Picking up where we left off, FitzChivalry comes back after an intense Skill dream where he talks to Verity. A now-forgotten epiphany from that dream leaves Fitz feeling empty before he meets up with Kettricken and Chade in the Mountain Kingdom palace. Fitz is told to explain himself to make up for his mistakes. He is pressed and reports on his life for the past year, ending with his conviction and need to seek Verity.