Chapter 20: The Fickle Wind

At night, Kvothe stakes out the Golden Pony to break into Ambrose’s rooms and recover Denna’s ring. Wilem and Simmon serve as lookouts, signaling through sympathetic twigs when Ambrose leaves. Kvothe navigates the roof and opens a window after defeating multiple latches, nearly falling as the wind shifts.

Inside, Kvothe searches quickly, assuming Ambrose would treat the ring as a trophy rather than hiding it. He resists stealing valuables but plays small pranks, then receives Wilem’s urgent signal that Ambrose has returned. Discovering warded windows that alerted Ambrose, Kvothe jams the door lock and studies the sygaldry rather than defacing it and revealing his knowledge.

As footsteps gather outside, Kvothe counters the ward through focused Alar and heat transfer, opens the window, and scrambles onto the roof. A cracked tile and a wind-slammed sash send him sliding; he falls, taking painful blows to knees, elbow, and head, but escapes under the eaves and limps home via rooftops.

Back in his room, Kvothe assesses bruises and a cut elbow. Wilem and Simmon arrive; Sim patches the wound, and they settle on a truthful, low-drama alibi involving Wilem witnessing the commotion and discussing a broken harmony clock. Wilem then cautions that Kvothe’s pursuit of Denna’s ring shows dangerous obsession with provoking Ambrose.