Rhythm of War
Chapters - Brandon Sanderson
Prologue: To Pretend
Seven years ago, Navani is occupied with logistics for Gavilar's feast. While managing preparations, she interacts with Aesudan , who is speaking with Rushur Kris , a master artifabrian . She passes through the feast but leaves quickly after seeing Dalinar . Looking for the king, she finds herself outside her study and overhears voices. Her husband is speaking to two men, one a Makabaki and one a Vorin , supposedly ambassadors from the West. On the table between them, she sees strange spheres , which she assumes are meant for fabrials . Gavilar notices her and excuses himself. Navani presses him for answers about the spheres and questions him about missing appointments and responsibilities related to the feast. He, in turn, berates her for rumors of unfaithfulness that have been spreading around the court. They fight about Jasnah's refusal to court Amaram , which becomes a fight about Gavilar's legacy as king. He insults his wife's notion that she is a scholar and says she chose him over Dalinar for power, then leaves. Furious, Navani burns a glyphward which reads, Death. Gift. Death. After the feast, Navani hears of the assassination . She does not believe that her husband is dead until she personally sees his body. She is stunned, hoping her glyphward did not lead to this outcome. She also feels pity, seeing her husband, who thought he was eternal, dead before her. Remembering the strange spheres from his meeting, she checks his pockets. Finding nothing, she conceals her actions. Navani composes herself and begins the process of picking up the pieces among the chaos of Gavilar's death.
POV: Navani Kholin·On page: Elhokar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Renarin Kholin, Dalinar Kholin, Gavilar Kholin, Kalak, Jasnah Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Nale
Source: Coppermind
Part 1: Burdens
Chapter 1: Calluses
In occupied Hearthstone , Lirin provides medical treatment to Herdazian and Alethi refugees. Since the coming of the Everstorm over a year ago, Herdaz has been fighting Odium's armies, only to fall two months ago. Lirin treats a traumatized Alethi man-- Noril , who is missing an arm. The surgeon directs him to a tent for refugees on suicide watch. Abiajan , the singer citylady, oversees his work, ensuring that each refugee is checked for signs of the plague. Laral , while delivering water, tells Lirin that the man he is watching for, Dieno enne Calah --a Herdazian general known as "the Mink"--is near. Lirin intends to connect the man with Kaladin , who will extract him from behind enemy lines. After inspecting the general and his men, Lirin claims that one of them needs surgery in order to get him away from the watchful Parshendi . Roshone provides a distraction with drunken antics. They are nearly at the surgery room when Abiajan interrupts them and demands that Lirin attend her. A visiting Fused has arrived, and he is searching for a man, a spy, bearing slave brands on his forehead. A soldier removes the hood of a refugee in line, revealing Kaladin.
POV: Lirin·On page: Kaladin·Mentioned: Dalinar Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 2: Severed Cords
Kaladin, having been spotted, challenges the Fused to single combat with a gesture of his sword. The Fused waves at others to attack, so Kaladin draws him away by lashing himself upward. The Fused is not like others Kaladin has previously fought, he is able to leave his physical body, appear as a line of light, and manifest himself a new body made out of Voidlight . The enormous opponent appears experienced at fighting Surgebinders , severing Kaladin's spine and throat repeatedly. He fights with an unusual style--grappling and wrestling. Kaladin realizes that he can teleport three times before needing to rest or recharge. Kal and Syl challenge him after he discards his third body, but the Fused refuses to engage, leaving them with a threat. Kaladin is exhausted because of the fight and many sleepless nights. He admits to Syl that her suggested approach to Hearthstone would have been more effective. Shallan Veil is posing as Chanasha , a lowborn lighteyed merchant, in the warcamp market on the Shattered Plains . She negotiates a deal with a shoe merchant and loudly and publicly denounces Dalinar Kholin as king. Shallan, with Veil and Radiant, are attempting to be kidnapped and initiated into the Sons of Honor , but have long been unsuccessful. Adolin's troops are covertly following her for protection. After her business with the merchant, she stops at a winehouse to reconcile her fictional accounts and orders a drink. As she relaxes, Veil encourages her to remember everything from her past. Shallan protests and soon finds her mind becoming unfocused--the wine was drugged, and her ruse has proven successful. She is finally being kidnapped. Kaladin Syl speaks with Kal about his ongoing difficulty sleeping. Kaladin muses on his feeling of disconnect from others, while Syl attempts to cheer him up with impressions of Teft and jokes about toes. They approach Hearthstone again and threaten the singer guards--telling them to retreat until sunset. They engage in a fight, and one singer is killed. The rest retreat. Kaladin reunites with his mother , father, and brother . He goes to meet the Mink but does not find him; the man has slipped away, leaving behind a cloak stuffed with rags. The Herdazian general's men explain that he frequently sneaks off. Kal lets them know that he is evacuating the town. He briefly argues with his father, who is displeased that his son caused a violent disruption, but they are interrupted by the arrival of a gigantic floating platform. Navani's newest creation has come to evacuate the people of Hearthstone.
POV: Kaladin, Shallan Davar·On page: Sylphrena, Pattern·Mentioned: Jasnah Kholin, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Ialai Sadeas, Teft, Navani Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 3: The Fourth Bridge
Navani leans out over the edge of the flying platform to observe the terrain and flora of Alethkar , watching as it is about to land in Hearthstone. The cartographer, Velat , chides Navani for this behavior, but Dalinar says she can do what she wants on her ship. Navani thinks through the design, engineering, organization, and fabrial technology that has allowed them to fly hundreds of miles on this mission. This work has sustained her while mourning Elhokar , and she wishes she could share it with him, even if she thinks her contribution is merely guiding people smarter than her. The flying platform has been named the Fourth Bridge in honor of Kaladin's old team , and the bridge they used has been embedded in the center of the deck as a symbol. There is a full complement of scientists and engineers on the platform, including the Windrunner scribe, Ka , and the ardents Falilar and Rushu . As the Fourth Bridge sets down, a dozen graceful Edgedancers and Lift disembark and head to the town to usher the people to the transport and heal the wounded. The Windrunners are darting through the sky on watch. Navani discusses the benefits and drawbacks of this new military resource with the Thaylen prince consort, Admiral Kmakl , who has joined them for this first test. Navani then heads over to Dalinar as Kaladin and Lirin approach from the town. Dalinar discusses the logistics of the evacuation with a nonplussed Lirin, who then strides away. Kaladin updates Dalinar on the presence of the Fused and requests Stormlight . Dalinar opens Honor's Perpendicularity to renew Kaladin's Stormlight while Navani writes down her observations. Kaladin pays respect to his old bridge before flying off. Dalinar and Navani discuss her notes. Navani is studying Dalinar's bond with the Stormfather , hoping it will offer some clue about the Sibling and the operation of Urithiru's tower fabrial. Navani and Dalinar are surprised by the sudden appearance of the Mink. The Mink is wary of Dalinar, the Blackthorn, but is ready to join with him if they will use the flying platform to rescue Herdazian troops. Dalinar quickly agrees without consulting Navani, which irks her. At this point, the refugees begin to arrive at the Fourth Bridge , herded by the Edgedancers. Before Navani can start enacting her evacuation plan, Lyn lands on the deck and warns of three full flights of incoming Fused. Navani prepares to test the precautions she put in place for this eventuality. Chapters 1-3 Annotation
POV: Navani Kholin·On page: Dalinar Kholin, Kaladin, Lift·Mentioned: Elhokar Kholin, Gavilar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Jasnah Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 4: Architects of the Future
Radiant wakes up being carried over someone's back with a sack on her head. Her captors take the sack off, revealing that she has been carried down into the chasms. Veil takes over as the cultists attempt to initiate "Chanasha" into the Sons of Honor. Veil is disappointed that Ialai didn't show up personally. After Veil questions the cultists, they use a fake fabrial she had sold them earlier to try and detect Lightweavings . It doesn't detect Shallan's Lightweaving, and Veil swears a false oath to follow the cult. Veil then tries to ask for an audience with Ialai, but in the process learns that the Sons have a spy close to Dalinar. Shallan then takes over, stating that she isn't who the Sons think she is.
POV: Shallan Davar·On page: Pattern·Mentioned: Ialai Sadeas, Dalinar Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Gavilar Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 5: Broken Spears
The Windrunners hang mid-air, watching as the Heavenly Ones approach. Kaladin directs some to land and guard the civilians while the rest engage the Fused in their customary one-on-one challenges. He watches for Leshwi as the rest pair off, and when they finally spot each other, Kaladin takes pursuit. Dalinar opens a perpendicularity as the groups fight. Kaladin carefully avoids the civilians as he chases Leshwi just above the ground, and Godeke almost scores a hit on her. Kaladin notices that Leshwi wants to observe the Fourth Bridge while he gets Rock to send an ordinary spear up to him. Lashing the spear towards Leshwi, Kaladin loses concentration momentarily when she dodges the weapon and crashes; this ends the confrontation, so Teft flies over and checks on Kaladin. Kaladin, rebuffing Teft's insistent inquiries as to how he feels, orders him to tell the Windrunners to fight defensively before he engages another Fused. Shallan Shallan, thinking quickly after promising the cultists that she was more than she appears to be, bluffs her way through an explanation that she sells secret military schematics to other kingdoms. She "proves" it to them by showing them a complicated Lightweaving on her notebook but fails to convince them to bring her to Ialai. As they grab her notebook from her, Red replaces her hood and furtively whispers for instructions. They hear a commotion in the distance, which one of the men identifies as Kholin troops that have followed them. Kaladin Kaladin fights the Fused, cutting him to drain away his reserves of Voidlight and then smashing his weapon. After stabbing the Fused so he loses the use of an arm, Kaladin withdraws his weapon and allows his enemy to leave rather than killing him. Lezian darts toward him as a line of red light, but Kaladin evades him. Lyn immediately arrives to check on him, and after a strained conversation he sends her to spread the word about the new type of Fused that moves like a ribbon of light. After landing on the Fourth Bridge , Syl berates Kaladin for his attitude towards Roshone, who is offering to lead some Edgedancers to recover the prisoners at the manor. Kaladin tells Rock about Lezian as well, and he and his family converge on Dalinar to guard him. Kaladin sees Sigzil fighting Leshwi and takes off again. Chapters 4-5 Annotation
POV: Kaladin, Shallan Davar·On page: Dalinar Kholin, Lopen, Sylphrena, Teft, Sigzil, Leshwi, Pattern·Mentioned: Jasnah Kholin, Navani Kholin, Adolin Kholin, Ialai Sadeas
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 6: A Loose Thread
Shallan Radiant hears a rescue party, headed by Adolin , coming for her. Deciding that she needs to meet with Ialai face to face, she demands to go with her captors. Acquiescing, they steer her along a tunnel and up through a building. Shallan maps their route through the streets as they lead her in a circuitous route to a nearby building. She takes off her hood and has time to think before she is directed into the next room, where Ialai Sadeas sits at a table. Veil intends to assassinate the woman, though she knows Dalinar and Jasnah can never sanction such an act. Kaladin Kaladin watches helplessly as Leshwi fights Sigzil. When she stabs him, Kaladin can't restrain himself from flying forward. Seeing Kaladin, Leshwi withdraws her spear just before Sigzil's Stormlight runs out. Knowing that Leshwi was repaying him for having mercy on one of her troops earlier, Kaladin directs Sigzil to drop his spear and bow to the Fused. After telling him to return to the ship, Kaladin accepts Leshwi's challenge. Navani Navani is coordinating the evacuation of the Hearthstone refugees onto the Fourth Bridge . Ardent Falilar gives her an update on the progress, noting that fifteen people refuse to leave. Meanwhile, Renarin is entertaining the children with Lightweaving; while it differs from standard Truthwatcher powers, Navani is surprised it isn't even more bizarre as his spren is corrupted. Navani gives tasks to Falilar to keep him busy and then reflects on what procedural changes they should make for evacuations during a battle. Rushu is the only person still in the command station and Navani pulls her away from watching a solitary Windrunner to observe Dalinar opening Honor's Perpendicularity. Rock and Cord are protecting Dalinar as he does this. Navani is able to see into Shadesmar , but Rushu just feels a powerful "thump". Navani thinks understanding what Dalinar does will help to discover how Urithiru works, which will lead to advancing all the other technologies they are working on. Rushu is still distracted by the solitary Windrunner. When Navani finally looks, she notices that he actually has a black uniform with no shoulder patch. This isn't a Windrunner, it's Moash . Kaladin Kaladin chases Leshwi through the battlefield, noticing that most of his Windrunners were winning their engagements. He engages the Fused, fighting midair with spear and lance. Realizing that their path was bringing them over familiar territory, Kaladin draws ahead of Leshwi and creates a diversion by emptying his canteen onto some lurgs before ducking around the next hill. Leshwi is distracted by the lurgs dropping from their cocoons, and Kaladin gains the upper hand in a brief confrontation. She escapes into the sky again, and Kaladin successfully manages to stab her just as she stabs him. They withdraw their weapons before either dies, however, and then pause when they hear screaming in the distance. They both spot a Fused attacking civilians at the manor, and Leshwi tacitly grants Kaladin permission to deal with the problem. Before he leaves, Kaladin drops Syl in a gesture of surrender and receives a similar gesture in return.
POV: Shallan Davar, Kaladin, Navani Kholin·On page: Ialai Sadeas, Dalinar Kholin, Sigzil, Renarin Kholin, Moash, Sylphrena, Leshwi, Pattern·Mentioned: Adolin Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Elhokar Kholin, Jasnah Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 7: The Rarest Vintage
Shallan Veil talks with Ialai, trying to get her to admit to crimes or reveal some other knowledge. Ialai reveals she has access to the Kholin's inner circle and talks about the Sons of Honor; she believes the Ghostbloods killed Thanadal and Vamah , with Restares being the next on the list. She is sure she will be killed and tells Shallan to search for the rarest vintage in her room before others do. Adolin rushes in with soldiers and Lightweaver squires. Shallan's personas debate and decide not to kill Ialai, but she is poisoned to death with blackbane . Kaladin Using Godeke as hostage, the Pursuer forces Kaladin to fight indoors and activates a fabrial that disables his Lashings and Shardblade . Kaladin manages to defeat the inexperienced singer soldiers. He anticipates the move of the Pursuer and also kills him. Lift comes to get Godeke out and captures the fabrial for Navani to analyze. Shallan Shallan contemplates but discards the idea that she herself poisoned Ialai. She then suspects that the Ghostbloods have a spy among her squires who finished off Ialai when Shallan decided not to. Shallan goes on to search Ialai's room herself.
POV: Shallan Davar, Kaladin·On page: Ialai Sadeas, Adolin Kholin, Gaz, Sylphrena, Lift, Pattern·Mentioned: Elhokar Kholin, Gavilar Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Dalinar Kholin, Navani Kholin, Jasnah Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 8: Surrender
Kaladin goes toward the manor's cellar, and passes a wall of flames. Arriving, he finds Jeber and another man manacled to a wall. He discovers they have been killed with a Shardblade. He finds Moash at a corner of the room, holding a knife to Roshone's neck. Moash slits Roshone's throat, killing him. Kaladin summons his Sylspear, but Moash surrenders. Shallan Shallan thinks about the balance she has reached. She tastes the wines in the room, finding one that tastes different. She takes it to Adolin and he says it's Shin wine. With Pattern's help, she finds carvings on the walls, maps of the Epoch Kingdoms . Behind a stone with a carving of Shin Kak Nish , she finds a notebook. Kaladin Kaladin talks with Moash. Moash says he killed Roshone for revenge. He says the people Kaladin loves will continue to die, and that the only way out is to kill himself. Suddenly, a strong light appears. An illusion of Moash steps toward the light, confident, loved, and Radiant . The real Moash screams, asking for his pain to be taken away, and runs away. The light fades, and Renarin grabs Kaladin, telling him the ship is ready to leave.
POV: Kaladin, Shallan Davar·On page: Sylphrena, Moash, Renarin Kholin, Gaz, Adolin Kholin, Pattern·Mentioned: Ialai Sadeas, Jasnah Kholin, Teft, Elhokar Kholin, Leshwi, Lift
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 9: Contradictions
Kaladin returns to the Fourth Bridge , and is handed a cup of broth by an ardent. The Windrunners are congratulating Laran , who has sworn the Third Ideal , but Kaladin doesn't join them. Syl talks to him about his depression and helping him. Teft comes and tells Kaladin to congratulate Laran, and they talk about Moash. Kaladin takes off, going to transport Dalinar and Navani to the Shattered Plains. Navani Navani is in a wooden sphere, being Lashed toward the Shattered Plains. While stuck in this cramped chamber, she is contemplating the nature of contradictions and studying the Fused's Radiant suppression fabrial. She finds that the fabrial's four garnet design matches a sketch of the Urithiru gemstone pillar. Navani compares her technological fabrials that require trapped spren and clever applications to Soulcasters , that have no technological explanation and manifest as small unresponsive, though seemingly intelligent, spren in Shadesmar. Anxious to arrive, she is amusing herself thinking of Dalinar's style of travel, when she notices a blinking red light on the wall and finds a spanreed ruby attached to the bottom of her table. She attaches it to a reed pen and sets it to writing as soon as her vehicle lands. The unknown messenger warns that her imprisonment of spren is causing more pain than any living person and that she must stop creating these new fabrials. Shallan Shallan and Adolin are in a carriage going toward the Shattered Plains' Oathgate . Shallan thinks about the truths she's suppressing, and about how people would leave her if they knew what she had done. Veil tells Adolin that Ialai was assassinated, and they discuss about whether it would have been right to kill the highprincess. Shallan shows Adolin the notebook, including a list of words containing "Nalathis" , "Scadarial" , and "Tal Dain" , and at the end the name Thaidakar . Shallan thinks she will have to break with the Ghostbloods.
POV: Kaladin, Shallan Davar, Navani Kholin·On page: Adolin Kholin, Dalinar Kholin, Sylphrena, Teft, Pattern·Mentioned: Elhokar Kholin, Moash, Renarin Kholin, Lopen, Jasnah Kholin, Gavilar Kholin, Ialai Sadeas, Torol Sadeas, Gaz, Lift
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 10: A Single Casualty
Syl tells Kaladin, on his way to the Shattered Plains, that Yunfah wants to speak to him. She flies off and returns with Yunfah. The spren tells Kaladin he is still choosing his Radiant. Kaladin suggests Rlain , but the spren refuses, angry. Kaladin orders Yunfah to try and bond Rlain for ten days before he picks anybody else. Kaladin arrives at Narak , and he talks to Dalinar about the one-on-one engagements with the Fused, explaining how they reduce casualties. Dalinar says he'll relieve Kaladin of duty because Kaladin can't function anymore after seeing so many battles and deaths. Kaladin thinks about not being able to speak the Fourth Ideal . Dalinar tells him he'll still be helping with the war effort by teaching and supporting other soldiers. Kaladin says he'll need time to decide what he wants, and Dalinar tells him to report to him in ten days.
POV: Kaladin·On page: Sylphrena, Dalinar Kholin, Navani Kholin, Teft, Renarin Kholin, Sigzil, Lopen·Mentioned: Moash, Ialai Sadeas, Rlain, Leshwi
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 11: Passion and Courage
Venli organizes Leshwi's servants to serve her on the spire. Timbre encourages her to go towards the Second Ideal. Venli introduces Shumin as a new servant, and she is accepted after facing the heights. Dul leads in Yokska , a human woman tailor, to design clothing for Leshwi. Leshwi sends her to teach artform singers instead, stating she is already being doubted as being too soft to humans. Venli then discusses running away from the Fused with Shumin, Dul, and Mazish . Shumin, who has newly joined, expresses an over eagerness. Venli reveals her ability to peek into Shadesmar but pretends it is a Regal ability, to Timbre's disapproval. They scramble and pretend nothing is happening when Leshwi comes to gather them and tell them something is happening that will change the war.
POV: Venli·On page: Leshwi·Mentioned: Kaladin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 12: A Way to Help
Arriving at Urithiru, Kaladin feels depressed despite people wanting to cheer him up. He still tries to maintain the strong façade, but collapses and thinks about Moash as soon as he enters his chambers. Syl fetches Adolin and he arrives to pull Kaladin out for a drink. They go to Jez's Duty winehouse, where Adolin has frequented and blends in well. Kaladin chats with Veil and Radiant about the assassination of Ialai and Shallan's personas. They talk about finding a new relationship for Kaladin, who is reluctant. Kaladin talks with Adolin about his battle shock and Shallan's mental stability. Rock tells Kaladin about his departure to his homeland to face the trials for lifting the bow.
POV: Kaladin·On page: Lopen, Sigzil, Sylphrena, Teft, Adolin Kholin, Shallan Davar, Pattern·Mentioned: Renarin Kholin, Dalinar Kholin, Ialai Sadeas, Jasnah Kholin, Moash, Hoid, Rlain
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 13: Another Hunt
After dealing with her administrative duties, Shallan uncovers a spanreed communication she has received from Sja-anat confirming that the Unmade is sending more of her corrupted spren to the tower. Wanting to visit her brothers, she arrives at their rooms and settles down to sketch by the hearth with Jushu . When memories of her childhood cause her to sketch to become disturbing, she switches to looking through Ialai's notebook. Balat and Eylita arrive with a friend, and they go onto the balcony to talk. Veil finally recognizes the voice as belonging to Mraize , so she protectively lingers in the doorway until Mraize subtly indicates he wishes to speak with her and takes his leave. She asks Balat about his friend "Gobby" and is concerned by the story he tells. Rather than fetching Adolin, who is off riding Gallant , Shallan approaches Mraize alone, disguised as a guard. Mraize commends Veil on taking down the Sons of Honor and asks her if she is fully committed to the Ghostbloods. After getting distracted by his chicken , Shallan tells him that she can't be committed if she doesn't know what their goal is. Mraize reveals that they are looking for ways to transport Stormlight and guides Radiant into the revelation that they want to take it off Roshar . After Radiant declines Mraize's offer of another job, Shallan tells him of Sja-anat's message and tries to uncover the identity of the spy who killed Ialai. Mraize then mentions that Ialai had to die because they don't want anyone to uncover what Gavilar was truly after; he baits Shallan with further knowledge, and she finally asks for details about the job. He instructs her to find Restares in Lasting Integrity , promising that all of his secrets will then be open to her. Shallan leaves without answering, but she knows she will accept because she wants the knowledge too badly.
POV: Shallan Davar·On page: Pattern, Mraize·Mentioned: Adolin Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Ialai Sadeas, Dalinar Kholin, Renarin Kholin, Gavilar Kholin
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 14: Voice
Venli accompanies Leshwi throughout Kholinar as she seeks information on the newly returned Fused. The next morning, she is called to a conclave of the most important singers in the city. She and the other Voices to the Fused climb to the fifth floor and take their places by their masters. The Nine open the meeting by humming something Venli can't translate but which indicates that Odium has his eye on their gathering. They begin by discussing their recent conflict in Alethkar, including the workings of the Fourth Bridge and the suppressor device the humans had captured. This leads to an interrogation of Lezian, who claims that the device malfunctioned and states that he will shortly leave to pursue Kaladin. After Leshwi explains to Venli about the Desolations and Lezian's tradition, she goads Lezian into losing his temper and manages to gain the Nine's concession that she has the first claim on Kaladin's life. Raboniel arrives and directly proposes that they seize Urithiru from the humans. Several others bring up objections, but Raboniel explains her plan and declares that it is time to use Taravangian's inside information, even at the risk of exposing him. Meanwhile, Leshwi explains to Venli why she distrusts Raboniel and is wary of her claim to have found a method of stopping the endless cycle of their war. Vyre speaks up, reminding Raboniel to take Kaladin into account, but she dismisses the threat that he poses in favor of focusing on Dalinar and Jasnah. The Nine approve the proposal, and Leshwi hurries after Raboniel as the latter leaves. After Raboniel accepts the gift of Leshwi's staff of servants, Leshwi directs Venli to report to her in secret. Venli is emboldened to ask if there might be a way for her people to be free of the conflict, and after her frustration at Leshwi's rebuke, Timbre grows excited at the possible opportunity to learn how to harness their Radiant powers while at Urithiru.
POV: Venli·On page: Moash, Leshwi, Raboniel·Mentioned: Kaladin, Jasnah Kholin, Dalinar Kholin, Taravangian, Eshonai
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 15: The Light and the Music
Ten days after the mission to Hearthstone, Dalinar announces Kaladin's change in status, and Kaladin promotes Sigzil and Skar to take over his previous duties. Immediately after the meeting, he goes to the sparring grounds in search of Zahel . Hearing that he is on laundry duty, Kaladin walks toward an outdoor area where they hang clothes to dry. On the way, he passes by a field where Rlain is overseeing rockbud farming with the new listener method that he has revealed to the humans. Kaladin gains Rlain's attention, and they meet in the field to speak. Rlain is at first ecstatic to hear that there is an honorspren that will bond him, but once Kaladin explains that he had told Yunfah either to bond Rlain or leave, Rlain disappointedly refuses the bond. He tells Kaladin about the prejudice he had faced as a parshman that had landed him in Bridge Four, explaining that he wants a spren who will choose him for who he is. Leaving, Kaladin finds Zahel at the edge of the plateau hanging laundry. He hangs back, and Zahel finally asks him what he wants. When Kaladin explains that he has been forced into retirement, Zahel intuits that he thinks he might belong with the ardentia. Telling Kaladin to prove that he belongs there, Zahel initiates a fight. Kaladin summons Syl as a sword, and Zahel strikes back at him with the laundry; as they fight, Zahel gets Kaladin to search out why he really fights. He asks if Kaladin believes in the Almighty , and they discuss the topic until Kaladin finds himself on the ground with his own knife to his head. Zahel tells him to return when he can truly hate the fight. Kaladin asks him if he is like Hoid , which leads to an explanation of Zahel's understanding of Invested entities before Kaladin finally leaves him.
POV: Kaladin·On page: Dalinar Kholin, Sigzil, Sylphrena, Rlain·Mentioned: Adolin Kholin, Navani Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Jasnah Kholin, Hoid, Szeth-son-son-Vallano
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 16: An Unknown Song
Navani is visiting Szeth in his cell sixteen days after the test of the Fourth Bridge . She compares the sphere that Gavilar gave Szeth as he was dying to a sphere of Voidlight stolen from a singer. While both glow an impossible purple-on-black that Rushu describes as hyperviolet, the air warps around the sphere Szeth had provided, evoking a wrongness. Navani is befuddled as to where Gavilar could have gotten it let alone all the other spheres she saw that night. Since the test, Navani has been working on practical issues in the tower and has not heard again from the spanreed messenger. Navani turns her attention to Szeth and his strange Blade ; she wants to sink the Blade in the ocean like they'd done to the gemstone imprisoning the Thrill and execute Szeth, but Dalinar wants him alive and thinks the Blade is safest in his possession. Szeth has been granted his simple requests of white clothes, a shaving razor, a blanket, a bath a day, and lots of light. Szeth says he has found a better way by swearing to Dalinar, but this doesn't relieve Navani's fears. Navani asks Szeth about the night of Gavilar's assassination again. Szeth recounts how Gavilar trusted him with the sphere as he was not sent from the men Gavilar feared had sent him, then after writing down Gavilar's last words, Szeth hid the sphere. Szeth had retrieved the sphere a month ago, only after Navani explicitly asked if Gavilar had given him anything. Navani would like to study the Blade, but being around Szeth makes her sick. Szeth is pleased that when he asks Navani if she hates him, she says yes. An hour later, Navani is up on Urithiru's Cloudwalk . She marvels at the design of the tower and the views, now being enjoyed by many diverse people. Navani meets up with Gavinor and his nursemaid and gives him a big hug. Gavinor has been improving since his trauma in Kholinar, but is still very solemn. He tells Navani about riding horses with Adolin and asks to have sword training with Dalinar. Navani laments that Elhokar is missing out on all of this. Leaving Gavinor with his nursemaid, she goes to the research station. The head scientist, Brother Benneh , tells her about the atmospheric conditions around the tower which adapt to the storms. Navani spots Dalinar walking with Taravangian and notices the tension between them that has been there since it was discovered Taravangian was using Szeth as an assassin. Dalinar's image is also suffering since he released his memoir that detailed the atrocities he committed in the Kholin unification war. Navani moves on to talk with the engineers constructing a set of telescopes, Talnah and Nem . She asks them to inspect the strange sphere, and they note that it is a practically flawless gem that will hold Voidlight for years. The engineers also note the wrongness of the light and ask to study it further. Navani is hesitant, but agrees as long as they keep it secret. Navani heads to the meeting chamber and reviews notes she took of Rlain's observation of the strange sphere. He said it felt painful and that it has a song he has never heard. Adolin and Shallan arrive for the meeting, escorting the Mink and discussing his escapology techniques. Dalinar arrives and squabbles with Shallan over Adolin. The Mink implies that his wife and son died in a war caused by Dalinar. The Mink asks where the maps are, and Dalinar and Shallan summon the Stormlight map.
POV: Navani Kholin·On page: Szeth-son-son-Vallano, Dalinar Kholin, Taravangian, Adolin Kholin, Shallan Davar, Pattern·Mentioned: Gavilar Kholin, Elhokar Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Nale, Rlain, Eshonai
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 17: A Proposal
Navani watches carefully as Dalinar and Shallan form a map of Roshar from Stormlight. The Mink, enthralled, closely examines it and tests out various features that the Radiants can employ. Jasnah and Wit walk in, and Jasnah immediately asks for the Mink's thoughts on their situation. They discuss the status of the conflict while the Mink walks through the areas mentioned. Asking why they are showing him such information, Dalinar admits that they want his help and promises to help free Herdaz in return. The Mink tumbles to the fact that they are preparing for Taravangian to betray them and brings up their planned offensive to retake Alethkar. Declaring that he is willing to help the man who could write a book like Oathbringer , he tells them that it would be a mistake to attack Alethkar. He points them toward Emul instead, and Jasnah agrees to get him more detailed reports to see if his idea is really workable. After dismissing him with Adolin and Shallan so the couple can get him the maps and reports he needs, Jasnah persuades Dalinar that it is best to listen to him and forego Alethkar for now. She sends Wit to fetch the Heralds , and they discuss Jasnah's new law to free all Alethi slaves while they wait. When Wit returns with Ash and Taln , Jasnah has Ash tell Dalinar about the possibility of restoring the Oathpact . Then they discuss Shinovar , which Jasnah touts as one more reason to win stability in Makabak .
POV: Navani Kholin·On page: Shallan Davar, Dalinar Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Hoid, Adolin Kholin, Taln, Pattern·Mentioned: Elhokar Kholin, Torol Sadeas, Taravangian, Jezrien, Szeth-son-son-Vallano
Source: Coppermind
Chapter 18: Surgeon
The Fourth Bridge is approaching the Shattered Plains, so Kaladin operates the Oathgate to take himself there, then Lashes himself into the sky, landing on the ship. An hour later, he leads his parents up to the sixth floor to show them the neighborhood that has been arranged for the former Hearthstone residents. Syl, Hesina, and Lirin banter in the hallways before they reach the rooms. Kaladin shows them around the area, assuming that Lirin disapproves of the arrangements because of his silence. Syl excitedly leads the group to the rooms they have prepared for Kaladin's family and gives them a tour of a sitting room with a full bookshelf, Oroden's room, and a fully stocked surgery. Lirin finally admits that he thinks his kind of medical care is obsolete now, but Kaladin is able to explain to him that it isn't. At Syl's prompting, Kaladin tells his overjoyed parents that he has retired from battle and wants to be a surgeon with his father.
POV: Kaladin·On page: Sylphrena·Mentioned: Sigzil, Teft, Dalinar Kholin, Navani Kholin, Jasnah Kholin, Elhokar Kholin, Taravangian
Source: Coppermind