As Fitz's harrowing journey as the king's undercover weapon takes a toll on him, he contemplates breaking his bond with the monarchy. Yet, despite his desire to withdraw to solitude, circumstances and a deep-seated loyalty pull him back into the center of the kingdom's vortex. With the coastline besieiled by the Red-Ship Raiders' unrelenting onslaught, and internal betrayals threatening the throne, the stability of the realm hangs by a thread. Fitz's inadvertent role as the linchpin in securing the future of the kingdom demands sacrifices that could alter his destiny forever.