This chapter introduces us to the Chronicler, who's arrival in Kote's/Kvothe's world marks the catalyst for the book to really get started.
It is told from Chronicler's POV, and has just a few connecting bits of thread that imply the bigger story of the book. As a short little story, it would stand pretty good on its own.
Chronicler is introduced with no real physical description or age. What we do know about him from this chapter: He is cunning and wise. He is a Scribe. He is rich. He is friends with Skarpi, although we don't yet know what that means. Not just because we haven't yet met Skarpi, but because I suspect we still don't know the full impact of Skarpi on this story. Skarpi is waiting for him in Treya.
He is also likely of the Tehlin faith. Chronicler wears an iron circle on a leather rope around his neck. It is not a guilder: the ex-soldier's commander touches it without noticing cold or numbness. It appears to be a symbol of the iron wheel Tehlu sacrificed himself on while trying to do away with Encanis/Haliax.
When we meet him, Chronicler is in the process of being robbed by some fairly civilized ex-soldiers. They are mainly taking what they need, but otherwise treating him with respect and dignity. The worse part, perhaps, is the loss of his horse.
After they divide what interests them from what he will be allowed to keep, they releave him of his purse. He has the balls to ask for a penny or two back so he can get a hot meal or two while getting more scribal work to earn some more. The commander gives him "a pair for your pair." Chronicler has subtly implied that they got all his money, stopping them from even thinking of searching deeper. In reality, the purse is a decoy. A decoy he quickly refills from hidden stores of money - just enough to satisfy any further robbers - as soon as the current batch are gone.
He does repay their humanity in kind: one of the ex-soldiers took his cleaning alcohol. He informs the commander that it is wood alcohol, and it would go badly for anyone who drinks it.
Other than that, it is a beautiful autumn day, the kind that belongs in a storybook.
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