Chapter 44: The Catch

Kvothe completes his Fishery project and brings Master Kilvin to his private workroom. He theatrically demonstrates a metal lantern-like device by having Kilvin fire a crossbow at a straw dummy. Each bolt is stopped midair with a metallic clank, revealing the device’s purpose.

Kvothe explains the “arrowcatch”: automatic sympathetic links detect fast-moving metal, stone, or wood within set ranges; spring steel mechanisms push back the projectile, and the octagonal housing rotates to present fresh springs. He details reset methods, materials, and design redundancies, answering Kilvin’s questions about durability and nonmetal arrowheads.

Kilvin probes the ethics and legality surrounding Kvothe’s use of an illicit crossbow and misuse of Stocks for precious metals. He reassigns ownership of the crossbow to himself, rescinds Kvothe’s precious metals authorization, and sentences him to twenty hours in Stocks, with interest-like restitution as a warning.

Impressed, Kilvin approves the arrowcatch for sale, asks its price, and hears Kvothe argue for affordability. They set a general price of eight talents. Kilvin personally buys the prototype and the original schema for twenty-five talents for his collection.

Kvothe settles his Stocks debt, including gold and silver, covers the workshop’s commission, and still comes away with nearly eleven talents. Relieved and elated, he ends the day in high spirits, his tuition worries eased for the moment.