The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
Contents
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR The Burning Glass
Overview
Kvothe tours Kilvin’s workshop and the array of experimental ever-burning lamps. Kilvin praises Kvothe’s hands and invites him to work in the Fishery, hinting at mentorship. Later, Kvothe and friends debate which master to court; they settle on Kilvin while revealing Elodin’s brilliant past and subsequent madness, nudging Kvothe’s curiosity.
Summary
Kvothe visits the Fishery, where Kilvin, master artificer, greets him and showcases a high walkway lined with glass spheres—experimental lamps of varied, ingenious designs. Kilvin explains his decade-long pursuit of an ever-burning lamp, cites measured burn times, and emphasizes progress through experimentation rather than hope.
Back on the floor, Kilvin inspects Kvothe’s hands, deems them “Cealdar,” and invites him to work in the Fishery. He encourages Kvothe to bring ideas on the lamp project and hints that worthy insight will earn deeper instruction. Kvothe gratefully accepts.
Days later at Anker’s, Kvothe celebrates the removal of his stitches with Wilem, Simmon, and Sovoy. They debate University politics: a student must secure a master’s sponsorship for Re’lar. After dismissing options complicated by grudges or long timelines, they narrow Kvothe’s best prospects to Kilvin or Elxa Dal.
Sovoy departs for a date, leaving behind drinks and a minor scandal with the serving girl, which the friends resolve with a tip. Conversation shifts to Elodin: once a prodigy and the youngest Chancellor, later confined to the Crockery after an unspecified breakdown, and rumored to have escaped. The tale unsettles Simmon and Wilem.
Concluding the night, Wilem and Simmon advise focusing on Kilvin. Kvothe agrees outwardly, but privately weighs the lore of Naming and considers how he might approach Elodin despite the risks.
Who Appears
- KvotheTours Kilvin’s lamp experiments, is invited to work in the Fishery, and later weighs which master to court, eyeing Naming.
- KilvinMaster artificer; displays experimental lamps, stresses measurement over hope, invites Kvothe to work under him.
- SimmonAdvises Kvothe on sponsorship politics; shares rumors of Elodin’s past; favors Kilvin as Kvothe’s best path.
- WilemAdds pragmatic counsel on masters and timelines; concurs that Kilvin is Kvothe’s best chance.
- SovoyJoins the celebration briefly; leaves for a date; his flirtation prompts the serving girl’s demand for a tip.
- Serving girl at Anker’sDelivers drinks paid for by Sovoy and pointedly requests compensation for his impropriety.
- ElodinDiscussed as a former prodigy and Chancellor who suffered a breakdown, was confined to the Crockery, and allegedly escaped.