The Omen Machine (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Omen Machine is Terry Goodkind
's 14th novel, and the first in a new series about Richard and Kahlan. Events in the book take place directly after the end of Confessor.
Because of all these new prophecies the representatives of the different lands are demanding answers that they have no right to from the Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor. After trying to reason with them of the dangerous implications of prophecy, the Mother Confessor and Nicci devise a plan to scare the people out of asking so many questions, seeing it as the only way. Threatened with death from a prophecy just made up by Nicci, the people are shamed and regretful of their pestering, so for a while the continous demanding is stopped.
While Kahlan is dealing in the more diplomatic area, Richard finds a machine underground after the roof of the "Garden of Life" collapsed (as indicated in a prophecy) thus leaving a hole in the ground. Richard's discovery leads him to notice that the emblem on the machine is the exact same as on the book, only reversed. This emblem stands for "Regula" meaning to have sovereign authority over everything. The book is key to helping Richard decipher the prophecies because the machine presents the prophecies in the language of Creation.
Meanwhile the scratch on Kahlan's arm is getting worse and worse causing Richard great worry. After Zedd's attempt to fix her cut they leave her to rest. When Kahlan feverishly wakes, she finds a pack of dogs surrounding her. A fight and chase then ensues until Kahlan runs away in a carriage. When Richard finds out that Kahlan is gone he traces her footsteps and sends soldiers in every direction to try to find her. Little does he know that Kahlan is very far away by that point. Richard races after Kahlan on the fastest horse he can find, leaving a message for Zedd and Nicci that he is going to the Hedge Maid.
Kahlan arrives to the Hedge Maids home, and frees Henrik which is tied to the wall. She is then captured by the Hedge Maid, and is tied to the wall. The Hedge Maid collects and drinks Kahlan's blood. At this point, Richard breaks in and tries to save Kahlan, who is unconscious, but he too is captured by the Hedge Maid and is tied to the wall. Richard remembers the machine's last warning, protects his and Kahlan's ears and cuts the leather strips on the Hedge Maid's mouth, thus freeing her dead soul. As she screams her life away, she and her servants vanish. Richard and Kahlan are found by Nicci, and Zedd, who take them to the Garden of Life to heal them.
Terry Goodkind
Terry Goodkind is an American writer and author of the epic fantasy The Sword of Truth series as well as the contemporary suspense novel The Law of Nines, which has ties to his fantasy series, and The Omen Machine, which is a direct sequel thereof. Before his success as an author Goodkind worked...
's 14th novel, and the first in a new series about Richard and Kahlan. Events in the book take place directly after the end of Confessor.
Plot summary
Richard and Kahlan are contentedly enjoying Cara's marriage, when a boy named Henrik approaches them. He warns them of dark things to come before scratching them both and running away. This unexpected turn of events leaves them both perplexed. Soon after, Cara warns Richard and the group that something or someone was watching her in her room. At first unbelieving, Richard and Kahlan notice the same spooky presence on their own. Shortly after these events, prophecy starts coming from the most unexpected places ....and people. Ominously, all of the prophecies that are being uttered are also appearing in a book titled "End Notes".Because of all these new prophecies the representatives of the different lands are demanding answers that they have no right to from the Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor. After trying to reason with them of the dangerous implications of prophecy, the Mother Confessor and Nicci devise a plan to scare the people out of asking so many questions, seeing it as the only way. Threatened with death from a prophecy just made up by Nicci, the people are shamed and regretful of their pestering, so for a while the continous demanding is stopped.
While Kahlan is dealing in the more diplomatic area, Richard finds a machine underground after the roof of the "Garden of Life" collapsed (as indicated in a prophecy) thus leaving a hole in the ground. Richard's discovery leads him to notice that the emblem on the machine is the exact same as on the book, only reversed. This emblem stands for "Regula" meaning to have sovereign authority over everything. The book is key to helping Richard decipher the prophecies because the machine presents the prophecies in the language of Creation.
Meanwhile the scratch on Kahlan's arm is getting worse and worse causing Richard great worry. After Zedd's attempt to fix her cut they leave her to rest. When Kahlan feverishly wakes, she finds a pack of dogs surrounding her. A fight and chase then ensues until Kahlan runs away in a carriage. When Richard finds out that Kahlan is gone he traces her footsteps and sends soldiers in every direction to try to find her. Little does he know that Kahlan is very far away by that point. Richard races after Kahlan on the fastest horse he can find, leaving a message for Zedd and Nicci that he is going to the Hedge Maid.
Kahlan arrives to the Hedge Maids home, and frees Henrik which is tied to the wall. She is then captured by the Hedge Maid, and is tied to the wall. The Hedge Maid collects and drinks Kahlan's blood. At this point, Richard breaks in and tries to save Kahlan, who is unconscious, but he too is captured by the Hedge Maid and is tied to the wall. Richard remembers the machine's last warning, protects his and Kahlan's ears and cuts the leather strips on the Hedge Maid's mouth, thus freeing her dead soul. As she screams her life away, she and her servants vanish. Richard and Kahlan are found by Nicci, and Zedd, who take them to the Garden of Life to heal them.
Characters in "The Omen Machine"
- Richard Rahl, major character in The Omen Machine and protagonist in the The Sword of TruthThe Sword of TruthThe Sword of Truth is a series of thirteen epic fantasy novels written by Terry Goodkind. The books follow the protagonists Richard Cypher, Kahlan Amnell and Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander on their quest to defeat oppressors who seek to control the world and those who wish to unleash evil upon the world of...
series. - Kahlan Amnell, major character in The Omen Machine and in the Sword of Truth series.
- Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, a main character in the Sword of Truth series, who is a wizard and Richard Rahl's grandfather.
- Cara, a main character in the Sword of Truth series, who is a Mord Sith and Richard Rahl's Bodyguard/friend.
- Comander General Benjamin Meiffert, a supporting character in the Sword of Truth series, who is a general in the D'haran army and Cara's Husband.
- Hannis Arc, Ruler of Falijn Province and the main antagonist in The Omen Machine.
- Jit, a Hedge Maid introduced in The Omen Machine.
- Abbot Ludwig Dreier, the right hand of Hannis Arc.
- Vika, a Mord Sith who is under Hannis Arc's orders.
- Nathan Rahl, a powerful wizard, prophet and ancestor of Richard Rahl
- Nicci, a powerful sorceress and friend of Richard and Kahlan's.