Chapter 64
Kote stops by the Oaken Oar where Denna was staying, but finds
that she left in the middle of the night without paying and was going under the
name Dinnah. Kote submits his sympathy lamp to Kilvin. He got a little fancy,
and made a few modifications to the design because he wanted to show off. He
put a dimmer switch on it, which Kilvin appreciated, but he made it a bullseye
lantern which Kilvin says is only used by thieves and low-lifes, and wouldn't
be appropriate to be sold by the university. He approves Kote's graduation to
journeyman but won't sell the lamp, so Kote is out the cost of the supplies.
Kote asks to keep the lamp for himself, and by talking to Manet finds out there
is a secret entrance to the archives. He resolves to go searching for it.
So Denna seems to be a shady character. Surprised that Kote was
not a little more thrown by the fact that she left in the middle of the night
without paying. When you think about it he has spent a lot of time talking to
her but basically knows nothing about who she is. Alarm bells going off with
Kote making plans to sneak into archives - you know he will eventually be
expelled, will this be what causes it? Kind of a slap in the face to Lorren's
authority, and seems ungrateful given what Lorren has done for him.
Chapter 65
Kote takes Wil and Sim out for drinks at the Eolian. Who should
show up but Denna? He excuses himself and goes off with her. He tells her
he wishes he knew the words to make her fall in love with him and she replies
that he already does. She also reveals that she does remember him from the
caravan and had known it was him all along. They make plans to have lunch the
following day. Back at the Eolian, Deoch tries to warn him off Denna, saying
she will break his heart, but Kote laughs him off.
Somehow Denna admitting she remembers Kote doesn't really give
us much more insight into her. She remains a cipher. If I were Kote I would
have asked Deoch for some details but I guess Kote is not so curious.
Chapter 66
Kote goes to the Fishery to work on making some lamps with the
bone tar, hoping to make money. While he is there, a leak develops in the bone
tar container, and it starts to leak out, threatening to start a conflagration.
Fela is trapped on her workspace by the bone tar. Kote uses sympathy to break
open a large emergency tub of water, and jumps to rescue Fela. He wakes up
later in the medica, and has missed his date with Denna. He walks over to Imre
barefoot (lost his shoes in the excitement), but he's missed her. Back in his
room, he over hears people in the tavern gossiping about him. He enjoys hearing
people talk about him as a hero.
The bone tar comes into play! I'm looking forward to seeing this
when it's made into a tv show, as I had a hard time picturing how the action
was playing out in this scene. Kote is a hero, but a high personal cost: he
missed his connection with Denna, lost the work he was counting on to make him
some money, and lost his shoes and clothes.
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