Fitz, as Tom Badgerlock, tracks down the injured Nighteyes, planning their next moves and reconnecting. Back at Galeton, Lord Golden has come up with a plan to be excused without suspicion. He purposefully gets drunk during the dinner, flirts with young Sydel, and makes a fool of himself. Tom collects his master, and they prepare to pursue Prince Dutiful in the morning. 

Fitz dreams as Dutiful, hunting through the hills of Galeton. Lord Golden has to manufacture an excuse for Fitz during the morning hunt to go to where Nighteyes has treed the Prince. Nighteyes is injured, the Prince is missing, and there is more than meets the eye to the Cat. It's now on Lord Golden to create an excuse for Fitz, Beloved, and Laurel to chase after the escaping Dutiful. 

Lord Golden leads the way into a dinner with Lady Bresinga, Civil, the Graylings and their daughter Sydel, and the huntsman. Fitz stands guard the whole time, trying to not fall asleep and gather information. After dinner, Fitz goes to the kitchen where he sees a suspicious meal being brought out of the keep. He goes back to the rooms and happens upon Lord Golden and Laurel close together. 

The journey from Buckkeep leaves time for Laurel and Fitz to get to know one another. Fitz is reunited with Nighteyes along the journey to Galeton, and the party receives a royal welcome. Lord Golden drops and the Fool makes an appearance before the charade continues, which reinvigorates Fitz in their hunt. 

Waking up befuddled, Fitz finds himself in a whirlwind of preparation for Lord Golden and his trip to Galeton to retrieve Prince Dutiful. Fitz, as Tom Badgerlock, takes care of some chores before they depart. On this journey with them, Queen Kettricken is sending her huntswoman, Laurel. 

After his trip to town, Fitz trains with his new sword, tries to get information about Dutiful from the servants, and checks in with Lord Golden. Meeting Chade quickly turns into an audience with Queen Kettricken and an agreement to Skill out to search for the missing Prince.

In Buckkeep Town, Fitz finds some weapons and Jinna's shop. The hedgewitch is very happy to see him and has a special charm she made especially for him. We meet Fennel the cat and Miskya, Jinna's niece, before he makes his way back to Buckkeep with a lot more smiles directed at him. 

After a long night of trying to decipher Skill scrolls, Fitz goes to bed only for a short time. He has to wake up early and start acting like Lord Golden's servant. He sees Queen Kettricken for the first time, comes up with his full backstory, and goes to Buckkeep town for clothes and a sword.  

Fitz finds himself back in Buckkeep town where everything looks like it has changed; new growth, new faces, and yet the nostalgia hits him hard. He becomes a servant to the recently arrived noble, Lord Golden, and finds his way to the hidden chamber where Chade taught him. He learns from Chade that Prince Dutiful has run away and that he is suspected of having the Wit. 

The Fool's last days with Fitz pass in thoughtful silence as Fitz reflects on his choices. The Fool departs for Buckkeep and Fitz is morose. Hap finds his way back home with hard news and Fitz thinks about borrowing money from Chade. When he is packed, a messenger comes with an urgent scroll.