Chapters 25-27 - The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett (Also: The Painted Man)

 Skipping to the near future, we read that Rojer messed around with a farmer's wife, being the jongleur and all. He is running from his wrath and can not blame the man. He thinks about his life's choices and wonders about settling in one of the hamlets, or returning to Angiers. He decides to visit the guild charity house in Angiers to meet a retired jongleur named Jaycob who could become his sponsor.

At the application meeting Jasin appears to muck things up. Jaycob and even the guildmaster can not blame Rojer for throttling the man. To pay for restitution and the medical bill, Rojer can tour with Jaycob as his sponsor and proceeds would flow to the guild. Jaycob is happier than he has been in decades thanks to the performances with Rojer. Jasin and his apprentices corner the two, severely beating Rojer and killing Jaycob with blunt force- all right before the sun sets.

Rojer's story is about to collide with Leesha, and soon the Warded Man. Now 27, her teacher still wonders why she still has not romped another man or had children. When you read about Leesha's explanations, things do kind of make sense. She has not sought men because men seek her- and do not give her a reason to hold confidence in them. During her conversations with Jizell cries for help are heard.

Guards attempt to bring two unidentified males to the Hospit. Corelings give chase- ones from the sky. A guard is killed as well as one of the men decapitated. They are able to get the remaining man and everyone else within the wards and the entire Hospit gets to work. Losing a guard, the captain wants to know what happened to the remaining survivor- who is obviously Rojer- but Rojer clams shut.

Leesha's character shines through as she helps Rojer deal with his despair. Weeks later, it isn't long before Halfgrip, with a healing broken arm is playing the fiddle and bringing fresh air to the hospit. A little bit of home escaped from the hamlets and Leesha was happy to revel in it. More or less, you could say that Rojer makes a good Patch Adams.

Dark news reaches Leesha from the hamlets. A plague has hit Cutter's Hollow and has taken many people, including the ancient Bruna. She blames herself for not being there, finishing her apprenticeship a long time ago with Jizell. She must depart immediately and at all costs to see to her father and the others who still live. She can't really afford a messenger and trecking it a week alone was extremely dangerous, but she was willing to pay the price to get to them. Moved, Rojer volunteers to help her get there.

When Rojer reveals that he can manipulate the coreling with his fiddle, even Leesha denies that it is even possible. Despite the conflict, a friendship will form. In time they will make it to Cutter's Hollow, but they let their guard down and are too friendly at a nearby inn. Upon departure the next day on the approach to the hamlet, the duo are mugged. Rojer is constrained and pinned down as men take turn raping Leesha. 'Whelp, there goes that' I said as I read the text. Leesha will learn later that what is hers is for her to give freely, and that this violent crime counted for nothing for the men. Just remember that karma is a bitch.

The thieves took their horses, most of their gear and most importantly- the portable ward. Both contemplate their imminent doom and the setting sun puts them on edge as the corelings begin to rise. In a cutaway, the thieves look for their next target and spot a lone man on a horse. The horse appears demonic with a headset of demon horns and warded armor. The man is cloaked and hooded with his face not visible. The men continue to talk out their ass, giving themselves an out to let the man go, who is clearly not afraid. Not speaking a word- the man continues on his destrier.

Rojer tries to bring Leesha out of her shock. He knows that he will not last long without the complete fiddle to protect them both, until they meet the hooded man on his horse as the corelings materialize. They all run for it and make it to the camp of the man, who reveals his face and is determined to be the one and only- Warded Man who hunts corelings and feasts on their flesh. The Warded Man rolling his eyes at the exaagerations spreading through the hamlets. As they ran to the protection of his camp, left and right Rojer and Leesha ran from corelings only to watch their heads explode and their limbs ripped off.

Leesha begs the Warded Man's aid to get to Cutter's Hollow, which he declines. He is eventually convinced- his stoic demeaner likely shielding him from getting involved in the affairs of other people- who he has distanced himself from. Other than going to the major cities or hamlets for supplies, the Warded Man and his horse largely keep to themselves and rarely come into contact with people. But they sure as the core come into contact with the very thing he hates- the abominations known as corelings.

One of my favorite lines of the book comes from this chapter. 'Why did you save us from the demons?' Rojer asked. The Warded Man replies 'because you are human and they are abominations. And because you struggled to survive, right up to the last minute'. 'What else could we do?' Rojer replied. The Warded Man said 'you would be amazed how many people lie down and wait for the end to come'.