Fool's Fate
Chapters - Robin Hobb
Prologue: Battling Fate
A reflective prologue in which FitzChivalry meditates on Queen Desire's letter - written before his birth - that expressed her hatred for Prince Chivalry's bastard line. He reflects on Withywoods, on Chade's role as his teacher, and on the lessons of hindsight: how he was shaped by ruthless love, political survival, and a life of wild decisions made too soon. He muses on Nighteyes, on fatherhood, and on what he would have sacrificed for his daughter.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·Mentioned: Chade Fallstar, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Nighteyes, Patience, Chivalry Farseer
Chapter 1: Lizards
Spring at Buckkeep Castle. Fitz, living as Tom Badgerlock, meets Swift - Burrich's Witted son - for the first time in the Queen's Garden and begins mentoring him in letters and weaponry at Kettricken's direction. He then attends a covert Skill-lesson with Dutiful, Chade and Thick. During the lesson, both Dutiful and Thick report a shared dream-encounter with a great blue dragon - Tintaglia - who demanded to know about a black dragon. Fitz admits Tintaglia has intruded into his dreams before, seeking knowledge of Icefyre on Aslevjal Island.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Swift, Dutiful Farseer, Thick, Chade Fallstar, Tintaglia·Mentioned: Kettricken, Web, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Nighteyes
Chapter 2: Sons
With five days until departure, Fitz consults Web about Swift's reckless flaunting of his Wit. Web reveals he has long known Fitz is FitzChivalry - information passed via Holly, Rolf's widow - and counsels truth as the only bridge to the boy. That evening Fitz visits Hap in Buckkeep Town, where he learns Hap is still secretly courting Svanja despite her father's hostility and her betrothal to a sailor named Reften. Fitz gives Hap money and parts from him with misgivings. Later, wandering past the Silver Key inn, he observes Lord Golden on a balcony paying gambling debts in pearls while rumoured to be deeply in debt - Fitz suspects the Fool is using his extravagance as cover for receiving southern intelligence.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Web, Hap, The Fool·Mentioned: Swift, Molly Chandler, Burrich, Chade Fallstar, Kettricken, Holly, Black Rolf, Svanja Hartshorn
Chapter 3: Trepidation
Three days before sailing, Fitz cannot sleep and broods over the voyage, his many worries - Hap, Nettle, Swift, the Fool's planned exclusion from the expedition - and his deception of the Fool. The Fool arrives unannounced in Chade's hidden chamber and reveals he has given away nearly all his wealth in preparation for death, dispatching Burrich's mare Malta, cartloads of scrolls to Patience, and other farewell gifts. Fitz refuses to accept this fatalism and promises to keep him alive. Together they attend the Skill-lesson where the Fool is admitted to the coterie. Fitz discovers through the Skill that Tintaglia's prior intrusion used the bond between himself and the Fool. Later, in a dream-walk, Fitz contacts Nettle; she reveals that Tintaglia has appeared in her dreams. He tells Chade that Web knows his true identity.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Swift, Chade Fallstar, Dutiful Farseer, Thick, Nettle, Tintaglia·Mentioned: Web, Burrich, Patience
Chapter 4: An Exchange of Weapons
Fitz sorts his meagre possessions. Dutiful surprises him by presenting the sword of Prince Chivalry, kept by Patience, and receives Verity's sword in return - an emotional exchange of their fathers' blades. That night Nettle draws Fitz into her dreams seeking help about Swift; she confesses she forged Burrich's signature to give Swift permission to leave home, and that Burrich has been drinking heavily, blaming himself. Tintaglia crashes into their shared dream, seizes Fitz in her jaws and demands knowledge of Icefyre; Nettle expels the dragon with unexpected Skill force. Waking, Fitz confronts Swift about his lies and sends him home. He then encounters Starling in the Women's Garden, who presses him to consider reclaiming Molly and confesses she loves him.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Dutiful Farseer, Nettle, Swift, Starling Birdsong, Tintaglia·Mentioned: Patience, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Chade Fallstar, Nighteyes, Chivalry Farseer
Chapter 5: Departures
On the eve of sailing Fitz tells Chade that Swift has gone home and that Web knows his identity. Chade accepts both with typical pragmatism. Fitz visits Hap a final time and gives him childhood mementoes; Hap vows not to shame him. The expedition loads onto the Maiden's Chance. On the docks, Fitz witnesses Lord Golden creating a dramatic blockade to demand a berth - but Chade has barred him, and the City Guard eventually arrest him. That night Fitz dream-walks to Nettle, who is unaware of dragons. The morning of departure, new guardsman Riddle lends Fitz pomade; Captain Longwick forms up the Prince's Guard. Fitz discovers Swift has sneaked aboard with Web. The fleet sets out; Fitz tends to a desperately seasick Thick on the afterdeck.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Chade Fallstar, Hap, The Fool, Thick, Dutiful Farseer, Riddle, Longwick, Nettle, Swift, Web, Civil Bresinga, Hest·Mentioned: Cockle, Kettricken, Starling Birdsong, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Svanja Hartshorn, Reften
Chapter 6: Voyage of Dreams
The first days at sea are grim. Thick's overwhelming seasickness and uncontrolled Skill-music threatens to mutiny the crew. Fitz stands watch over him through cold and rain. Web arrives and prays with Fitz, demonstrating his serene Wit-bond with his bird Risk. Lord Golden's arrest is confirmed by Chade; Fitz feels guilt. Thick develops a fever and cough from exposure. Swift is revealed to be aboard with Web; Fitz accepts the situation and begins lessons. That night Fitz enters Thick's nightmare and contacts Nettle in her dreams; she soothes Thick's terror with her Skill. Dutiful is relieved when Thick's music calms.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Web, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Riddle, Nettle, Swift, Civil Bresinga·Mentioned: The Fool, Cockle
Chapter 7: Voyage
Thick shows slight improvement but remains feverish; Nettle reveals in a dream-talk that Burrich was so shaken by the message Fitz sent through her that he wept and then rode away alone to Buckkeep. Fitz calls himself 'Changer' when Nettle demands a name. Chade deduces Nettle's involvement in soothing Thick's dreams and Fitz partly reveals her talent, lying to Chade that she will be more useful kept unaware of her power. Swift reads scroll-lessons aloud to Thick and Fitz daily. Web confronts Fitz about Burrich's treatment of Witted children; Fitz defends Burrich hotly. During long sea-days Fitz glimpses Chade growing subtly stronger in the Skill. Dutiful confides that Web uses tales of the Witted Bastard to educate his coterie. The fleet glimpses the Out Island shores as they approach Zylig.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Web, Nettle, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Swift·Mentioned: Civil Bresinga, Cockle, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Tintaglia, Nighteyes, Kebal Rawbread
Chapter 8: The Hetgurd
The fleet anchors at Zylig. Fitz helps a feeble Thick ashore and they are housed in the Boar Clan's stronghouse. Dutiful is immediately brought before the Hetgurd - the assembly of Out Island clan war-leaders - to hear objections to the dragon-slaying quest. Peottre Blackwater is present but silent; Arkon Bloodblade represents the Boar Clan. Multiple kaempras argue that Icefyre belongs to the Out Islands and that slaying him could invite the dragon's vengeance. Fitz uses the Skill to spread an urgent need to urinate through the susceptible kaempras, causing the Bear leader to adjourn the meeting before an irreversible vote against the quest can be taken. That night Dutiful presses Fitz on the Narcheska's true motive; both remain puzzled.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Riddle, Peottre Blackwater·Mentioned: Narcheska Elliania, Web, Civil Bresinga, Cockle, Swift
Chapter 9: Mothershouse
The party leaves Zylig for Mayle Island aboard the shallower Outislander vessel Tusker. Thick violently resists boarding and Fitz must physically wrestle him; Web uses a calming Wit-technique to lead Thick gently aboard. At sea Nettle tells Fitz in a dream that Burrich has returned home bearing gifts - including the carved earring - and seems at peace yet preparing for a journey. He brought the Fool's mare Malta. Fitz names himself 'Changer' to Nettle. Swift and Cockle perform for the Outislander crew; a Boar sailor sings a warning tale of the Black Man of Aslevjal. Peottre silences him. The fleet reaches Wuislington harbour.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Web, Swift, Nettle, Cockle, Peottre Blackwater, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Civil Bresinga·Mentioned: Burrich, The Fool, Molly Chandler
Chapter 10: The Narcheska
At the Narwhal Clan's mothershouse in Wuislington, Fitz attends the formal welcome. The ancient, senile Great Mother is carried in and mistakes the gathering; Elliania rushes down to take control. The Narcheska, now a woman by clan recognition (her first blood), conducts the formal betrothal ceremony in which her cousin Almata speaks for the Mothers. Dutiful and Elliania mingle blood on the hearth and are bound by leather cord - a conditional betrothal, valid only if Dutiful delivers Icefyre's head. Later, in the courtyard, Lestra (Elliania's older cousin and rival claimant to Narcheska) taunts and challenges Elliania; the two girls fight, and Elliania pins Lestra in the dirt and forces her submission. Elliania then boldly kisses Dutiful before the assembly. Peottre observes the fight alongside Fitz, noting this was woman's business. Dutiful sleeps chastely on the common benches that night.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Dutiful Farseer, Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater, Chade Fallstar, Web, Swift, Cockle, Civil Bresinga, Riddle, Longwick, Almata, Lestra·Mentioned: Thick
Chapter 11: Wuislington
Twelve days at Wuislington. Thick slowly recovers in a cottage with Fitz, Swift and Riddle. Fitz discovers the island's true wealth - hot-spring-warmed valleys with lush crops - but notes the severe lack of men of warrior age. He shadows Dutiful and Elliania as their friendship grows warmer. During a pony-jumping excursion, Fitz spots Henja - the Narcheska's former Buckkeep servant - spying from the rocks; Peottre deflects Fitz's questions but betrays that Elliania's mother and sister are 'detained elsewhere'. In a shared dream that night, Nettle is cornered by Tintaglia who threatens her. Nettle expels the dragon; Dutiful catches Nettle's dream-presence and demands to know who she is. She rebuffs him royally and vanishes. Dutiful is furious at being kept ignorant.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Swift, Riddle, Web, Dutiful Farseer, Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater, Nettle, Tintaglia, Chade Fallstar·Mentioned: Civil Bresinga, Cockle
Chapter 12: Cousins
Aboard the Boar ship returning to Zylig, Thick wakes distraught and begins using his Skill to trip Fitz repeatedly in petty revenge. Fitz meets with Dutiful and Chade and confesses the full truth: Nettle is his daughter, fathered on Molly before the Red Ship War, raised unknowing by Burrich. Dutiful is astonished, excited at having a cousin, and furious at having been kept ignorant. He insists Nettle must be brought to Buckkeep for her own safety, as Tintaglia could threaten her in the waking world. Fitz concedes the inevitable. Chade swears fealty to Dutiful on his knees. Dutiful also learns Burrich was King's Man to Verity, and confronts both Fitz and Chade about their habit of managing others' lives without consent. The chapter ends with Dutiful preparing to send Nettle a Skill-message warning her of the dragon and summoning her to Buckkeep.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Nettle·Mentioned: Tintaglia, Web, Burrich, Molly Chandler, Swift, Peottre Blackwater, Narcheska Elliania, Verity Farseer, Hest
Chapter 13: Aslevjal
Fitz arrives on the island of Aslevjal with the Prince's party to find the Fool already there, having set up a tent on the bluff above the beach. Chade keeps Fitz separated from him during the landing. While on sentry duty watching over Thick, Fitz explores the beach and discovers a stone dragon lying in the tidal zone - blocks of memory stone the Pale Woman and Kebal Rawbread had used to attempt to create a dragon from Forged memories, an effort that failed. He Skills to Dutiful and Chade with his findings. Later, he slips into the Fool's tent and takes honey for Thick, leaving the Rooster Crown on the Fool's bed as a message. He reconciles with Thick over tea, and learns through Thick that Nettle now knows Fitz is her father.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Chade Fallstar, Dutiful Farseer, Thick, Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater, Web, Swift, Civil Bresinga, Cockle, Riddle, Longwick·Mentioned: Nettle, Nighteyes, Kettricken, Icefyre, Kebal Rawbread, Hest
Chapter 14: The Black Man
Morning on Aslevjal: Fitz investigates the Hetgurd warriors' worry that the Black Man did not accept their offering - an ill omen that threatens to abort the quest. The main party arrives from the ship. The Narcheska refuses the Bear's plea to withdraw the challenge and Peottre makes a blood-oath accepting all consequences. That night Fitz visits the Fool in his tent, finding Swift already there. the Fool tells Swift and Fitz of Tintaglia, and reveals he is here to ensure Icefyre lives. When Civil bursts in to challenge the Fool, a fight breaks out and the Fool physically subdues Civil twice. The confrontation ends when the camp is roused by Riddle's sentry challenge to a shadowy figure - the Black Man - who vanishes the moment a torch is brought close, throwing the camp into fearful confusion.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Thick, Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater, Civil Bresinga, Swift, Web, Cockle, Riddle, Longwick·Mentioned: Tintaglia, Kebal Rawbread, Hest
Chapter 15: Civil
Fitz visits the Fool's tent late at night, finding it empty of Swift. In private, the Fool reveals he has worked out that Sydel's parents were Piebald agents and that she is an innocent victim - information Fitz agrees to pass to Kettricken. the Fool describes the Black Man as a figure of extraordinary prophetic significance - unlike anything he has seen before. Fitz dismisses him as a Forged one but the Fool vehemently disagrees. The next morning Fitz reports to Chade and Dutiful in their tent about the Piebald connection. They agree to use Thick and Nettle for a test Skill-message to the Queen. On the glacier march, the Pale Woman's agents attack Fitz and Thick through the Skill, stoking resentment between them until Thick's defensive blast and Fitz's snap-walls expose the manipulation. That night, wet and miserable in camp, Fitz warns Chade and Dutiful about the Skill attack. Peottre shares 'courage cake' which Fitz discovers contains elfbark; he prevents Thick from eating it but cannot prevent swallowing a bite himself.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Chade Fallstar, Dutiful Farseer, Thick, Peottre Blackwater, Swift, Web, Civil Bresinga, Riddle, Longwick·Mentioned: Nettle, Pale Woman, Hest
Chapter 16: Elfbark
The elfbark from Peottre's cake devastates Fitz, stripping him of his Skill entirely and plunging him into despair-driven raving through the night. He speaks suicidal thoughts aloud and divulges old shames to Chade and Dutiful. The next day, Web walks with the broken Fitz across the glacier; Dutiful has begun first Skill-contact with Nettle but she refuses to carry serious messages yet. Days later they reach the glacier plateau where Icefyre is buried and Peottre declares 'here' - with no dragon visible. The Wit-coterie uses the Wit to locate the buried dragon, Swift nearly being overwhelmed. Web announces his intention to help free, not kill, the dragon. Peottre delivers a blood-oath to accept all consequences, even death at the Hetgurd's hands, moving Elliania to silent grief. Dutiful commits to keeping his word. Digging begins.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Chade Fallstar, Dutiful Farseer, Thick, Web, Swift, Peottre Blackwater, Narcheska Elliania, Civil Bresinga, Cockle, The Fool, Riddle, Longwick, Icefyre·Mentioned: Nettle
Chapter 17: Icefyre
Days of exhausting digging in the glacier pit begin. The camp settles into grim routine as Longwick divides labour among guards, Witted coterie and eventually the Narcheska and Peottre. Fitz and Thick are sent back toward the beach to find missing Riddle and Hest and retrieve supplies. Thick slowly recovers from the dragon's mental pull as they travel away. On the glacier, Web begins teaching Fitz to use his Wit more broadly. At night, someone circles their small camp - likely the Black Man. Thick Skill-relays messages from Chade and Dutiful. The next day Thick mentions that Icefyre himself told him to 'mend yourself' - curing his lung ailment. Web has sent Risk to Bingtown.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: Thick, The Fool, Dutiful Farseer, Chade Fallstar, Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater, Web, Swift, Civil Bresinga, Cockle, Longwick, Icefyre·Mentioned: Riddle, Nettle
Chapter 18: Ice
Fitz and the Fool fall through a snow bridge into the glacier's interior with their Elderling lantern. They discover icy corridors containing cells of Forged ones - including a Forged Riddle and Hest - whom they cannot free without great danger. Following the Black Man's earlier hint, they find a beach with no exit. They take the other staircase up through the ice and reach a gallery overlooking the imprisoned Icefyre, immense through the ice above them. Fitz crawls through a bored tunnel to the dragon's flank and removes tools left by someone attempting to bore into his heart. They sleep from exhaustion in the gallery.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Riddle, Icefyre·Mentioned: Thick, Pale Woman, Hest
Chapter 19: Below the Ice
Waking stiff and near-frozen in the gallery, Fitz forces the Fool to move. They follow the main corridor and spot the Black Man, who leads them on a desperate chase before they run into six guards who knock Fitz out. They are dragged to the Pale Woman's throne room - a vast palace of ice - where Fitz sees Kebal Rawbread chained as a half-Forged captive being fed to the stone dragon, and the Fool pinned spread-eagle against a wall wearing the Rooster Crown. The Pale Woman reveals her history and intentions, dines Fitz, attempts to seduce and Skill-manipulate him, and when he attacks her instead he is beaten down. She sentences the Fool to be slowly Forged by the stone dragon, forcing Fitz to watch, then offers Fitz his freedom in exchange for killing Icefyre. After the Fool reveals that the Narcheska's mother and sister are captive and Forged here, forcing Peottre and Elliania's compliance, Fitz capitulates and is expelled from the glacier through a chimney.
POV: FitzChivalry Farseer·On page: The Fool, Pale Woman, Kebal Rawbread, Hest·Mentioned: Narcheska Elliania, Peottre Blackwater