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Difference between revisions of "Summary:Words of Radiance"
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(an enormous amount of minor tweaks, standardizing things and fixing errors. The only "new" standard I didn't apply was ordering the characters by appearance.) |
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Shallan sits on the deck of the [[Wind's Pleasure]], bundled up because of the cold. She's observing and taking notes on the complex geometric spren, who she had named [[Pattern]]. Pattern asks about the concept of food and replies, "Terrible! Destruction!" when Shallan describes eating. Shallan notes that Pattern is connecting increasingly complex thoughts. When she asks him about his first memories, Pattern starts to vibrate and Shallan can hear wind blowing through branches, and the deck starts to turn to a dirt path in front of her. Shallan is horrified and the images vanish. Just then, [[Yalb]] comes over and introduces her to "[[New kid]]", a six-foot-tall hulk of a man. Yalb tricks New Kid into doing galley duty for him, which Pattern seems to like. Shallan asks him if he likes lies, to which pattern replies that he likes "good lies ... True lies."
Shallan heads below deck to her cabin where she gets caught up in her research. Hours go by before she closes her books, and her spheres are getting dim. She feels satisfied, her life seems to finally be coming together. She fishes some newly-restored spheres out of her safepouch to replace those in the goblet, but strangely they are completely dun. When she goes to ask Jasnah for some new spheres, Shallan notices that Jasnah is uncharacteristically disconcerted. She seems exhausted, and her poise has been replaced by worry. They discuss the return of [[Surgebinding]], and Jasnah asks that Shallan focus on learning the [[Surgebinding#Illumination|Illumination]] Surge rather than [[Surgebinding#Transformation|Soulcasting]], as the latter can be dangerous. Jasnah also reveals that she is worried about the [[parshmen]], who she thinks are secretly the [[Voidbringers]]. They worry that because the parshmen are so integrated into Vorin society they could cause utter collapse if they rebelled. Jasnah speaks of how in ages past, the [[Herald|Heralds]] would return before [[Desolation|Desolations]] and train the [[Knights Radiant]]. She reveals that she hopes to find a path to [[Urithiru]], the legendary city of the Knights Radiant, in the [[Shattered Plains]]. There she will try to find information that will convince the Alethi leaders to expel the parshmen.
Before Shallan leaves, Jasnah gives her a book that contains information on the [[Order of Lightweavers]]. The book is called ''[[Words of Radiance (in-world)|Words of Radiance]]''. Shallan goes to sleep planning to read the book in the morning.
She is awoken by screams, shouts, and smoke.
;Plot summary
[[Eshonai]] leads the Parshendi as they return to their home plateau after successfully harvesting a gemheart that was brought back by [[Devi]], who is allowed to carry it as a reward for spotting the chrysalis. She wonders where Dalinar is, and feels a need to speak with him, but she can't join battles since her leg is still injured from when Kaladin stabbed her during the [[Battle of the Tower]]. She wanders through the ancient ruins on the plateau they named [[Narak]], or Exile, where her people came to escape their gods. She enters the [[Hall of Art]] to observe the heretofore futile efforts to rediscover a new form for making art, as an incremental step towards discovering other more useful forms, but [[Varanis]], one of her lieutenants, is unsuccessful in trying to attract creationspren to his novice attempts at painting. She contemplates the six current known forms, and laments the loss of the hundreds that their old songs mention, thinking her people may die off if they don't become more versatile.
She leaves the Hall, and encounters three mateforms who are playing idly in a pool, and berates them for being unproductive. She reflects back on how she and the rest of the Parshendi leaders conspired to assassinate Gavilar, to prevent the Parshendi gods from returning, at the cost of the slow annihilation of her people. She returns to her home, and finds her sister, [[Venli]], and tells her of the plateau run and that Dalinar was not present on the Alethi side. Eshnonai says that she wants to talk to Dalinar and sue for peace but Venli thinks that he wouldn't accept, and says that she discovered stormform. Eshonai exclaims that this could cause their gods to return, but Venli says that is a moot point since the Alethi now have Surgebinders, though Eshonai isn't sure about this. [[Demid]], Venli's former mate, agrees that they should risk using stormform to protect their people from being wiped out. Venli says she wants to raise the issue with the Five, and Eshonai says she will consider supporting it.
;Plot summary
[[Ym]] is in his shop trimming a small block of wood. The cobbler had been taught to make the wooden forms himself, so he does. It's the way it's been done for centuries, which is good enough for him.
A spren moves in the dimness to his right. It has been coming around more often lately, and Ym had never seen one like it before. As it moves it looks like specks of light, like those from a piece of crystal suspended in a sunbeam. When it stops, light creeps upward from it, like small plants growing, which withdraw when it starts moving again.
They talk briefly about the shoes, and that Ym finds himself needing more shoes for children lately. The spren shakes suddenly, and warns "He Comes." Anxious, Ym stands up looking for "the watcher," a man in a military coat, but finds only a child peering through the door.
Ym invites the urchin in, who's feet are dirty and scraped. The boy is [[Iriali]], with their characteristic golden skin and hair, and walks with a limp. Ym offers him a pair of shoes in exchange for his story. As the boy speaks, Ym cleans his feet to fit the shoes. One of the feet has a nasty cut on the bottom, infected and crawling with rotspren. Ym cleans it and puts on antiseptic, then subtly uses some Stormlight to heal the cut. They speak of Ym's religious beliefs, and the boy leaves after receiving the shoes.
The spren whispers "He's still here," and Ym spins as he hears a rustling behind him. A [[Nale|dark-skinned man]] with a crescent scar on his cheek steps out of the shadows in the back of the shop. The man accuses Ym of commiting a murder in his youth. Ym tells the man that it wasn't intentional, but the man says he is guilty nonetheless, then summons a [[Shardblade]]. Ym runs, but he is old and quickly tires. He stops, trying to pull out a sphere for some Stormlight, but the dark-skinned man slams him against a wall and stabs him in the chest with the Shardblade.
{{Anchor|Interlude 3}}
*[[Vstim]]
*[[Axies]]
*[[Ral-na]]
}}
;Plot summary
Rysn is traveling with Vstim to the [[Reshi]] isles to do trading, but Vstim is very sick. Gu, the flotilla's guide, takes them there, guiding them since the islands move. Rysn is quite shocked and amazed when she realizes that the moving islands are huge great shells. The group lands on one of the islands, and Vstim tells Rysn that she must go and trade with the Reshi, as he is too ill to do so. He tells her to be bold, and although Rysn is nervous, she agrees to do so. Kyrlm and Nlent, two of the guards, accompany her as she ascends the island. While Rysn is observing the island, she sees Axies hanging upside down. They talk for a bit, and then Rysn and the guards continue their way up the island.
They make it to the king, [[Ral-na]], and as Rysn approaches to speak with him, Talik, a Reshi trader, comes forward to speak on his behalf. Talik is disappointed that Vstim himself did not come to trade, and initially turns her away. Rysn is insistent in her trade, wishing to prove herself to Vstim, and the king eventually relents so that Rysn is speaking to the king, and not to Talik. The Reshi are opposed to trading with Rysn since they do not yet respect her and do not know if they can trust her. The king eventually dismisses Rysn, telling her that she did very well.
Rysn, worrying that Vstim is dying, instead insists on talking to the greatshell that is the island, [[Relu-na]]. She slides down the side of the head on a rope and begins to talk with it, pleading her case. Talik attempts to bring her back on top of the island, but Relu-na takes a bite of the fruit at the bottom of the rope and breaks it, causing Rysn to fall. As she crashes into the water, Relu-na cushioned her fall, and Rysn fell unconscious.
Rysn wakes up in a hut on the island with her legs paralyzed. She sees Vstim, a Reshi healer, and Talik around her. They scold her for her stupidity, but Rysn insists that it was boldness, to allow for the trade. Rysn realizes that it was all a test that Vstim had set up for her to trade, and feels foolish. Vstim reveals that the trade was for a [[larkin]] corpse, but that Rysn has been granted a live larkin by the island itself. Vstim and Rysn will stay on the island while Rysn's legs heal.
{{Anchor|Interlude 4}}
Shallan travels towards the [[Shattered Plains]] on one of Tvlakv's wagons. She sits next to Bluth, one of the stoic mercenaries hired by Tvlakv, who drives the wagon. She distracts herself by studying their surroundings - the flora of the southern [[Frostlands]] is completely unfamiliar to her.
When they stop at midday for a meal, Shallan asks Tvlakv to set up one of the empty slave wagons as a carriage for her. Wooden sides, typically used as protection for the slaves during [[highstorm|highstorms]], are hooked onto the sides of the cage to provide her some privacy. She also gets the cage's key from Tvlakv, though he seems hesitant to give it to her.
She crawls across the newly enclosed wagon - her feet are injured and standing on them is painful enough to make [[Spren#Painspren|painspren]] appear - and opens the lid to Jasnah's trunk. Pattern, who had been instructed to stay hidden, waits inside. Shallan tells him that the notes need to reach the Shattered Plains, and that she intends to finish Jasnah's work of finding [[Urithiru]] and convincing the [[Alethi]] that the return of the [[Voidbringers]] is imminent. Pattern confirms that the threat from the Voidbringers is real and that they are the reason he was sent to her. As she continues to go through the contents of the trunk, Shallan finds a sketch she had done of Jasnah and is overcome with grief over her mentor's death, as well as the loss of the rest of her sketches. She also laments the loss of the broken [[Soulcasting#Soulcasting_by_the_use_of_a_fabrial|Soulcaster]], which is at the bottom of the ocean, and speculates that the attackers could have been from the same group as [[Kabsal]] and [[Lin Davar|her father]] ([[Ghostbloods|The Ghostbloods]]).
On the arrival of Renarin and Adolin, Kaladin reports to them that the area is relatively secure. Adolin confronts Kaladin over his insolence and mentions his suspicions as well, but Kaladin retorts that his place is only to protect Adolin.
Syl tells Kaladin she does not like either Adolin or Renarin, and it is implied this is because they carry Shardblades, though Syl says the blades did not used to be the abominations she now considers them to be.
Kaladin surveys the area and sees someone who appears to be suspicious and goes to investigate. Kaladin speaks with Zahel, an ex-soldier ardent, who is observing Adolin and Renarin train, and who tells Kaladin that he isn't going to harm either of the brothers. Zahel says the two Kholins need to be chosen by a master, and as he speaks, he is summoned by Adolin to join the other gathered ardents. Kaladin asks if Zahel seems odd to Syl, and she replies that all humans seem odd to her except for Rock.
{{Anchor|Chapter 17|}}
:''Tanatishes 1173''
Shallan sits next to Bluth who is guiding their wagon, and distracts herself from worry by talking about plants that she
found. She also draws some sketches of a leaf, the santhid, and Bluth in one of Jasnah's old notebooks, to try to recreate her lost sketch collection. The caravan stops, and Shallan sees smoke on the horizon, which indicates that the deserters are following them and not worried about being seen. Tvlakv says the deserters will give up the chase eventually as long as they keep moving with few stops.
:''Tanatishes 1173''
Kaladin and Lopen guard Adolin and Renarin as they take instruction from Zahel. Lopen leaves to carry out some orders and Kaladin patrols the grounds and stops to observe Zahel and Renarin. Zahel tells Renarin to jump off the roof of the arena to practice being comfortable with his Shardplate. Kaladin criticizes Renarin's clumsiness but Zahel dismisses this and praises Renarin's attitude. Zahel offers to train Kaladin but Kaladin declines. Zahel tests Kaladin's abilities with a blunted Shardblade to make sure he is ready to protect Adolin and Renarin. Zahel defeats Kaladin in a mock duel, though Kaladin did enough simulated damage to slow down the weapons master, and believes he would have given enough protection for Renarin to escape. Adolin makes an insulting comment which enrages Kaladin, and he attacks Adolin. Adolin smashes Kaladin with a plate enhanced punch, and Kaladin is stunned and severely injured as Zahel berates the prince for his carelessness. Kaladin surreptitiously heals himself with Stormlight and tries to attack Adolin again but runs out of strength and collapses. Zahel compliments Kaladin on his tenacity and quick-thinking but says it won't be enough against shardbearers, and says he won't force Kaladin to train. Kaladin asks Syl why he lost strength suddenly and Syl observes that Kaladin was not protecting anyone when it happened.
{{Anchor|Chapter 19|}}
;Plot summary
:''Five and a half years ago''
Shallan is wearing a new silk dress, a gift from her father. The dress is that of a woman as she is now old enough to cover her safehand. She starts to think of her mother, then stops, like a candle suddenly snuffed. Two maids bustle past, getting ready for guests. Shallan overhears one softly whisper "She saw. Poor thing was in the room when it happened. Hasn't spoken a word in five months. The master killed his own wife and her lover." Shallan thinks that because she does not speak, apparently the maids do not think she can hear either. At times, she wonders if she is invisible or not real.
The door suddenly slams open and her brother [[Helaran Davar|Helaran]] enters. Grinning wide, he gives her a gift of charcoal pencils and thick, expensive paper. He has missed her drawings and asks her to practice more. He tells her she needs to be strong and that he needs her to look after the other brothers for him. The door slams open again, this time admitting her father, [[Lin Davar]]. Her father and brother start arguing, and Helaran calls their father a murderer and summons a [[Shardblade]]. Lin cuts off, putting his hands up and says "you don't know what you think you know. Your mother-", but Helaran cuts him off. Shallan manages to say "No" to Helaran, stopping him from killing Lin. Helaran leaves, saying that he has important work to do, but warns their father that he will be checking in on the house.
Shallan listens to Gaz' and Red's stories of how they were recruited into the Alethi army and how they ended up deserting due to the lack of progress on the Vengeance Pact because of the greed of the Highprinces and because of their service oaths binding them to virtual slavery. Vathah derides Gaz for being overly solicitous of Shallan, but Shallan defends Gaz and argues that the deserters have redeemed themselves and insults Vathah to the point that he leaves. Shallan asks about Gaz' debt but he refuses to discuss it and leaves.
Shallan studies Jasnah's notes about the Shattered Plains and Urithiru. Shallan complains to Pattern about how the historians weren't as factual and objective as she would like but Pattern says that truth is subjective. Shallan and Pattern discuss spren and Voidbringers, which disturbs Pattern, and Pattern describes what spren are, mentioning three shards: Honor, Cultivation and Odium, speaking in a high-pitched tone when mentioning the latter name.
One of Shallan's slaves delivers a summons to visit Tyn, and the two get together to eat dinner. Tyn asks about Shallan's identity and says that she has sent inquiries about Shallan Davar and deduced that her story is so improbable that Shallan is really a con artist and impersonator trying to pull off a scam. Tyn offers to help Shallan with her con and Shallan plays along, implying that she has dangerous secrets about Dalinar.
Adolin checks on Renarin and finds out from a guard that Renarin intended to join battle at one of the bridges but had one of his fits after he summoned his Shardblade.
Jakamav comments that Adolin will eventually lose a duel but Adolin complains that he is having difficulty getting anyone to accept a duel. Jakamav reveals that Sadeas has been bribing people to refuse duels but says that Adolin should try challenging Eranniv. Adolin asks to talk about his relationship problems at a winehouse that evening but Jakamav declines, stating that it is not popular to be seen around Adolin due to Dalinar's proclamations.
Adolin stalks off, frustrated, to ride his horse. Renarin tells Adolin that he didn't have a fit when he froze on the battlefield and that it was simply fear. Adolin notices Renarin isn't wearing his glasses. Renarin comments cryptically that they need to be ready for the coming storm.
;Plot summary
:''Five years ago''
Shallan is outside in the gardens of their estate sketching. She longs to stay out there, where people do not scream at each other, where there is peace. Unfortunately, it is a fake peace, cultivated like the garden itself. She hears shouts from the nearby manor house, which cause her to tense up and ruin the sketch she's working on. She thinks of her brother [[Helaran Davar|Helaran]], who brings her the fine sketching paper. His returns home are unpredictable and short, and no one knows where he goes when he leaves. She stares at a blank piece of paper, and loses track of time.
Eventually noticing the sky has darkened, Shallan packs up her things and heads inside. Her father has been throwing feasts regularly, and it is almost time for the one tonight. She turns up the stairs to get ready. There would be a new dress for her to wear as she sits quietly. She suspects her father doesn't like that she has begun speaking again. Perhaps he does not want her to be able to speak of things she has seen. Her mind goes blank.
:''Ishanach 1173''
Tyn guides a chull wagon and gives friendly advice on being a con artist and impersonator to Shallan. Tyn explains how
carefree she is and how fleeting personal belongings and missions are to her, and that her most recent mission ended without a positive resolution, though Shallan senses some tension when Tyn says this.
contemplating how it grows less sweet as he dwells on the pointlessness of the fights for gemhearts and the lack of progress toward his ultimate goals of conquest. Amaram tells Sadeas that his ploy of carelessness in going on the raid out of turn failed since the correct armies showed up before he left with the gemheart, but Sadeas replies that he doesn't care. Amaram expresses disapproval of Sadeas and says he wants peace with Elhokar and Dalinar, but Sadeas says that he knows how ruthless Amaram really is. Amaram acknowledges this, but says that there is a bigger picture to be concerned with. Amaram asks if Sadeas ever worries about the costs of war, and Sadeas replies that a realistic viewpoint is necessary to achieve anything in life. Hatham confronts Sadeas, who concedes the gemheart and proclaims that he was bored, and then leaves to return to the warcamp.
Sadeas sits at the dueling arena, contemplating that his fashionable clothes are very uncomfortable and wishing that he could wear a simple uniform like Dalinar's if that didn't send the wrong message. Sadeas thinks about aging and desire to achieve a form of immortality through conquest. Ialai shows up and praises Sadeas' stratagem of giving away the gemheart to undermine Dalinar's accusations of greed. Sadeas says he is not pleased that Eranniv accepted the duel despite his efforts to block Adolin from having any dueling opponents, and that he wants Dalinar's plan to fail so that he can rebuild their kingdom to his own specifications. As Adolin duels with Eranniv, Ialai described the failed assassination attempt on Elhokar, and they debate the ramifications of it, as Sadeas ponders that Elhokar must die and Dalinar must be dealt with so that he can wipe the slate clean. Sadeas and Ialai decide to expose Dalinar as a hypocrite since he didn't involve Sadeas in the assassination investigation which would be only proper as Sadeas is the Highprince of Information. Sadeas says he will renounce his post in protest when it will cause the most harm to Dalinar's strategy. Sadeas realizes that Adolin is toying with his opponent and that he is very skilled and clever to win while appearing to be losing. Sadeas tells Ialai to stop from interfering with Adolin's dueling aspirations to try to take advantage of Adolin's hotheadedness, and to invite Ruthar on his next hunt.
{{Anchor|Chapter 30|}}
:''Ishanev 1173''
Shallan is excited to see a small naturally occurring diverse ecosystem of plants and small animals protected by a rock overhang, and has their caravan diverted to investigate it. Shallan settles down to draw sketches of the small garden and is joined by Gaz, who requests that she draw a sketch of him, to which she replies that she will. Shallan draws a quick portrait with slight modifications from reality to make Gaz appear more impressive and Gaz is very appreciative. Vathah tells Shallan they are stopping for the night and Pattern tells Shallan there will be trouble, and Shallan agrees. Shallan draws a bunch of sketches of the thicket, then draws whatever floats into her mind, including a rocky ocean shore with some indistinct figures of which one reminds her of Yalb and a woman taking a hammer and chisel to a statue, though Shallan does not know why she drew the last picture.
Tyn tells Shallan she has artistic talent but should practice forgery instead of drawing, and that she wants to introduce Shallan to some friends in the Shattered Plains. She also claims Shallan needs a dose of realism in order to be ready for the real life of a criminal. Tyn asks if Shallan wants to back out of their criminal enterprise, but Shallan says she is committed and that her planned scam is to impersonate the betrothed of Adolin Kholin. Tyn gives Shallan some advice on carrying out her love scam. As they talk, Shallan worries about the state of the betrothal even though it is secondary to her research on Urithiru and the Voidbringers, and about what to do with Tyn when the fake scam falls through, though she is also excited as well.
Syl tells Kaladin something is wrong and that the One who Hates is coming, and that something bad is going to happen. Heeding Syl's warning, he goes into Dalinar's and Navani's small room to tell them they need to take the king and leave the palace and head into the warcamp. Kaladin explains that his instincts sense danger and Dalinar agrees to trust his senses and leave the palace despite Elhokar's dissent. Kaladin sends Beld and Hobber to scout their way out and leaves Moash and Ralinor to guard their rear while Mart and Eth stay with the king. As they flee through the palace, they find a dark hallway where the spheres were drained of light and a hole cut into the palace through the rock wall. Szeth appears, Stormlight leaking from his body.
Dalinar orders Renarin to take the king and flee. Dalinar, Adolin and Kaladin stay to fight Szeth, Dalinar and Kaladin armed with spears and Adolin with his Shardblade. The three rush Szeth but he eludes them using a Lashing, then binds Adolin to the ceiling. Kaladin and Dalinar both stab Szeth with their spears, but he chops the weapons in half with his blade and smacks down Dalinar as he heals using Stormlight. Adolin falls to the ground when the Lashing runs out, and he stays down. Kaladin uses his spear like a quarterstaff and with Syl flying around him attacks Szeth, hitting him a few times and forcing him to draw in more Stormlight. Szeth is able to dodge a strike and stab Kaladin through his arm with the Shardblade, causing it to go numb and lifeless, and Kaladin then is kicked into a wall, and slumps in frustration as Szeth goes to chase down his prey.
Syl tells Kaladin that Szeth is not a radiant but something worse and pleads for Kaladin to get up. Dalinar confronts Szeth and says he won't let the king die but Szeth says he is there to kill Dalinar instead. Dalinar catches the Shardblade as Szeth swings it at him for a killing blow, and Kaladin arrives and knocks both himself and Szeth through the hole in the wall into open air.
Adolin ponders the strangeness of Kaladin apparently healing from a Shardblade wound and surviving a great fall but dismisses his suspicions as paranoia. Elhokar goes to get more wine and they find a series of glyphs carved into the wood and Renarin says that in thirty-eight days, it will be the end of all nations.
Kaladin finds Beld's corpse and laments that he failed the bridgeman, but Syl says that he died protecting and that was Beld's choice. Kaladin asks about how skilled the assassin was and if Kaladin has more words to speak, but Syl says that though there are more words, he is not ready yet to speak them. Kaladin asks how the assassin could have found a spren to bond and yet still slaughter without honor and compares that to his killing of Parshendi, and Syl says the two situations are totally different since Kaladin is protecting, and that Szeth's Shardblade is somehow different and that he uses the wrong amount of Stormlight.
Kaladin finds Hobber still alive, but with both legs disabled, and says he will stay with Bridge Four as a cook, and brings him back to get medical attention.
:''Ishanah 1173''
Shallan reads a dispatch on Tyn's spanreed about the political situation in Jah Keved and dwells on the consequences for her family if there is a succession war. Tyn asks if Shallan personally knows any of the important players for the Veden throne but Shallan says she wasn't important enough. Tyn says they might want to go to Jah Keved to take advantage of the chaos once they are done in the Shattered Plains. The spanreed report continues with information about the deserters and reward bounties from their former leader, Sadeas. Shallan is angered that Tyn wants to turn them in and says that she promised them amnesty but Tyn scoffs at this and says that a con artist can't afford to believe their own lies and that Shallan has no chance to get Sadeas to forgive the deserters. Shallan is upset at this and worries that she will soon get caught up between the truth and Tyn's misguided notions over who Shallan really is. Tyn continues reading the spanreed and gleefully announces that there is good news and Shallan reads the printout about Jasnah being dead and the Wind's Pleasure being lost with all hands. Tyn confirms that this was her job to the south.
The spanreed also mentions about Jasnah taking a new ward, a girl named Shallan. Tyn reacts immediately, slamming Shallan to the ground and asking if Jasnah somehow survived. Shallan says no. Pattern distracts Tyn briefly but it is not enough for Shallan to break free. Tyn draws her sword to kill Shallan, but Shallan uses Stormlight to create an illusion to distract Tyn long enough for her to summon her Shardblade and kill her.
Vathah, Gaz and the other deserters appear at the tent, saying they heard a voice telling them to help Shallan, then heard Shallan's screams and fought their way through Tyn's soldiers to help Shallan. Vathah sees the Shardblade and says that Shallan could have killed all the bandits on her own. Shallan tells them the voice they heard was her spren, Tyn was an assassin, and they are to search Tyn's tent for any documents for Shallan to read. Shallan watches as the spanreed continues to write that Tyn's employers, who happen to be the Ghostbloods, want to hire her for another job and inquires if she would like to have a meeting arranged in the warcamps. Shallan realizes that the city the Ghostbloods are investigating is Urithiru, and replies yes.
:''Ishaches 1173''
Pattern opens a lock on one of Tyn's trunks for Shallan and she examines the contents, finding clothing and spheres among other useful items.
Vathah reports to Shallan that he has burned all the bodies of Tyn and her guards, and she says that she will deal with the skeletons to avoid uncomfortable questions. Macob sends a servant to retrieve a palanquin for Shallan, then goes his own way.
As Shallan enters the warcamp, accompanied by Vathah and his deserter guards, and her slaves, she frets over her betrothal and plans to continue Jasnah's research. She learns that Dalinar is in conference with Elhokar, and orders her palanquin to be brought to the meeting. As she travels to the palace, she draws a sketch of herself confidently confronting Dalinar to try to boost her own morale. At the palace, Shallan enters with Vathah and Gaz as attendants. They reach the conference room at the top of the palace, and Kaladin spots her, and asks her if Adolin is betrothed to a Horneater princess and she replies that she was trying to travel incognito. Kaladin has Gaz seized, and says that Shallan is an impostor since Adolin's real betrothed was lost at sea, but Shallan gives a spanreed printout to Kaladin to have Navani authenticate her claims. Shallan becomes upset at Kaladin's lack of accommodation and they have a heated argument. Kaladin stalks away angry, but Shallan feels that the disturbance will lead to the desired result of her receiving an audience with Dalinar. Gaz mentions that Kaladin was a slave in the lumberyards recently and is very dangerous.
Kaladin enters the chamber with the paper, and returns after a short time, summoning Shallan to enter.
Shallan offers her condolences on Jasnah's loss to Dalinar and Navani, reflecting on her own grief but using her sketch to project strength and suppress her emotions, and Dalinar thanks her. Shallan mentions that she also brought some of Jasnah's belongings and has information on Jasnah's research, which Navani scoffs at. Shallan notices Adolin looking at her and feels some attraction toward him. Shallan gives a detailed account of the attack on the Wind's Pleasure at Navani's demand, and Navani berates Shallan for saying she set the ship on fire despite Jasnah's apparently already fatal wound but Dalinar defends Shallan's action and Navani apologizes and leaves. Shallan tells Dalinar an abbreviated version of her journey via caravan from the Frostlands to the warcamps and about being rescued by deserters to whom she pledged clemency in reward for their service, and Dalinar promises pardons from the king for them. Shallan then brings up the betrothal and Adolin joins them, smiling. Shallan and Adolin flirt awkwardly and Adolin offers to maintain the betrothal, but Dalinar asks Adolin to get some wine so he can talk privately with Shallan. Dalinar inquires about Shallan's family and her interest in Adolin, and she explains the situation as Jasnah described it to her. Dalinar allows the betrothal to stand temporarily based on Jasnah's implied endorsement of Shallan pending further developments, and offers her a position as a clerk. Their discussion is abruptly interrupted by Highprince Sebarial who gets Dalinar to return to the conference table to resume the meeting.
Shallan mentally notes the attendees of the meeting, realizing that there are three primary factions with Elhokar and Dalinar opposing Sadeas, Ruthar and Aladar, and Hatham leading a group of mediators, and Sebarial as an outsider excluded from the factions. Shallan dissects the meaning behind the arguments until she is drawn into the discussion. Shallan says that she has little knowledge about the events in Jah Keved since she wasn't there at the time of the assassination and that she is there as Jasnah's ward and has personal business, and Aladar realizes she is Adolin's betrothed. Several highprinces want to get her own testimony about events in her home country but she doesn't want to be used, so she lies and says that she took a job to work for her supposed distant relative Sebarial and he plays along with her ploy. Shallan speaks privately with Sebarial, saying that their arrangement will be mutually beneficial. Dalinar disrupts the discussion and says that the war is failing and that they will change their strategy to either make peace with the Parshendi or march in full force and wipe them out. Hatham expresses disdain and Sadeas insults Dalinar, which upsets and provokes Adolin momentarily. Dalinar mentions the Parshendi envoy who offered an olive branch right before the assassination attempt and wonders at the coincidence and if the Parshendi are still controlling Szeth as they claimed to have when Gavilar was killed. Dalinar outlines his plans to scout the plains and outfit a major expedition to the center of the plains and choose and train new Shardbearers to use the armor and weapons that he thinks Adolin will win through duels, then brings the meeting to a close.
Sebarial leaves and Shallan says she will meet him, and goes to speak to Elhokar personally about his sister. She then brings a writ of pardon to Vathah, which amazes him, and tells him that they all have a place to stay.
Kaladin gives orders for Teft to train bridge seventeen in the chasms. There are thirty-seven days remaining before the mysterious glyph countdown reaches zero. Syl asks Kaladin what his goal is now that his bridgemen are relatively safe. Kaladin says he wants to beat Szeth but Syl scoffs at Kaladin's explanation that he is trying to protect Dalinar. Kaladin encounters Sigzil who is speculating with Rock and Lopen about Szeth's motivations and true employer as he was trained by his master to ask questions. Kaladin tries to duplicate Szeth's feat of walking on walls but fails. Sigzil wishes he could see Syl and she appears to him. Kaladin asks both Syl and Sigzil about Windrunners so he can be better
prepared to battle Szeth but neither is able to give any information. Sigzil, Rock and Lopen discuss the attempt to make Elhokar fall off his balcony but Kaladin ignores them and suddenly has an insight and a vision of another world that allows him to walk on the wall of the chasm.
Kaladin tells Syl that he protects Dalinar so that he can know if Dalinar lives up this reputation as being honorable, and Syl says that honor lives in people and spren like her. Kaladin says that if he trusts Dalinar that he will share the knowledge of his abilities with him. Kaladin says that he will kill Amaram for his betrayal. Kaladin falls from the chasm wall and lands in the chasm with Stormlight aided strength. Kaladin explains his theory about the shardbearer slicing the balcony after the highstorm. Kaladin notices gouges from where a chasmfiend passed and is concerned that it will be dangerous to train here.
:''Ishaches 1173''
Shallan walks to the meeting using her map as a guide. Shallan tells Pattern to follow her and try to see if anyone tries to trail her and Pattern reports that no one is tailing her. She reaches the destination which is a tenement building and is admitted by a Horneater guard. The guard points her to a staircase leading down and she finds another room with a trapdoor and takes a ladder down further and ends up in a carpeted trophy room with several people. One of the people reminds her of Hoid. The man points a blow gun past her and shoots a dart at a target behind her. The man questions Tyn's story and Shallan revises it, saying that Tyn wants to work through an intermediary for now. The man praises Shallan's boldness and tries to bribe Shallan into revealing where Tyn is hiding, but Shallan declines, and calls his bluff of torturing her successfully. The man says he revised his plan to kill Shallan and track down Tyn, and that he is satisfied at Tyn's partial success but unhappy that Tyn didn't show up in person. Five other people including a masked woman are present. Shallan takes a moment to examine the shelves of mementos. The man, who identifies himself as Mraize, says his next target is Amaram. Mraize says that Tyn is to learn Amaram's secrets from his manor and bring information the following week. Shallan aka Veil accepts the assignment and doesn't haggle over the payment and is dismissed.
After Shallan leaves the building, Pattern warns her that the masked woman is tailing her. She draws a sketch and creates an illusionary wall to hide from her pursuer. Shallan's disguise vanishes as her Stormlight runs out and she ditches her coat and hat and returns to the manor, feeling excited over her adventure. Shallan makes plans to investigate Amaram and interact with Adolin.
{{anchor|Chapter 44}}
Shallan and her family are attending the [[Middlefest]] Fair on her father's estates, which draws people from hamlets and villages all around. A Thaylen merchant has a colorful show [[chicken]], [[Jeksonofnone]], on display, and Shallan thinks it bizarre. She follows her father to their box at the dueling arena, where they are soon approached by Brightlord [[Revilar]]. Revilar tries to force her father into an unfavorable business deal, noting his popularity with [[Valam|Highprince Valam]] and House Davar's declining status. Eventually her father bows his head and they send Shallan away.
She is excited to see the fair unchaperoned but forces herself to do work first. After finding [[Eylita Tavinar]], who gives her a note, she sets off to find brother [[Balat]]. While searching she thinks of her mother and her mind goes blank. [[Jix]], one of her house's guards, eventually finds her and agrees to accompany her. Balat is at the [[Axehound]] fights in the gambling pavilion, watching intensely, fixated on the animals killing each other. Shallan gives him the note, and he's surprised and excited by the meeting she's arranged. After he leaves, Shallan sits on a rock, relieved to be out of the pavilion and happy she was able to help Balat, even in a small way.
When she returns to her father's box, he's in a meeting with a man she doesn't recognize. The man, dressed in black, seems startled when he sees Shallan and almost drops his glass. Malise tells her that the man claims to have brought word from her brother Helaran. When asked what news the man brought, her father commands her not to speak Helaran's name and declares him disinherited.
Shallan leaves and seeks out their carriage. [[Wikim]] is within, depressed and despondent. He asks whether their father sent her, or whether she came on "one of her new little missions of mercy". He tells her that she can't fix their family, and that he won't be around to see their collapse because he'll be dead by then. Feeling like a fool, she gives him the gift she had prepared, a set of math problems, then hastens away from the carriage fighting back tears.
Sitting on a rock and trying to compose herself, the messenger in black starts talking with her. The man, unbeknownst to Shallan, is [[Wit]]. He tells her that the message sent by Helaran to her father is that he "has eyes nearby, and is watching." Wit then asks her if spren talk to her, which causes her to think about "twisted symbols the eye should not see" and "her mother's soul in a box". She tells him that of course they don't and that she should be returning to her father. Wit tells Shallan that Helaran was right, her father is destroying their family, but wrong about everything else. He points out that Wikim is engrossed in the math problems that she had given him. He asks her to tell him the most beautiful thing she can imagine, and she describes a scene with her family happily living in together. As she talks, Wit pulls out some spheres and wisps of Stormlight hang in the air between them. When she notices, she draws back and the light fades. Wit tells her that she will need to understand the nature of lies and see truth before she can expand upon it.
A short time later she is interrupted by shouting. When she reaches the house, she finds three men standing before her father and Jushu kneeling on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. Lin says he won't pay Jushu's gambling debts, despite his son's pleas, and tells the men that they can have him. Shallan begs Ballat to do something as Jushu is dragged away, but he doesn't know what he can do.
Shallan follows her father into his study. The house's ledgers are open and she can see that they are in staggering debt. Her father tells her that he doesn't have the spheres to pay the men, and commands her confined to her rooms.
Crying, she runs back into the feast hall, asks Balat and Wikim for the daggers their father had given them, then chases after Jushu and the men. She manages to convince the men to take the daggers and her necklace (which they decide not to keep) in payment of Jushu's debt, though they are only worth about half of it. She tells Jushu, who's been beaten and can't hear well, that Balat and Wikim saved him.
:''Ishevan 1173''
Kaladin walks through the Shattered Plains at night to the plateau where he encountered Wit a few weeks previously. Kaladin verifies that no one can see him, and he steps off the plateau into a chasm.
After landing at the bottom, he runs through the chasm, with Sylphrena alongside him. He tries to jump onto a wall but fails and lands on the ground. Sylphrena offers some advice, and Kaladin agrees that he has to practice to be able to fight and lash as well as Szeth.
Kaladin lashes himself over the plateaus and hovers in place, noticing a pattern in the plains beneath him. As he stays in the same place, the windspren leave him. Kaladin asks if Sylphrena was with him as a child and she says yes and no. Kaladin says that all his skill was due to her, but she says that it was due to both of them, which Kaladin accepts. Sylphrena says that Szeth's weapon is special and was made to give abilities to men in the same way their bond does. Kaladin asks if a new unstained blade can be forged and Syl says yes but doesn't say how. Syl confronts Kaladin on informing Dalinar about Moash's patriot friends and Kal replies that he wants to consider it some more first. He walks toward Sadeas' camp and contemplates killing Amaram for his role in Tien's death, but Syl gets him to reconsider in light of his accomplishments that evening. Returning to his barracks, he finds Shen there, who says that he has to leave immediately, and Kaladin permits it, saying he is a free man. Shen says his real name is Rlain, and that he thinks Kaladin is a good man.
Shallan walks through Sadeas' warcamp disguised as a messenger boy. Shallan enters Amaram's manor after passing a checkpoint guarded by Hav.
Shallan waits for a maid and a man to leave the manor grounds, then changes her clothing and disguise to impersonate her, and enters the manor.
{{columns|
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Iyatil]]
*[[Jin]]
*[[Mraize]]
:''Ishevev 1173''
Kaladin guards Adolin as they get a carriage to bring them to Sebarial's warcamp to meet Shallan. Kaladin recognizes Wit as the carriage driver and is surprised. Wit berates Kaladin for abandoning his flute and mocks his lack of eloquent retorts to Wit's insults. Wit implies that he knows of Kaladin's abilities and asks Kaladin to tell him a story as they ride. When they stop to pick up Shallan, Adolin realizes Wit is the driver and exclaims as such. Shallan also exclaims upon seeing Wit and hugs him, which surprises Adolin. Kaladin joins the two betrothed in the carriage to better watch Shallan, and Adolin and Shallan flirt. They decide to go to see a menagerie. Shallan reads an account of a highprince named Yenev who was killed in a duel by Sadeas by the Right of Challenge and King's Boon because Yenev opposed Gavilar's unification campaign. Shallan says that Adolin can try to invoke this boon to challenge Sadeas, if he wins his upcoming duel spectacularly. Kaladin surmises that this boon could help him deal with Amaram. Kaladin decides that Shallan is not a danger to Adolin and that Adolin is falling for her.
They arrive at the menagerie and discover Wit has already departed. Syl admonishes Kaladin for his sour mood as they walk through the menagerie. Shallan draws sketches of the various animals and chats with Adolin. Syl asks Kaladin if he is almost ready, and he replies yes. Amaram and Dalinar appear at the menagerie. Amaram is wearing a distinctive cloak and Dalinar announces that he is refounding the Knights Radiant and that Amaram is their leader.
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Zahel]]
*[[
*[[Eth]] (mentioned only)
*[[Graves]] (mentioned only)
Shallan wonders why Adolin doesn't surrender since he is outmatched, and berates herself for not seeing the loophole and failing her betrothed. She briefly considers jumping into the arena but discards that idea. She tells Pattern to try to distract Abrobadar to help out Renarin. She watches as Kaladin joins the fight.
Kaladin tells Sylphrena that this better end differently than when he saved Amaram, and Sylphrena says that it will. Relis ignores Kaladin and pays the price as he gets stabbed in a crack in his armor. Kaladin guards Adolin's back and says that Adolin will need to break their foes' Shardplate for him. Adolin says for Kaladin to distract one foe and to watch out for Renarin while he fights the other two and Kaladin agrees. Kaladin draws Relis' attention while Adolin fights Elit and Jakamav. Relis fights Kaladin for a short time but then goes back to fight Adolin who is skillfully dueling his two foes, so Kaladin uses a Lashing-enhanced kick to knock Relis down, breaking his own legs in process though he is able to heal them. Kaladin sees that he cracked some of Relis' shards. Adolin's own armor is mostly cracked but he gets a strong blow at Elit and cracks his chestplate, slowing Elit greatly. Kaladin sees Abrobadar waving his blade at the ground and Sylphrena exclaims about something mysterious and flies over toward Renarin. Kaladin uses his broken spear to strike Elit in his exposed armor and forces him to yield. The remaining three opponents gather to battle Adolin, leaving Renarin alone to sit in the sand. Kaladin asks for Elit's helm and is given it and puts it on his hand as an armored glove, and arms himself with a knife to help Adolin. Kaladin tricks Relis into backing away then he goes to help Adolin. Relis and Jakamav both try to attack Kaladin with Sylphrena circling around him, and he dodges their Shardblades or blocks them with the helm until he runs out of Stormlight, realizing the helm drained it from him. Kaladin is backed against a wall, but Adolin appears and grapples Jakamav to the ground. Kaladin sees that Abrobadar was just defeated. Relis who is the last man standing rushes toward Renarin and Kaladin follows, yelling at Renarin to yield but he only dismisses his blade and does nothing. Relis raises his blade toward Renarin but ends up swinging it at Kaladin, and Kaladin catches it then hears a scream that sounds like Sylphrena. Relis hears the scream and drops the blade and vacates the arena, forfeiting the duel. Jakamav yells at Adolin to fight him as he is held down and Kaladin walks up to him with his knife and places it by a crack in his armor and tells him to yield or else. Jakamav yields and Adolin is declared victor. Adolin laughs joyously at the spoils he won and asks Kaladin to help him remove his drained armor.
Elhokar announces how impressed he is by Adolin and offers him a boon. Kaladin notices Sadeas trying to leave the arena, but before he does, Adolin demands the right to duel Sadeas there and then. Kaladin also demands a boon to challenge Amaram there and then for the crimes of murder and obstruction of justice, causing Amaram to cower, Adolin to groan
and the crowd to silence. Elhokar orders Kaladin to be arrested.
}}
Lift and six other thieves climb over a wall of the [[Bronze Palace]] as they intend to rob it while a new [[Prime Aqasix]] is being chosen by the vizierate. Lift sees Nale in the distance and frets that he is still pursuing her somehow. The thieves climb up the palace wall and Lift chats with her spren Wyndle, who says that he wanted to choose someone else with whom to bond but ended up with Lift since she had visited the Old Magic. Lift and Wyndle bicker as they infiltrate the palace. Huqin says they are there to steal clothes which aren't well guarded but will sell for a lot. Lift disobeys Huqin and wanders the palace with Gawx accompanying her. Lift tells Gawx that she wants to steal the prime's food and she heads towards the Prime's chambers while he goes to the vizier quarters to find spheres. Wyndle helps her further infiltrate the palace while he teaches Lift about spren and her odd ability to convert food into Stormlight. Lift sneaks into the dining area and hides under the table as the vizierate reviews applications for Emperor. Lift listens as they debate what to do since no one wants to be Prime due to the recent assassinations. She steals a dinner roll then hesitates as she notices that Nale is there. She tries to flee but is caught, and Nale has her arrested and tells the vizierate that he has the proper forms. She tries to use her ability to escape but is inhibited by a larkin which drains her Stormlight. The head vizier protests that Lift will be executed for mere thievery, but Nale adds the crimes of trespass and interrupting a holy conclave in session.
Lift escapes long enough to get a half-eaten roll which she quickly eats before being captured again. After a short time, Lift gains enough Stormlight to evade her captors, though she sees Nale has abilities also as he chases her carrying a Shardblade. One of Nale's companions slits Gawx's throat, and Nale recaptures Lift, then berates his ally for killing the boy without filling out the correct paperwork. Lift escapes but then decides to save Gawx because someone has to care, and Wyndle says that her regrowth ability could help if she was more trained. She returns to Gawx' body and breathes Stormlight into his mouth before Nale again captures her and identifies her as an Edgedancer and tells her about their order. Nale says he hunts her because her abilities could bring Desolations back to the world. Nale draws his Shardblade to kill her but she is suddenly pardoned by the new Prime Aqasix, Gawx, who was elected due to his miracle survival. Nale obeys the pardon to release Lift and praises Yaezir and leaves. Lift congratulates Gawx on his election and asks for food.
:''One and a half years ago''
Shallan has become the perfect daughter. She keeps quiet now, particularly around her father, and spends most of her days in her rooms. Her father had proven several times that he wouldn't hurt Shallan if she angered him, but would beat others in her name. The only time she drops her mask now is with her brothers, making jokes to try to drive back the darkness in their home.
She is also more involved in keeping [[House Davar]]'s accounts, and their fortunes seem to have improved. Her father has shrewdly stopped being bullied by the other lighteyes and has started playing them off each other. New marble deposits have been discovered, which provide resources to keep up with his promises, bribes, and deals. Shallan hopes this will improve her father's temperament, but it doesn't.
Lin and Balat are arguing about who he will marry. Balat wants to marry [[Eylita Tavinar]], but his father thinks she's of too low a status. He wants Balat to marry [[Sudi Valam]], daughter of [[Highprince]] [[Valam]], who is a widow in her fifties. Their argument escalates and Balat calls his father a murderer. In response, Lin coldly orders one of his new guards to kill Balat's new [[axehound]] pups. Balat is outraged and tells his father that [[Helaran]] is back, and that they had met only two days past. They lock eyes, then Balat stalks out of the room.
{{columns|
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Amaram]]
*[[Iyatil]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Taln]]
*[[Adolin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Bordin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Amaram]]
*[[Bordin]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Taln]]
*[[Balat]] (mentioned only)
*[[Gavilar]] (mentioned only)
Shallan panics, but thinks quickly and creates an illusion of darkness to conceal herself within the cell. Amaram and Bordin enter the cell and close the door. Shallan feels muted anger at seeing Helaran's killer though she realizes that her brother may have been killed in self-defense as a possible assassin. Amaram looks at Taln and proclaims that his and Gavilar's plan has succeeded. Bordin tells Amaram that Taln spoke of a cache of Shardblades once to Bordin and Amaram asks Bordin to take him to the location before someone else finds it, and the two depart. Shallan feels like she is in over her head with the conspiracies, though Pattern doesn't understand her analogy.
Shallan returns to say goodbye to Iyatil after giving her the transcription of Taln's ramblings and a brief description of Amaram's visit. After verifying that Iyatil can escape on her own, Shallan apologizes to the ardents for getting lost in the temple and prepares to leave. Iyatil says how impressed she is, and asks who Shallan really is, and Shallan replies that she is a seeker of truth.
Shallan then tells Iyatil that she will send a full report to Mraize. Iyatil indicates that that Shallan has proven herself and is safe from any danger from the other Ghostbloods, and that Shallan is to get a tattoo anywhere on her person to symbolize her loyalty to the Ghostbloods and that she is now admitted as a member of their group.
Shallan finds her father slumped at the high table in the feast hall, but slips into the kitchen before he notices her. She mixes his favorite drink; deep violet wine warmed and spiced with cinnamon. When she returns to the feast hall and gives it to him, she looks into his eyes. She doesn't see the darkness there, which is very rare these days. Lin complains that no one listens to him, and that his house should support him. Shallan tells him that she'll speak with them and goes outside into the night air.
She finds Balat laying on a bench in the gardens. He's been ripping the claws off of [[cremling|cremlings]] again. Shallan tells him that their father can't control himself anymore, and that he ordered the assassination of Helaran. They make a plan for Balat and Malise to escape with a letter from Shallan to warn their brother.
Shallan then returns to the house and goes to her father's sitting room. The guards stop her, but she holds her ground despite her fear, and they eventually let her pass. This is the first time she's entered this room in years, and she has to raise a hand to shade her eyes against the light coming from behind the painting. It is blinding to her and she wonders how anyone can stand it. Malise, curled up in a chair with her lip split and her arm broken, says that Lin will kill them all. Shallan starts treating the wounds, and tells her stepmother about the escape plan. As Shallan is about to leave, Malise asks her "If I go, and Balat with me, who will he hate? Who will he hit? Maybe you, finally? The one who actually deserves it?" Shallan just replies, "Maybe."
{{columns|
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Teft]]
*[[Adonalsium]] (mentioned only)
;Plot Summary
:''Ishabev 1173''
Kaladin mopes in his cell, imagining paranoid fantasies of his incompetence and of bridge four placating him by saying they like to be bodyguards. Kaladin snaps to alertness as a jailer says he is pardoned with no loss of rank and free to go. Kaladin vows that he will never be imprisoned again by anyone as he leaves. He figures he was there for several weeks based on his beard. They pass another cell where Adolin is locked up, and he leaves his cell as well, and the jailer explains that Adolin demanded to be locked up until Kaladin was freed. Adolin says that he did this because it wasn't right for Kaladin to be locked up, since Kaladin saved his life and that of his brother's. The two banter and reconcile, and Adolin holds Elhokar responsible for the failure of their plan. Kaladin confirms that he was telling the truth when he accused Amaram and Adolin believes him despite Dalinar's friendship with Amaram. They enter another room where most of bridge four awaits Kaladin to celebrate his liberation. Adolin calls for quiet and says that after the other shards were distributed, there was a full set remaining which he gives to Kaladin. Kaladin gives them to Moash, and Adolin objects until Kaladin explains his dislike of Shardblades, and that he is more than capable on the battlefield even without shards as he showed in the arena, for when Szeth returns, and that they would have an additional shard bearer for that confrontation in Moash. Adolin tells Moash to take the shards and that he will now be a lighteyes and can start his own house or join one of Dalinar's. Moash takes up the Shardblade, amassing gloryspren, and has the armorers put the armor on him. Bridge four then returns to their barracks to eat some stew that has been simmering the entire time that Kaladin was locked up. Teft brings Kaladin up to speed on bridge four's activities and emotions while he was away.
Kaladin talks privately with Moash and says he agrees with the plan to remove Elhokar, and Moash is pleased and that they will possibly deal with Amaram next. Moash decides to go to the sparring grounds to practice, and Kaladin returns to the barracks to feast.
{{columns|
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Aladar]]
*[[Amaram]]
*[[Bethab]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Sivi]]
*[[Torol Sadeas]]
*[[Vamah]]
*[[Wit]]
*[[Rayse]] (mentioned only)
{{columns|
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Leyten]]
*[[Lopen]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Shallan]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Teft]]
*[[Bethab]] (mentioned only)
*[[Elhokar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*The [[Stormfather]]
*[[Rayse]] (mentioned only)
*[[Velat]] (mentioned only)
}}
;Plot Summary
*[[Teft]] (point of view)
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Drehy]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Shallan]]
*[[Sigzil]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Adolin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Elhokar]] (mentioned only)
'''Kaladin'''
Kaladin feels like a fool for leading them in the wrong direction. He calls out for Syl but gets no answer. He also feels like a fool for the way he treats Shallan and for the incorrect assumptions he made about her. He compliments Shallan on her drawing ability as she sketches a more accurate map of the Plains, though it is getting much sooner until the next highstorm. She traces a couple of the plateaus nearby by walking around them, and Kaladin notices her having a mysterious conversation with someone and speculates that she might be a Radiant talking to a spren.
Shallan says that some of the series of plateaus are mirror images of others and Kaladin says that the Plains are symmetrical and that he knew that from a dream, and Shallan says she knows where the Parshendi are, and the Oathgate, and that she can map all of it since the Plains were not a natural forming pattern, but rather created through cymatics.
They follow a revised path based on Shallan's map, though they have to periodically check their route, slowing down their escape. Kaladin occasionally shouts up from the chasm to try to get the attention of Alethi scouts, but no one answers. Kaladin grows moody because he feels that he failed them, but Shallan tries to remain optimistic. Kaladin says he wished he could be like Shallan, but then Shallan describes how it is like to be depressed and hopeless and he understands that she wasn't always happy, but she somehow muddles through anyway, which inspires him. They banter again with Shallan trying to improve Kaladin's mood again like she used to do with her brothers, and he goes along with their jokes to an extent.
The chasmfiend shows up again, and they try to flee, hiding in a narrow fissure. The chasmfiend fails to reach them, but it then settles nearby to wait as the highstorm is rapidly approaching, with about two hours left before it reaches them. Kaladin decides to try to distract the chasmfiend to allow Shallan to escape back to the warcamps with her vital information. He prepares to fight to the death, and tells Shallan to apologize to Adolin on his behalf. Shallan says that before he goes to fight to take her Shardblade.
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Dalinar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Navani]] (mentioned only)
;Plot Summary
:''One year ago''
Shallan and Jushu are in Balat's room helping him prepare to leave. They talk about the valuable deposits of stone recently found on their land, and how they find it strange to be wealthy all of a sudden. Despite the family's wealth, their father's mood has continued to grow darker.
Shallan unfolds and reads a letter. Their contacts haven't been able to find Helaran, who seems to have disappeared. Balat is jumpy, worried that their father will discover that he intends to leave. His plan is to escape with Eylita, and if he can't find Helaran, they'll go to [[Valam|Highprince Valam]] and [[Redin]], who years ago told them he'd listen to anyone willing to testify against their father. Jushu is skeptical, saying that their father is in favor now, and that the highprince is nearly dead.
Wikim slams the door open, telling them that Eylita is in the feast hall, that their father had summoned her. Balat and Wikim rush to find out what is happening. Shallan follows slowly, overwhelmed with panic, but she feels pulled forward. Somehow she knows that this has been coming, that it was inevitable. She collects the pouch of [[blackbane]] that Wikim had given her years ago, and heads downstairs.
Balat is arguing with their father about Eylita. Lin reveals that he knows about their plan to leave. Shallan enters the room and walks along the walls toward the kitchens. She notices something on the floor, blocking the kitchen doors from closing. Lin tells them that Helaran is dead; he died on a battlefield in Alethkar. Shallan reaches the bundle on floor and realizes it's a body. It is Malise; she'd been killed by several blows to the head. Shallan concludes that he'd discovered the plan, sent for Eylita and waited for her to arrive, and then killed his wife. It was a calculated punishment, not comitted in a moment of passion. She moves to where servants had left a pitcher of wine with cups.
Balat unsheathes his sword, followed by Lin. They clash brutally, and Lin is able to swat Balat's sword out of his hand. Lin tells them that he's always despised Balat, and of his sons only Helaran wasn't worthless. Shallan hands him a cup of wine, which he gulps down. Balat grabs his sword and tries to stab their father, but hits something metalic through his coat, which stops the blade. Lin tosses his sword aside and gets an iron poker from the fireplace. He slams it into Balat's leg over and over, berating him about being useless.
Lin's hands start shaking and the poker slips to the ground. Lin is surprised, and he stumbles and falls to his knees, then to his side. Shallan, feeling cold, tells Eylita to bind Balat's wounds, then kneels next to her father. Lin is motionless, staring at the ceiling. After her brothers' initial confusion, Shallan tells them that she poisoned their father by placing the blackbane in his wine. Jushu pulls a [[Soulcasting#Soulcasting_by_the_use_of_a_fabrial|Soulcaster]] out Lin's pocket, which had apparently been broken while blocking Balat's last strike. Just then, their father starts twitching, and his eyes focus on Shallan. She realizes that the poison has only paralyzed him, and says that they need to finish the job. Everyone else shies away, so she thanks her father for everything he did for her, then wraps her necklace around his neck. She twists the necklace around the handle of a fork for leverage, crying and whispering the lullaby that he'd sung to comfort Shallan in her childhood as he dies.
{{anchor|Chapter 74}}
{{columns|
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]]
*The [[Stormfather]]
*[[Adolin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Amaram]] (mentioned only)
:''Ishakev 1173''
Kaladin reaches the sheltered alcove just before the floodwaters arrive. He and Shallan huddle together against the rock as the waters quickly rise, momentarily cresting over the edge of their carved out cubby. Kaladin tells Shallan how he was left to die in a highstorm by Sadeas. Kal looks up and thinks he sees a giant glowing figure followed by another figure walking in the storm. Shallan asks Kal to tell his story as a means of taking her mind off the highstorm, and he starts from when he was made a slave by Amaram, and speaks of his slavery and Tvlakv, his time with bridge four, and the rescue of Dalinar and fighting the Parshendi shardbearer. He hears chanting and sees strange spren flying around. After he finishes his story,
Shallan says she killed her father, and tells about how her mother died, and what her life was like when she was a child, and Kaladin realizes how much he had in comparison with her since his parents weren't abusive. He realizes that her brother was the shardbearer he killed when he saved Amaram, but doesn't reveal that fact to her. She tells of her plan to steal the Soulcaster from Jasnah, and instead becoming her ward and Adolin's betrothed. She vanishes, and Kaladin realizes that he is having a vision.
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Amaram]]
*[[Kaladin]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Bordin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Jasnah]] (mentioned only)
'''Shallan'''
Shallan rests in bed, accepting of Navani's unexpected affection. Pattern repeats a conversation that he was sent to spy on between Dalinar and Navani. Notably, Dalinar wants Shallan to go on the expedition but Navani trying to protect Shallan by having her stay behind. Shallan tells Pattern she has to go and asks if she is a Radiant, and he replies most likely not yet since she has more to do first, but he isn't sure since he hasn't always been sentient. Pattern tells of the Recreance, when most spren except the Stormfather and a few others were killed (caused by broken oaths). Pattern thinks that the chance to learn is worth the possible cost of dying again. Pattern says that Shallan spoke the Words, but she lacks truth. Adolin appears and embraces her in a hug and kiss. He says that he was visiting all the highprinces delivering an ultimatum to join Dalinar or be labeled as someone who refused to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Shallan says she saw a dead chasm fiend that she wants to draw for him. Adolin apologizes for rescuing his father instead of her, and promises to protect her but she says that she doesn't need protecting and that she will never be 'something' to be locked away again, though she doesn't elaborate on when she was previously locked away. Dalinar and Navani enter, and Dalinar has a request, but Shallan
anticipates him and requests to go on the expedition despite the dangers since she thinks the ancient city that Jasnah was searching for is there. Dalinar asks her to expand on their map of the Shattered Plains and she says she will do so. Shallan also requests that they leave the parshmen behind since Jasnah felt they were dangerous, and Dalinar says that he will do so, and that they are leaving within the hour.
*[[Gavilar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Oolelen]] (mentioned only)
*[[Pai]]
}}
{{columns|
*[[Eshonai]] (point of view)
*[[Demid]]
*[[Venli]]
*[[Dalinar]] (mentioned only)
}}
{{columns|
*[[Taravangian]] (point of view)
*[[Adrotagia]]
*[[Maben]]
*[[Mrall]]
*[[Redin]]
*[[Szeth]]
*[[Valam]]
*[[Boriar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Dalinar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Torol Sadeas]] (point of view)
*[[Aladar]]
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Amaram]]
*[[Bisig]]
*[[Ialai Sadeas]]
*[[Isasik Shulin]]
*[[Lopen]]
*[[Palona]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Roion]]
*[[Torol Sadeas]]
*[[Sebarial]]
*[[Shallan]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Teft]]
*[[Bordin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Elhokar]] (mentioned only)
'''Dalinar'''
Dalinar questions why Aladar is joining them since he was always a supporter of Sadeas, and he replies that he won't stand by while two of the least brave highprinces march to war to fulfill the Vengeance Pact. Dalinar demands a vow of loyalty from Aladar, and decides that he will trust him out of necessity though he will make sure that he is not in a position to be betrayed again. Amaram questions Dalinar's decision to trust Sebarial and Aladar, and mentions the glory they could have by leaving them out, and Dalinar says that he hopes they are above that. As they ride, Dalinar sees Kaladin and bridge four, and tells Amaram to come with him to speak to them to put the rumors of what Kaladin said about
Amaram behind them.
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Gaz]]
*[[Marri]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Vathah]]
*[[Amaram]] (mentioned only)
*[[Dabbid]] (mentioned only)
{{columns|
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Bashin]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Leyten]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Rlain]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Teleb]]
*[[Vathah]]
*[[Amaram]] (mentioned only)
*[[Eleseth]] (mentioned only)
{{columns|
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Rlain]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Teleb]]
*[[Eshonai]] (mentioned only)
*[[Shallan]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[General Khal]]
*[[Rlain]]
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Aladar]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Elhokar]]
*[[Gaz]]
*[[Lopen]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Palona]]
*[[Roion]]
*[[Sebarial]]
*[[Taka]]
*[[Vathah]]
*[[Gavilar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Jasnah]] (mentioned only)
*[[Aladar]]
*[[Drehy]]
*[[Felt]]
*[[Gallant]]
*[[Nacomb Gaval]]
*[[Inadara]]
*[[Isasik Shulin]]
*[[Khal]]
*[[Lyn]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Roion]]
*[[Rust Elthal]]
*[[Sebarial]]
*[[Serugiadis]]
*[[Shim]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Sureblood]]
*[[Teleb]]
*[[Teshav]]
*[[Tien]]
*[[Wit]]
*[[Zahel]]
*[[Elhokar]] (mentioned only)
'''Dalinar'''
Dalinar goes to the edge of a plateau and looks across a chasm to see a large group of Parshendi with glowing red eyes. Dalinar calms down the other highprinces and gives orders for the army to be prepared for battle. Navani says she can't hide from danger since she has to setup her fabrials. Dalinar gives a motivational speech to nearby soldiers saying that he was sent from the Almighty with knowledge of what they face from visions of the past and to trust that the Voidbringers will be countered by the Radiants as in the past. As they wait to join the battle, the Parshendi start singing. Rlain appears as summoned and says that song is of death and destruction and power. The Parshendi start glowing, and Rlain tells Dalinar that they must stop the song or else. Heeding the countdown that says this is the last day that it was leading to, Dalinar orders that his army attack immediately.
'''Kaladin'''
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Drehy]]
*[[Elhokar]]
*[[Graves]]
*[[Javih]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Perel]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Moelach]] (mentioned only)
*[[Aladar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Captain Khal]]
*[[Eshonai]]
*[[Graves]]
*[[General Khal]]
*[[Inadara]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Roion]]
*[[Skar]]
*The [[Stormfather]]
*[[Roshone]] (mentioned only)
*[[Sylphrena]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Drehy]]
*[[Elhokar]]
*[[Eshonai]]
*[[Graves]]
*[[Inadara]]
*[[Moash]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Skar]]
*The [[Stormfather]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Szeth]]
*[[Dalinar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Navani]] (mentioned only)
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Apara]]
*[[Cael]]
*[[Inadara]]
*[[Kaladin]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Peet]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Roion]]
*[[Skar]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Szeth]]
*[[Aladar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Gavilar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Kaladin]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Eth]]
*[[Inadara]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Palona]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Rust Elthal]]
*[[Sebarial]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Szeth]]
*[[Teft]]
*[[Khal]] (mentioned only)
*[[Mart]] (mentioned only)
*[[Moash]] (point of view)
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Bisig]]
*[[Dalinar]]
*[[Drehy]]
*[[Elhokar]]
*[[Graves]]
*[[Leyten]]
*[[Lopen's mother]]
*[[Navani]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Peet]]
*[[Rlain]]
*[[Rock]]
*[[Sigzil]]
*[[Sylphrena]]
*[[Teft]]
*[[Shallan]] (point of view)
*[[Szeth]] (point of view)
*[[Adolin]]
*[[Gaz]]
*[[Iyatil]]
*[[Mraize]]
*[[Nale]]
*[[Nightblood]]
*[[Pama]]
*[[Pattern]]
*[[Taln]]
*[[Bordin]] (mentioned only)
*[[Dalinar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Adolin]] (point of view)
*[[Dalinar]] (point of view)
*[[Ialai Sadeas]]
*[[Kaladin]]
*[[Renarin]]
*[[Torol Sadeas]]
*[[Shallan]]
*The [[Stormfather]]
*[[Aladar]] (mentioned only)
*[[Elhokar]] (mentioned only)
'''Dalinar'''
Dalinar reaches the roof of the central tower. He looks down upon the city, seeing the circular rings that comprise the tower, and pillars that match one in the capital of Alethkar where the palace and temple were built. Dalinar then looks up and questions the actions of the Stormfather that almost led to their destruction. The Stormfather explains his purpose and that he is like a spren to the Almighty. Dalinar recites the first oath of the Knights Radiant and the Oath of Bondsmiths, and the Stormfather reluctantly bonds him, telling him to get rid of his Shardblade. The Stormfather says that he sent no vision that morning and for Dalinar to go lead his people to failure as opposing Odium would be futile. Dalinar leaves the tower top and goes to another room near the top where Shallan and Kaladin await. Dalinar takes out a sphere and draws Stormlight into himself in response to Kaladin's inquiry, and feels his injuries heal.
Dalinar explains that he is a Bondsmith and Shallan says there are three knights but is corrected by Renarin, who walks in and reveals himself to be a Truthwatcher. Dalinar explains that the Parshmen are all being changed by the Everstorm and that they must prepare. Kaladin says he has to go home to warn his parents. Dalinar and Shallan speak of the tasks facing them to save as many people as possible, reciting their oaths again.
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