Difference between revisions of "Summary:Rhythm of War"

Radiant visits her [[Unseen Court|Lightweavers]], who are practicing in the underground chamber they have taken over. Though Radiant disapproves of the mission to Shadesmar, she respects the decision of the other two and tries to ease Shallan's burden by taking control of making the arrangements regarding which of her agents to bring. After giving [[Beryl]] and [[Darcira]] sparring tips, Radiant contemplates the options and decides to leave the most likely spy behind. As she begins interviewing the Lightweavers, [[Ishnah]] asks to go; Radiant asks each of the others their opinions before settling on Ishnah, [[Vathah]], Beryl and [[Stargyle]] as the most likely to be a spy. When Radiant and Shallan decide to leave them behind, Veil asserts control with a brief moment of nausea as she walks over to inform Ishnah that she, Vathah, and Stargyle are to come on the mission. Inside herself, Radiant changes her vote to agree with Veil while Shallan pounds weakly at her. Veil remains in control the rest of the day; when she returns to her rooms, she finds a note from Mraize instructing her to keep in communication with him via a strange [[Ala|cube]] he had left in her dresser.

As Adolin is trying to decide what to wear into Shadesmar, Shallan walks in and gives him a hard time over taking so much time to choose. She gives him an hour to be down at the Oathgate, so after he decides on a uniform he had had designed four years before, he goes to visit Kaladin. Circumnavigating the line, Adolin enters the clinic and waits for Kaladin in an empty room. Adolin kids Kaladin about [[lighteyed]] women feigning illness to come see him, and Kaladin's reaction shows that not only is this already happening, but that Kaladin hadn't caught on yet. Despite Syl saying that she thinks his job as a surgeon is helping, Kaladin reacts instinctively when Adolin makes a sudden movement to test him. He then gives Kaladin a coin that Zahel had given him to remind him that while war should not be necessary, they live in an imperfect world. Syl gives Adolin some last minute advice regarding dealing with honorspren.

Joining those waiting at the Oathgate platform, Adolin gives his armorers instructions on what to do with his Plate should it not transfer. He speaks with Beryl before turning his attention to Gallant. Godeke, walking up, is treated to an exposition of the swords Adolin is bringing; when the Edgedancer makes his escape, Zu contends that Adolin should just get a Shardblade by becoming a Radiant. With the [[Arshqqam|Stump]]'s arrival, the whole team is there. Adolin watches as Jasnah observes the Lightweavers perform one last test by Soulcasting obsidian into [[lavis]] grain. After their successful attempts, Dalinar addresses the group. They applaud politely, then listen as Jasnah and Taravangian also speak to them. The group enters the control building, leaving Adolin and Dalinar alone. Dalinar stiffly tries to tell Adolin not to make his same mistakes while Adolin, feeling misunderstood and belittled, avoids giving vent to his blocked-up anger over his [[Evi Kholin|mother]]'s death. Dalinar leaves his son with the expectation that he will become a Radiant, and Adolin joins the others. Shallan transfers them into Shadesmar with Pattern.

Adolin thanks the gatekeepers as the group regards their surroundings. He takes a count of everyone, and then Shallan points out [[Maya]] to him. He hurries over and greets her, then takes her around and introduces her to everyone, defending his actions to an inquisitive [[Dreaming-though-Awake]]. Afterwards, while redistributing the load on Gallant, Adolin notices that the horse has a slight glowing afterimage. Adolin puts an arm around Shallan as they set off down the ramp. Pattern comes up behind them and hugs them both, exclaiming over having feet again.

Adolin spends the trip down the ramp speaking with the members of the team. He gets a few scant details on [[Zu (Roshar)|Zu]]'s past before having a discussion about the Almighty with Godeke and then speaking with Arshqqam via her spren's translation. After discussing their plan with Shallan for a bit, [[Ua'pam]] points out his [[Unativi|cousin]]'s barge to Adolin. They pay the [[peakspren]] and board the ship. After moving their possessions onto the deck, Adolin grooms Gallant; noticing Maya watching, he teaches her how to groom the [[Ryshadium]].

Kaladin binds [[Adin]]'s ankle, telling his [[Alalan|father]] to bring him back after a week of staying off it so he can judge its progress. [[Hawin]] leads [[Mil]] in next, then leaves the room; forgetting that she is gone, Kaladin asks her to read the list of "migraine prodromes." Syl instead finds the right page and begins reading the list to Kaladin while he chats with Mil. After sending Mil away, Kaladin and Syl discuss further uses for their powers that don't have to do with fighting. Kaladin notices that Syl is acting more somber than usual. Walking out to the balcony, Kaladin is spotted by a group of Windrunners, and they salute him before flying down to the Oathgates. He treats patients for the rest of the day, taking special note of [[Cressa]]'s request to find her [[Noril|uncle]]. Going to ask Lirin about the man, Kaladin instead encounters Teft speaking with Hesina. Knowing that Teft had been mobilized with the rest of Bridge Four, Kaladin asks why he is still there. When Teft explains that he has gotten approval from Dalinar to step down from active duty, Kaladin tries to tell him to go back. Quickly realizing that Teft is dead set on his decision, Kaladin thanks him for sticking with him and tells him about their search for Noril.

The second day on the barge, Radiant sets assignments for her Lightweavers, then sits down to look through Ialai's book again. Radiant and Shallan discuss the ramifications of the Ghostblood's search for [[Ba-Ado-Mishram]] in conjunction with their goal of taking Stormlight offworld, but when Radiant tries to get Shallan to emerge, Shallan instead votes to end Veil's punishment and lets her take control. Veil immediately starts making terrible attempts at sketching. When she draws Adolin very badly, she finally goads Shallan into taking control.

Shallan draws for five hours, at the end of which Adolin brings her a meal and sits down with her. They talk about Adolin's worries for the mission, which leads into Shallan confessing the real reason she had sought to become Jasnah's ward: to rob her. Adolin just laughs at her incredulously, which lightens her feeling of dread over telling him the truth. They trade bad jokes, and then Shallan asks for help with getting the peakspren's clothing right. When Dreaming-though-Awake approaches, Shallan begins to sketch her. The [[mistspren]] investigates her drawing and is disappointed to see it is just her, having overheard their earlier talk of the [[Unmade]]. They ask her what she knows about Ba-Ado-Mishram, but she just tells them to ask the [[Heralds]].

Kaladin and Teft go looking for Noril, the missing refugee. The ardent at the first devotary they go to tell them that Noril had tried to kill himself, so they had sent him to the [[Devotary of Mercy]]. Following her directions, Kaladin and Teft find the devotary on the fourth floor. The [[Kuno|ardent]] there refuses to divulge patient information until Teft summons [[Phendorana]] and proves that they are of sufficient rank to authorize the request. After looking up the room number, the ardent leads them to Noril. On the way, Kaladin and Teft are both disillusioned by seeing the way that all the patients are locked up in the dark. They convince Noril to come out to a balcony to talk, and when Kaladin and Teft prove that they understand how he feels, Noril begins to open up to them. Kuno, shocked to see Noril speaking, discusses with Kaladin the standard of care for those with mental illness. He admits that they need to do better but sees no way to change the established system; Kaladin asks that Noril be released into his care and warns Kuno that he will be back for the others.

On the fourth day on the barge, Shallan is trying to sketch while all four Cryptics[[Cryptic]]s crowd around her. She starts to panic as they get excited over a mistake, so Radiant emerges long enough to excuse herself from the spren and wait until Shallan has recovered. Veil wants to walk Shallan through the process of finding the spy, but Radiant insists they make sure the communication cube couldn't have been moved accidentally before they start investigating in earnest. As the three determine that none of them had moved it but that someone must have, Pattern approaches and discusses the nature of Cryptics with Shallan. Veil then decides the best method for them to use is to feed each of the Lightweavers a distinct piece of misinformation and see which one Mraize hears about.

Shallan approaches Ishnah, who is helping the peakspren manifest goods. She overhears Ua'pam and Unativi argue over whether it is best to get involved in the war or not before engaging Ishnah in conversation. Manipulating Ishnah into thinking she already knows the other woman's secret, Shallan discovers that the only thing Ishnah has to confess is how she unwittingly funded illegal enterprises among her former acquaintances in the underground. Mentioning the Ghostbloods elicits no suspicious reaction, so Shallan moves on to Beryl after telling Ishnah about seeing a corrupted windspren. Beryl is practicing Soulcasting obsidian into lavis, and the sunny woman discusses her methods with Shallan. Overheard by Pattern, who comes over to inspect the lavis, they discuss Beryl's past before Shallan feeds her a mention of a corrupted [[gloryspren]]. The conversation overwhelms Shallan, so Radiant is the one to approach Vathah. They discuss Vathah's willingness to work aboard the barge, but Shallan emerges again to take over after Radiant's poor attempt to bring the conversation around to corrupted spren. She tells Vathah that the Lightweavers are like a family, then slips into the conversation a sighting of a corrupted [[fearspren]]. When Veil tries to bring up what is really bothering Shallan about the conversations that day, Shallan retreats and forces Radiant into control.

Dalinar approaches Navani as she contemplates the troops being transferred to [[Azir]]. She tells him again to watch for treachery from Taravangian before Gavinor walks in with his governess, ready to leave. Dalinar exits after him, and Navani goes to give her daughter an awkward hug. After a short discussion, Jasnah heads to the Oathgate as well and [[Sebarial]] walks up. They talk about Taravangian's inevitable betrayal, and then Sebarial obliquely solicits advice regarding [[Palona]] when Navani mentions her. Navani directs him to bring the warcamps back under Alethi control, then suggests that he try to be more sincere with Palona.

Navani and Brightness Anesa go over various reports regarding the tower as they ride to the atrium. Once there, she inspects a hidden room to which a Stoneward has created access. Falilar promises to conduct a thorough study of the scale model hidden in the room as well as to try to uncover the secrets of the gemstone found in the doorway. As she reenters the palanquin, [[Isabi]] runs up holding a blinking spanreed that indicates her mysterious contact wants to speak with her again.

Falilar, Isabi, and the other scholars set up the spanreed, attaching it to a scale so they can measure the amount of decay when the fabrial is activated. Navani converses with the other party regarding the suffering to spren that her fabrial experiments cause while the others take measurements. Falilar, discovering that the writer is close enough to be inside the tower, requests that they move to a second location so they can begin to triangulate their location. Agreeing, Navani and [[Kalami]] meet the others on the plateau in front of the tower and reinitiate the conversation. The phantom writer reveals themself to be a spren, but Navani discounts Kalami's suggestion that it is another of the Unmade. The spren severs the connection, and Navani devises a plan to force them to show their hand. On her way back inside, she kicks the spanreed over the edge in such a way that makes it seem like an accident. Though she directs Falilar to search for it, she privately intends to make sure that it is unusable.

Realizing that this is a chance for her to be alone, Shallan tells Adolin that she wants to rest as the others leave for [[Nameless]]. He reluctantly leaves her, so she goes to tell Unativi that she will watch over the barge if he and his crew wish to visit the town. Pattern stays behind and, correctly intuiting her intentions, wishes to hear her conversation with Mraize. She directs him to station himself where he can both hear the exchange and watch for anyone returning to the barge. After confirming that the cube has been moved again since the last time she checked, Shallan asks the cube if she can speak with Mraize and shortly hears his voice coming from the device.

As Adolin and Maya enter the town with a small group of his soldiers, he is transfixed by the different varieties of spren. After a brief exchange with Maya regarding why Shallan would choose to stay behind, Adolin realizes that the [[deadeye]] is staring at another [[Testament|deadeye]] standing in front of a shop. Thinking that it would be best for Maya to move on, Adolin tries to leave; however, her insistent focus on the other spren causes him to approach the shop and engage the shopkeeper in conversation. The [[inkspren]] tells Adolin the cryptic deadeye's story, disturbing him greatly when he realizes she has been killed recently. As he turns to go, Godeke jogs up to tell him about a [[Tukari caravaneers|caravan]] of humans.

Adolin, Godeke, [[Archinal]], and Maya go investigate a caravan of humans camped outside of Nameless. After trying several languages, one speaks to them in broken Alethi to tell them they do not want to talk. Adolin and Godeke agree that the group is definitely [[Tukari]] and leave pondering the implications of such a fact. As they approach the barge again, Adolin recognizes [[Notum]] speaking to Unativi.

Adolin and Maya step up to speak with Notum. Adolin tells the honorspren about their diplomatic mission, and Notum tries to get him to see how futile he thinks the mission will be. They argue over the [[Recreance]], and Maya growls when Adolin states that the other honorspren should listen to Syl since they think she is so precious. Adolin calls out to Notum as he leaves, referring to him as a ship's captain. Notum in turn tells him about his punishment following his decision to let their group go free prior to the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]]. He asks if they at least saved Dalinar, and Adolin is forced to admit that it had actually ended up being the other way around. Notum promises to counsel against their mission should they meet again on the road, but Adolin's resolve is only strengthened.

As the incursion group hikes towards Urithiru through the mountains, Venli observes the group of ''[[Fused#Makay-im|makay-im]]''. Noticing her interest, Raboniel approaches and engages her in conversation. She implies that she knows Venli is along to spy for Leshwi and asks her the reason behind her interest in the Deepest Ones. Raboniel explains to Venli about the nine [[Surges]] and the mechanics behind that of [[Cohesion]]. She and Venli discuss the relative strength of Knights Radiant versus Fused, and then Venli asks why they serve Odium if the Surges come from [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]]. After their conversation concludes, Raboniel moves away and [[Rothan]] steps up to warn Venli not to get entangled too deeply with the Fused; --because Leshwi values Venli, so does the rest of her staff.

Adolin and Veil continue to walk and talk, climbing onto a ridge that Ua'pam had told Adolin about. Adolin tries to reassure Shallan that he won't leave her no matter what, but it is the emergence of a [[starspren]] that finally draws her out. Shallan immediately begins sketching, exclaiming over the sight. They banter for a while, and a mention of Shallan's disastrous relationship with [[Kabsal]] leads to Adolin confessing the story of his mishap with [[Idani]] as a fourteen-year-old. A comment of Adolin's regarding how Idani treated Renarin causes Shallan to realize that he is feeling a mixture of emotions centered around Dalinar's expectations of him. Shallan shows him that she really understands how he feels, for which he is grateful.

Adolin and Shallan return to camp, where they separate to pack up. Adolin loads his gear onto Gallant, then helps Maya up into the saddle. Around midday, [[Felt]] brings him the news that the Tukari caravan has split off from trailing them. Calling for a break, Adolin follows the scout onto an outcropping and discusses the situation with him, telling him to keep a watch on them during their break. While on the way back to Gallant, he realizes what they must really be after.

As they gallop past the human's caravan and see only a handful of humans, Adolin's suspicions are confirmed. They approach Notum's group, and, noting the signs of violence ahead, Adolin directs Gallant to stay out of the fight when they get there. After riding in close enough to see the Tukari stabbing Notum repeatedly, Adolin again tells Gallant to stay away and asks Maya if she would be able to cut Notum free if he distracted the assailants. Receiving what he takes as a negative, Adolin confronts the Tukari alone with his greatsword. He drives them away from Notum, using his momentum to intimidate them and thin their numbers. As soon as they back off, however, their [[Tukari leader|leader]] organizes them so they can surround him. Adolin receives a spear through the abdomen, but he keeps fighting and soon finds that Maya has brought a sword and come to help him. He starts her going through the stances of his morning kata, and with his back now guarded and with Gallant's looming presence helping as well, he is able to kill or scare off the remaining Tukari. A group from the diplomatic mission arrive to find the Tukari gone and the wounded Adolin holding Notum.

Navani checks in on her scholars and tries out the new version of the lift device, which Tomor has now constructed in the form of a glove that will pull the wearer in different directions and at varying speeds. As she and [[Kristir]] confer, they are interrupted by a soldier who has captured a [[Dabbid|person]] trying to replace the ruby in the spanreed. She sends him to her chamber for interrogation, and one of the soldiers tells her that the person they captured is associated with the Windrunners. The ruby begins blinking, but Navani decides to ignore it; as she leaves, they get notification via spanreed of an explosion.

Venli and her company have come across a patrol of soldiers in the tunnels below Urithiru, and they kill them. Venli does not handle having to kill a soldier well, and Raboniel is surprised, given her people's involvement in the [[War of Reckoning]]. Venli responds by telling her that she had been a scholar, not a fighter. She thinks to herself that she doesn't want to kill anymore and just hopes to get through the situation without doing so.

Teft begins to seize at the same moment that Kaladin feels something strong press on him. He shakes it off and goes to check on Teft, whowhom he presumes had a stroke. They go to take him to a nearby clinic; Kaladin tries to Lash him to make him easier to carry, and it doesn't work.

Navani is with her soldiers and the Lightweaver [[Red (Roshar)|Red]] to talk to the individual who had the gemstone to replace in the spanreed. They discover that it is Dabbid, who makes the Windrunner salute. They try to get answers from him, and he motions to the wall, while indicating in response to queries that he is not working with the enemy. Someone brings Navani the spanreed from the stranger, who writes that the tower is under attack. As the writer introduces themself as the [[Sibling]], the spren of the tower, Red collapses.

Kaladin is stunned at his failed Lashing, and he searches for Syl or Phendorana but can't find either. Rlain says that the rhythms are going crazy, and as they arrive at the Edgedancer clinic, they find the Edgedancers unconscious. They decided to take Teft to Kaladin's father. As they try to find a way to carry him, Kaladin discovers that he can still do full Lashings, which use the surge of [[Adhesion]]. As they make their way, they learn that this is affecting all the Radiants except Kaladin, and Kaladin says the effect reminds him of the device that they found in Hearthstone. They arrive at Lirin's clinic and find it full of other Radiants. He calls again for Syl, whom he can feel distantly, and she emerges, describing feeling sleepy. Rlain arrives and says that Fused are in the tower and that spanreeds aren't working.

Navani and her scribes reach the map room and find officers there, including a [[darkeyed]] Battalionlordbattalionlord named [[Teofil]]. They discuss strategy and decide that the best thing they can do is to try to reverse what has happened by getting to the basement. Navani communicates with the Sibling through a garnet vein in the wall. She learns that the Sibling was asleep until they felt a Bondsmith in the tower but has subsequently stayed hidden. The Sibling recognizes Raboniel, calling her the Lady of Pains, and knows that she intends to go farther than just reversing the suppression abilities of the tower, that she wants to change who they are. The Sibling agrees to help Navani prevent that from happening and tells her to gather Stormlight.

While Navani's scholars work to infuse the sapphire, she speaks with the Sibling, who tells them that they have to move quickly and that Teofil is doomed. Navani asks how they are bringing in troops. When the Sibling tells her that there is a human with an [[Honorblade]] operating the Oathgates, Navani realizes it must be Moash. Then the Sibling says that something has happened to cause Raboniel to cease her efforts.

Raboniel touches the pillar, and she realizes that there is Stormlight in the system; this is odd, as since the Sibling is a child of Honor and Cultivation, it should run on its own [[Lights#Towerlight|Light]], not Stormlight. A blue light comes off of the pillar and forms an impenetrable shield that is as hard as glass, blocking them from the pillar. Raboniel is amazed, and [[Ulim, the first voidspren that Venli ever met,]] appears, saying that they have found Navani. Raboniel tells him that they are going to take her captive, not kill her.

Kaladin is in the clinic, where a [[Alili|messenger]] woman tells them that Navani has surrendered, so they are to live under singer law and not resist. Lirin says that it wasn't so bad before, and it won't be so bad now. Kaladin is frustrated at his response and how they have to live under the rule of the enemy. Hesina and Laral go to check on the people, and Kaladin and his father continue to argue about resisting on the way to their rooms. A little later, Syl alerts them to a search party that is nearing, and Kaladin hides. The soldiers enter and say that they are to take the Radiants into custody. Kaladin overhears and cannot bear the thought of them taking Teft. He emerges to find a Regal and a regular soldier, with the soldier carrying Teft. Kaladin pushes his father into another room as he tells them to leave Teft. The Regal refuses, and they fight brutally, with Kaladin leaving the Fused to bleed out. Kaladin tells the other soldier to leave and then checks on his father, who is in shock. Kaladin says that they all need to go into hiding, and Lirin, furious, refuses. He cannot believe that Kaladin murdered someone in his clinic, his home. He tells Kaladin to leave and that he will stay, despairing because he believes his son has become a monster. Kaladin grabs Teft and leaves.