Contents
Chapter 36: All This Knowing
Overview
Kvothe, Wilem, and Simmon celebrate and avoid crossing Stonebridge while drunk, resting by a greystone where talk turns intimate and revealing. Kvothe admits his Edema Ruh heritage, speaks his mother’s name, and sings “Dark Laurian.” After debating love and Denna, Kvothe begins a story about Faeriniel, foreshadowing deeper mythic threads.
Summary
Kvothe, Wilem, and Simmon celebrate their victory over Ambrose by tavern-hopping and ending at the Eolian. Moderately drunk, Kvothe performs “Whither With He With the Withee” and later worries he’s misplaced his lute, only to be reminded he left it safely with Stanchion.
Facing the daunting height of Stonebridge in their condition, they divert to a nearby clearing marked by a greystone. There, they joke about drink, songs, and masters, and Kvothe repeatedly panics about his lute. A ribald verse from “Tinker Tanner” prompts banter before conversation turns to Kvothe’s Edema Ruh heritage and common prejudices.
Simmon gently probes about Kvothe’s family, and Kvothe, uncharacteristically open, names his mother Laurian and recalls a teasing song his father, Arliden, wrote, then softly sings “Dark Laurian.” The memory feels sharp but not painful, and the friends let the moment pass with quiet understanding.
The talk shifts to courtship and Denna. Wilem bluntly names Kvothe’s fear of rejection; Simmon vents about chasing affection and simply wanting someone who likes him; Kvothe wants a clear sign. Lighthearted wishes follow, easing the mood.
Craving a story, Simmon asks Kvothe to tell one. With the Amyr on his mind, Kvothe begins a tale of Faeriniel, where all roads meet and which cannot be found by seeking, setting the stage for a moonless-night story about an old man on a long road.
Who Appears
- KvotheNarrator; performs at the Eolian, reveals Edema Ruh heritage, sings about his mother Laurian, and begins a Faeriniel tale.
- WilemSteady, sardonic friend; keeps Kvothe grounded, names Kvothe’s fear about Denna, and joins the late-night banter.
- SimmonWarm, candid friend; prompts talk of Kvothe’s family, laments love’s difficulties, and requests a story.
- StanchionEolian proprietor; holds Kvothe’s lute for safekeeping and joins the crowd enjoying the performance.
- DennaAbsent but central to discussion; Kvothe’s uncertain romantic interest, prompting fears of rejection and mixed signals.
- LaurianKvothe’s mother; remembered through the song “Dark Laurian,” marking a rare, tender revelation.
- ArlidenKvothe’s father; author of the teasing song about Laurian that Kvothe recalls and sings.