Kvothe returns to his hiding place and cries until he wears himself out. He finds his memories are less bitter, and for the first time in years, he uses one of Ben’s tricks to calm and sharpen his mind. Then he spends the rest of the night “opening the doors of [his] mind” (193) and finding things once forgotten: memories, finger scales for the lute, knowledge of the Chandrian, dark thoughts of revenge. He decides he should find the Chandrian’s enemies.

Kvothe has many questions, yet there is no place for him to turn for answers. He finds Abenthy’s book, Rhetoric and Logic, and reads the inscription that his teacher made for him.

Kvothe steps into a business called The Broken Binding and sells the book to its owner for two talents. He also makes a deal to have the option to buy the book back for 20 days. The store owner tries to trick him, thinking the boy has stolen the book, but Kvothe proves he can read. The owner agrees that Kvothe can buy the book back within a few days.