In the midst of political turmoil, Fitz, the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, emerges from obscurity to alter the fate of the Six Duchies. Raised by the castle stablemaster and shunned by the aristocracy, Fitz discovers his uncanny affinity to bond with animals. Secretly apprenticed to a royal assassin under the deceitful King Shrewd, he is schooled in the deadly arts. But Fitz also inherits the potent, magical Skill from his Farseer lineage. As Fitz comes of age against the backdrop of barbaric coastal raids, his lethal training and hidden talents may hold the key to the realm's future, if he can navigate the hazardous waters of court intrigue and survive his perilous path.