Blinking like a rumpled fledgling
Fitz is at Burrich's house after his grandfather brings him here to be taken to his biological father. However, the boy is tired and wants to sleep. The author uses a simile to show Fitz's exhaustion. The author writes, "A sleepy stable boy sat up in his next straw, blinking like a rumpled fledgling." At this stage, Fitz is confused and does not understand why he left his comfortable grandfather's house to sleep in this tiny room without the proper bed he is used to. The simile is significant because it prepares Fitz to face reality ahead of him.
Nodding like a courting bird
The discussion among guards on what to do with Fitz went a notch higher. Jason suggested that the boy could be taken to his father in the castle, but that could call for trouble. Jason agreed with fellow guards that there was a looming danger if they took the boy to Prince Chivalry. The author writes, "The guard agreed abruptly, and Jason nodded like a courting bird in agreement." From the conversation, Jason sensed that the castle was full of inhumane people; if at all, they could not accept a young boy like him. However, Fitz did not know that he was unwelcome in the castle because he was fathered out of wedlock.
Tinting like a rich old tapestry
One of Fitz's best memories is the house of Burrich, where he lived for some time before the King gave an order to allow him to live freely in the castle. Burrich's house was warm and tinted. The narrator says, "Rather it was warm and softly tinted like a rich old tapestry seen in a deem room." The memories of Fitz's childhood make him ask so many questions till now. For instance, he never understood why his father could allow him to live far from him. Fitz understood that he was living with guards who were supposed to take him to his father but were afraid to do so.
