FitzChivalry--royal bastard and former king's assassin--has left his life of court intrigue at Buckkeep far behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married and leading the quiet life of a country squire with his beloved Molly. The only fly in the ointment is the disappearance of his beloved childhood friend, the Fool, with whom he once shared so much. But for a former royal assassin, a quiet life is hard to maintain when old allegiances keep trying to pull him back, and new enemies come calling.