A six-year-old boy is taken by his maternal grandfather to the Farseers' army base in Moonseye, the Six Duchies' outpost on the border of the Mountain Kingdom.

He is taken into the castle proper and is schooled, taught combat skills, and develops a sense of loyalty to the Farseer line, especially King-in-Waiting Verity.

Fitz agrees to secretly learn Chade's skills and complete minor assassin work for King Shrewd.

Meanwhile, Chivalry dies when thrown from a horse, but it is strongly suspected that Queen Desire, King Shrewd's second wife and Regal's mother, has had him assassinated.

The Raiders rampage through villages and towns, killing and taking hostages while stealing little, making their attacks seem to lack a motive.

Forged Ones become robbers that plunder the countryside; Fitz is ordered by Chade to secretly kill many of them, and he finds he cannot sense them with his Wit at all.

Verity fights the Raiders with the Skill, a magic found in the Farseer bloodline which allows its users to share thoughts and strength, which weakens him.

Fitz travels there with orders from Shrewd to assassinate Kettricken's brother, Prince Rurisk, to bring Verity closer to the throne, based on information from Regal.

Publishers Weekly stated the book was "a gleaming debut in the crowded field of epic fantasies and Arthurian romances.

"[2] Kirkus Reviews found the story to be "satisfyingly self-contained yet leaving plenty of scope for future extensions and embellishments.

"[4] The Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation used this book as inspiration for their song "Hand of Sorrow" from their album The Heart of Everything.