The Wise Man's Fear

Updated: 2024-4-18

Status: Completed

The Wise Man's Fear Novel Chapters

List of most recent chapters published for the The Wise Man's Fear novel. A total of 134 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024

Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Wise Man's Fear.by Patrick Rothfuss.PROLOGUE.A Silence of Three Parts.DAWN WAS
The Wise Man's Fear.by Patrick Rothfuss.PROLOGUE.A Silence of Three Parts.DAWN WAS COMING. The Waystone Inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts. The most obvious part was a vast, echoing quiet made by things that were lacking. If there ha

134 Chronicler drew back his arm and slapped him again. If anything, the sound was even louder than before.Bast bared his teeth again, then stopped. His eyes darted to Chronicler, then away."The Cthaeh knows you fear it," Chronicler said. "It k 2024-4-23
133 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FIFTY.Folly SPRING TERM ROLLED ON. Contrary to what I'd expected, Denna didn't make any public performances in Imre. Instead, she headed north to Anilin after a handful of days.But this time she made a special trip to Anker's to tel 2024-4-23
132 She turned it over in her hands, then removed one of her other rings and slid it onto her finger. "It is," she said in amazement, a few tears spilling over. "How did you ever...?""I got it from Ambrose," I said."Oh," 2024-4-23
131 I was more than slightly surprised. "How did you know...?"She wore a pale blue dress that flattered her and smiled winsomely as she linked arms with me. "Woman's intuition.""Ah," I said, trying to sound wise. The nearnes 2024-4-23
130 "Yeh paid quater bit?" the man said, already shaking his head. "Yeh grummer. En't n.o.body going to pay that much for a letter.""Heh," I said, holding up a finger. "Yeh en't seen who's it for yet." I 2024-4-23
129 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX.Failures DURING SPRING TERM I experienced several failures.The first of these was mostly a failure in my own eyes. I had expected that picking up Yllish would be relatively easy. But nothing could have been further from the t 2024-4-23
128 Devi c.o.c.ked her head to the side.I gestured at the bookshelves, the large velvet-curtained bed, at Devi herself. I'd never noticed before, but while her clothes weren't fancy, the cut and cloth were fine as any n.o.ble's."This doesn 2024-4-23
127 I drew the bursar's attention to the fact that the Maer's letter would allow the University to draw any amount needed to cover my tuition. Any amount.The bursar read it over and agreed that that seemed to be the case.It's too bad my tuition 2024-4-23
126 "At your earliest convenience," Bredon quoted with a dry chuckle. "That says quite a bit more than it seems." He set the letter down. "Still, it's probably better this way. If he left you with his favor you'd be a battle 2024-4-23
125 I hesitated. With Meluan here, I was unsure as to the best way to approach the subject. I'd planned on speaking to the Maer alone. "They are, your grace. They were killed."The Maer showed no surprise. "I thought as much. Such things ar 2024-4-23
124 I made another bow and took my seat, eyeing the chest as casually as possible. It was about the size of a large drum, made of well-jointed birch and bound in bra.s.s.I knew the proper thing to do was engage in polite small talk until the matter of the che 2024-4-23
123 "I have always thought," Alveron said at last, introducing the topic of our discussion, "that everyone has a question that rests in the center of who they are.""How do you mean, your grace?""I believe everyone has some question that drives them. A 2024-4-23
122 "Stay out of my way," Bast said brusquely. "And keep him in this chair until I get back." He strode upstairs.There was a moment of silence."So," Chronicler said. "Subjunctive mood.""At best," Kvothe said, "it is a pointless thing. It needlessly 2024-4-23
121 "I should be able to help you out with that," the innkeeper said easily.The two soldiers exchanged a look. The blonde one nodded."Right then." The blonde soldier put the coin back in his pocket. "Here's the truth. We aren't really going to be stopp 2024-4-23
120 I looked up, startled. "He's got the rot?"She shook her head. "No. I told you he's fine. But what if?""We'd have to cut the leg off," I said.Gran nodded seriously. "That's right. And we'd have to do it quick. Today. No dithering about and hopi 2024-4-23
119 "Jason," he blurted. "G.o.d's mother, my arm ..."I took his chin in my free hand and turned his face toward Krin and Ell. "Jason," I hissed quietly in his ear. "I want you to look at those girls. And I want you to think about the h.e.l.l they've 2024-4-23
118 I lay awake a long while. When I finally slept, the dreams were worse.CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR.The Road to Levins.h.i.+r WE MADE POOR TIME the next day, as Krin and I were forced to lead the three horses and Ell besides. Luckily, the horses were we 2024-4-23
117 My temper exploded. "Everyone thinks they know! They think rumor is the truth! Ruh don't do this!" I gestured wildly around me. "People only think those things because of people like you!" My anger flared even hotter and I found myself screaming. "N 2024-4-23
116 "Be careful with this one," Kete said, nodding to the dark-haired girl. "She's a scratcher."Tim came back looking a little pale. He sat by the fire where Otto nudged him with an elbow. "Want some more stew?" he asked maliciously."Sod off,"Tim ras 2024-4-23
115 "This is Anne." Alleg gestured to an older woman with a pinched expression and grey hair pulled back in a bun. "She keeps us fed and plays mother to us all." Anne continued to cut carrots, ignoring both of us."And far from last is our own sweet Kete, 2024-4-23
114 There was a pause in the conversation, then Shehyn gestured solemn importance solemn importance. "When we spoke before, you asked me of the Rhinta. Do you remember?" Shehyn asked. From the corner of my eye I saw Vashet s.h.i.+ft uncomfortably in 2024-4-23
113 "But if you take the anger from a man in s.e.x," I said, struggling to concentrate, "doesn't that mean the more s.e.x you have, the more you want?""It is like the water one uses to prime a pump," she said hotly against m 2024-4-23
112 Of course, this is what Carceret was truly waiting for, a half-moment's hesitation as I fought the urge to flee. She closed on me in a single easy step and caught my wrist, her hand tight as a band of iron.Without thinking, I used Celean's curio 2024-4-23
111 Vashet knocked on the door and escorted me in.Magwyn sat at the same table as before. For all I could tell, she was copying the same book. She smiled when she saw Vashet, then noticed me and let her face slide into the familiar Adem impa.s.sivity."Ma 2024-4-23
110 Magwyn turned to look at me. She didn't seem upset. "Do you laugh at the name I have given you?""Never, Magwyn," I said trying my best to gesture respect respect with my bandaged hand. "Names are important things." with 2024-4-23
109 As I looked at them all, I realized any choice I made could be interpreted so many ways. I didn't know nearly enough about Adem culture to guess what my item might signify.Even if I did, without the name of the wind to guide me back through the canop 2024-4-23
108 Vashet opened the door between my second and third knock. She was s.h.i.+rtless, and stood bare-breasted in the doorway. She eyed me pointedly, taking note of my cloak, my travelsack, my lute."It is a morning for visitors," she said. "Come 2024-4-23
107 "Please," she said, making a series of gestures wide enough for anyone to see. Bold invitation. Imploring entreaty. Familiar welcome. "I must practice."I smiled, though not quite as widely as I would have ordinarily. Partly out of caut 2024-4-23
106 After the better part of a month in Haert, I could not help but feel that things were going well. Vashet acknowledged that my language was improving, congratulating me by saying I sounded like a child, rather than just an imbecile.I continued to meet with 2024-4-23
105 Celean looked down. Apologetic regret. Embarra.s.sed acceptance. Apologetic regret. Embarra.s.sed acceptance.Vashet addressed us both. "Injuring another through carelessness is not of the Lethani."I couldn't see how my beating up a ten-year 2024-4-23
104 Vashet laughed, shaking her head. "That is like throwing two virgins into a bed. Enthusiasm, pa.s.sion, and ignorance are not a good combination. Someone is likely to get hurt.""I hardly think it's fair to call my fighting virginal vir 2024-4-23
103 "The Adem were fierce back then. If we had not been fierce, there would be none of us left today. But we were few, so we were always driven forth. Finally we found this thin and windy place, unwanted by the world. We dug our roots deep into the stone 2024-4-23
102 "Since Aethe was the greatest of archers, many challenged him. But a body is nothing of a target when one can strike silk blowing in the wind. Aethe slew them easily as cutting wheat. He took only a single arrow with him to a duel, and claimed if tha 2024-4-23
101 If she'd asked me two span ago, when I'd been fresh out of the Fae, I might not have understood her. If I'd stayed with Felurian any longer, it's entirely possible that having s.e.x on the hearth wouldn't have seemed odd to me. Bu 2024-4-23
100 "It must have been hard," I said. "Coming here and being the stranger to everyone."Vashet shrugged, making her sword rise and fall on her shoulder. "At first," she admitted. "But they recognize talent, and I have that to 2024-4-23
99 Vashet began to walk around me in a slow circle, still swinging the willow rod. Whop whop Whop whop. She moved behind me, and not being able to see her was worse. Whop whop Whop whop. She swung the rod faster and the noise changed. Viiiip. Viiiip Viiiip. 2024-4-23
98 I waited for an hour, then two. I strained my ears, but I couldn't hear anything from the other side of the door. A few people walked past in the hallway: two in mercenary reds, and another in simple grey homespun. Each of them looked at my hair, tho 2024-4-23
97 She tapped my lute case, then did the same to my travelsack and the sword on my hip. "Give these to the boy and he will take them inside for you."Without waiting for me to reply, she began to tug my travelsack off my shoulder, and I couldn' 2024-4-23
96 "Why?"Tempi thought for a moment. "When you speak of Lethani, it should not come from here," he tapped on my head. "Or here." He tapped on my chest over my heart and ran his fingers down to my left hand. "True knowing of 2024-4-23
95 The boy thought about it. "I like mine better," he said after a moment's consideration.I patted him on the back. "It's a good man that sticks to his own verse." I turned back to the leader of the little troupe. "Any goss 2024-4-23
94 "She would be," said a rough voice from the edge of the hearth. "If you had ever so much as seen her shadow."I turned to see the hawk-faced fiddler. "I beg your pardon, sir?""You should beg the pardon of everyone here,&q 2024-4-23
93 Chronicler sat very still, but he did not look away."I swear it by my tongue and teeth," Bast said crisply. "I swear it on the doors of stone. I am telling you three thousand times. There is nothing in my world or yours more dangerous than 2024-4-23
92 "Tell me!" I meant to shout it, but it came out pleading."It would be frustrating, I suppose," the Cthaeh continued calmly. "The few people who believe in the Chandrian are too afraid to talk, and everyone else will just laugh at 2024-4-23
91 "What was his name?"She shook her head. "no calling of names here. I will not speak of that one, though he is shut beyond the doors of stone."Before I could ask more questions, Felurian took my hand and nestled the stone between our pa 2024-4-23
90 Other answers were nearly incomprehensible, filled with Fae words I didn't understand. When she tried to describe those terms, our conversations became hopeless rhetorical tangles. At times I felt like I'd found myself a quieter, more attractive 2024-4-23
89 Still, I learned things from these stories: a thousand small, scattered facts about the Fae. The names of the courts, old battles, and notable persons. I learned you must never look at one of the Thiana with both eyes at once, and that the gift of a singl 2024-4-23
88 I bent over my lute and danced my fingers across the strings. I wove chords like water over river stones, like a soft breath against the ear. Then I steeled myself and sang: Her eyes were of the bluest black Like night sky with the clouds blown back Her s 2024-4-23
87 Felurian sat cross-legged on the cus.h.i.+ons across from me, her face angry and terrible, her eyes cold and hard as distant stars. With a deliberate calm she brushed a slowly fanning b.u.t.terfly from her shoulder. There was such a weight of fury in her 2024-4-23
86 "That's ..." Dedan said weakly. "That's ...""I do not believe in faeries," I tried to say, but it came out as barely a whisper. I tried to say, but it came out as barely a whisper.It was Felurian.CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE 2024-4-23
85 Seventeen burned, broken, or otherwise ravaged by the lightning. Of those, eight had been dead, or wounded unto death, beforehand.We found tracks of one sentry who had watched the whole incident from the northeast piece of the ridge. His tracks were a day 2024-4-23
84 "Surprise."He nodded. "We surprise. Wait. Hunt rest. Tell Maer."I nodded. Not the quick resolution we had hoped for, but the only sane option against this number of men. When Marten came back the three of us would take our first sting 2024-4-23
83 Marten knelt to examine something on the ground, and I took the opportunity to catch up with him."We're being followed," I said, not bothering to whisper it. They were at least seventy feet behind us, and the rain was rolling through the tr 2024-4-23
82 CHAPTER EIGHTY-NINE.Losing the Light THE LAST FOUR DAYS had been endlessly overcast and raining. At first the trees had given us some shelter, but we soon discovered that the leaves overhead merely held the rain, and the slightest stir of wind sent down s 2024-4-23
81 The old man closed his eyes for a moment, then nodded to himself. "I can hear it in your voice. This is no pa.s.sing fancy." He leaned close and pressed his ear to Jax's chest. He closed his eyes for another long moment and was very still. 2024-4-23
80 Tempi looked at me intently. He made a gesture I didn't recognize. "That is mad talking," he said at last. "Is that the correct word? Mad?" He stuck out his tongue and rolled his eyes, wiggling his fingers at the side of his head. 2024-4-23
79 I turned to a man at the table next to us, quietly eating his bowl of soup. "Is this a market day or something?"He looked at me like I was an idiot, and I saw he had a bruise going purple on his jaw. "There's no market day in Crosson. 2024-4-23
78 "If you can find something in your pack that will make me happy," Jax said. "I will give you my house. It's old and broken, but it's worth something."The tinker looked up at the huge old house, one short step away from being 2024-4-23
77 "Domesticated?""That's it," he said, looking around. "A farm is domesticated. A garden. A park. Most forests too. Folks hunt mushrooms, or cut firewood, or take their sweethearts for a little rub and cuddle."He shook his 2024-4-23
76 "I always thought of it as a dirty grey," she said. "Sort of washed out from his being on the road all the time.""That makes good sense," Dedan said, and I watched Hespe's face go gentle again."White," Tempi vo 2024-4-23
75 With the camp to myself, I melted down the tinker's candles to make two small wax simulacra. I'd been wanting to do this for days, but even at the University creating a mommet was questionable behavior. Here in Vintas ... suffice to say I though 2024-4-23
74 Still, it seemed to be my only option. I walked over to where Tempi sat. He had finished cleaning his sword and was making small adjustments to the leather grip. "Tempi?"Tempi lay aside his sword and came to his feet. He stood uncomfortably clos 2024-4-23
73 I began to have a horrible suspicion that he might not actually understand what it was we were doing out here in the Eld. "Tempi, you know what we are doing out here, in the forest?"Tempi's eyes moved to my rough sketch in the dirt, then ba 2024-4-23
72 And then there was Tempi, a hired killer who wouldn't look me in the eye or hold a conversation. A mercenary I firmly believed could look forward to a decent career in the Modegan theater... .Five days after leaving Severen, we came to the area where 2024-4-23
71 CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN.Pennysworth TWILIGHT WAS SETTLING IN as we rounded a curve in the road. I heard clapping and stomping mingled with music, shouting, and roars of laughter. After ten hours of walking, the sound lifted my spirits to an almost cheerful 2024-4-23
70 Enjoy the suns.h.i.+ne, But though you might feel fine, If you don't stop now, you'll be filled with regret.It's better to simply pay, And prepare for a rainy day Than think of the tinker when you're dripping wet.I laughed and applaude 2024-4-23
69 Rumors THE DAY AFTER I fought with Denna, I woke late in the afternoon, feeling miserable for all the obvious reasons. I ate and bathed, but pride kept me from heading down to Severen-Low to look for Denna. I sent a ring to Bredon, but the runner returned 2024-4-23
68 I tried to give a nonchalant shrug, but I couldn't have been very convincing as she burst out laughing. "Poor Kvothe. I'm teasing you. I only tell him about the ones that come prowling around, panting and sniffing like dogs. You're not 2024-4-23
67 "But it wasn't like you thought it would be, was it?" Denna said, more gently this time.I could see the girl's shoulders begin to shake and heard a series of faint, heartbreaking sobs. I looked away from the winegla.s.s and set it back 2024-4-23
66 "That's a little grim, Res.h.i.+," Bast reproached gently."Life is a little grim, Bast," Kvothe said without any hint of laughter in his voice. "You'd best start getting used to it." He waved a hand toward the chest 2024-4-23
65 The Maer's gardens were vast, with curving paths and cunningly placed hedges making them seem larger still. Denna and I walked side by side, listening to the sigh of the wind through the leaves. It was like we were the only people in the world." 2024-4-23
64 "No, your grace. It will be rather exhausting and time-consuming. Especially since I'm a.s.suming you'd prefer I be circ.u.mspect while gathering my materials in Severen-Low?""Yes of course." He exhaled hard through his nose. 2024-4-23
63 One of her eyebrows went up a bit. "Do tell.""You will be receiving an apology shortly. Forgive my eyes, they flit like the calanthis, place to place. I could not keep them from your fair flower face."Meluan smiled, but did not blush. 2024-4-23
62 "Admit it," I said. "I nearly had you that last time."He merely scowled and pointed imperiously to the table.I set to it with a will, smiling and humming, sure that today I would finally beat him.But nothing could be further from the t 2024-4-23
61 "My outer door," the Maer explained. "He has ears like a dog. It's uncanny."Stapes opened the door to admit the tall man with the shaven head who had been looking over maps with Alveron when I'd first arrived, Commander Dagon 2024-4-23
60 "Is he part of the court here in Severen?" I asked. "What's his name?"Denna's grin faded into a serious look, a confused smile playing around her mouth. "You know I can't tell you that," she chided. "You k 2024-4-23
59 I saw him fighting down a smile. "Ah, yes. I need to feed it, I suspect." He tucked it back inside his robes. "Go on now." He made a shooing motion toward the door.I made my way back to the Maer's rooms, trying to ma.s.sage some f 2024-4-23
58 CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO.Crisis THE NEXT MORNING I made my way to Severen-Low before the sun was up. I ate a hot breakfast of eggs and potatoes while I waited for an apothecary to open. When I was finished, I bought two more pints of cod liver oil and a few othe 2024-4-23
57 I watched the cage until I saw one of the birds fly to a feeder and drink. "If you tell Stapes you want to feed them yourself, will it keep him from meddling with their food?""Yes. He always does exactly as I tell him.""Good. Let 2024-4-23
56 CHAPTER SIXTY.Wisdom's Tool THE MAER'S EYES WENT wide at my words, then narrowed again. Even in the midst of his infirmity, Alveron's wit was sharp. "You were right to speak that close and soft," he said. "You are treading da 2024-4-23
55 "No," he spat. "Sit down."I did."This d.a.m.nable sickness has crept on me this last month, adding years and making me feel them. I have spent my life tending to my lands, but I have been lax in one regard. I have no family, no he 2024-4-23
54 The important thing was that I had not been officially introduced to the court. As such, I had no official official ranking. That meant all the rings sent to me were iron. And one does not typically refuse a request sent with an iron ring, lest one offend 2024-4-23
53 Alveron gave me a shrewd look. "Are you indeed? Well, it's a little thing. Keep secretive about who you are and what your business is. It'll do wonders for your reputation. The less you tell them, the more everyone will be wanting to get fr 2024-4-23
52 So I made my way to the foot of the Sheer and found a small cafe that catered to a genteel clientele. I used one of my precious few remaining coins to buy a mug of chocolate and a seat with a view of the haberdasher's across the street.Over the next 2024-4-23
51 Her expression went rueful. "It was supposed to be pear."I lay down my lute case and travelsack and took a seat at her desk. Despite my best intentions, my eyes were drawn to the charred black ring.Devi tossed her strawberry-blonde hair and met 2024-4-23
50 I toyed with the idea of searching elsewhere. There are other libraries, of course. Every n.o.ble house has at least a modest collection containing household accounts and histories of their lands and family. Most churches had extensive records going back 2024-4-23
49 "And if that's reasonable," I continued before he could interrupt. "Doesn't it also make sense they might try to preserve their secrecy by carefully pruning histories over the last three hundred years?"There was a long pause. 2024-4-23
48 "So when the Justice finally showed up, the whole trial only took fifteen minutes," Cob said, chuckling. "Kvothe gave a fine speech in perfect Tema, everyone agreed with him, and they all went home.""And he lived happily ever afte 2024-4-23
47 What started as a terrifying experience quickly became a tedious process filled with pomp and ritual. More than forty letters of testimony were read aloud, confirmed, and copied into the official records. There were days filled with nothing but long speec 2024-4-23
46 Kilvin shook the arrowcatch idly, holding it to the side of his head. It didn't make any noise. "And what if the arrowheads are not made of metal?" he asked. "Vi Sembi raiders are said to use arrows of flint or obsidian."I looked 2024-4-23
45 "Probably," I admitted."Kist," he swore, then headed back outside, the door banging behind him. he swore, then headed back outside, the door banging behind him.The envelope was heavy parchment, wrinkled and smudged with much handling. 2024-4-23
44 Simmon smiled. "I find that strangely rea.s.suring."CHAPTER FORTY-TWO.Penance SINCE STUDYING WASN'T AN option and winter was covering everything in drifts of blowing snow, I decided this was the perfect time to catch up on a few things I� 2024-4-23
43 "Kvothe is actually a Re'lar," Simmon said respectfully.Puppet sniffed disparagingly. "Hardly," he said, looking at me closely. "You might be a see-er eventually, but not yet. Now you are a look-er. You'll be a true E� 2024-4-23
42 "Puppet again," I grumbled. "Are you ever going to introduce me? The two of you are so tight-lipped about him."Wilem shrugged. "You will understand when you meet him."Sim's books divided into three categories. One suppor 2024-4-23
41 For a moment Sceop's face lit with hope, but then it fell. "I would be nothing but a burden. Even a beggar has his pride."Terris laughed. "You would tell the Edema about pride? We do not ask you out of pity. We ask because you belong i 2024-4-23
40 I sat up straight. "All right," I took a breath, then paused. "If either of you have to go p.i.s.s, do it now. I don't like having to stop halfway through."Silence."Okay." I cleared my throat. "There is a place not 2024-4-23
39 "Don't push at that thing," Simmon said nervously. "You'll tip it over."I laughed. "This stone has been here for a thousand years, Sim. I don't think my breathing on it is going to hurt it.""Just come away 2024-4-23
38 Since Denna had mentioned the Barrel and Boar in her note, I decided to start looking for her there. My lute case hung heavier on my shoulder now that I knew what she'd given up to pay for it. Still, one good turn deserves another, and I hoped the re 2024-4-23
37 Ambrose's sitting room was dark, and made darker by a haze of smoke in the air. I saw flickering firelight inside, off to the left. From my previous visit I knew it was his bedroom."h.e.l.lo?" I shouted. "Is everyone all right?" I 2024-4-23
36 "Then I'll dance a merry little jig," I said. "But between the two of us, I hardly think that's likely."The sun had set by the time I made it into the forest. Wilem was already there, kindling a fire in the wide pit. We worke 2024-4-23
35 "Vhenata," Wilem said. Wilem said.Simmon shrugged. "Fine, I'll do it. I guess."I handed the block of wax to Fela, and she began warming it with her hands. "Do you want to use hair or blood?" she asked softly."Both,& 2024-4-23