Part 1: Chapter 7-15 Summary

Severian returns with the books and is told by Drotte to take the books to the end cell, which is forbidden since Severian is still only an apprentice. There Severian finds a tall, lovely woman named Thecla. She has not yet been tortured and is imprisoned because her sister is the lover of Vodalus, and the Autarch wants her sister to give Vodalus up to them. Thecla knows her sister won't betray her lover but is hopeful that the Autarch will realize there is no point in killing her and will let her go free. She is treated with special consideration and is able to ask the head of the guild for a person to sit and talk with her. She asks for Severian, and he is permitted to visit her and the sit and discuss the books that...