Chapter 24, The Skill Road, Chapter 25, Strategy, Chapter 26, Signposts, Chapter 27, The City, Chapter 28, The Coterie Summary

As Chapter 24, The Skill Road, the narrator wonders at the source of magic, and whether one is born to it or can learn it.

Fitz and his band of travelers discover an ancient road, and begin to follow it. The road is strange, and game does not go near it. The road has a strange effect on Fitz, and he is often muddle-headed while walking on it. That night he dreams and Skills and finds Molly and Burrich, and learns that his daughter's name is Nettle. Verity catches him Skilling and sends him back into his own body. Nighteyes has adopted the Fool into their Pack, and protects him from the cold.

The narrator begins Chapter 25, Strategy...