Chapter 67
Kote returns the Fishery and meets with Kilvin, whose hands are
wrapped in bandages. Kilvin pulls his leg a bit, pretending to be upset with
him, but he is actually quite pleased that the damage was contained and that
Kote was able to save Fela. He says they were overdue for an accident. Kilvin
tells him the container broke because faulty sygaldry caused the bone tar to
get too cold, it expanded and cracked the inner glass container and then
corroded through the outer metal shell. Kote explains how he used sympathy to
break the tough glass, Kilvin explains how he put the fire out. The take home
point: it was quick but it wasn't easy.
This was a helpful chapter in explaining more clearly some of
the finer points of what went down in the previous chapter. Kilvin is happily
not mad at Kote, I was worried that the list of people upset with him was
growing too long for him to handle. We also learn that Kilvin doesn't know the
name of fire, so he cannot put out fires in the fishery by calling them, but
Master Elodin and maybe one or two other masters could. Hmmm.
Chapter 68
Kote walks to the Eolian. Kilvin sold some of his lamps, so he
stops to buy shoes on his way there. He doesn't find Denna, but he does find
Fela, who thanks him and gives him a gift of a new cloak (with extra pockets!).
He notices too late that Denna arrived, apparently saw him talking to another
girl, and left. He's sad but then realizes that Auri could have been hurt by
the bone tar going into the drainage system. He recruits Mola to go with him.
Auri is unhurt and asks him to play some music. Mola thinks they should bring
her in but Kote convinces her that they best leave her as she is (she might be
committed if the masters find out).
The romantic subplot in this book definitely feels like middle school drama. They declare their love for each other, he gets hurt and misses
their meeting, she walks in on him talking to another girl and leaves ....
Kote tells Fela she would have gotten out even if he hadn't been
there, and she was not a damsel in distress. Sure Kote ....
Chapter 69
Kote makes numerous trips to Imre to buy parts for his projects,
mostly in hopes of running into Denna. One day he has a drink with Deoch, who
used to date Denna. He says she has no family and has to survive by her wits
and charms, which is why she is always coming and going. On the way home, 2
assassins hired by Ambrose (we presume) try to kill Kote. He blinds them by
using sympathy to light one of the lamp reagents in his pockets, and pretends
to have called down lightning in order to frighten them. He hears them say they
are using some sort of tracking devise to find him, he tries to find and take
it away from them but is unable to find it, so he runs away. He tries to throw
off his pursuers by sticking strands of his hair to leaves and scattering them
in a windy courtyard. While there, he finds Master Elodin, who has been
watching the wind. They talk briefly, Elodin not making any acknowledgement of
the state Kote is in. He returns to his room. There he finds a note from
Denna from a couple of weeks back, telling him to come see her at her new inn.
Of course, he's missed that chance now. He also notices his shirt is stained
with blood. He runs out of town and down the river, where he floats the shirt
down the river to send his pursuers of on a goose chase (he figures they have
his blood from a knife wound they inflicted, so their tracking devise would
cause them to follow the bloody shirt (rather than the blood in his body?)
Lots happening in is chapter. We get some background on Denna
and why she comes and goes so erratically. Apparently she has a hard time in
life with no family and no money, although one would think that since she is
such a good singer she could make a living entertaining at the Eolian (she said
she has her own set of pipes when they met, didn't she?) Then we get a pretty
entertaining back alley brawl with assassins and Kote is lucky to get away,
leading to an unusual encounter with Master Elodin, who proves as eccentric as
his reputation. Finally we see Kote has missed yet another chance to connect
with Denna. It's looking like it's just not in he cards, kid. Finally, we end
up with Kote homeless and losing another article of clothing - his perpetual
struggles throughout the book. Will it be safe for him to continue his studies,
or will the assassins be back?
