Fitz's mind is occupied by his Skill wanderings, the Road, and the ever present desire for the Skill River. Kettle does what she can to distract him, trying to get the others to help. Nighteyes has a successful hunt, FitzChivalry and Kettricken bond more, and Fitz notices a growing friendship and interest between Starling and the Fool. 

Reaching and traveling along the Skill Road distracts FitzChivalry and Kettle. While Kettle is trained enough to prevent the distractions, Fitz is Skill daydreaming of everything and everyone. We see Patience and Lacey, Chade, Molly, Burrich, Nettle, and eventually Verity pulls him away. Fitz has to seek comfort with his companions, Fool, Nighteyes, and Kettricken while trying to fight off the overwhelming temptation of the Skill. 

Mission planning for operation Save Verity is underway, but FitzChivalry feels very left out. Kettricken assumed from the beginning that Fitz would refuse, and with their philosophical differences she has taken control of when, where, and who they’re going with. Events push forward their timeline and Fitz, the Fool, and Kettricken (followed by Starling, Kettle and of course, Nighteyes) head out into the Mountain Kingdom wilderness to seek the lost Six Duchies king. All the while, Fitz hears the rush and feels the temptation of the Skill river. 

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. 

In a depressive slump, FitzChivalry is drinking. Ranting against injustices, Chade, Nighteyes, Kettle, and the Fool all tolerate him. Kettricken has summoned him before her to report and Fitz is once again not in control of his life. However, the night before that meeting, Fitz is drawn into a very strong Skill dream involving Verity and a magic river. 

FitzChivalry, still wounded, faces his past life while severely feverish. He laments the fact that once again decisions are taken out of his hands. Chade, Kettricken, Kettle, Starling, and the Fool all confront him before his big surgery and then help him through that trying time. Visions of Verity dance through Fitz's head and he spirals down a dark path while recovering, realizing the quest to seek his king is being taken over by others. 

Despite almost dying, Fitz has made it to safety against all odds. Nighteyes did all he could and now it's in the hands of an old friend. We discuss unexpected reunions, hope rekindled, the Fool's journey, and Kettricken's sorrow. All the while, Verity is in FitzChivalry's head repeating, "Come to me" in between his bouts of consciousness. 

FitzChivalry runs for his life. He interrupts Regal's torture of Burl and draws the coterie and guard after himself to give Starling and Kettle an escape. Fitz trudges onward in the snow and is caught off guard by troops led by an Old Blood hunter. Fitz escapes with his life, bleeding heavily, and barely conscious being led by Nighteyes to find help. 

We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.

FitzChivalry marches towards Moonseye. Captured by Regal’s Coterie and in the clutches of Burl, he is at a loss at how to escape. Meanwhile, the smugglers conduct a raid and most of the prisoners escape. Fitz is alone with only Nighteyes in his mind while he sits in the town’s prison. Another raid and the quick actions of Nighteyes, Starling, and Kettle free him from the King’s Guard and they flee north. 

We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.

Nik the smuggler may have wanted to uphold his honor, but King Regal's guards can't wait to capture FitzChivalry. Crossing the river is treacherous in more ways than one, and Fitz and Starling are hauled before Burl. He is captured and, he is in the hands of the cruel coterie, once again. Guilt ridden and blaming himself for what is happening, with his companion Nighteyes barely surviving a swim, Fitz is facing difficult odds.