Chapter 46: Interlude—A Bit of Fiddle

Kvothe breaks from his narrative, rising to prepare for a busier-than-usual lunch at the Waystone. Chronicler pushes for more on the Imre trial, frustrated that the account seems brief compared to the legends he’s heard. Kvothe dismisses the exaggerations, saying official court and church records already hold the details and that retelling them would be tedious.

Chronicler briefly suspects Kvothe has already written a memoir, but Kvothe admits he tried and abandoned it after a few pages, saying the written version came out wrong. Bast reveals the pages still sit upstairs, but Kvothe refuses to share them.

In the kitchen, a light spat breaks out as Bast protests Kvothe adding beets to the soup. Bast takes over the cooking, sending Kvothe for sausage and cheese, while Kvothe returns to serving with a wry smile.

The lunch crowd arrives in friendly, noisy groups. Chronicler records stories for coin; Kvothe and Bast serve food and drink smoothly. Despite laughter and local teasing, an unspoken tension lingers beneath the chatter, tied to last night’s blood now scrubbed from the floor and to fears of taxes, armies, and locked doors.

Old Cob, Graham, and Jake join, trading banter with other patrons, including a booming farmer praising the pie and his sharp-tongued wife. As the room settles, Old Cob advises Kote to bring in music—perhaps a local fiddler—to lift spirits and fill the inn. Kote agrees blandly, his voice colorless, while Bast deftly redirects the men to drinks and food, and the midday service continues.