Importance of Names

Names are very important to society in this story. Royals are named according to a long-standing tradition in which the name reflects an attribute or virtue that the holder will hopefully someday embody. King Shrewd is a very calculating, cautious man who prefers to take action only after weighing out all the possible outcomes. However, not all people conduct themselves in accordance with their name. Regal, for example, does not act like well born royalty. His mind has been poisoned by the corrupt wishes of his mother, Queen Desire, and he seeks only to pleasure himself.

Fitz's name remains ambiguous for most of the story. His grandfather refers to him only as "boy" and it is Burrich who gives him the name of Fitz. The reader may have to take a moment to research the meaning behind "Fitz", but will find out that it means "the...