Contents
Chapter 135: Homecoming
Overview
Kvothe returns Krin and Ell to Levinshir, confronting the town’s suspicion and shame. He secures the girls’ dowries from the bandits’ spoils, receives stern absolution from Gran, and refuses glory. The mayor declines to jail him, enabling a discreet departure, while Kvothe defends the honor of the true Edema Ruh.
Summary
Kvothe brings Krin and Ell into Levinshir, hoping for a quiet return, but the town quickly gathers. Women shelter the girls while suspicious men confront Kvothe. When a youth, Jason, slanders Krin, Kvothe snaps his arm and forces a public apology, defusing the men’s shame-fueled anger.
Ell’s father, the mayor, thanks Kvothe but grows wary on learning Kvothe is Ruh. Kvothe explains the kidnappers were bandits posing as troupers; Krin blurts that Kvothe killed them. The mayor approves and agrees the stolen horses, wagons, and goods should become the girls’ dowries.
Kvothe escorts Jason to Gran, the local healer. Gran expertly splints Jason and tends Bil, whose leg was crushed during the town’s failed rescue. Over tea and pudding, Gran challenges Kvothe’s guilt, arguing that harsh, necessary choices—like killing the abductors—are a healer’s kind of mercy, especially for women complicit in the crimes.
Back outside, amid celebration, Kvothe quietly ensures Krin receives the most valuable horse and goods. He offers to submit to arrest but the mayor refuses, then conspires to let Kvothe slip away to spare the constable. Kvothe leaves his horse for Bil and departs, asking the town to remember bandits took the girls—and a true Edema Ruh returned them.
Who Appears
- KvotheReturns Krin and Ell, confronts townsmen, breaks Jason’s arm for slandering Krin, arranges dowries, confesses doubts to Gran, then departs.
- GranPractical healer who splints Jason, treats Bil, and counsels Kvothe on necessary, hard choices after killing the bandits.
- EllMayor’s daughter; reunited with family, defends Kvothe to her father during tense questioning.
- KrinOpenly credits Kvothe with killing the abductors, receives valuables and horse for a strong future.
- Mayor (Ell’s father)Levinshir’s leader; tests Kvothe, accepts his deeds, formalizes the girls’ dowries, enables Kvothe’s discreet exit.
- JasonYoung townsman who insults Krin; Kvothe breaks his arm and compels a contrite public apology.
- SethSuspicious townsman who confronts Kvothe, voicing the men’s anger and shame.
- BilInjured townsman with a crushed leg from the failed rescue; sedated and tended by Gran.
- PeteLocal boy who rides to summon Krin’s parents and earns a reward.