KKC Theory Wiki

Kvothe Has Bast Magically Bound to Him at the Waystone Inn

plausible mechanism · popularity 172 · 1 source thread

Textual cues suggest Kvothe holds Bast under a binding, explaining Bast's obedience and Kvothe's outsized strength.

About: Kvothe, Bast

Also involves: Waystone Inn, Naming

The theory§

This theory holds that Bast's deference to Kvothe is not mere loyalty but a magical binding. When Kvothe calls Bast's name from within the inn, Bast feels it 'tug him like a hand around his heart,' and when Kvothe seizes Bast's wrist he holds the far stronger Fae creature 'as if Kvothe's hand were a shackle,' motionless as steel or stone—strength beyond an ordinary man. The same but stronger compulsion is what Rike's coin works on Bast in The Lightning Tree, where being given the coin strikes him 'like an anvil on his heart.' By contrast, when the boy Kostrel speaks Bast's name there is no compulsion at all, suggesting the pull is specific to Kvothe. Supporting details include Bast's own remark that a ring of amber could bind him—and that Kvothe is said to keep a ring of amber that controls demons, the Fae being commonly mistaken for demons. A notable counter draws on The Narrow Road Between Desires, where Bast finds he is free to choose between his desire for revenge and assisting his master, implying he is not bound in the obligatory way Rike's coin binds him.

Evidence§

  • While reading the new book of Bast, I got the feeling that Kvothe somehow has Bast binded to him. To his lies, to his power…
    OP's core claim: Kvothe holds Bast under a binding to his power. — u/navispacial
  • When Kvothe said Bast's name … Bast felt it tug him like a hand around his heart.
    Evidence one: Kvothe's mere call physically tugs Bast's heart. — u/navispacial
  • Kvothe's long-fingered hand caught Bast's wrist … as if Kvothe's hand were a shackle. Bast struggled furiously to free himself, but Kvothe stood behind the bar, arm outstretched, motionless as steel or stone.
    Evidence two: Kvothe holds far-stronger Fae Bast like a shackle, beyond ordinary strength. — u/navispacial
  • That same feeling, but steonger, Bast gets when he is binded by Rike's coin … It struck him like an anvil on his heart.
    Parallels Kvothe's pull to the known binding of Rike's coin, only stronger. — u/navispacial
  • And look when Kostrel said his name, Bast shook of fear, but didn't feel anything because Kostrel is not the one who binded … No compulsion. No weakness. No feeling like Kostrel held a leash pulled tight around his throat…
    Control case: another speaking Bast's name causes no compulsion, so pull is Kvothe-specific. — u/navispacial
  • Bast mentions a ring of amber is something that could bind him but he'd have to put it on. … Kvothe is also mentioned to have a ring of amber that can control demons. As we know most people mistake the fae beings as demons.
    Adds a mechanism: Kvothe's amber ring could be the binding device. — u/buckshire
  • We see how he can't easily lie in the lightning tree—he talks about killing a kid as being preferable to lying. So I wonder if he has sworn an oath to obey Kvothe
    Refines: binding may be a sworn oath, evidenced by Bast's inability to lie. — u/roseinapuddle
  • there's a line in TNRBD where Bast is explicit he's not bound to Kvothe. … he was free to choose between desires. To take the sweet and terrible revenge that he was due...or continue to assist his master. … The only way Bast could be bound to Kvothe is if this line is a mistake.
    CounterCounter: text says Bast is free to choose, unlike Rike's obligatory binding. — u/aerojockey
  • i think it is more likely kvothe freed bast from his previous master, and now bast is thankful to kvothe and devoted to him freely
    CounterCounter: deference explained by gratitude and free devotion, not a binding. — u/dovalayn

Book refs: NOTW, WMF, The Narrow Road Between Desires

Tier reasoning§

specific recurring textual cues; plausible is appropriate

Contributors§

Source threads§