first tactical advice he receives from the Sword's magic.
During his stay at the palace Richard comes to terms with the fact that he has the gift of magic and moreover discovers he is a War Wizard, one who has the gift of both additive and subtractive magic. Later, he learns from Nathan Rahl, another wizard in the Palace of the Prophets, that he is the first to be born with such power in three thousand years.
It is revealed that the Prelate took Richard to the Palace to flush out the Sisters of the Dark, a secret society within the Sisters of the Light dedicated to the task of unleashing the Keeper into the world of the living. As the Prelate herself says, "When your house is overrun with rats the only thing you can do is bring in a cat. This cat sees us all as rats. Maybe with good reason."
Richard also finds out that it was the Prelate and Nathan that helped Richard's step father, George Cypher, retrieve The Book of Counted Shadows, containing instructions on how to correctly open the Boxes of Orden.
Richard also realizes belatedly that the Palace of the Prophets is the trap in time foretold by Shota the witch woman; the palace is spelled so that those within its walls age at a much slower rate. Nathan Rahl himself is close to one thousand years old.
Kahlan embarks on a long trek back to her home of Aydindril along with three Mud People. Along the way they come across a sacked city, Ebinissia, with the inhabitants' corpses filling the streets and the surrounding countryside.
Kahlan and three of the Mud People race to catch up with a band of some five thousand troops that are trailing the enemy. She soon realizes that these soldiers are much younger than she might expect. After getting over her shock, she assumes command of the army and begins her strategies of taking on the far superior army of what she now knows to be The Imperial Order.
Escaping the trap after months of imprisonment, Richard races to stop a prophecy from coming to pass, one he received in the Valley of the Lost: Of all there were, but a single one born of the magic to bring forth truth will remain alive when the shadow's threat is lifted. Therefore comes the greater darkness of the dead. For there to be a chance at life's bond, this one in white must be offered to her people, to bring their joy and good cheer.
The prophecy speaks of the beheading of his love, Kahlan, whom he now realizes was only trying to help him by sending him with the Sisters.
Only by fulfilling the prophecy can Richard close the veil and thwart Darken Rahl, casting the Keeper back into the underworld with the eponymous Stone of Tears.
Resources[]
Wizard's Rule[]
- Main Article: Wizard's Rules
Chapter guide[]
Stone of Tears has a total of 71 chapters.
Characters[]
Here is a list of all the characters who appear in Stone of Tears:
- Adie
- Ahern (First appearance)
- Prelate Annalina Aldurren (First appearance)
- Sister Amelia (First appearance)
- Queen Cyrilla Amnell (First appearance)
- Prince Harold Amnell (First appearance)
- Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell
- Kevin Andellmere (First appearance)
- Elder Arbrin
- Sister Armina (First appearance)
- Jebra Bevinvier (First appearance)
- The Bird Man
- Blake (First appearance)
- Bonnie (First appearance)
- Chase Brandstone
- Elder Breginderin
- Elder Caldus
- Cara (First appearance)
- Sister Cecilia (First appearance)
- Du Chailu (First appearance)
- Peter Chapman (First appearance)
- Elder Chandalen
- Daisy (First appearance)
- Denna (Appears as spirit)
- Dulcy (First appearance)
- Sister Finella (First appearance)
- High Prince Fyren (First appearance)
- Geraldine (First appearance)
- Gratch (First appearance)
- Gregory
- Haff (First appearance)
- Elder Hajanlet
- Kelley Hallick (First appearance)
- Huon (First appearance)
- Brin Jackson (First appearance)
- Sister Janet (First appearance)
- Wizard Jedidiah (First appearance)
- Jessup (First appearance)
- The Keeper (First appearance)
- Sister Liliana (First appearance)
- Ma Ban Grid (First appearance)
- Pasha Maes (First appearance)
- Sister Maren (First appearance)
- Sister Margaret (First appearance)
- Sister Merissa (First appearance)
- Middea (First appearance)
- Millie (First appearance)
- William Mosle (First appearance)
- Sister Elizabeth Myric (First appearance)
- Sister Nicci (First appearance)
- Nick (First appearance)
- Nissel
- Sister Odette (First appearance)
- Orsk (First appearance)
- Perry (First appearance)
- Sister Phoebe (First appearance)
- Pip (First appearance)
- Prindin (First appearance)
- Queen Mother (First appearance)
- Rachel
- Wizard Darken Rahl (Appears as spirit)
- Prophet Nathan Rahl (First appearance)
- Lord Richard Rahl
- Wizard Neville Ranson (First appearance)
- Sister Grace Rendall (First appearance)
- General Riggs (First appearance)
- Captain Bradley Ryan (First appearance)
- Samuel
- Mistresss Sanderholt (First appearance)
- Sister Verna Sauventreen (First appearance)
- Elder Savidlin
- Scarlet
- Shota
- Siddin
- Wizard Slagle (First appearance)
- Sliph (First appearance)
- Elder Surin
- Lieutenant Nolan Solan (First appearance)
- Supreme Councilor Thurstan (First appearance)
- Tossidin (First appearance)
- Sister Tovi (First appearance)
- General Trimack (First appearance)
- Tyler (First appearance)
- Sister Ulicia (First appearance)
- Valery (First appearance)
- Prophet Warren (First appearance)
- Wizard Sam Weber (First appearance)
- Weselan
- First Wizard Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander
Creatures[]
- Dragon
- Gar
- Gripper
- Horse
- Mriswith (First appearance)
- Namble (First appearance)
- Screeling (First appearance)
- Skrin (First appearance)
- Sliph (First appearance)
Extras[]
Dedication[]
For my parents, Natalie and Leo
Awards[]
- 1996 - Locus Poll Award - Best Fantasy Novel - 15th place
- 1996 - The Science Fiction Book Club's Book of the Year Award - Nomination
Facts & trivia[]
- When the first editions of Wizard's First Rule came out, the then-upcoming sequel was entitled Wizard's Second Rule at the time.
Alternate artwork[]
Published by TOR
