Contents
Thirteen: Blue Lake
Overview
Fitz reaches Blue Lake battered, cleans and equips himself, and learns Regal has staged a trap to draw him out. A ferret sent by a dying Old Blood warns that Will awaits in Regal’s rooms, halting Fitz’s assassination attempt. Starling finds Fitz, reveals a possible smugglers’ route to the Mountains, and offers help, cementing a wary alliance.
Summary
Fitz staggers from the plains to a caravan waterhole, tends his injuries, and sleeps. He Skill-dreams through Molly, witnessing Burrich’s grief as Burrich believes Fitz truly dead and gifts Molly Fitz’s ruby pin for their infant daughter. Shocked and aching, Fitz redoubles his mental defenses against Will.
He treks on through wind and rain toward Blue Lake, avoiding attention as rumors of slain King’s Guards spread. In town, Fitz conserves his coin but buys winter gear, food, and elfbark. He learns winter barges won’t cross and that the Mountain passes are closed amid talk of brigands and looming war.
News erupts that Regal has arrived with his Skillmaster. Fitz scouts the grand inn and, at night, attempts a roof entry to poison Regal. A ferret—sent by a dying Old Blood man—warns him mind-to-mind that Will lies in wait inside: a trap. Respecting the warning and the ferret’s own vendetta against Regal, Fitz withdraws.
Back at a humbler inn, Starling finds Fitz. Over a meal and then in her rented room, she confirms Regal’s baited ruse and hints at smugglers who can reach the Mountains by old upriver crossings. She demands inclusion as her price for the lead. She also reveals a personal motive: Fitz once saved her brother in battle. Fitz, exhausted but oddly heartened, accepts rest and the prospect of the smugglers’ route.
Who Appears
- FitzChivalry FarseerProtagonist; wounded fugitive who reaches Blue Lake, aborts an attempt on Regal after a trap warning, and allies with Starling to find smugglers.
- StarlingMinstrel who tracks Fitz, exposes Regal’s trap, offers a smugglers’ lead, and reveals gratitude for Fitz saving her brother.
- Small FerretOld Blood ferret sent by his dying partner; warns Fitz of Will’s ambush and plots to kill Regal himself.
- King RegalAntagonist king; uses a false presence at Blue Lake to bait Fitz while consuming luxuries and deploying a Skill trap.
- WillRegal’s Skillmaster; waits in Regal’s rooms to ensnare Fitz, forcing Fitz to abandon the infiltration.
- BurrichIn Fitz’s Skill-dream; mourns Fitz as dead and delivers Fitz’s ruby pin to Molly for the child.
- MollyIn Fitz’s Skill-dream; cares for their infant daughter, rebukes a rain-soaked Burrich, and believes Fitz dead.
- NighteyesWolf bond-partner; faintly reassures Fitz via the Wit that he will come if needed.
- Big FerretDeceased Old Blood partner of the ferret; sent the warning and vengeance command before dying.