The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2
The Wise Man’s Fear
by Patrick Rothfuss
Contents
Chapter 130: Wine and Water
Overview
Kvothe departs Haert and, en route to Severen, encounters a camp of Edema Ruh who welcome him after he proves himself a musician. Alleg tries to recruit Kvothe, boasting of recent success in Levinshir and presenting two captive village girls as a "gift." Kvothe bargains for three favors, first a tent and second both girls for the night, maneuvering for control of the situation.
Summary
Kvothe spends a final day in Haert taking leave of Vashet, Tempi, and Celean, then shares a last evening and night with Penthe. Despite having stayed less than two months, he feels the tug of roots but sets out toward Severen to claim his reward and seek Denna.
Days later in eastern Vintas, hungry and far from inns, Kvothe follows smoke and music to a camp of Edema Ruh. Challenged at swordpoint, he reveals his lute and is welcomed by Alleg and the troupe: Otto, Tim, Gaskin, Laren, Anne, Kete, Fren, and Josh. After water and wine, Kvothe plays "Leave the Town, Tinker," impressing them, and Alleg invites him to travel with them toward Severen.
Kvothe entertains further with "Piper Wit" and shares stew while Alleg hints they prospered in Levinshir. Alleg offers to bribe Kvothe to stay by granting any request. Kvothe agrees to name three things in exchange for traveling until the troupe consents to his leaving. For his first request, he asks for a tent, which Fren and Josh set up.
Alleg then presents two girls, Krin (dark-haired) and Ellie (blonde), taken during their good fortune in Levinshir, promising one to warm Kvothe’s bed. Observing Ellie’s vacant shock and Krin’s tense defiance—and noting bruises and chafed wrists—Kvothe counsels against force-feeding and suggests drink instead. The troupe’s casual cruelty and bickering continue, with Tim briefly ill and others vying to fetch items Alleg wants displayed.
Unable to choose between the girls, Kvothe formally names his second boon: both of them for the night. Despite protests, Alleg relents under the prior bargain. Kvothe collects his lute and leads Krin and Ellie toward his newly raised tent, securing private custody of them under the guise of the troupe’s "gift."
Who Appears
- KvotheProtagonist; leaves Haert for Severen, performs for a Ruh troupe, bargains boons, and claims both captive girls for the night.
- AllegBearded Ruh leader; welcomes Kvothe, seeks to recruit him, flaunts Levinshir gains, and grants Kvothe’s requests.
- KeteHard-eyed woman; manages the captive girls, shows scratches from Krin, and helps present them to Kvothe.
- AnneOlder woman and cook; serves stew, tries to force-feed Krin, follows Alleg’s lead despite misgivings.
- LarenPiper and tabor player; resists Kvothe’s song choice, fetches drinks for the girls, jests about pipers’ allure.
- OttoGuard; patrols the woods, doubts Kvothe’s approach, banters crudely, protests losing the girls’ "gift."
- TimGrim guard; oils his sword, falls ill after overeating, used by Alleg to fetch items for display.
- GaskinLute player; praises Kvothe’s skill and notes the value of songs Kvothe could teach.
- FrenYoung singer; helps pitch Kvothe’s tent, cracks crude jokes, relays tent readiness.
- JoshYoung singer; assists with tent setup and trades jokes with Fren.
- KrinDark-haired captive from Levinshir; defiant, bruised and abraded, drinks warily, resembles Denna to Kvothe.
- EllieBlonde captive from Levinshir; shocked and vacant, eats and drinks mechanically, sits docilely by Kvothe.
- VashetAdem mentor; shares parting meal and advice before Kvothe departs Haert.
- TempiAdem companion; joins Kvothe’s farewells in Haert.
- PentheAdem woman; spends a final affectionate night with Kvothe before he leaves.
- CeleanYoung Adem; cries at Kvothe’s departure and promises to visit after taking the red.