Contents
Chapter 122: Leaving
Overview
Vashet chooses to keep training Kvothe, reaffirming her own judgment despite divided opinions among the Adem. After steady progress and cautious reconciliation, Shehyn schedules Kvothe’s single, high-stakes admission test for the next day.
The timing reflects looming winter and rising sympathy for Kvothe, which threaten the school’s impartiality.
Summary
Kvothe rises early, gathers his gear, and goes to Vashet, unsure of their standing after recent conflict. Vashet receives him coolly but reveals she weighed others’ opinions—Penthe’s defense and Carceret’s scorn—then chooses her own judgment: not to cast him out. She resumes teaching, including how to fight while wearing his cloak.
Days pass in renewed training. Vashet drills Kvothe on movement with the cloak and its tactical uses. Kvothe spars with Celean until their matches are even, learns to guard against low blows, and shares brief, friendlier exchanges with Penthe. Despite progress, Kvothe remains cautious around Vashet, who sometimes watches him intently.
Tension gradually ebbs, though not entirely. Kvothe senses they might have fully mended with more time. Instead, unexpected news arrives: Vashet announces that his test will be tomorrow.
Vashet explains the timing. Shehyn fears snow could soon trap Kvothe, and growing sympathy for him among the Adem—Penthe even struck Carceret over him; Celean speaks well of him to others—could bias the school. Shehyn must safeguard the Lethani and the school’s integrity.
When Kvothe asks if he is ready, Vashet notes that admission is about fitness as much as skill. Adem may attempt the test multiple times, but Kvothe has only one chance. Ready or not, the decision stands: his single, high-stakes trial is set for morning.
Who Appears
- KvotheNarrator; resumes training, learns cloak-fighting, rebuilds trust with Vashet, and faces a single admission test tomorrow.
- VashetTeacher; decides to continue mentoring Kvothe, trains him with the cloak, announces his imminent, one-chance test.
- ShehynLeader; sets Kvothe’s admission test for tomorrow to avoid snow and limit bias.
- PentheAdvocate; speaks for Kvothe and even strikes Carceret during an argument about him.
- CarceretOpponent; congratulates Vashet for being hard on Kvothe; argued with Penthe and was struck.
- CeleanTraining partner; bouts with Kvothe become even, grows fond of him, influences other students.