Chapter 21, Confrontations, Chapter 22, Departure, Chapter 23, The Mountains Summary

The narrator speaks of diplomacy and the art of knowing an enemy's secrets.

Fitz is still recovering from the arrow wound, and Kettle, Starling, the Queen and Chade all come to see him. It is well known now that Molly has a child, and all of them want the child to claim the throne. Fitz fights against this, knowing his daughter's life would be in danger and she would never be able to be a child again. The arrow is drawn from his back, and Fitz begins the long road to recovery. He walks with the Fool, he walks with Starling. He learns that he is expected to be a part of the mission to seek Verity in the mountains, and he realizes he is once again a pawn.

At the...