SPOILERS FARSEER/TAWNY MAN BOOKS - Moonseye

[RZ]

Did she not know where he was taken? Or did she know but something prevented her from finding him, making contact with him? At the very least, she knew he was in Buck from when she saw him (again, above), even if she didn't know that her father had first taken him to Moonseye...

She did know that he was taken to Moonseye at least, as she was there pleading with her father whilst he held Fitz's hand before the gate. He throws some snow and ice at her, if I recall correctly, to keep her back?

As for why she never tried to seek him out... Personally, I'm not so sure that she didn't try. She made her appearance in Buck those few years later, and I suspect it was because she'd eventually tracked him down. But by then, Shrewd had claimed him and decided to train him as an assassin... I almost wonder if perhaps he chose not to return him to his mother? The way he sees Fitz as a tool and a weapon, I can easily see Shrewd deciding not to let him go. So, maybe she stayed in Buck hoping to perhaps catch him the way she did... but it was bad luck that Fitz didn't recognise her? There's no evidence of any of that, but it's still something I've considered!

As for the old guard in Moonseye, I did wonder this myself! There's certainly all those things you mentioned to support the idea. Not recognising his grandfather is also very possible - as in that first chapter, he seems to pay very little attention to him apart from his hand and his grip. Add to that his lack of any previous memories, it's not a stretch to think he'd forget.

One thing though, is that while his anger does seem very personal, it's also possible that he's simply one of Chivalry's soldiers. It's often mentioned that he wasn't too good with other men, being so orderly and disciplined, and like the old man suggests - he and other soldiers probably didn't like him. Anger could also stem from simply being around Fitz and the reputation he had. They were meant to hate him, believing him cursed, dangerous, and a traitor.

Still, I do think the old man could be his Grandfather.. It certainly would be like Robin Hobb to hide a small thing like that for us to try and find!