King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz, or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest, perhaps to death. Only Verity's return or the heir his princess carries can save the six duchies. But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him currents that will wither drown him or make him something more than he was.