Chapter 29, The Rooster Crown, Chapter 30, Stone Garden, Chapter 31, Elfbark Summary

The narrator speaks of an old game played among the Mountain folk. When Fitz and Kettle return to the camp, Kettle is concerned that Fitz will be sought out by Regal's coterie, and he knows the three men were Burl, Carrod and Will. He tries to concentrate on Kettle's stone game, as she says it has been used by Skill people for years as protection, but at one point he is overtaken by Will and Regal and Regal tells Fitz he knows about the child and the woman. Fitz is furious and afraid, and Kettle tries to calm him. Fitz concentrates on the game, to the point of carrying a game piece in his hand as they begin travelling the next day. Another signpost is found, and...