Royal Assassin

Infobox Book |
name = Royal Assassin
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = UK first edition cover (Voyager)
author = Robin Hobb
cover_artist = John Howe
country = United States
language = English
series = The Farseer Trilogy
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Voyager Books (UK) & Spectra (US)
release_date = April 1996 (US), 21 March 1996 (UK)
media_type = Print (Paperback & Hardback in the UK, Paperback in the US)
pages = 580 pp (UK hardback ed.), 752 pp (UK paperback ed.)
isbn = ISBN 0-00-224607-4
preceded_by = Assassin's Apprentice
followed_by = Assassin's Quest

"Royal Assassin" is a book by Robin Hobb, the second in her "Farseer Trilogy". It was published in 1996.

Plot summary

After recovering from being poisoned by Regal in the Mountain Kingdom, Fitz returns to Buckkeep with Chivalry's former right hand man Burrich, and a stable hand aptly named Hands. After Regal's attempted murder of Prince Verity and himself, our reluctant hero vows revenge. Just before returning to Buckkeep Fitz has a Skill dream where he sees Molly in a burning village, being raided by the Red-Ship Raiders but during her struggle a burning support blocks his sight of her; meaning Fitz does not know if she is dead or alive. A bereaved Fitz is upset but powerless to act.

Fitz decides to take actions into his own hands which eventually leads to a great change of events and increases his enmity with Prince Regal. As we discover at the beginning of the trilogy, the Six Duchies is under attack from the Red-Ship Raiders. Prince Verity abandons his futile attempts at a Skill intervention to the situation and turns the kingdoms resources towards a physical countermeasure – constructing a fleet of warships to defend the struggling Six Duchies. Fitz is recruited to work on the Rurisk due the his ability to communicate with Verity using the Skill. He is involved in many land and sea battles against the Red-Ship Raiders, one of the most notable being the defence of Antler Island.

With the Six Duchies running out of resources and unable to competently fight off the Red-Ships, King-in-waiting Verity decides to go on a quest to save the Six Duchies from the ruthless Red-Ship Raiders, thus leaving Regal the opportunity he needs to usurp the throne.

Fitz's use of the Wit continues as he rescues a young wolf from a cage at the town market, who introduces himself as Nighteyes and bonds with him. Nighteyes provides Fitz with companionship, loyalty and friendship, with the simple explanation "We are pack.". Another companion to Fitz is his childhood friend Molly, now a maid to Lady Patience, who Fitz falls in love with and she with him, but ultimately leaves him for focusing overmuch on his duties to the king.

As King Shrewd is killed by Galen's coterie, Fitz swears to avenge his death (and promptly kills the coterie leader), but is captured by Regal and tortured by Will's Skill and Bolt's fists, to reveal both Verity's location and his own possession of the Wit magic. Finally, in an accomplishment of the Wit, he leaves his body behind and becomes a part of Nighteyes, leaving the impression he had died in Regal's dungeon. He is, however, coaxed back into his body by Burrich and Chade who now have to undertake the process of teaching him how to live like a human again.

Again, as with The Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz's feelings are explored to great extent and by using a first person narrative, Robin Hobb can convey these thoughts a great deal more than usual.

Editions

* An American English paperback edition was issued in New York by Bantam Books in 1996 with ISBN 0-553-37563-6.
* A British English hardback edition was issued in London by Voyager/HarperCollins in 1996 with ISBN 0-00-224607-4. This edition's cover is illustrated by John Howe.