Contents
Chapter 108: Quick
Overview
Kvothe enjoys brief acclaim at the Pennysworth, spreads a new song, and then heads toward Severen. He trades songs with a struggling troupe and hears a telling Lackless rhyme. When Adem mercenaries confront Tempi for teaching Kvothe, Tempi must return to Haert for judgment, and Kvothe resolves to accompany him.
Summary
Kvothe and his companions linger at the Pennysworth for several days, healing and enjoying free room and board as their fame draws customers. Kvothe composes and spreads The Song Half-Sung about Felurian and, pressed by eager audiences and drink, embellishes his stories. Dedan and Hespe settle into a new romance while Marten revels with Penny.
They depart and travel slowly toward Severen, both for Hespe’s leg and to savor their waning time together. On the road they meet a shabby non-Ruh troupe; Kvothe trades them his new song, politely mentors a bold boy’s verse, and hears the boy recite a riddle rhyme about the Lackless door. Kvothe gifts the troupe a silver for a future bear, mindful of troupers’ hardships.
Continuing their journey, Kvothe trains in the Ketan while tutoring Tempi on the lute. Four Adem mercenaries arrive and dismiss Kvothe’s skill; Tempi argues with them in a tense, private exchange. Their gestures make clear that Tempi’s teaching an outsider is deeply offensive.
After the Adem leave, Tempi admits he must return to Haert to face his teacher, Shehyn, because training Kvothe is “most forbidden” and has put him in serious trouble. Seeking to help and guided by hints from the Cthaeh about where he might be believed, Kvothe offers to accompany Tempi to Haert, and Tempi accepts.
Who Appears
- KvotheNarrator; performs at the Pennysworth, composes The Song Half-Sung, trades songs with a troupe, trains in the Ketan, and decides to accompany Tempi to Haert.
- TempiAdem mercenary; teaches Kvothe the Lethani and Ketan, is confronted by fellow Adem for forbidden teaching, must return to Haert to face Shehyn.
- DedanMercenary; recovering from a broken arm, begins a tender relationship with Hespe.
- HespeMercenary; nursing an arrowed leg, softens as she and Dedan become lovers.
- MartenTracker; relaxes after the bandit hunt, flirts with Penny, drinks heavily.
- PennyInnkeeper of the Pennysworth; hosts the group, benefits from their draw.
- LosiServing girl at the Pennysworth; her whistling shows Kvothe’s new song is catching on.
- Older trouperLeader of a small, ragged troupe; trades talk and song with Kvothe and accepts a silver gift.
- Young boy (trouper)Sharp-eared child performer; offers a bawdy verse and recites a riddle rhyme about the Lackless door.
- Adem mercenary womanScarred Adem who tests and dismisses Kvothe; part of the group that pressures Tempi.