"Royalty has no leisure to ignore such opportunities, or to let them be created for others."

So says old King Shrewd, and he's right. this superbly spun tale launches us into the life of Fitz Chivalry, who (at page open) is dumped on a doorstep and taken in by the royal family: Fitz, being 6 years old, doesn't understand why. he's given over to the care of a stablemaster.

"Bastard you may be, but you're Chivalry's bastard, and I'll make you a man he'll be proud of."

Burrich by name and loyal by nature, Fitz is cared for by this once proud man, who has now fallen a few rungs on the political ladder, all because, ironically enough, of fitz's existance. His father (Prince Chivalry) was king in waiting, but abdicated his throne when word of the boy spread.

thus the scene is set for Fitz to enter Buckkeep castle. It's not until a few years later that King Shrewd makes his move.

"There he stands, young, strong, and resourceful. His lines
are every bit as royal as yours, for all that he was born on the wrong side of the sheets. So what will you make of him? A tool? A weapon? A comrade? An
enemy? Or will you leave him lying about, for someone else to take up and use against you?"

Shrewd (as his name might imply) is aware of the tendency for royal bastards to cause major uprisings when they come of age. perhaps as a method of preventing any such thing, he makes Fitz a Kings Man; with his loyalty sworn at a young age. Fitz grows up happy to do anything for his king and, as is obvious from the book's title, sets out to become an assassin under the tutelage of the king's master assassin chade.


"We are better parted, boy. Better for both of us. There can be no misunderstandings if there are no understandings at all."

But all is not smooth sailing for Fitz, and some of his skills lose him the support of his staunchest allies. The whole thing is very much solid fantasy, the world original, magic important but underplayed and two more books in this trilogy alone to work through. Heaven!