Perhaps the first thing Kvothe might have noticed was the room itself, which had changed from the disciplinary therapy room he'd been in previously to something entirely different. This place was darker, less clean and with a dankness to the air that spoke of being out of the way. The kind of place where it would be difficult to be heard should you start making too much noise. Like screaming.

But maybe the first thing that would have drawn his attention wouldn't have been the room itself, but the man standing casually not too far away from where Kvothe was trussed up. He seemed almost out of place in the setting, his pale skin and hair almost too bright against the dark of the room. But one look at his eyes and smile would have dismissed that idea. A serpent's eyes held more compassion than these did.

"Better." The smile was brittle and as warm as dry ice. "After all, I wouldn't want you to miss anything once I get started, boy."