The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1
The Name of the Wind
by Patrick Rothfuss
Contents
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX Patrons, Maids and Metheglin
Overview
Kvothe receives his talent pipes to thunderous acclaim and suspects his broken string was deliberate sabotage. Count Threpe informally patrons him with seven talents, easing Kvothe’s debts. After admirers and a missed flirtation with Marea, Kvothe searches the Eolian for the woman who sang Aloine and finally discovers her.
Summary
As Kvothe restrings his lute, he notices the broken string’s end is clean-cut, sparking suspicion of tampering. Stanchion returns and, to Kvothe’s shock, awards him the Eolian’s silver talent pipes. The crowd erupts, while Simmon and Wilem react emotionally to the song’s power.
At the bar, Stanchion buys drinks and introduces Kvothe to metheglin. Count Threpe approaches, praises Kvothe’s performance despite the break, quizzes him on Savien’s years with the Amyr, and gifts seven talents as patronage to support his growth. The windfall relieves Kvothe’s pressing financial fears.
Well-wishers stream by—musicians, nobles, and merchants—while Ambrose is reported to have left pale and shaking. Kvothe infers binder’s chills and imagines Ambrose used a tenuous sympathy link to snap the string during the performance, a scheme thwarted by Kvothe’s improvisation.
Amid congratulations, Kvothe briefly speaks with Marea, a failed harper and councilman’s daughter, but, despite Wilem’s teasing, he remains focused on finding the woman who sang Aloine. He searches all three levels of the Eolian, battling rising doubt and disappointment when he cannot locate her.
On the upper balcony, a mistaken approach to a pair of men deepens his discouragement. As Kvothe turns away, he finally hears the same silver-bright voice, looks up, and sees the singer—struck by her beauty and certain she is his Aloine.
Who Appears
- KvotheProtagonist; earns the Eolian’s talent pipes, suspects sabotage of his string, gains Count Threpe’s patronage, and finds the Aloine singer.
- StanchionEolian co-owner; awards Kvothe his pipes, manages the crowd, and introduces him to metheglin.
- SimmonFriend; moved to tears by the performance, toasts Kvothe, and offers candid commentary.
- WilemFriend; supportive, sardonic, notes Ambrose’s state, and chides Kvothe over missing Marea’s interest.
- Count ThrepeNoble patron; praises Kvothe’s recovery mid-song and gifts seven talents to support his music.
- AmbroseRival; leaves pale and shaking, prompting Kvothe’s suspicion of sympathetic sabotage.
- MareaCouncilman’s daughter and harper; congratulates Kvothe and shows interest he fails to pursue.
- Unidentified Aloine singerMysterious woman whose voice partners Kvothe; he searches the Eolian and finally finds her.
- Fallon and ThriaTwo men on the upper balcony; briefly interact with Kvothe during his search.