Contents
Seven: Encounters
Overview
Fitz struggles to keep boundaries with his Wit-bonded wolf while pining for Molly. Blocked by Wallace, he’s ushered by the Fool to a lucid King Shrewd, who pointedly orders Fitz’s copy delivered to Verity. Fitz then hunts Forged ones with poison and later rescues Kettricken after Regal loses her. Verity mishandles the reunion, but later privately thanks Fitz, offers a public reward, and begins teaching him to guard his Skill-dreams.
Summary
Fitz returns to his hidden wolf cub, Cub, and realizes the wolf now sees them as a pack. Fearing a forbidden bond, Fitz coldly rejects that closeness. Passing the stairs, he briefly encounters Molly but restrains himself, only to feel Cub’s intrusive thoughts, which he rebukes.
Seeking to report from Bearns, Fitz is blocked by Wallace until the Fool blusters them into King Shrewd’s chamber. Shrewd, clear-minded, dismisses Regal’s reeking "physic," eats the Fool’s meal, and twice orders Fitz to deliver his copied scroll to Verity—an emphasis the Fool later underlines. Fitz complies.
Under Verity’s quiet directive, Fitz rides out daily, luring and poisoning bands of Forged ones, documenting the dead with growing shame. During a snowstorm, he chances upon Kettricken beset by Forged attackers. Together they kill the assailants and he guides her toward Buckkeep, where searchers meet them and praise her courage.
Verity arrives angry, anxious to contain news of Forged ones so near Buckkeep, and hastily spirits Kettricken home, slighting his guards. In the stables, Burrich reveals Regal returned without Kettricken and raised no alarm, forcing Burrich to start the search.
That night Verity summons Fitz, complaining of intrusive dreams of “Lady Red Skirts.” Realizing Fitz is broadcasting his desires via the Skill, Verity begins teaching him mental wards. He grudgingly rebukes Kettricken’s recklessness, then privately honors Fitz’s grim duties and saving of the queen, promising a visible reward—a finer sword—while warning Fitz to guard his dreams from enemies.
Who Appears
- FitzChivalry FarseerProtagonist; resists bonding with his wolf, reports to Shrewd, poisons Forged ones, rescues Kettricken, learns to guard Skill-dreams.
- Queen KettrickenLost while riding with Regal; fights off Forged attackers with Fitz; earns soldiers’ respect, later scolded by Verity.
- Prince VerityKing-in-Waiting; seeks secrecy on Forged threat, scolds Kettricken, thanks Fitz privately, promises a sword, teaches Skill-warding.
- The FoolOutmaneuvers Wallace, feeds and heartens Shrewd, signals Fitz to heed repeated orders.
- King ShrewdIll but lucid; rejects Regal’s fumigation, twice instructs Fitz to deliver the copied scroll.
- RegalLeads Kettricken off-road chasing a fox, then returns without her and raises no alarm.
- BurrichStablemaster; notes Fitz’s lies, later exposes Regal’s negligence, tends Verity’s and Kettricken’s horses.
- WallaceShrewd’s officious servant; tries to bar Fitz, promotes Regal’s “physic,” cowed by the Fool.
- Cub (wolf)Young wolf; presses for a pack bond with Fitz, intrudes via the Wit, feels betrayed.
- HandsBurrich’s assistant; helps tend lathered horses after the rescue.
- MollyBrief encounter on the stairs; later the subject of Fitz’s indiscreet Skill-dreams.