Fool's Fate

Fool's Fate is a fantasy novel by the American writer Robin Hobb, published in 2003. It is the third book of her Tawny Man trilogy.

At the motherhouse of the Narwhal Clan, Dutiful and Elliania are formally betrothed on the condition that Dutiful will slay the dragon Icefyre, and the two of them begin to grow closer as the arrangement goes on. Dutiful's small party, including his Wit and Skill coteries, and Elliania's retinue arrive on the island of Aslevjal, where they are greeted by the Fool, whom Fitz had left behind precisely to keep him from dying.

The Fool means to save the dragon, which puts him against Chade, who is determined that the creature be killed so that the marriage, and the peace he expects from it, will be secure. Fitz and Chade also learn that the Outislanders have a figure they call the Black Man, who is both feared and revered among them. The group on the island begins digging down towards the dragon.

When Fitz and the Fool go to investigate a disappearance, they fall through a snow chasm and come out in the realm of the Pale Woman, who kidnapped and Forged Elliania's mother and sister to guarantee her loyalty, and who wants to make Fitz her Catalyst as well.