The kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks
that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication.
The child?s name is Fitz, and he is despised. Raised in the castle stables, only
the company of the king?s fool, the ragged children of the lower city, and his
unusual affinity with animals provide Fitz with any comfort. To be useful to the
crown, Fitz is trained as an assassin; and to use the traditional magic of the
Farseer family. But his tutor, allied to another political faction, is
determined to discredit, even kill him. Fitz must survive: for he may be
destined to save the kingdom.