[1] Ten years after the events of Fool's Fate, it resumes the story of FitzChivalry Farseer, a former assassin, as a middle-aged husband and father whose quiet life is disrupted by a new crisis.

FitzChivalry ("Fitz") is a bastard of the royal Farseer family of the Six Duchies, who had previously used his inherited magical Skill in the service of his king.

After his past heroic sacrifices, Fitz had allowed all but his closest family and friends to believe that he had been killed.

Under the name Tom Badgerlock, Fitz had enjoyed ten peaceful years with his wife and step-children as landholder of Withywoods, once the country estate of his father.

Fitz doubts she is indeed pregnant, as she is long past her child bearing years.

Slapping her, one of them releases her tongue, seeming to explain that Bee was born tongue-tied and therefore unable to speak clearly until the incident.

Chade also asks Fitz to take care of Shun, a spoiled lady a year or two younger than Lant.

She is severely injured, but passes on a message from the fool before she dies- to look out for, and protect, the unexpected son.

Fitz, Bee and Riddle witness a man torturing his dog to get people to buy her pups (though it turns out they are not truly hers).

The beggar turns out to be the Fool, appearing haggard and wraith like from extreme torture.

He decides to take the Fool to Buckkeep to be skill-healed and sends Bee home with Lant and Shun, who are upset their day has been ruined and that Fitz does not respect them.