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

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 that seven [[Honorblade]]s had been driven point-first into the ground at the base of spire. Jezrien then informs Kalak that the other Heralds have departed, abandoning the [[Oathpact]]. Kalak then admits to Jezrien that he can't return to "the place of nightmares", the waiting place of the Heralds between Desolations. Jezrien then tells Kalak to relinquish his blade as well, for "...it is time for the Oathpact to end." This effectively leaves [[Talenel]] (Taln), the only Herald who was killeddied in the battle, alone to uphold the Oathpact and the sole sufferer of the pain and torture in the waiting realm.

Kalak isshows horrifiedhorror and disturbeddisgust that both Jezrien and himself have been broken by the cycle of Desolations and that they are too weak to face their suffering. They plan to lie and tell the people that they finally won against the "enemy", and hopes thatsaying it might even turn out to be true. Their abandonment of mankind is somewhat diluted by the fact that Ishar, another Herald, believes that "...so long as there is one of us still bound to the Oathpact (Talenel), it may be enough. There is a chance we might end the cycle of Desolations." Jezrien points out that mankind also has the [[Knights Radiant|Radiants]].

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 to not seek one another, or any other of the Heralds. As Kalak is leaving the ring of swords, he looks back and notices a single open spot, "The place where the tenth sword should have gone." Kalak feels a deep sorrow and shame for Taln's exclusion andthinking thinksto himself, "Forgive us...", thenas he walks leavesaway.

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 heavyvolleys fireof arrows while placing their bridge. Kaladin is the only survivor in the front row.

She is allowed to wait for Jasnah in her reading alcove, though she is denied access to the Palanaeum itself. While she waits, she writessketches aseveral letterMemories tofrom Jasnahthe containingpast argumentsfew for her reconsiderationhours, then beginswrites toa sketchletter severalto scenesJasnah fromcontaining thearguments pastfor fewher hoursreconsideration. She is interrupted by an [[ardent]] introducing himself as [[Kabsal]]. He asks to wait for Jasnah with Shallan and praises her sketches highly.

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.

When they finish amputating Sani's middle finger, Lirin asks Kaladin why he was late to arrive, and Kaladin replies that he was with a boy named [[Jam (Hearthstone)|Jam]] learning to use a quarterstaff. This sparks a debate between Kaladin and Lirin about the relative merits of being a soldier or a surgeon. Lirin meets Kaladin's claim that it's possible to save lives by killing others with the assertion that doing so is like "trying to stop a storm by blowing harder." Eventually, Kaladin simply stops arguing and goes back to cleaning up the room.

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|Is Thinker Demoux?|date=Dec 15th, 2011|event=West Jordan signing}}) argue amongst themselves for a while, then leave Ishikk to his thoughts.

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 aan iron poker from the hearth. When he kills them, he notices that rather than bleeding, their wounds seem to release smoke of some sort.

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 shardplatehis Shardplate. When he lost, Rock, his cousin and servant, was bound to Sadeas. He was a cook, until he snuck chull dung into Sadeas's food, which caused his fall to bridgeman status. Teft asks Kaladin for his story explaining why he is a bridgeman. Kaladin says that he killed a man, though it wasn't murder and he was thanked by someone important. He cryptically says that he is a bridgeman because a lighteyes did not take it well when he turned down a gift.

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 a Shardplate]]. Dalinar wonders why the Shardbearer hadn't participated in the battle. The group flees toward their base at the center of the Plains.

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.

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, he will survive. Though there is a very little chance of surviving a highstorm outside, they want to believe him. Finally Teft gives him an infused sphere as a kind of lucky charm before the three retreat to the barracks. The stormwall arrives.

{{epigraph|They lived out in the wilds, always awaiting the Desolation—or sometimes, a foolish child who took no headheed of the night's darkness.}}

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 companioncompanions as well, but decides against it, letting go of the spear and letting the next hit land. She informs them that they'll only be doing chasm duty from now on.

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 teachtrain them toas spearspearmen, sohoping theyit canwill atincrease leasttheir getpoor pastodds aof guard postescaping. All but Rock eagerly agree. Fighting is beneath Rock; he will cook instead.

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 shardbladeShardblade, wearing white, (likely Szeth - the Assassin in White), just after he has committed an assassination. It feels to Kaladin as though the assassin could see him. Nearing the western ocean, Kaladin separates from the storm after hearing a booming voice that shakes the stormwall. This voice calls Kaladin a child of [[Tanavast]] and of [[Honor]] and warns him that [[Odium]] comes. Kaladin asks why there is so much war, and voice responds, "Odium reigns." Kaladin then awakes inside his barracks, held down by dark figures. He instinctively starts to fight them off before realizing they are his bridge mates. They had to hold him down to stop him from running out into the highstorm while dreaming. They all go out to bathe in the riddens, and Kaladin decides to accept a shave from Rock. Rock reveals that Sigzil is a [[Worldsinger]]. Bridge Four is assigned a new crew member, a Parshman who can't bother to give them his name, so they call him [[Shen]].

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 who the Shardbearer wasidentity and whatmotives wereof histhe motivesshardbearer. The rest of the squad enters along with some lighteyed officers. Amaram asks Kaladin why he charged the Shardbearer and why he rejected the Shards. Kaladin doesn't want to reveal his disdain of lighteyes, and becoming one of them, so he replies that he doesn't know why. Amaram makes a signal, then his soldiers slaughter the four spearmen while Kaladin is held back by guards, shrieking in anger and agony at seeing his men murdered. Amaram looks guilty, but he justifies his actions by saying that he is trained in the sword and that Kaladin would demand the Shards back in a few days anyway. Since Kaladin saved his life, he will spare his. He will promulgate the story that he (Amaram) killed the Shardbearer and that Kaladin fled the scene, the rest of the squad killed by the Shardbearer. The Stormwarden brands Kaladin a slave.

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.{{wob ref|28|Quantum Physics|date=20 February 2015|event=Firefight Chicago signing}}

Dalinar and Sadeas attack another plataeuplateau together. Just as it appears that they have won, a second Parshendi army appears in direct response to the new Alethi strategy of combined assaults. Dalinar lays out a new strategy for the army to follow to adjust for the new threat, but then sees that Sadeas is right in the thick of where the Parshendi have come. Dalinar mounts [[Gallant]] and the two of them bound across the chasm, leaving a line of death in their wake as they make their way towards Sadeas. When they arrive, Dalinar finds that his old friend has fallen and is being beaten down by a horde of Parshendi. Dalinar kills them all and defends Sadeas single-handedly until Adolin and his guard are able to penetrate the Parshendi line and relieve the Highprinces. Sadeas asks why Dalinar would take such a risk for him, to which Dalinar repeats principles that have been instilled in him by ''The Way of Kings''. Sadeas is displeased that it holds such sway over Dalinar, calling it "That storming book." He warns Dalinar that those ideals will get him killed one day.

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 becuasebecause "his" idea of distracting the Parshendi worked. Kaladin himself suffers from shock after using so much Stormlight. As always, the members of Bridge Four look for wounded from other bridge crews and care for them. Suddenly Lopen calls out, as he spots a group of Parshendi archers coming back to the chasm and aiming at Bridge Four. While the men try to escape out of range they are surprised to see Dalinar dashing into the Parshendi force and striking them down. When done, Dalinar raises his blade in a salute at Bridge Four.

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 andto see that Sadeas, andwith his army and bridge crews, have fled from the Tower plateau, leaving his own army surrounded and cut off from retreat.

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 theythat he stay with the wounded and escape later. Kaladin feels unsettled, and not just because of the men he would have to leave behind. He sees Syl next to him as a regular-sized woman. She stands looking back at the battle with an expression of horror. Kaladin also looks back at the battle. He sees the thousands of dark eyed soldiers hopelessly surrounded. Syl says that she now remembers what kind of spren she is. She is an honorspren. The spirit of oaths, promises, and nobility. Kaladin thinks that trying save Kholin's army would be suicide and that he and his men owe Dalinar nothing. He is determined not be fooled again like the time he saved Amaram. Finally he remembers his father's words: "The lighteyes don't care about life, so I must. So we must." With the Ideals of the Radiants forming in his mind he tells the members of Bridge Four that they must go back. They agree and lift their bridge, heading back to the Tower.

The Parshendi have seen the approach of Bridge Four and prepare to fireloose arrows. Dalinar has seen too and is trying to make his way there in order to escape. Kaladin barely dodges the arrows, then Syl points to a new contingent of archers, aiming at the unprotected bridgemen. Kaladin yells the command for side carry right and expends a huge amount of Stormlight, attracting all the arrows to his shield. The Parshendi say "Neshua Kadal!" and flee at the display of power. Kaladin is completely drained from the excessive use of Stormlight. The men set down the bridge and prepare to fight another group of Parshendi who heavily outnumber the bridgemen. Kaladin can only lay on the ground in despair, having failed to protect again, just like the day that Tien died . . .

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 organizedorganize the retreat. He then finds an officer of the [[Cobalt Guard]] and asks why they aren't crossing; they are sworn to protect Adolin, so they refuse to go. So Kaladin finds Adolin and commands ''him'' to cross the bridge. He doesn't want to abandon his father, so Kaladin promises to help him while they retreat. The Cobalt Guard follows Kaladin but can't keep up.

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 seesees a glowing spearmanSpearman approaching.

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, andforcing he was forcedhim to retreat in order to save his own men. He claims to have witnessed Dalinar fall to Parshendi hammers. Unwilling to believe Sadeas's account, Navani creates an enormous ''Thath'' glyph across the staging area stone ground in ''burn'' ink. Navani releases her prayer for Justice by lighting the whole glyph, which leaves a scorch mark on the stone. Shortly after the flames die, one of Sadeas's message runner approaches with news of Dalinar's survival.

Dalinar rides at the head of his remaining force. Seething with anger, he contemplates his confrontation with Sadeas. He knows he must first protect Alethkar despite his desire for revenge. As his force approach the warcamp, Dalinar dismisses his wounded to his camp and offers to send Kaladin's bridgemen with them., Butbut they are determined to see his promise to buy their freedom through. Unwilling to force them to departgo, Dalinar entersallows them to accompany him into Sadeas's warcamp. He unexpectedly finds Renarin and Navani in Sadeas's warcamp. He embraces his son and later Navani. He tells Navani that he sees the world differently now and is now unwilling to let 'lying men' control his life. Releasing Navani, he confronts Sadeas. Publicly they feign civility. Sadeas apologizes for overestimating the threat against Dalinar's forces and retreating too soon. But, standing close so as not to be overheard, Dalinar privately askasks Sadeas why. Sadeas responds byreferring claimingto his oath to protect Elhokar, saying that Dalinar is going insane and becoming weak. He feels that these ideas are infecting Elhokar. And, in the end, he just wanted Dalinar gone. In this admission of guilt, Dalinar realizes that acting honorably would notnever win Sadeas's loyalty. despite his best effort.

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 SedeasSadeas refuses to let them go. He offers sixty emerald broams for each member. But Sadeas is unwilling to sell, stating that he would not sell them for 1,000 broams and tells Dalinar to leave his camp. Kaladin turns away, thinking Dalinar would not be able to fulfill his promise when there are gasps of surprise. Kaladin turns to see that Dalinar had summoned his Shardblade. Dalinar offers his Shardblade for all of Sadeas's bridgemen. Sadeas accepts and mocks him for giving up his Shardblade for worthless slaves. Unable to believe what has just happened, Kaladin asks Dalinar why. Dalinar explains that Kaladin saved him and two thousand of his men. All of whose lives are priceless. In his opinion, one priceless sword is a small price to pay for two thousand lives, especially to keep his honor.

Dalinar finds Elhokar in the sitting room of the palace wearing his Shardplate. Dalinar initiates a quick brawl in which he easily subdueskicks Elhokar byseveral breakingtimes, thecracking breastplatehis ofShardplate and repeatedly keeping him from summoning his Shardplateblade. Dalinar ends the "fight" by breaking Elhokar's breastplate, subduing him. He then demands to know if Elhokar himself cut the girth on his own saddle to get Dalinar to take him more seriously. Reluctantly, Elhokar admits to cutting the girth. An exasperated Dalinar then explains the consequences of this -- including Sadeas's betrayal. Additionally, Dalinar demonstrates how easily he could kill Elhokar, stating that he could have done it a hundred times over and that he is not Elhokar's enemy. Releasing his nephew, he tells Elhokar that tomorrow he will appoint Dalinar as Highprince of War. Determined to finally see the war won and Alethkar united, he decides to stop trying to be Nohadon the peacemaker and return to being the Blackthorn the warlord. Elhokar is reluctant, fearing rebellion from the various highprinces, but Dalinar turns to leave, confident that he will make the appointment and content knowing the challenges that are before him. Just before exiting, he also informs Elhokar about the courtship between himself and Navani.

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 thinkthinks will stay in the army. Dalinar wants Kaladin and Bridge Four to replace his honor guard who had been nearly wiped out earlier that day. He wants the rest of the bridgemen to be trained as a company of spearmen. Kaladin agrees on condition that the men agree and Dalinar makes him a captain. Dalinar also gives Kaladin his cloak that he wore in battle that day as a token of appreciation.