Chapter 10: Being Treasured

Kvothe’s tuition is set at nine talents and five jots, more than he can afford by noon tomorrow. He collects proceeds from his deck lamps at the Stocks, netting a little over two talents, but remains far short. Attempting to start a new project, he asks Jaxim for precious materials and is refused for lack of authorization, confirming he cannot leverage the Fishery to raise funds quickly.

Considering moneylenders, Kvothe crosses to Imre to visit Denna at the Grey Man. After a wary exchange with the house’s porter, he meets Denna and her guest, the trusting poet Geoffrey. When Geoffrey departs, Kvothe gifts Denna two herbal remedies for her lungs and watches her play the Modegan harp with compelling natural timing. They share an intimate, restrained moment and discuss the tension between comfort and freedom; Denna dislikes being “treasured” and monitored in Kellin’s fine rooms.

As evening comes, Kvothe goes to Devi, a dangerous gaelet, to secure funds before the bursar’s deadline. Devi has raised her minimum loan to six talents and insists on fifty percent interest over two months with three drops of blood as collateral. Kvothe tries to negotiate but lacks leverage and agrees to the harsh terms.

Devi then pivots, hungrily attempting to buy Kvothe’s secret way into the Archives, escalating from ten to forty talents and even offering herself in addition to guild rates on future loans. Kvothe refuses, citing complications involving a friend, and keeps the secret. Devi, frustrated but professional, seals his blood bottle with his talent pipes’ impression and pays out six talents, warning she intends to get into the Archives one way or another.