The King Killer Chronicle is a series of books that have become very popular since its inception. The first book, The Name of The Wind, was first released in 2007. Since then several more books have come out that takes place in the King Killer universe.
In the second book, The Wise Man’s Fear, Kvothe finds his sword. This is a process that involves going into a trance-like state in order to avoid razor-sharp leaves falling on him and going through a specialized mercenary school. In the end, he is given the sword Saicere.
Kvothe’s adventures always seem bigger than life and his rewards seem to match the adventure. Kvothe earning his sword, Caesura, was no different and will likely be one of the best ways a sword is earned in modern fiction. This is the reason why so many people want to know more about the sword.
Though the full mythology and history of Kvothe’s sword are still unknown, the information we do have is very interesting. As the books continue the interest and mythology surrounding this sword only seem to grow. Here are a few common questions about the sword and Kvothe from The King Killer Chronicles.
The History of Caesura
From what is stated in the books, the sword Saicere is over two thousand years old. It has been wielded by many different great warriors through time. During that time she earned many names for herself.
The sword Saicere was made in the fire by a man named Chael. It is explained that he made this sword for “an unknown purpose”. Chael was also the first to wield this sword.
Because of the age of the sword, it is suspected and suggested in Atas, that the sword was used in The Creation War. That would mean that the sword has seen more war than any living person could ever dream of. Since her creation, the sword has seen several different masters.
The last person to wield the sword before Kvothe was Larel. She was a brave warrior who did not die “surrounded by fat grandchildren.” Larel was the two-hundred and thirty-sixth person to wield the sword Saicere.
Sometime in the many years, the sword has existed, it belonged to the Adem people. These are the people who bestowed the sword to Kvothe when he was given the right to learn at their school. This makes the sword a great gift as well as a symbol of the things Kvothe has learned and will learn as he studies under the Adem.
A quote from the book that explains the previous owners of the sword and how it has been passed down explains, “First came Chael who shaped me in the fire for an unknown purpose. He carried me then cast me aside
“Next came Etaine…”
“Next came Finol of the clear and shining eye, much
“Next came Etaine…”
“Next came Finol of the clear and shining eye, much beloved of Dulcen. She herself slew two daruna, then was killed by gremmen at the Drossen Tor.” beloved of Dulcen.
The Adem
The Adem are a very strange warrior people that Kvothe encounters and chooses to learn from. They live in Ademere and are known for being mercenaries who show little to no emotion. This earned them a fierce reputation and had made them relatively wealthy people.
Ademre is a land that sits in something of a barren and windy mountain area. This has led to their homes being built into the side of the mountain or even in the ground to make the foundation sturdy. The homes look simple and poor from the outside because the Adem people prefer to keep their wealth as private as their emotions.
The Adem believe that every other race and people other than themselves are barbarians. This has led to a very closed off culture with very few outsiders being able to enter their school. The fact that Kvothe was given entrance to study in the school under the path of Letanthi shows how impressed they were with him.
Kvothe decided to study in the school of Letantha which is one of the many different styles of fighting that falls into the codes of ethics that the Adem teach and live by. Those who choose to go into the lifestyle the Adem people are known for must choose one style to study until they master it and can go become well-paid mercenaries and bodyguards.
The Letantha, or sword tree school, in particular, is notable for being the only school we know of that let Kvothe’s master study there despite the fact she had already studied through The Path of Joy. This makes them the only known Adem school to allow a student two different paths of study. Kvothe was given his sword when he passed the tests put forth by the Adem to join the Letantha school.
It is important to note that the Adem people are very religious and think of the sword tree as sacred. The fact that they allowed an outsider like Kvothe to undergo the trial and earn his sword is a huge deal and shows how special Kvothe must be. The Adem, of course, do not show how impressed they are by Kvothe as they consider shows of emotion as a weakness.
Many Names of Kvothe’s Sword
When Kvothe’s sword was created it was given the name Saicere. It is unknown exactly how many names the sword has had as it has existed for so long and had so many owners. In its time we know that it has accrued at least three names.
The first name, Saicere, means to break, to catch, and to fly. This makes it a fitting name for a sword that has fought so many wars and been wielded by hundreds of people. The name Saicere is the one that has lasted the longest and is the true name of this incredible weapon.
The second name that we know this sword has is the one that the town people call it in their stories. This name is Kaysera the poet-killer which shows the fear and respect that those who know it by this name have for the sword. It also paints a picture of some of the battles this sword has likely won in the past.
The last name we know Kvothe’s sword by is the name he gave it himself. When Kvothe was given the sword he named it Caesura which refers to the jarring break in an otherwise perfect song verse. This is a reminder of Kvothe’s musical history as well as an interesting image to cast onto a sword as the clang of its blade rings out.
This sword of many names has been fighting in war for at least two thousand years. It has been wielded by two hundred and thirty-seven different people over its time. Caesura is not a weapon to be taken lightly and she has earned all of her names.
Appearance Of Caesura
In the books, Caesura is described as a smooth burnished gray blade with an extended handguard. Though Kvothe does not know what metal the sword is made of, the townspeople refer to it as silver. This gives us a more clear image of what Caesura must look like.
She is a blade made for thrusting and fencing. This means the blade itself would have to be quite long and flexible. The blade would need to be double-edged in order to make it deadly on both sides and suitable for thrusting.
This sword was clearly made for speed and deadly force. This is why she is such a thin blade with an extended handguard to make sure there is plenty of grip to hold onto and make thrusting the sword even more deadly. Overall, this is a deadly sword made beautifully for action and precision.
Think of this blade as closer to a rapier than a gladius to get a more solid image of the deadly grace of Caesura. This sword was made for grace in combat and a swift death for its enemies. This is what makes it such an interesting and well-known sword in fiction.
Abilities Of Caesura
Caesura herself does not seem to hold any abilities. She is a sword that has outlived every one of the owners and has earned a reputation but is not a sentient being. Of course, the third book could show a change in this as the story progresses.
The history that Caesura has existed through is so long and involved that it took Kvothe upwards of an hour in the books to recount. That is an impressive military history for any sword to have. The time that Caesura has existed and her excellent craftsmanship might be abilities in themselves.
This lack of magical ability has not impeded the mythology that surrounds the sword. As people who see the sword seem to know some of her names and also how many battles she has won. In fact, the fact that she is a sword without magic seems to only increase how impressed we all are with how old and accomplished the blade has become.
There are those who would argue that the fact this is not a sword with abilities drags her down the ranks in swords from fiction. The fact that her wielder must be talented enough to make her deadly and feared shows the immense power the Kvothe must wield on his own. This is impressive on its own and might even outrank the need for a sword of power for our heroes in future novels.
Kvothe And Caesura
Kvothe earned his sword the way that the Adem have deemed acceptable. To do this he had to first prove that his companion, Tempi, had not made a mistake in teaching him some of the Adem ways. This meant facing a trial and a test.
When they arrive it is decided Kvothe is allowed to train under a woman named Vashet. During his time training with the Adem people, Kvothe learns much and makes a few friends despite being shunned by the general Adem people. When his training is complete he is rewarded with his sword, Caesura, before he goes on his way.
Earning his sword at the end of his training is a big deal for the Adem people. The fact that Caesura had previously been wielded by one of the Adem women who had been hard on Kvothe also helps him come into her graces. This leaves our hero with a great sword, mercenary training, and plenty of allies to back him up if the time comes.
Kvothe continues on his journey as his training ends and he is able to go back on his adventure. Caesura proves invaluable as Kvothe continues to fight his way through many battles and victories. This leads to a band between man and sword that can only happen when an object has saved a man’s life.
Conclusion
Caesura is a long, thin sword used primarily for thrusting and dancing. She has no abilities but has been used in battles and fights for over two thousand years. In that time she has been owned by two hundred and thirty-seven different people over her time.
Kvothe earned Caesura after he worked through the Adem school to become a mercenary and earned the rights to their secrets and training. The Adem are very distrustful and rude to new people so the fact that Kvothe was able to pass through one of their schools and earn a sword was incredible.
That is how Caesursa was made, earned by Kvothe, and some of her histories. Of course, we do not know her full history yet as we do not know where the sword is as the story is being told or every adventure she has been on. This leaves plenty of room to build onto the mythology that surrounds Kvothe’s sword, Caesura.