Robin Hobb

Nevare Burvelle follows his father into the calvalry, training at the elite King's Cavella Academy in Old Thares, where he begins to realize his life path is not as solid as he was led to believe.

As the Speck plague ravages the King's Cavalla of Gernia, his troops are forced to relinquish their military ambitions and face lives of dependency and disappointment, except for cadet Nevare Burvelle, who survived the plague and made an astonishing recovery and returns to his ancestral home, where he is haunted by his memories.

Assassin, spy, and Skillmaster FitzChivalry Farseer, now known only as Tom Badgerlock, is fully ensconced in the queen's court at Buckkeep, where he hopes to aid the prince on a quest that could ultimately secure peace between the Six Duchies and the Outislands, and win him the hand of the the Narcheska Elliania.

Fitz, Prince Chivalry's illegitimate son raised by Burrich the stableman, is ignored by all the royalty except for King Shrewd, who has him tutored as an assassin because he has the magic Skill.