Difference between revisions of "Summary:The Way of Kings"

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(→‎Chapter 43: The Wretch: trimmed, edited, removed redundant links)
{{epigraph|They lived out in the wilds, always awaiting the Desolation—or sometimes, a foolish child who took no head of the night's darkness.}}
 
;Kaladin
Kaladin wakes up feeling dread and despair, as he realizes that all of the Bridgemen are simply bait, destined to die. He finds the rest of the men from [[Bridge Four]] standing outside lined up and waiting for him to lead them in practice. Before he can tell them how useless it had no meaningis, he sees [[Lamaril]]'s replacement: Brightlord [[Matal]] and his wife [[Hashal]].
As Hashal addressesspeaks Bridgefor fourher shehusband notesand totells Kaladin that the [[Almighty]] gavehas simply given Kaladin another chance to prove himself as a Bridgemanbridgeman, nothing more. After that she continuesShe statingclaims that her husband is a well respected and honored associate of [[Torol Sadeas]]., and Kaladin wonders out loud whyhow he ended up in this position. Hashal directs one of her men beat him, but Kaladin catches the spearbuttspear aimed at him. In his mind he sees how to beat not only the soldier attacking him but his three companion as well but decides against it, letting go of the spear and letting the next hit land. As he is getting back up Hashal informs Bridge four that Matal requested this assignment. Next sheShe informs them that they'll only havebe onedoing typechasm of work detailduty from now on. She proceeds to tell [[Gaz]] that her husband, still standing there silent, wants Bridge four to be assigned chasm duty permanently. While [[Moash]] blames Kaladin, [[Dunny]] gets a bandage, [[Peet]] wants to know what they'll do next. Kaladin replys that they'll get to work.
 
Kaladin climbs down into the chasm. Syl wonders why he isn't happy from surviving the highstorm. Kaladin chafes from not fighting the soldiers, but it wouldn't have helped to protect the men. Syl vaguely remembers helping men kill, to Kaladin's shock. Sometimes it is right to kill. The rest of the men climb down and Kaladin starts walking. Rock asks what they are going to do next in order to fight, and Kaladin insists that the fight is over. They find a pile of bodies and get to work. Teft stops by and also asks what's next, and Kaladin angrily replies that there is no hope, leading some of the men to grumble. Teft argues that it's not about surviving, quoting part of the Radiant oath "journey before destination." Syl likes the saying and encourages Kaladin to not give up. Kaladin thinks for a while and finally decides to try again, announcing to the men that the only chance is to try to escape. He offers to teach them to spear so they can at least get past a guard post. All but Rock eagerly agree. Fighting is beneath Rock; he will cook instead.
Thinking about jumping into the chasm again, Kaladin instead climbs down, the other Bridgemen following. [[Syl]], worried about his behavior, asks him what is wrong with him and he tells her how he could have beaten all four soldiers and she recalls in the conversation that she has helped men kill before but that she doesn't remember more. He tells her that he didn't fight the soldiers because it wouldn't have done any good and that he now believes his [[Lirin|father]] was wrong in implying that there were other ways to protect people. Syl wonders if that was the reason why he didn't accept the glory all those months ago, but Kaladin tells her that that was for different reasons.
While working Rock wonders how they'll fight next. When Kaladin remarks that there is no next fight, Rock reminds him that his survival through the [[Highstorm]] was already a miracle. But Kaladin tells him that he considers it more like a curse. A curse that lets him survive when all the others die. After hearing that, Rock withdrew, troubled. Later, while scavenging, Teft comes up to Kaladin. Kaladin tells him he doesn't want to talk but when Teft persists Kaladin bursts out that he doesn't know and they they are all going to die anyway. The others stare at him in shock.
Calling him an idiot, Teft wants to know why Kaladin is abandoning them now. Kaladin tells him that he can't find any possible way for them to survive. Teft points out that that might not be the point. Kaladin wants to know what the point is if not surviving and Teft says they shouldn't give up, that they should fight till the arrow gets them. That he quotes “''Journey before destination''” When Kaladin asks what that means [[Sigzil]] tells him that it is part of the [[Immortal Words|Creed]] of the [[Knights Radiant|Lost Radiants]] than tells them the rest “''Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.''” An argument ensues about the Lost Radiants and the [[Voidbringers]]. Syl mentions that she likes “''Journey before destination''” then she tells Kaladin that Teft is right and he can't just give up. While the others keep arguing about the Radiants, Moash tells them that Kaladin is right and that there is no hope, Kaladin remembers how this happened before. He stumbles away into the dark where Syl finds him and he tells her in a whisper that he can't save them. Syl and he have a short conversation about it and he remembers Sigzil's words “''Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before destination.''” thinking about the meaning he finds it in the dark chasms. He remembers his brother [[Tien]] and how he had helped him with his through his despair. Then he finds the one idea that always seemed too dangerous. He goes back to the others and tells them that he will teach them the spear and they will fight their way out. Except Rock, who promises to cook for them all, all agree to learn to fight.
 
{{anchor|Chapter 44}}
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