Chapter 4, The River Road, Chapter 5, Confrontations, Chapter 6, The Wit and the Skill, Chapter 7, Farrow Summary

The narrator describes the geography of Buck Duchy, the oldest of the Six Duchies. It is a coastal duchy and depends on its fishing grounds and the shipping trade for its success and employment.

Fitz returns to the cabin after hunting one afternoon and finds three Forged Ones there. Forged Ones are duchy citizens who were abducted by the Red Ships and turned into zombies to fight their former families. They are emotionless killers, and it is rumored they are attracted to people who can Skill. A fight breaks out, and although Fitz kills one, he is frozen with fear and barely escapes, using his wolf abilities to hide. Nighteyes finds him and they depart that night...