The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2
The Wise Man’s Fear
by Patrick Rothfuss
Contents
Chapter 44: The Catch
Overview
Kvothe completes and demonstrates his arrowcatch to Master Kilvin, proving it can stop incoming bolts. Kilvin approves it for sale, chastises Kvothe for illegal procurement and misusing Stocks, and rescinds precious-metal access with added work duty. He nevertheless buys the prototype for twenty-five talents, securing Kvothe’s tuition money.
Summary
Pressed by looming admissions and tuition, Kvothe brings Master Kilvin to his private workroom to demonstrate his finished Fishery project. Using a crossbow against a straw dummy, Kilvin watches bolts stop midair with a telltale clank. Kvothe reveals the device: an eight-sided “arrowcatch” that automatically links to fast-moving metal or stone and counters it with spring-driven force.
Kvothe explains the layered sygaldry: automatic sympathetic links to metal, glass, and wood within decreasing radii, and eight independent springs arranged to handle multiple directions. The hanging mount lets the device rotate so fresh springs face incoming shots. He details resetting via a lever tool and material choices built for durability.
Kilvin probes weaknesses (nonmetal heads, bone, horses) and approves Kvothe’s caution about avoiding bone bindings. He then confronts Kvothe for procuring an illegal crossbow and for checking out gold and silver as de facto funds. Kilvin rescinds precious-metal access and assigns twenty hours in Stocks with interest repayment as a deterrent.
Despite the reprimand, Kilvin praises the invention, approves it for sale, and sets a general price of eight talents at Kvothe’s insistence on affordability. He personally buys the sole prototype for twenty-five talents and keeps the schema. Kvothe settles debts with Stocks and ends the day relieved and newly flush with money.
Who Appears
- KvotheCompletes and demonstrates the arrowcatch; negotiates pricing; accepts penalties for misusing Stocks and obtaining an illegal crossbow; gains funds from Kilvin’s purchase.
- Master KilvinEvaluates the arrowcatch, challenges Kvothe’s methods, rescinds precious-metal access, assigns work penalty, approves device for sale, and buys the prototype for twenty-five talents.