The first book sent Fitz on a mission to save Prince Dutiful as the kingdom was going down in his absence. Nobody knew where the prince had gone and Fitz was charged with the duty to save him and bring him back as quickly as possible. When Fitz started the mission along with the Fool present in his company the mission looked easy but later things went wild. The mission also helped Fitz to bring out the best in him and he realizes that he was capable of many things he didn’t know about in the past.
Prince Dutiful is back in his kingdom when Robin Hobb starts the story of this second book. This is good news and this has brought peace to the land but it is an apparent drama and nothing else. From the inside, the prince is keeping big secrets which if leaked can divide the kingdom into two halves. Fitz’s main motive now is to keep those secrets deeply buried in his heart and stop them from leaking forever.
James Langton gives a serious voice to Fitz who knows the cost which the nation had to pay if things go out of control. Although he is loyal to the throne he has doubts about the capabilities of the prince.
Like The Farseer: Assassin’s Apprentice and Royal Assassin‘s survival is the first concern of the main character at this time. After taking care of the personal matters he will try to plan about other issues related to the throne. The hero is without friends on this occasion but he is not portrayed as a helpless being anywhere in the story.
