Blood of the Fold
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| Author | Terry Goodkind |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Kevin Murphy |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Sword of Truth |
| Genre | Epic fantasy |
| Publisher | Tor Fantasy |
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Publication date
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October 15, 1996 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 623 |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 34677241 |
| 813/.54 20 | |
| LC Class | PS3557.O5826 B57 1996 |
| Preceded by | Stone of Tears |
| Followed by | Temple of the Winds |
Blood of the Fold is the third book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth.
Prior to the start of Blood of the Fold Richard comes to terms with his true identity as a War Wizard (a powerful wizard with both additive and subtractive magic). The New World, and all the freedom of humankind, is under threat from the Imperial Order after he had brought down the barrier between the Old and New World. The Imperial Order has already sent delegations and armies into the New World. Richard's only option to stop the invasion is to claim his heritage and unite all free kingdoms and provinces under one rule and one command.
The story begins at the Palace of the Prophets, where a funeral is being held for Nathan and Ann, both of whom died while sister Verna and Warren, now freed from Rada'Han, were traveling with Richard to break down the barrier between New and Old World. Upon returning from the funeral sister Verna discovers that the ring of the Prelate is at the center of the large room, wrapped in a spell that did not allow any sister to get to it, despite all, in turn, have tried. The sisters invite Verna to make an attempt, who succeeds and becomes Ann's successor. Incredulous Verna confided to Warren she does not know what to do about the presence in the Palace of the Sisters of the Dark.
In the meantime, Richard is at Aydindril and suffers an attack by mriswiths, but is saved thanks to Gratch, who can sense the presence of the creatures; realizing that they need allies Richard decides to go to the embassy of D'Hara to claim the loyalty of the troops as the new Lord Rahl. On the way into town gives a silver coin with the symbol of the Palace of the Prophets to a little girl who, with her grandmother, sells cakes with honey and is recognized by them as the Seeker. They promise not to reveal his identity. Shortly afterwards, Richard clashes with Galtero, who is a member of the Blood of the Fold and is saved only thanks to the intervention of four Mord-Sith, Cara, Raina, Berdine and Hally, and two personal guards of the Master Rahl, Ulic and Egan, who the swear allegiance. Richard also learns from them the nature of the special bond that exists between Lord Rahl and all the D'Haran: a spell cast almost three thousand years ago by an ancestor of Richard, which involves a pact where the D'Haran protect Lord Rahl by force of arms and in return Lord Rahl protects all his subjects with the power of magic. The only requirement for the bond to work is that the D'Harans recognize the legitimacy of the title of Lord Rahl. Richard and his escort go to General Reibisch, the man in charge of the D'Haran army in Aydindril, to gain their loyalty and they succeed only through an attack of mriswith who burst into the room killing several soldiers and Hally, one of the Mord-Sith. The attack gives Richard the opportunity to kill the mirswith by dancing with the spirits, which convinces the D'Harans he is the real Lord Rahl. The general recognizes the authority of Lord Rahl, thus giving Richard control of the army.
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