The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2
The Wise Man’s Fear
by Patrick Rothfuss
Contents
Chapter 17: Interlude—Parts
Overview
Kvothe halts his tale to prepare for locals arriving to mourn Shep. He subtly directs Bast and Chronicler to play their parts as simple patrons. The townsfolk share memories and toasts, and Kvothe offers a firm tribute to old friends lost. Afterward, Bast and Chronicler honor the bravery shown, while Kvothe rejects valor in dark times and returns to the story.
Summary
Kvothe notices Old Cob approaching and pauses the storytelling. He instructs Chronicler and Bast to assume casual roles—a bored traveler and a lounging layabout—while he becomes the busy innkeeper. As Old Cob enters with Graham, Jake, Carter, and the smith’s prentice, Kvothe serves cider to ease tempers over lost farm time.
The gathering turns to Shep’s death. At Cob’s prompting, each man offers a memory: childhood loyalty, matchmaking, care during illness, kindness to a newcomer, and Shep’s fatal bravery confronting last night’s attacker. They drink in turn, honoring his character and loss.
Kvothe proposes a second, stronger toast and taps barrel whiskey, declaring it for old friends who deserved better. The men drink, share a light moment over the tumbler’s rounded bottoms, and disperse to their day’s work, planning a fuller remembrance later.
After they leave, Bast mourns Shep and credits Kvothe’s intervention the previous night. Kvothe counters that Bast saved the room, refusing praise. Chronicler acknowledges the courage shown; Kvothe remains adamant that these are not times for bravery, wishing he’d been braver so Shep could be alive, then signals Chronicler to resume writing.
Who Appears
- Kvothe (Kote)Innkeeper persona; orchestrates a convincing cover, hosts Shep’s impromptu wake, offers a solemn whiskey toast, downplays his bravery.
- Old CobLeads the remembrance for Shep, recounts his bravery, and guides the group’s toasts despite practical farm concerns.
- BastPlays the idle patron on Kvothe’s cue; later insists Kvothe would have stopped the attack, grieving Shep.
- ChroniclerAdopts the role of a bored traveler; diffuses tension and respects the bravery shown, then resumes recording.
- GrahamArrives with the others; shares a childhood memory of Shep’s loyalty and supports the young prentice.
- JakeContributes a toast thanking Shep for introducing him to his wife; adds levity about the tumbles.
- CarterOffers a remembrance of Shep’s care during illness; plans to travel to market despite the funeral.
- Aaron (the smith’s prentice)Nervous and grieving; recalls Shep’s kindness, learns the custom of the rounded-bottom tumbles.