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Kalak, one of the ten [[Herald]]s, wanders through a torn landscape littered with dead humans, [[thunderclast]]s, and other beasts. He is traveling to the Heralds' preordained meeting place (a rocky spire) for those who survived the [[Desolation]].
Upon arrival, he finds only their leader, [[Jezrien]], waiting for him. At first, Kalak assumes that the other eight must have died, for the battle was "furious". However, he notices
Kalak
Finally, both Jezrien and Kalak summon their Blades and slam them into the ground along with the other seven. They depart following opposite directions along the barren landscape, vowing to go their own ways and
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-prelude/|Prelude Annotation]]
{{anchor|Prologue}}
Because as a Shin, Szeth considers a dying wish to be sacred, he leaves a note for Dalinar written in Gavilar's blood. He takes the sphere and flees.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-prologue/|Prologue Annotation]]
== Part One: Above Silence ==
The opposing force arrives and the battle begins. Kaladin's squad does not lose a single man. At one point, Kaladin singlehandedly fights off six enemy spearmen to save Cenn. When an enemy [[Brightlord]] appears, Kaladin and his squad attempt to defeat him. They are hindered, however, by the arrival of an enemy [[Shardbearer]]. Cenn is killed by blood loss, and the scene cuts out.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-1/|Chapter 1 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 2}}
In his anger at the other slave's murder, he crushed the blackbane against the bars of the wagon, losing most of it.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-2/|Chapter 2 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 3}}
The chapter ends with Shallan turning a corner and seeing Jasnah.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-3/|Chapter 3 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 4}}
The other slaves express hope that they will be treated fairly in the warcamps. Kaladin has his doubts, thinking of the many lighteyes who have proven to be corrupt in the past. His one remaining hope is that he will be allowed to fight again.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-4/|Chapter 4 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 5}}
Jasnah rejects Shallan as her ward because of her lack of education in history and philosophy. Shallan is frustrated, but decides to persevere. It is then that Shallan reveals that she wishes to become Jasnah's ward not out of scholarly pursuit, but in order to steal her Soulcaster to help her family's finances recover.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-5/|Chapter 5 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 6}}
The woman decides that Kaladin and his companions are to be made members of the bridge crews. Kaladin and his new immediate superior, [[Gaz]], take an instant dislike to each other, and as a result, Kaladin is placed in one of the worst locations on the bridge when they are called on a bridge run, without the benefit of shoes or vest for protection.
After several hours of agony carrying the bridge, they arrive at the chasm where the enemy Parshendi are waiting on the other side. They take
He wakes up hours later when the windspren who's been following him shocks him with some sort of energy. Kaladin realizes that if he doesn't hurry, he will be left behind. The spren tells him that her name is Sylphrena, or [[Syl]].
Though he is exhausted, Kaladin takes a spot on the bridge and begins the long way back to camp.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-6/|Chapter 6 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 7}}
Shallan is en route to the Palanaeum, hoping to convince Jasnah that she is worthy to be her ward. She believes that it is critical that she find a way to do so, as without her father, her family can no longer Soulcast its way into wealth or manipulate others into doing as they want.
She is allowed to wait for Jasnah in her reading alcove, though she is denied access to the Palanaeum itself. While she waits, she
Kabsal tells Shallan that he is trying to convert Jasnah, an avowed athiest, to [[Vorinism]]. He leaves, asking her to let Jasnah know that he had come by to speak with her. She agrees, and begins to lacquer her drawings. She realizes that she's been there for quite a while and begins to gather her things, leaving the letter for Jasnah. Before she can leave, however, Jasnah appears in the doorway, looking displeased.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-7/|Chapter 7 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 8}}
Shallan reflects that now she's completed the first phase of her plan, but now needs to discover how to accomplish the rest of it without being caught.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-8/|Chapter 8 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 9}}
The bridge crews are called on another run, and the boy who reminded him of Tien is killed, as well as the only remaining man from Kaladin's first bridge run. Kaladin thinks to himself that he is dead inside, then begins to cry.
*[[bws: annotation-the-way-of-kings-chapter-9/|Chapter 9 Annotation]]
{{anchor|Chapter 10}}
;Kaladin
Kal (his nickname as a boy) helps his father, [[Lirin]], treat a young woman, [[Sani]]. He reflects over the course of the surgery on how his family is treated so differently because of his father's career.
When they finish amputating Sani's middle finger,
Lirin quizzes him on various things a surgeon should know, then tells him that he plans to send him to Kharbranth to train under the surgeons there if he can find a way to do so. Lirin also tells him that he's incredibly gifted when it comes to surgery, and he shouldn't waste himself on soldiering.
Ishikk, a fisherman in the [[Purelake]], is just returning home after a long day of fishing. After pausing to talk to [[Thaspic]] he meets with [[Maib]], a local woman who has been attempting to get him to marry her for years by trying to keep him in her debt, mostly by giving him food. Ishikk tries to counterbalance her efforts by bringing her fish that cure her aches in her joints.
Following a brief conversation with Maib, Ishikk goes to meet with a group of foreigners. They ask him about whether he has any new information for them, and Ishikk tells them that he has been to many villages in the area and none of them know anything about the man the foreigners are looking for, revealed to be [[Hoid]]. The foreigners (one of whom is [[Demoux]] from [[Scadrial]]{{wob ref|6683
{{Anchor|Interlude 2}}
;Kaladin
Kaladin is talking to his friend [[Laral]] about his
Kaladin and Laral go to talk to some of the other boys, questioning why they aren't working in the fields like usual. [[Jost]], another boy, claims that his father was cheated out of a Shardblade, but Kaladin insists that the area where his father fought wouldn't have had any Shardbearers, and Jost's father must be remembering wrong. Jost gets angry and challenges Kaladin to fight him.
The moment the storm hits, Dalinar finds that he is no longer in the barracks, but in an unfamiliar barn in the middle of a clear, cool night with only a small girl for company. The girl is terrified of something, and thinks that Dalinar is her father. After a few moments of hushed conversation, a strange creature bursts through one of the walls of the barn and attacks. Dalinar is able to avoid the creature long enough to grab the girl and escape to a nearby house where a woman who thinks he is her husband is waiting for him.
Once in the house, Dalinar has the woman bar the door. Shortly thereafter, however, two more of the strange creatures force their way in, and Dalinar is forced to fight them off using
Dalinar takes the woman, [[Taffa]], and the girl, [[Seeli]], to try to escape the creatures by moving along the course of a river. He deflects all of the woman's questions about why he doesn't remember them or their surroundings at all by saying that he hit his head in the fight. Before they can arrive at the river, however, the group is attacked by more of the strange creatures. Just as Dalinar is about to be killed, two Knights Radiant appear and help him to kill the creatures. They tell him that the creatures aren't [[Voidbringer]]s, but rather [[Midnight Essence]]. They invite Dalinar to [[Urithiru]] to train as a Radiant, then leave to help others.
Later, Kaladin, Rock, and Teft sneak into the wagonyard to retrieve the knobweed. Relieved that it's still there and not too dried out, they head to the where Syl found chipped, discarded liquor bottles to use for the knobweed sap. They then head to the Honor Chasm to squeeze the sap into the bottles.
While working, they talk. Teft asks Kaladin why he tries to lead the bridgecrew. Kaladin says that the responsibilities of the bridgeleader are his to decide. Kaladin asks Rock how he came to be a bridgeman. Rock tells him that his leader, or nuatoma, dueled Highprince Sadeas to try to win
{{Anchor|Chapter 24}}
Dalinar summons [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]] and together with Adolin they attack the Parshendi. The Thrill gives him strength, focus, and power until he feels a sudden stab of powerful revulsion to the scene of death around him. He forces himself to continue to fight but feels sick. Dalinar hears a voice saying "Life before death," but nobody is near enough. He starts to fight for his men.
Dalinar wins the battle and Adolin takes the gemheart. Dalinar is looking eastward, toward the [[Origin]], when he notices a group of Parshendi on a nearby plateau. Among them is a [[Eshonai|large Parshendi wearing
{{anchor|Chapter 27}}
'''[[Axies the Collector]]'''
Axies the Collector wakes up in an alley in [[Kasitor]] lying in rotting garbage. He had gotten drunk the night before to see if he could spot [[Alespren]], and he's been deposited here, naked. He manages to grab a ratty blanket from an insane beggar and walks out into the streets, drawing stares. He heads to the docks, where many people are waiting. [[Cusicesh the Protector]] appears in the water, leaving him feeling drained. A street urchin grabs his blanket, leaving him naked again. He's hauled off to jail, content at having seen two new spren. Perhaps he will finally see the elusive captivityspren.
{{Anchor|Interlude 6}}
;Gaz
Gaz is stunned as he sees Bridge Four do the "side carry." He waves Kaladin over and demands an explanation. Kaladin gives him the excuse about utilizing different muscles. Gaz realizes that this might get Kaladin killed on an actual assault and suggests that they should try it on
{{anchor|Chapter 31}}
'''Shallan'''
Shallan is thinking about how she sometimes gets distracted by the enormity of the Palanaeum. Along with a [[Parshmen|Parshman]] servant, she is on her way to get a copy of [[Dialogues]], though she now has an hour each day to do her own research. She has decided on natural science. She thinks about how she could fill gaps in her understanding and has to remind herself that her true goal is to steal Jasnah's Soulcaster. Hiding in one of the library rooms, she goes
When Shallan returns to the alcove, she finds that Jasnah has not yet returned, but to her surprise Kabsal is present. Apparently he wants to show something to Jasnah, but has some bread and [[simberry jam]] to share with Shallan. After a discussion about the meaning of the jam and Shallan's personality, they move on to Shallan's appearance and what she thinks of herself. They also discuss Jasnah's heresy. Shallan considers Kabsal in a romantic light for a short time before dismissing it. Kabsal tries to get Shallan to switch Devotary's even though it is apparently frowned upon to recruit. Kabsal intended to show Jasnah proof of the [[Almighty]], which Shallan is curious to see. He gets out a book where he shows her four patterns of the cities [[Kholinar]], [[Vedenar]], [[Thaylen City]] and [[Akinah]]. Using a metal plate with sand and a bow he recreates the patterns in the sand through the resonance telling her that this is called Cymatics. Telling her of more examples he considers proof he guides the conversation to saving her soul. When Jasnah appears she is not surprised to see Kabsal but not pleased either. She reveals that she knows about Cymatics but doesn't seem impressed by it. After Kabsal is gone, Jasnah warns Shallan that Kabsal is only interested in Shallan to get to Jasnah and her soulcaster.
;Kaladin
Kaladin gains consciousness to find himself tied upside down by his ankles outside the barrack. Syl tells him that Lamaril was executed and Gaz was left in his position. Kaladin is to be judged by the Stormfather -- left out in the highstorm to see if he will survive. Syl leaves and comes back with Rock, Teft and Moash. They tell Kaladin about the disaster caused by the side carry of Bridge Four. They say that Bridge Four will remember Kaladin for what he had done, and that they will not go back to how they were before. Kaladin, just a bit light in the head after being beaten and hung up upside down, tells them
{{anchor|Chapter 35}}
;Kaladin
The stormwall hits Kaladin, flings him around, presses him against the side of the barrack. When he screams, the coldness of the storm courses into his mouth. He clutches the sphere as if his life depends on it. Syl stays by his side and tells him to grab the roof. He does and comes to lay on the roof. For more grip he snatches the ring where his ropes are tied to and fights against being cast down by the highstorm, always clutching the sphere. In some brief moments he sees Syl standing before him as if trying to hold back the storm. His grip grows numb and he's flung about again. He
;Teft
;Shallan
Shallan tells Jasnah that she thinks she was technically right to kill the footpads, but she acted immorally and unethically. Jasnah is satisfied that Shallan has learned a good deal from the lesson and dismisses her for the rest of the day. It's been two weeks since the Soulcaster was stolen, and Shallan is puzzled that Jasnah hasn't seemed to react at all. Back in her chambers, she attempts to use the Soulcaster while humming for half an hour. She wonders if
Kabsal explains the stories behind the [[Truthberry|Truthberry jam]]. Shallan laments that she isn't much of a scholar since she prefers the outdoors. Kabsal starts flirting, and although Shallan thinks that it wouldn't work out for them, she encourages him. He implies that he might leave the ardentia for her. Shallan steers the conversation to Jasnah. He reveals that his initial plan was to get Shallan to help him steal her soulcaster, but his superiors disapproved. They were afraid that Elhokar might start a war with Kharbranth. Shallan probes for some hints on how to use it. He says you only have to tap a gem and touch the object you wish to change, but Jasnah doesn't do that. Kabsal leaves and Shallan returns inside, finding a note from Captain Tozbek informing her that he will arrive in one week. She wants to study as much as possible before leaving, so she goes back to Jasnah to read.
=== Chapter 43: The Wretch ===
{{/icon|Kaladin}}
{{epigraph|They lived out in the wilds, always awaiting the Desolation—or sometimes, a foolish child who took no
;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 lined up and waiting for him to lead them in practice. Before he can tell them how useless it is, he sees Lamaril's replacement: Brightlord [[Matal]] and his wife [[Hashal]].
Hashal speaks for her husband and tells Kaladin that the Almighty has simply given Kaladin another chance to prove himself as a bridgeman, nothing more. She claims that her husband is a well respected and honored associate of Sadeas, and Kaladin wonders out loud how he ended up in this position. Hashal directs one of her men beat him, but Kaladin catches the spear aimed at him. In his mind he sees how to beat not only the soldier attacking him but his three
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
{{anchor|Chapter 44}}
;Kaladin
Kaladin rides the highstorm as he sweeps across Roshar. In the dream Kaladin views many places and people, a large portion of which he had never seen or heard of before. Blowing southwest and then westward, Kaladin sees flashes of lights, almost appearing to be physical things he could touch. Approaching them he sees that they came from a building amidst a city built of a triangular pattern. He bursts in there and sees a man with large Shin eyes, a
Kaladin walks around camp to think. He asks Syl about Odium, and she hisses and zips off without a word. Kaladin sees an officer beating a whore in the street and starts to intervene, but he sees a high-ranking officer in blue (Adolin) come onto the scene. The officer backs down and Adolin offers to escort the lady out of the camp. He flips an emerald chip at Kaladin and tells him to pass along a message for him. Kaladin takes the chip but doesn't pass along the message.
;Kaladin
Kaladin is waiting in one of Amaram's waiting rooms. Only four of his twenty-six men survived -- he had actually begun to believe those who called him lucky. Numb, he thinks how he can now be considered among those who have killed a Shardbearer like [[Lanacin]] the Surefooted, or [[Evod Markmaker]], but he just doesn't care. Refusing the Shards was probably the stupidest thing anyone has ever done, but the thought of taking them revolts him. Amaram enters the room along with a [[Stormwarden]]. They are discussing
== Interludes ==
;[[Geranid]]
Geranid and [[Ashir]] are two ardents in the twilight of life devoted to each other and their research. Geranid studies spren; Ashir uses cooking to experiment with chemistry. He wonders if he should change his [[Calling]] because food may not be needed in the [[Cognitive Realm|Cognitive]] and [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual]] Realms. Geranid measures a flamespren and notes that it stays locked in its current state once it is measured. Geranid tells her to go into the other room. He will call out three numbers, one the true measurement, and she is to only write down one. When he calls out the actual measurement, the spren locks in place. It seems to know when it is being measured.{{
;Dalinar
Dalinar and Sadeas attack another
{{anchor|Chapter 57}}
;Kaladin
Kaladin and Bridge Four are on another bridgerun. He's nervous because this time he wants to try distracting the Parshendi archers with his self-made Parshendi armor and shield. On the way to the battlefield a soldier who doesn't want to wait for the army's water crews tries to force his way to Bridge Four's water skin. Because Kaladin's armor is hidden with the water Bridge Four persuades the soldier to back down. On the final approach Kaladin manages to draw the full attention of the Parshendi archers by wearing Parshendi armor and shield. He uses Stormlight to improve his speed, heal his wounds, and draw arrows to his shield. Sadeas rides up and is forced to promote Matal
{{anchor|Chapter 63}}
;Dalinar
Dalinar and
;Kaladin
Bridge Four lines up for the assault. They all wear carapace armor, expertly crafted and ornamented by Leyten. Every man also has a shield crafted from Parshendi bones, some ornamented with smaller bones to create a rattling sound. The other bridgemen look on in astonishment and admiration and cheer
;Adolin
;Dalinar
Dalinar orders a crew to set a bridge for his army to cross, and he leads his men into battle along with Adolin. Some Parshendi target him with large rocks, but he goes after them and takes care of them easily. After some time in the battle, Dalinar feels the Thrill, but loses it as he faces down a youthful Parshendi. He starts having doubts about fighting, and thinks about the Codes and Gavilar's murder and the visions, trying to decide what is the right course of action. Adolin interrupts his reverie to point out that another group of Parshendi have arrived. Dalinar wonders why Sadeas's scouts didn't give them warning. He climbs to the top of the rock formation
{{anchor|Chapter 66}}
;Kaladin
As Sadeas's forces withdraw, Bridge Four lags behind. Having wounded and already being low in number, they are unable to move ahead of the army and help with the crossing of the staging plateau. Instead of crossing with the army, Kaladin tells Matal that they will rest, use their bridge to follow and catch up later. Kaladin gives the pretense that he doesn't want to slow the rest of the army. The army continues westward without Bridge Four. Kaladin explains to the men that now they can simply escape without fighting. Everything is perfect except the wounded back at camp. Kaladin insists
;Dalinar
;Kaladin
The Parshendi have seen the approach of Bridge Four and prepare to
;Kaladin (flashback)
;Kaladin
Kaladin and Bridge Four fight to hold their bridgehead for what seems like hours to Kaladin. During this time Kaladin finds himself gaining respect for the Parshendi's battlefield ethics. He seems to find in the Parshendi what he had hoped to find in the warcamps of Alethi. The Kholin army finally breaks through the Parshendi lines and takes control of the bridge, defending both sides of the chasm. Kaladin stops to take a report from his men only to find that [[Malop]], [[Earless Jaks]], and [[Narm]] are dead. He orders his men back across the bridge to the staging chasm. With Moash, Kaladin looks to the lead of the retreat. Unable to find a suitable officer, Kaladin promotes a very young lighteyed soldier and gets him to
;Dalinar
Dalinar takes multiple hits to his helm, which finally explodes, leaving him dazed and confused. His Parshendi enemy doesn't finish him off, though, instead leaning down to him and saying, "It ''is'' you. I have found you at last." There is a disturbance in the Parshendi ranks, and Dalinar
;Kaladin
;Navani
At Sadeas's staging area Navani forces her way through the crowd after hearing rumors that Sadeas came back from battle without Dalinar. Renarin follows her. Sadeas tells Navani that the Parshendi overwhelmed Dalinar's forces,
;Dalinar
Dalinar rides at the head of his remaining force. Seething with anger, he contemplates his confrontation with Sadeas. He knows he
;Kaladin
Kaladin watches the conference between Dalinar and Sadeas with the members of Bridge Four. The private conversation ends, and Sadeas states aloud that their alliance was "unfeasible." Dalinar claims the bridgemen, but
;Dalinar
Dalinar finds Elhokar in the sitting room of the palace wearing his Shardplate. Dalinar initiates a quick brawl in which he
== Part Five: The Silence Above ==
;Shallan
Before reading Jasnah's notes on the Voidbringers, Shallan asks Jasnah how she soulcasted her blood multiple times if she was so unskilled in organic material. Jasnah replies that blood is one of the Essences and is therefore easy to soulcast, unlike the strawberry jam which she had never seen before. Shallan has a great many additional questions about soulcasting, but Jasnah returns the conversation back to the Voidbringers. Shallan
{{anchor|Chapter 73}}
Kaladin waits at Dalinar's warcamp's staging ground as requested by Dalinar himself. As he waits he wonders with Syl whether he can trust Dalinar. Syl seems to feel that Dalinar is indeed honorable. Kaladin feels conflicted about his actions that day. He wonders again whether he could truly protect by killing and whether the three lives lost from his bridge crew were worth the thousands of soldiers and lighteyes that they saved.
As the middle moon finishes rising, Dalinar joins Kaladin on the staging ground. They discuss the condition of the bridge crews and how many Kaladin
Kaladin returns to Bridge Four's barrack to find his men engaged in their nightly tradition of eating Rock's stew. They talk to him about his extraordinary abilities and they want him to teach them how to do it too. Kaladin is unsure if its teachable but agrees to try. They decide to create experiments to test his abilities, and Kaladin demands an oath of silence about his abilities. He then relaxes knowing that he has finally succeeded in saving someone.
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