Name of the Wind 64- 66

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. 

Name of the Wind 58 - 60

Chapter 58

Kote searches through the inn, and it looks like he will be disappointed in his search for Aloine. Just before he quits, he runs into Denna, and realizes it was her. She is there on a date with , of all people, Sovoy. She doesn't remember Kote but flirts with him nonetheless. Oh, and she goes by the name Dianne now.

Well, not sure I buy that she wouldn't remember him. He did make a big impression when he played on the lute back then. Is she just playing dumb? Seems like Kote will be able to learn more about her from Sovoy.

Chapter 59

The boys walk home drunk and carefree.

This looks suspiciously like its setting up a tragic event?

Chapter 60

Kote goes to lottery for admission exam slots. He gets a good (later) one, but, thinking that since he can't study in the Archives, it does him no good he tries to sell his slot. He embarrasses Ambrose publicly when he tries to buy the slot, and ends up selling for a reasonable price to another student. He goes back to pick up the lute he left behind with Stanchion. Duke Threpe is there, and they talk. Threpe would like to be his patron but already has too many performers in his stable. He says he'll try to find someone for him. No one at the inn can tell him more about the mysterious Denna. He goes to Devi and pays interest on his loan. She tells him he can use her small library if he needs to. He goes to see Kilvin, who assumes he will quit now that he is a musician with pipes. He is pleasantly surprised when Kote says he wants to keep working there.  Next he goes to a nearby inn and negotiates room and board and a deal to be an entertainer at the inn, to keep the money coming in.

Whoa lots of info in this chapter. Unfortunately not much on Denna's background, although Deoch lets drop that she travels often and is a bit of a heartbreaker. Threpe would have solved all his money problems, but unfortunately artists are like jealous wives and wouldn't tolerate it if he was taken in, but sounds promising that he will get a patron soon. In the meantime, looks like his deal with the inn solves a lot of his problems.

Name of the Wind 52 - 54

Chapter 52

Kote has overloaded himself with work and is starting to fatigue. Simon and Wil at first think he must have a girlfriend but finally figure out he is overworked. Kote has a sympathy duel with another student as part of Elxa Dal's class. The both nearly kill themselves from hypothermia by trying to use their body heat to create fire. Later Kote learns than Wil and Simon have gone to Master Kilvin and told him Kote is taking on too much. He is banned from the fishery. He takes it in stride, calming himself down by playing music. He tells them he will forgive them if they tell him about the Elodian.

Slightly surprised Elxa Dal didn't have any sharp words for the students following their dueling shenanigans.  At least Kote turned a little profit by wagering on himself.  Kote's bank account has turned out to be a major source of the tension in this book, rather unusual for an epic fantasy.

Chapter 53

Kote plans to play his lute at a fancy tavern named the Elodian. Musicians who play there have a chance of winning a badge that will help them earns jobs at other bars. There are also potential patrons who frequent the place. Problem is, the owners charge a talent for musicians to play there. Later we find Kote has befriended a slight looney urchin who lives in the quad where he practices his lute. He calls her Auri. She tells him she saw master Elodin listening to the wind the other night.

Still not sure who the mystery woman is but we are getting closer. I don't think it's this Auri. Kote will be wagering again, this time a "talent" to see if his (musical) "talent" can get him a sponsor. Wondering what the significance of the rumors about Elodin will turn out to be.

Chapter 54

Kote heads to the Elodian  to earn his pipes, the badge of a skilled musician. He meets Deoch, the owner who works as bouncer, and Stanchion, the owner who manages the entertainment, and makes a good impression on both. He learns that Ambrose is in the audience. He elects to play "the Lay of Sir Savien", a particularly difficult song that requires a female part. He says he expects there to be a talented singer in the audience who will fill in the part. He performs the song well and is lucky enough to have a good singer join him. But halfway through, one of his strings breaks. Luckily, he practiced playing with broken strings when he lived in the woods is he is able to pull off the ending anyway.

Kote continues to figuratively and literally place risky wagers that pay off, and it appears to continue in this scene. I'm the guessing the singer that joined in will finally be the mystery female that was hinted at. I also suspect that Ambrose may have used a little sympathy to cause the broken string.