Fitz guides Prince Dutiful in a Skill exercise that almost goes terribly wrong. Dutiful confronts Fitz about rumors of the relationship between Tom Badgerlock and Lord Golden. Fitz and Chade have a conversation regarding Fitz's journey to his cabin, current events at Buckkeep, and Chade pursuing experiments with the Skill pillars. Fitz finishes the episode by speaking once more with Thick, trying to understand the servant's dislike of Fitz.