An uncomfortable silence hung like a mid-morning mist in the Waystone Inn, and it was a silence of three parts.
But that had changed today.
The innkeeper sat in the silence of two parts, tasting the difference. He rolled it around in his mouth, exploring it like a fine vintage, like a lover. He savored it, as if it was his last meal.
He looked out the window towards the sleeping village; his face was a wall of stone. The iron taste of blood lingered faintly in his mouth.
He thought about everything that had brought him to this moment.
He remembered many songs.
And many silences.
He thought about the many small stones he had pushed into motion, rolling towards him now, with inescapable momentum.
The arrival of Chronicler was more than he had dared hope for: an opportunity to explain. Not excuse or justify... that would be impossible. He couldn't even justify it all to himself, let alone anyone else. Still. The innkeeper had deep, hard-won knowledge of many things. He knew that words have power. That songs have power. And above all else - names have power.
He was a man of many names.
Some of them he had nurtured into being, like Kvothe the Arcane, or Kvothe the Bloodless.
Some of them, like Kvothe Kingkiller, he had earned, even if unfairly.
Some - he always had, but never heard spoken aloud until his many months in Ademre.
Still others, he contrived for his own purpose - like the one he used in this place. Kote. A name close enough to his own that he would turn his head instinctively when it was spoken; but far enough from his own that no one here imagined he was the Kvothe of legend.
He did many things leading up to this moment. All things, he did towards this purpose. This was of the Lethani. He had promised Shehyn he would do no less. He had made many promises.
This one paid for all.
He had true red hair. Hair red as flame.
The Waystone was his.
And for a long time, the greatest of the three silences was his.
But no more.
The third silence had been broken.
They were coming.
YOU ARE READING
The Doors of Stone
FanfictionA fanfic final book of the kingkiller chronicles. All characters, IP belong to Patrick Rothfuss. This telling is how I would end the book based on the clues in the first two. Please note this means there will be spoilers if you haven't read the firs...
