Contents
Twenty-One: Confrontations
Overview
Fitz lies fevered in the Fool’s hut as Starling ferrets out his hiding place and alerts Kettricken and Chade. Confrontations erupt over Fitz’s secret child and duty to the crown, culminating in Fitz’s anguished pledge to find Verity. The healer extracts the arrowhead; Fitz begins a slow recovery while Kettricken prepares a quest and Chade plans to stir hope in Buck.
Summary
Fitz drifts in fever at the Fool’s home, haunted by Verity’s Skill-call. The Fool fends off visitors, but Starling and Kettle press near. The Fool reveals Chade’s plan to claim a Farseer bastard in Buck as heir; Fitz lies, denying paternity to protect Molly and their child from the throne’s grasp.
Starling forces entry and has already told Kettricken. The Queen and Chade arrive, confronting Fitz. Nighteyes smashes in to defend him. Amid anger and disappointment, Fitz breaks down but declares he will seek Verity—not from nobility, but because he has no choice. Kettricken’s hope flares even as Fitz falters under fever.
The healer extracts the arrowhead in a brutal procedure; Fitz nearly slips into the Skill-river, but Verity pushes him back. Later, the Fool and Chade clash over secrets and the child. Fitz begs Chade not to take his daughter; Chade refuses to promise but agrees she is safest where she is if Verity returns.
As Fitz recovers slowly, he bonds further with the Fool and Nighteyes, tends Sooty and Ruddy, and learns the Fool’s toymaker life. Starling reports court plans: Kettricken will lead a hard journey on ancient paths to find Verity, while Chade will return to Buck spreading songs to keep hope alive. Fitz feels sidelined yet resigned to the role he bargained for.
Who Appears
- FitzChivalry FarseerFevered and wounded; denies his child to protect her; vows to find Verity; endures arrow extraction; begins recovery.
- The FoolShelters Fitz, parries inquiries, reveals Chade’s plan; argues over secrets and the child; supports Fitz through the surgery.
- StarlingDetermined minstrel; exposes Fitz to Kettricken and Chade; pushes court involvement; reports plans for the quest.
- ChadePlots to secure a Farseer heir; confronts Fitz; oversees arrow extraction; refuses promises but agrees hope rests on Verity.
- KettrickenGrief-stricken queen; confronts Fitz; seizes on hope Verity lives; begins organizing a journey to find him.
- NighteyesWolf companion; bursts in to defend Fitz; later adapts to the Fool’s home and joins walks.
- The HealerMountain healer who drains the wound and extracts the arrowhead, cauterizing to stop bleeding.
- KettleOld scholar; visits Fitz, discusses White Prophet lore; aids during the extraction.
- JofronFool’s associate; urges him to meet a seeker of the White Prophet and warns about Starling.