Who is Richard Cypher from Wizard's First Rule and what is their importance?

Richard is a tall, strong young man with thick black hair whose mother died in a fire when he was young. He works as an unassuming woods guide who leads tourists and dignitaries through the Ven Forest of Westland. He enjoys spending time alone in the forest, and with his friend Zedd, a herbalist and cloud-reader. However, there is one secret that Richard hides even from Zedd. His father George Cypher had stolen a sacred book that was being guarded by a fierce beast, to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. George Cypher and Richard burned the Book of Counted Shadows, but not before Richard spent years memorizing every word. This book includes instructions to opening the three boxes of Orden, a very powerful secret.