The Narrow Road Between Desires

Rike is a child living in the town of Newarre who seeks out Bast’s aid. Rothfuss doesn’t specify his age but describes him as an “older boy” with a “lean face” and “a boyishly pug nose” (83). His bare feet and patched clothes allude to his family’s financial difficulties. Rike’s greatest fear is that he will “grow up to be like [his] da” (166). Due to his father’s abuse, Rike’s self-image is warped by anger and loathing. This prevents him from recognizing his own positive attributes, such as the persistence that helps him to secure Bast’s help and the strong moral compass that leads him to let Jessom live. Rike also shows courage and selflessness by placing himself in Bast’s debt to protect his mother and sisters: “Anything you say I do. But nothing against my ma, or Tess, or little Bip. I only owe what’s mine, and that’s the deal” (102). Over the course of the novella, the initially guarded boy becomes more open and hopeful. Much of this growth is prompted by Bast, who offers the boy protection from Jessom and strives to instill a sense of self-worth in Rike: “‘Think of everything you’ve done to keep [your family] safe,’ he said. ‘You are brave, and strong, and full of love’” (201). Although Rike struggles with anger and self-hatred, his courage and devotion to his family set him on a path toward healing and transformation.

As the novella’s deuteragonist, Rike shapes the story’s structure and meaning. The main plot focuses on Bast’s efforts to free the boy from his abusive father and from his poor self-esteem. In addition, Rike gives some portions of the story a grave tone that contrasts with the lightheartedness of the early chapters because his reason for seeking Bast’s help is far more serious than the other children’s requests. Rike’s family situation highlights both the importance of childhood innocence as well as its fragility, moving the protagonist to become the boy’s defender. The boy makes significant contributions to the theme of The Tension Between Freedom and Obligation by accidentally binding Bast and by wrestling between his conscience and his desire for vengeance against his father: “[L]eave him living, even though my heart wants him to die” (99). In addition, Rothfuss uses Rike to show that perception can exert either a positive or a negative influence on identity. At first, Rike believes that he is a bad person because his father abuses him, leaving the child “too twisted up to see” his inherent worth (171). During the novel’s climax, Bast empowers the boy to reclaim his sense of identity instead of letting his pain and mistakes define him: “‘You’ve done bad things,’ Bast said. ‘But you aren’t bad.’ A pause. ‘Say it.’ ‘I en’t bad’” (201). Through his struggles, Rike emerges closer to the person he wants to be, offering Bast and the readers hope that people can rediscover themselves after experiencing hardship.

Nettie is Rike’s mother. The narrator describes her as a tall woman with “curling brown hair” (143), high cheekbones, and “dark eyes heavy with worry” (145). Her expression reveals the concern and weariness that she feels due to her husband’s abusive behavior and the family’s low socioeconomic status. However, she tries to protect her children by concealing her pain from them. Nettie’s nurturing love for Rike, Tess, and Bip shines through the “tidy” house and “flourishing” garden that she maintains despite her difficult circumstances (142). The domestic violence that Nettie faces makes her weary and worried, but she is a loving and nurturing parent to Rike and her daughters.

Nettie makes key contributions to Rike’s story arc and the novella’s happy ending. Throughout the story, her son’s primary motivation is ensuring her safety, as evidenced by his insistence that Bast should make the protective charm for her: “My ma should have it. She’s important” (166). Near the climax, thinking about his love for Nettie helps Rike gain clarity about the person he wants to become, which helps Bast cast the transformative spell on the boy. The novella ends with the revelation that Nettie “discovered a wild hive of bees” and “caught the queen” with Bast’s help (207). This allows her to revive her apiary, a development that adds to the joyful resolution’s focus on healing and restoration. Although Nettie appears only briefly in the novella, she shapes the deuteragonist and tone.

Kostrel is a child who lives in Newarre. The narrator describes him as “a blue-eyed boy with freckles” (26). Kostrel proves himself to be crafty, such as when he gets Bast to trade with him for the location of Emberlee’s bathing spot, a piece of information that Emberlee herself paid Kostrel to deliver. Although he is a cunning bargainer, the boy also possesses a youthful innocence and playfulness: “There was a reason Kostrel was his favorite. He was a perfect mix of cleverness and fool” (31). Bast’s fondness for Kostrel develops The Beauty of Childhood Innocence. Another of his prominent traits is his curiosity. Kostrel provides an attentive and intelligent dialogue partner for Bast in Chapters 3 and 6, facilitating the author’s exposition about Fae magic and embrils. Kostrel’s playfulness and eagerness to learn endear him to Bast, and the boy’s craftiness allows him to trick the Fae trickster at times.

Rothfuss uses Kostrel to set key events into motion and to offer insights into the story’s main character and setting. Although Bast doesn’t “go in for presents as a rule” (28), he makes an exception and accepts the gift that initiates the main plot because Kostrel offers it to him. He wouldn’t have taken the gift if he’d known it was from Rike, making Bast’s bond with Kostrel essential to the plot. This friendship proves that Bast is emotionally attached to more humans than just Kote. However, Rothfuss reveals the Fae man’s capacity for violence when he considers murdering Kostrel rather than compromising the innkeepers’ secret identity: “Killing this boy would be like shattering a stained glass window, but secrets would betray his master” (55). Thus, Bast’s interactions with Kostrel make it clear that his obligation to Kote is his top priority, regardless of his personal feelings. Kostrel also provides some perspective on the socioeconomic realities of the novella’s setting. For example, the boy’s observation that “a loaf’s not nothing” reveals that many people in Newarre struggle to meet their basic needs and that Bast lives in relative privilege (38). Kostrel helps the author show what life in Newarre is like and to explain why Bast is fond of the sleepy town.