Kvothe randomly encounters Denna in the company of another man. She says she was distraught to find she had missed the ending of his last story. He tells her, “Prince Gallant kills the dragon but loses the treasure and the girl” (601).

While he and his friends are talking about this new development, Kvothe looks around and finds that Ambrose has his lute. After an altercation that includes a new song Ambrose has written about Kvothe, Ambrose throws the lute to Kvothe. Kvothe misses, and the lute breaks.

Kvothe opens his mouth to howl or curse: “But something other tore from my throat, a word I did not know and could not remember” (605). The wind comes, pushing everything and everyone around except Ambrose, who pinwheels to the ground. Then it stops. Ambrose, now injured, looks fearful and confused.

Wil and Sim take Kvothe to Kilvin, explaining what happened and that Kvothe doesn’t seem to be “there” anymore. Then Elodin enters the room and calls Kvothe’s name, but Sim explains that Kvothe won’t say a word. Elodin tells Kvothe to say “Aerlevsedi.” After Kvothe does, the Master Namer inspects him, “and the storm stilled.