Is Fitz Happy?

Together, FitzChivalry, The Fool, Kettricken, Kettle, Starling, and of course, Nighteyes all make it to the last stop on their map. Fighting despondency, they discover a body and Fitz detects life further in the quarry where they stop. Verity is alive and carving a dragon, but at what cost?  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.

The company travels down from the colder weather, encounter impossible architecture, and relax at hot springs. Excepting the Fool and Nighteyes, they all take the time to bathe. Fitz is by himself, with only his wolf, until the Fool approaches him and talks about subjects he was warned against. A secret is spoken, and Fitz makes a dangerous assumption.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb...

FitzChivalry and company leave the Stone Dragon garden and head back to the Skill Road to try and find Verity. After camping for the night near the previous Skill Pillar, Regal's coterie stalks and attacks who they think is Fitz, but is actually the Fool. They douse the Fool with elfbark and Kettle lectures the group on how it affects skill users. We discuss magic and a lot of listener contributio...

Content Warning: Until minute 28:30, we discuss Starling's history, trauma, and coping mechanisms dealing with sexual assault. Please be kind to yourselves and listen accordingly.  Nighteyes, Fitz, and Starling head off from camp to go hunting. Starling takes the opportunity alone to discuss the friction between them and make amends. Fitz and Starling bond once again, opening themselves up to one...

The start of this chapter has The Fool provoking Starling with little jabs in between his conversations with FitzChivalry. Fitz is trying to explain why plumbing matters and the Fool is challenging his perceptions of what love truly is. While they continue on the road, they stumble upon what Kettricken and Fitz determine is one of the marked spots on the map and find Dragon... statues?  We're read...

Part two of this chapter has us discussing relationships between party members, talking about frustrations with Fitz, Kettricken, and Starling, and has the Fool become very animated after a Skill scene. Join us in our trek to the next steps towards Verity and the dragons!  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.

The group continues travel along the road, with Fitz hounded and threatened by the Coterie and Regal. Kettle strives to keep his mind focused while Fitz and the Fool talk more about the Fool's past. We get a bit more of a dive into his past and discuss their similarities and differences.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy in The Realm of the Elderlings.

Recovering from his trip into Kelsingra, Fitz settles down to sleep and notices the Fool is warm and sickly. Despite his protests, Fitz is convinced to move on in the morning by Kettricken. Earlier than planned, Fitz rouses everyone to move because he senses pursuit. After a tense scramble across a landslide, three of the pursuers head to the city through the pillar and Kettle and Fitz head back a...

FitzChivalry finds himself alone, stranded in a strange city with Skill ghosts. Fogged, mentally and physically, he makes his way into the city in a daze, trying to make sense of the abandoned ruins. Fitz spends a night, dreams of Molly and Chade, then wakes up determined to get back to his companions. A map tower, a dragon, and a strangely inscribed pillar later, he finds himself being greeted by...

In this chapter, we learn of Starling's theory on the Fool and Fitz is saved from her conversation by having to move back to the road. Kettle tries to keep him focused, but he is slowly drowning in the memories dredged up along the Skill road. A close call later, and a conversation at camp brings some comfort to Kettricken, but FitzChivalry is distracted by an interesting pillar...  We're reading...

Fitz's mind is occupied by his Skill wanderings, the Road, and the ever present desire for the Skill River. Kettle does what she can to distract him, trying to get the others to help. Nighteyes has a successful hunt, FitzChivalry and Kettricken bond more, and Fitz notices a growing friendship and interest between Starling and the Fool.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the F...

Reaching and traveling along the Skill Road distracts FitzChivalry and Kettle. While Kettle is trained enough to prevent the distractions, Fitz is Skill daydreaming of everything and everyone. We see Patience and Lacey, Chade, Molly, Burrich, Nettle, and eventually Verity pulls him away. Fitz has to seek comfort with his companions, Fool, Nighteyes, and Kettricken while trying to fight off the ove...

Mission planning for operation Save Verity is underway, but FitzChivalry feels very left out. Kettricken assumed from the beginning that Fitz would refuse, and with their philosophical differences she has taken control of when, where, and who they’re going with. Events push forward their timeline and Fitz, the Fool, and Kettricken (followed by Starling, Kettle and of course, Nighteyes) head out in...

Picking up where we left off, FitzChivalry comes back after an intense Skill dream where he talks to Verity. A now-forgotten epiphany from that dream leaves Fitz feeling empty before he meets up with Kettricken and Chade in the Mountain Kingdom palace. Fitz is told to explain himself to make up for his mistakes. He is pressed and reports on his life for the past year, ending with his conviction an...

In a depressive slump, FitzChivalry is drinking. Ranting against injustices, Chade, Nighteyes, Kettle, and the Fool all tolerate him. Kettricken has summoned him before her to report and Fitz is once again not in control of his life. However, the night before that meeting, Fitz is drawn into a very strong Skill dream involving Verity and a magic river.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb...

FitzChivalry, still wounded, faces his past life while severely feverish. He laments the fact that once again decisions are taken out of his hands. Chade, Kettricken, Kettle, Starling, and the Fool all confront him before his big surgery and then help him through that trying time. Visions of Verity dance through Fitz's head and he spirals down a dark path while recovering, realizing the quest to s...

Despite almost dying, Fitz has made it to safety against all odds. Nighteyes did all he could and now it's in the hands of an old friend. We discuss unexpected reunions, hope rekindled, the Fool's journey, and Kettricken's sorrow. All the while, Verity is in FitzChivalry's head repeating, "Come to me" in between his bouts of consciousness.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb, book 3 of t...

FitzChivalry runs for his life. He interrupts Regal's torture of Burl and draws the coterie and guard after himself to give Starling and Kettle an escape. Fitz trudges onward in the snow and is caught off guard by troops led by an Old Blood hunter. Fitz escapes with his life, bleeding heavily, and barely conscious being led by Nighteyes to find help.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb,...

FitzChivalry marches towards Moonseye. Captured by Regal’s Coterie and in the clutches of Burl, he is at a loss at how to escape. Meanwhile, the smugglers conduct a raid and most of the prisoners escape. Fitz is alone with only Nighteyes in his mind while he sits in the town’s prison. Another raid and the quick actions of Nighteyes, Starling, and Kettle free him from the King’s Guard and they flee...

Nik the smuggler may have wanted to uphold his honor, but King Regal's guards can't wait to capture FitzChivalry. Crossing the river is treacherous in more ways than one, and Fitz and Starling are hauled before Burl. He is captured and, he is in the hands of the cruel coterie, once again. Guilt ridden and blaming himself for what is happening, with his companion Nighteyes barely surviving a swim,...

Nighteyes and FitzChivalry have both grown up, and yet, Fitz is still unrealistic about his relationship with Molly. He has a frank talk with Starling, gets to know Kettle slightly more, and also passes off Nighteyes as his dog not so convincingly. They continue heading to the the river crossing in the blistering cold while Fitz is forced to confront his relationships.  We're reading Assassin's Qu...

Woken up by Nik, the smuggler, Fitz and Starling prepare for a trek into a winter storm. We get to meet Kettle for the first time as FitzChivalry drives her cart. Stopping to rest at a hideout, Fitz is reunited with his "dog", Nighteyes. Once again, the two are together and looking towards the future in the mountains. However, Fitz does happen to listen in on a Skill conversation between Regal and...

FitzChivalry takes time in Blue Lake to wash up and come to a decision about his travel options to the Mountain Kingdom and Verity. He decides to trust Starling, so they both head towards the smugglers and talk their way in. Fitz grows more comfortable with Starling and yet his eternal loneliness brings another Skill dream of Burrich, Molly, and Nettle.  We're reading Assassin's Quest by Robin Hob...

FitzChivalry finds his way into Blue Lake to discover that the way across is virtually impossible with the funds he has and the winter storms approaching. He learns that Burrich truly believes that Fitz is dead now and the coterie is hot on his trail. Two unlooked for allies find him to offer advice, warnings, and a way forward. Loneliness abounds in this chapter as we discuss Fitz's prospects on...

King Regal's guards are constantly on the hunt for the Pocked Man and for Fitz. Starling warns Fitz that they're looking for him but also sings about his exploits to the caravan members, which prompts Tassin to suspect who he is. When they meet some of the King's guards along the way, it only takes a midnight conversation for Tassin to tell the guards her suspicions. Fitz is captured by them, but...