Summary:The Way of Kings

This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of The Way of Kings. We hope this summary will make it easier to find specific areas of the book, as well as providing a quick plot refresher for anyone who doesn't want to take the time to reread the entire book. Similar summaries will be completed about future books in the Stormlight Archive.

Prelude to the Stormlight Archive

Kalak, one of the Ten Heralds of the Almighty, is walking a torn landscape after one of the Desolations. He is on his way to meet with any of the Heralds who have survived the battle. He contemplates simply walking away in order to avoid the torture the Heralds are forced to endure between Desolations.

Instead of the other nine Heralds, Kalak finds only Jezrien waiting for him. Jezrien tells him that only one of the Heralds, Talenel, was killed. The other nine have decided that they will walk away, leaving Talenel to uphold the Oathpact alone.

The Heralds abandon mankind, leaving them in the care of the Knights Radiant. They tell the men who fought with them that they have won the last battle against Voidbringers, and leave Talenel and mankind to their respective fates.

Prologue: To Kill

The love of men is a frigid thing, a mountain stream only three steps from the ice. We are his. Oh Stormfather...we are his. It is but a thousand days, and the Everstorm comes.

The prologue begins 4500 years later with Szeth, a Truthless Shin assassin, waiting quietly in a large room, watching the Alethi celebrate the signing of a peace treaty with the Parshendi. He leaves the room, noting that his Parshendi masters will soon withdraw. Szeth wears white under the orders of the Parshendi to follow their traditions so that King Gavilar could see him coming.

When he reaches the area just outside the King's quarters, Szeth uses his abilities as a Surgebinder to fight his way past the guards. As he reaches the king's quarters, he is confronted by a Shardbearer as the King flees.

Szeth fights his way past the Shardbearer, but soon realizes that the Shardbearer, not the man he is chasing, is King Gavilar. He returns and fights him, eventually defeating him by causing the balcony he is standing on to collapse and kill Gavilar. Szeth is nearly killed in the fight. When Szeth tells Gavilar the Parshendi sent him, Gavilar is confused and says, "The Parshendi? That makes no sense."

Gavilar then gives Szeth a strange black sphere and tells him, “You must take this. They must not get it.” He then instructs Szeth to tell Gavilar's brother Dalinar that he must “find the most important words a man can say.”

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.

Part One: Above Silence

Chapter 1: Stormblessed

You've killed me. Bastards, you've killed me! While the sun is still hot, I die!

Five Years Later

Cenn, a new recruit in Brightlord Amaram's army, is terrified. He is about to face his first battle and has no real idea of what to expect. Cenn is pulled into a new squad, that of Kaladin Stormblessed, at the last minute for reasons he doesn't understand.

Dallet, a sergeant, picks Cenn up and returns him to the squad. They are soon joined by Kaladin, who asks Dallet to take care of Cenn during the battle as he won't know the group's signals. They then fall to discussing tactics.

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.

Chapter 2: Honor is Dead

Ten orders. We were loved, once. Why have you forsaken us, Almighty! Shard of my soul, where have you gone?

Eight Months Later

Kaladin is now a slave in a caravan, waiting to be sold, and struggling to retain his ability to not think like a slave.

When approached by another slave about escaping, Kaladin gruffly tells him that he has no plans to escape, because it will never work. A second slave approaches Kaladin and asks how he came to be a slave. When Kaladin doesn't respond, the other men tell their stories. It eventually comes out that Kaladin killed a man, but the one he did not kill is the reason he's a slave.

Kaladin idly toys with a leaf of blackbane, contemplating using it to poison Tvlakv, his slave trader. A windspren in the form of a slender young woman, but only a handspan tall, speaks to Kaladin and wants to know what the blackbane is. Kaladin is surprised because she knows his name. In the ensuing conversation, he observes that she is much more intelligent than a typical spren. When she asks why he doesn't fight anymore, he says that he has failed.

Kaladin sees Tvlakv going to inspect a sick slave. Kaladin tells him that the man has the grinding coughs, and will survive if given extra water. Tvlakv removes the man from the rest of the slaves, and Kaladin thinks he is going to give him water. Instead, Bluth brutally murders the man. Kaladin is upset over his failure to save the man.

In his anger at the other slaves' murder, he crushed the blackbane against the bars of the wagon, losing most of it.

Chapter 3: City of Bells

A man stood on a cliffside and watched his homeland fall into dust. The waters surged beneath, so far beneath. And he heard a child crying. They were his own tears.

Shallan Davar has just arrived in Kharbranth, the City of Bells. She experiences a culture-shock of sorts, amazed at the number and variety of people in the city.

After a short conversation with Captain Tozbek of the Wind's Pleasure the boat she received passage on, she gets word that Jasnah Kholin, the woman she has been chasing for several months, is still in the city.

Shallan and one of Captain Tozbek's sailors, Yalb, make the trip up to the palace so Shallan can speak to Jasnah. When they arrive, she asks Yalb to wait for her outside the palace. It is revealed that Shallan had requested to be Jasnah's ward, and that Jasnah told her to meet her in Dumadari. Shallan has been chasing her from city to city ever since.

Shallan is very nervous, as her house's finances are in ruins since the death of her father, and that if she don't find some source of income or other means of controlling their rival political houses, her house won't last long. She also reveals that her request to be Jasnah's ward is somehow related to resolving her house's crisis, though she does not make clear how.

The chapter ends with Shallan turning a corner and seeing Jasnah.

Chapter 4: The Shattered Plains

I'm dying, aren't I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.

Kaladin is sitting in the slave wagon, waiting for the caravan to stop for lunch, noting that it's well after the time the caravan usually stops. After a few minutes, he realizes that it is because Tvlakv is lost. Tvlakv remembers that Kaladin was once an Alethi soldier, and might have knowledge of the lands. When he asks Kaladin to help them find the way out, Kaladin tears his map to pieces and tells Tvlakv that he doesn't know the way out.

In the conversation that follows, Tvlakv says that he is only comfortable with the idea of Kaladin escaping because he knows that he wants revenge on Brightlord Amaram more than he does on Tvlakv. Kaladin realizes that if Tvlakv knows about Amaram, then he also knows that Kaladin isn't actually a deserter, as the official story given when he was sold says. Tvlakv acknowledges this, but says that it's the story they will stick to because men who are guilty of high crimes are difficult to sell at a good price.

A short time later, the windspren comes back. She had apparently left during the recent highstorm, but now tells Kaladin that there is a large group of people not far away. A few minutes later, Kaladin realizes that it's an Alethi war camp, and that their destination is the Shattered Plains.

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.

Chapter 5: Heretic

I have seen the end, and have heard it named. The Night of Sorrows, the True Desolation. The Everstorm.

As Shallan meets Jasnah Kholin for the first time, she admires Jasnah as the ideal beauty – tall, Alethi tan skin, long dark hair. She is talking to a man who Shallan later identifies as King Taravangian of Kharbranth.

Jasnah and Taravangian seem to be negotiating over something, though Shallan can't tell what. As they begin to walk, Jasnah beckons for Shallan to follow. After a preliminary conversation, Jasnah mentions that because Shallan was so persistent in seeking her out, she will hear her petition to be her ward. Shallan is shocked, as she had believed that she had already been accepted as Jasnah's ward.

A lengthy conversation about Shallan's level of education ensues, in which it is decided that Shallan has passing skill in most subjects, is very good in the sciences, excels at drawing and writing (the feminine arts), and is sadly lacking in history and philosophy.

They arrive at the entrance to a room which has been blocked off by a large stone. Shallan realizes that the king's granddaughter is trapped in the room, and Jasnah is planning to use her Soulcaster to remove the stone in exchange for access to the Palanaeum.

Jasnah Soulcasts the stone, transforming it into smoke. The king retrieves his granddaughter and, when asked, agrees to take Jasnah to the Palanaeum.

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.

Chapter 6: Bridge Four

I'm cold. Mother, I'm cold. Mother? Why can I still hear the rain? Will it stop?

Kaladin and the rest of the slave caravan have arrived at the Shattered Plains, specifically at the warcamp of Highprince Sadeas. They are taken to a women who is to decide whether she can use any of the slaves or not. When Kaladin tries to convince her to let him fight, Tvlakv tells her that Kaladin is a deserter, dashing his hopes.

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 agonizing running with the brigde, they arrive at the chasm where the enemy Parshendi are waiting on the other side. They take heavy fire while placing their bridge. Kaladin is the only survivor in the front row.

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.

Chapter 7: Anything Reasonable

They are aflame. They burn. They bring the darkness when they come, and so all you can see is that their skin is aflame. Burn, burn, burn...

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 writes a letter to Jasnah containing arguments for her reconsideration, then begins to sketch several scenes from the past few hours. 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.

Chapter 8: Nearer the Flame

Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us! Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn.

Jasnah scolds Shallan, telling her that she had already made her decision. Shallan is embarrassed that she disturbed Jasnah again and leaves. After only a few moments, however, Jasnah calls her back and apologizes to her and gives her Shallan's money pouch that she left behind.

Shallan asks Jasnah to read the letter she had written for her earlier. Jasnah is impressed that she is self-taught, and agrees to accept Shallan as her ward once she has adequately learned philosophy and history. Shallan is pleased by this, but worries that she cannot learn fast enough to save her house.

In a last attempt to convince Jasnah to take her as her ward, Shallan buys several books on history and philosophy and begins to study them, planning to impress Jasnah with her rapid learning just before Jasnah leaves Kharbranth. Before long, however, she is interrupted by Jasnah, who had paid the servants to tell her if Shallan returned to the Palanaeum.

Jasnah asks to see Shallan's satchel. When she comes across Shallan's sketches with notes on biology, she asks why she made them, to which Shallan replies that she wanted to. It is ultimately the fact that Shallan pursues scholarship in her free time, along with her persistance, that convince Jasnah to accept her as her ward.

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.

Chapter 9: Damnation

Ten people, with Shardblades alight, standing before a wall of black and white and red.

Kaladin has now been a member of the bridge crews for somewhere between two to four weeks. Of the twenty five who survived his first bridge run, only one other man is still alive.

A few new arrivals are brought in, and Kaladin sees a young boy who reminds him of his younger brother Tien. In general, Kaladin is handling the transition to life as a bridge crew member poorly, snapping at Syl and becoming despondent. Syl leaves, unable to continue watching him in his current state.

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.

Chapter 10: Stories of Surgeons

Nine Years Earlier

Kaladin helps his father treat a young woman, Sani. Kaladin 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 asks Kaladin why he was late to arrive, and Kaladin replies that he was with a boy named 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.

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.

Chapter 11: Droplets

Three of sixteen ruled, but now the Broken One reigns.

Kaladin is outside just after a Highstorm, going to the Honor Chasm to commit suicide. Gaz stops him, accusing him of trying to steal spheres left out in the Highstorm from others, but Kaladin simply ignores him and goes.

Just as Kaladin is about to step into the chasm, Syl reappears, carrying a single blackbane leaf which she had brought hoping to make Kaladin happy. When Kaladin expresses his frustrations at his previous failures to protect people, Syl convinces him to try again, arguing that the bridgemen are going to die anyway, so his efforts cannot hurt.

Kaladin returns to the camp and attacks Gaz, throwing him to the ground. He demands that Gaz make him bridgeleader of Bridge Four, and that he give Kaladin full control of it. In return, Gaz receives one fifth of Kaladin's wages.

Kaladin then goes inside the barracks and begins asking the other Bridgemen's names, noticing for the first time how pathetic they all are.

Interludes

Interlude I-1: Ishikk

Ishikk, a fisherman in the Purelake, is just returning home after a long day of fishing. 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 avoids this 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 argue amongst themselves for a while, then leave Ishikk to his thoughts.

Interlude I-2: Nan Balat

Nan Balat, Shallan's brother, is torturing various small animals in the gardens of their family's estate. He reflects on how Shallan is doing most of the work to save their family, and tries to convince himself that he isn't a coward for remaining at home to manage the estate. He admits to some resentment of Shallan because of all of their siblings, she was the only one their father never truly got angry at, but is shortly interrupted in his thoughts by Tet Wikim, another brother, coming to find him with the announcement that they have a big problem.

Interlude I-3: The Glory of Ignorance

Szeth is now serving a man named Took, who uses him to gain the admiration of mine workers in the small towns they pass through. As a demonstration of Szeth's total obedience, he has him do various things, such as jump up and down and cut his own arm. When he orders Szeth to kill himself, Szeth informs him that he cannot be ordered to kill himself, and returns to his own thoughts. The others are shocked at how refined his speech is, and are slightly discomfited, associating him with the lighteyes. Szeth reflects that his speech and mannerisms may well be part of the reason that his masters never keep him for long, since his masters know that he is capable of so much more than they are using him for, and that in many ways, he is much more refined and intelligent than they are. Szeth revels in his common labor, though, as it means that he is not being used to spill more blood.

As the night passes on and it becomes apparent that the townsfolk are no longer really listening to Took's stories, Took and Szeth leave. However, on the way out of town, Took is killed by a group of thugs, who consider selling Szeth to the slavers. Then one of them picks up Szeth's Oathstone, and he informs them of his obligation to serve them as long as they hold it. When asked for clarification, Szeth tells him that he must obey any order except to kill himself, and thinks to himself that he can't be asked to give up his Shardblade either, but the man need not know that. The man muses for a moment on the possibilities he has with such a servant.

Part Two: The Illuminating Storms

Chapter 12: Unity

Old friend, I hope this missive finds you well. Though, as you are now essentially immortal, I would guess that wellness on your part is something of a given.

Adolin is on a chasmfiend hunt with Dalinar, Renarin, Elhokar, and Sadeas. He is troubled by Dalinar's increasingly strange behavior, especially his fits during the highstorms, and worries that his father is going mad. Sadeas also continually taunts Dalinar over his lack of recent success in capturing gemhearts, which frustrates Adolin.

Meanwhile, Dalinar, riding up by Elhokar and Sadeas, tells Elhokar that if they had a proper vantage point, they could observe the progress of the soldiers crossing the chasms. Elhokar charges off to a nearby rock formation, betting Dalinar five broams that he can beat him there. Dalinar races after him, at first thinking only of Elhokar's safety, but eventually getting into the thrill of the contest. Just as Dalinar is about to win, he remembers the strange voice in his dreams, who he presumes to be the Almighty, telling him to “unite them.” He hesitates, and Elhokar beats him to the top. When he sees how thrilled Elhokar is to have beaten him, Dalinar is glad to have waited. They watch the soldiers cross for a few minutes, then begin to return to the others. Adolin watches their return, all the while giving orders for his men to circle around to various plateaus, securing the area.

Dalinar and Elhokar return, and Adolin gives his report to them. Elhokar reluctantly agrees to wait for the rest of the soldiers to cross, setting up a small awning to wait under, and conversing with his courtiers. Adolin questions Dalinar about the purpose and the wisdom of their hunting expedition, particularly where it leaves Elhokar open to a potential Parshendi ambush. Dalinar replies that a victory such as a successful hunt, in a controlled, safe environment, will bolster the king's reputation and increase his self-confidence as well. Just as Adolin begins agreeing with him however, he voices a thought about how the Alethi should be in Alethkar, not on the Shattered Plains. This shocks and upsets Adolin.

After a brief conversation with the King's Wit, in which Wit tells Dalinar that Renarin is not as fragile as he thinks, Dalinar and Adolin meet again with Elhokar and Sadeas, making final preparations for the hunt. After only a few minutes conversing with Bashin, the hunt master, however, Dalinar and Adolin realize that something is wrong. At this point, the chasmfiend they are supposedly hunting appears, climbing onto the platform with all of the courtiers and scribes, rather than the smaller plateau the hunt was supposed to take place on.

Chapter 13: Ten Heartbeats

I realize that you are probably still angry. That is pleasant to know. Much as your perpetual health, I have come to rely upon your dissatisfaction with me. It is one of the cosmere's great constants, I should think.

Dalinar, Adolin, and Elhokar all immediately begin to race for the chasmfiend, hoping to kill it before it can harm any bystanders. Sadeas uses his grandbow, weakening it from a distance while Dalinar and Adolin go for its many legs and Elhokar distracts it. While doing so, however, the strap on Elhokar's saddle breaks, causing him to be thrown to the ground. Just as he is about to be crushed by the chasmfiend, Dalinar hurls himself beneath the descending claw and, with Shardplate-enhanced strength, catches it, giving Elhokar time to escape. Adolin continues to cut off its legs, and the chasmfiend is eventually unable to support its own weight. Elhokar summons his Shardblade once again and uses it to kill the felled chasmfiend, then harvest its gemheart.

Chapter 14: Payday

Let me first assure you that the element is quite safe. I have found a good home for it. I protect its safety like I protect my own skin, you might say.

Kaladin gets up before any of the other bridgemen, resolved that he will fight for a better existence, even in his terrible circumstances. He attempts to rouse the rest of Bridge Four, but none come. After Kaladin physically carries Moash out of the barrack, however, the rest of the bridgemen reluctantly get up. Kaladin then informs the men of bridge four that instead of sleeping in each morning, they will be training, and that he intends to do everything he can to ensure that Bridge Four never loses another man.

The other bridgemen all refuse to participate in Kaladin's training once Gaz informs them that they don't have to. Kaladin goes to Gaz and gets his pay for the week, returning one of his five spheres as a bribe. Gaz tells Kaladin that he has no authority and will be unable to sway the bridgemen, then leaves. Kaladin, worried that Gaz may decide Kaladin is more trouble than he's worth and kill him, asks Syl to watch over him at night and wake him if Gaz tries anything.

Kaladin then proceeds to spend his morning training, jogging back and forth across the lumberyard with an unfinished board of a bridge. He does this for several hours, before meeting several of the men from Bridge Four to dismiss them for lunch. Syl informs Kaladin that she is changing, becoming better at remembering things and understanding new concepts and abstract ideas. Kaladin realizes that she feels much the way about her new understanding of life as he does about his current position – afraid to continue, but sure that he can't go back.

Chapter 15: The Decoy

You do not agree with my quest. I understand that, so much as it is possible to understand someone with whom I disagree so completely.

Adolin is overseeing the cleanup four hour after the chasmfiend attack while the group waits for a bridge crew to come, replacing the bridge the chasmfiend had destroyed in its rampage. He reflects that many of the other lighteyes are treating Dalinar slightly more respectfully and carefully after his earlier rescue of Elhokar, and thinks to himself that it can't last. Having finished his rounds, he approaches Elhokar's pavilion to give his final casualty report.

In the pavilion, Elhokar chides Dalinar for not making serious efforts to win gemhearts, comparing him to Sadeas. Eventually, the conversation deteriorates to taunting, until Adolin calls Sadeas a coward. Sadeas in turn calls Renarin useless, nearly sparking a duel and possibly a war then and there, until he retracts his statement. Wit appears and taunts Sadeas for a while before actually praising Renarin's intelligence.

Adolin and Dalinar then go to examine the strap of Elhokar's saddle to see if it could have been cut. Adolin questions this until he realizes that Elhokar believes that the strap was cut as an assassination attempt, at which point he remarks on Elhokar's increasing paranoia. Dalinar tells Adolin to take the strap to a leatherworker to examine, to talk to he grooms about the saddle, and to double the king's guard. Adolin wonders whether Sadeas is behind the cut strap. Dalinar then approaches Highprince Vamah, manipulating him into making greater use of Elhokar's Soulcasters, ensuring continued income for Elhokar.

Sadeas approaches Dalinar to tell him of the success of their manipulation of Vamah, and Adolin realizes that the two of them had planned the entire thing between them. After a brief argument, Adolin and Dalinar leave. Dalinar then tells Adolin that though he hates Sadeas, he's certain that he wouldn't hurt Elhokar. Dalinar reveals that Sadeas was the decoy the night of Gavilar's assassination, attempting to lead Szeth away so Gavilar could escape. He then tells Adolin that Sadeas has sworn to protect Elhokar at any cost, then further discusses Gavilar's assassination.

Elhokar approaches, asking if they've learned anything about the saddle. He and Dalinar then begin arguing, Elhokar insisting that someone is trying to kill him and Dalinar insisting that Elhokar is simply overreacting. Elhokar leaves, and Dalinar sends Adolin to prepare the soldiers to move. As he begins to make his way back to camp, Dalinar reflects on his failure to determine the meaning of Gavilar's last words and his desire to protect Elhokar.

Chapter 16: Cocoons

Seven and a half years ago:

Kaladin is talking to his friend Laral about his fathers plans for him to be a surgeon. Laral encourages him to become a soldier and win Shardplate and blade for himself. Tien interrupts their conversation and gives Kaladin a rock, intended to make him feel better. Tien and Kaladin then go hunting for lurgs, a type of small, slimy, creature.

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.

Kaladin gets in a few good hits, and is surprised by how good the quarterstaff feels in his hands, but is outmatched by Jost. Tien helps him up, and they return home. There, Kaladin is informed that Brightlord Wistiow, the Citylord and Laral's father, is dead, and that he's left Kaladin a large number of spheres for him to go to Kharbranth, be trained as a surgeon, then return to Hearthstone to serve the people there with his new knowledge.

Chapter 17: A Bloody Red Sunset

Might I be quite frank? Before, you asked why I was so concerned. It is for the following reason:

Kaladin visits an apothecary, hoping to get some antiseptic. He leaves when he finds out the apothecary is charging considerably more than he can afford.

He has only been back in camp for moments when a horn sounds, calling the bridgemen for a bridge run. Though he is exhausted, each time the bridge stops, Kaladin remains standing rather than collapsing to the ground as most bridgemen do. When they reach the final chasm, the approach to the Parshendi, Kaladin takes Rock's position at the front of the bridge instead of taking his privileged position as bridgeleader toward the back.

All four of the other men in the front row, the deathline, are hit with arrows almost immediately, but Kaladin takes only minor injuries. As soon as the bridge is placed, he begins finding bridgemen who were wounded in the approach and treating their wounds. He then has his men carry the wounded back to camp on top of their bridge, removing them when they get to a chasm so the soldiers can cross.

Chapter 18: Highprince of War

Ati was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him. Rayse, on the other hand, was among the most loathsome, crafty, and dangerous individuals I had ever met.

Adolin is out walking with Janala, the woman he has been courting. He visits the leatherworkers who were inspecting the strap from Elhokar's saddle, and they tell him that the strap was almost certainly cut, but it's possible it was a buckle from the saddle itself that sliced it. A horn is sounded, signalling that a chasmfiend has been spotted close enough for Dalinar's men to attempt to reach it first. Adolin is disappointed when Dalinar elects not to seek it.

Dalinar, meanwhile, is working with several of his scribes in attempting to manipulate the other highprinces into following Elhokar in truth. Teshav, the wife of one of his officers, questions the number of troops Dalinar has set patrolling, and Dalinar instructs her to set more patrolling anyway. Renarin comes to talk to Dalinar, and Dalinar promises him that if he captures a new suit of Shardplate and a Shardblade, they will go to Renarin, to help compensate for his blood weakness and allow him to fight like any other man.

Adolin seeks out Kadash, an ardent, to ask his opinion on Dalinar's dreams during highstorms. Janala leaves him, growing frustrated with his lack of attention. Kadash expresses the opinion that Dalinar is either going insane, or the visions are just particularly vivid products of his own mind.

Dalinar visits Elhokar, making his reports for the day. While there, he asks Elhokar how long he intends to continue the war, and suggests that Elhokar consider withdrawing. Elhokar is shocked that Dalinar would even consider an end to the Vengeance Pact. Dalinar eventually backs down, instead saying they need a new approach, a way to win the war instead of simply trying to outlast the Parshendi. Dalinar suggests that Elhokar appoint him Highprince of War, and Elhokar tells him he'll consider it.

Dalinar meets up with Renarin, intending to ride back to their camp. However, before they can get there, they are forced to take shelter in one of their own barracks to avoid a highstorm. They barely make it inside before the storm hits.

Chapter 19: Starfalls

He holds the most frightening and terrible of all the Shards. Ponder on that for a time, you old reptile, and tell me if your insistence on nonintervention holds firm. Because I assure you, Rayse will not be similarly inhibited.

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

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 Voidbringers, but rather Midnight Essence. They invite Dalinar to Urithiru to train as a Radiant, then leave to help others.

Taffa begins to speak to Dalinar, but it isn't her voice. Dalinar recognizes her voice as the same voice he's heard in his previous visions, the one he suspects belongs to The Almighty. The voice tells him to “Unite them,” and offers cryptic advice, telling Dalinar that it can't be of much help. Dalinar asks the voice if he should continue to trust Sadeas, and is told yes.

Dalinar continues to question the voice, but before he can receive answers, he wakes up back in the barrack on the shattered plains, surrounded by soldiers who have been holding him down, keeping him from acting out his visions. He tells them that his mind is clear and they can release him, then takes Renarin and leaves.

Chapter 20: Scarlet

Seven Years Ago:

Kaladin is performing an unexpected surgery on a girl from his village. He had fortunately been nearby when the girl was injured. He begins working to stop her bleeding. After a short time, he succeeds in stopping the bleeding, but realizes that his success was not due to his treatment but rather because the girl has died.

He leaves her father to grieve over her, trying to cope with the fact that he was unable to save her. His father finds him and tells him that his work had all been good, and her death wasn't Kaladin's fault. He leaves Kaladin, telling him that he'll have to learn when to care and when to let go.

Chapter 21: Why Men Lie

One need only look at the aftermath of his brief visit to Sel to see proof of what I say.

Kaladin lies in bed, debating whether or not to get up. Eventually, he forces himself up and realizes that the other bridgemen had all been watching to see if he would get up and continue his training routine from the previous day. Kaladin goes to check on the wounded from the previous day's bridge run. Two of them are, for the most part fine, but one of them badly needs antiseptic.

Kaladin washes the man's wounds with water, then goes out to perform his morning training routine. While jogging with his plank, he talks to Syl. She tells him that some of his men think he's gone mad, and asks him why men lie. Kaladin is unable to give her an answer.

Gaz approaches and tells Kaladin that Sadeas has ordered that his wounded men not receive food or pay for the duration of the time they can't run bridges. Kaladin is furious, as this means that he'll have to find another way to care for them.

Kaladin goes to the men of Bridge Four and asks them to split their food with the wounded, and to contribute their pay for medical supplies. Most laugh at him and leave, but Rock agrees to share some of his food with Hobber, the man who he feels has the best chance of recovering, because he feels he owes for Kaladin running the deathline in his place the previous day. Rock also says that he can see Syl, though she hasn't specifically revealed herself to him.

Kaladin then goes to Gaz and gets his bridge crew assigned to stone-gathering duty for the day. He convinces Rock and Teft to help him gather knobweed reeds over the course of the afternoon.

Chapter 22: Eyes, Hands, or Spheres

In case you have turned a blind eye to that disaster, know that Aona and Skai are both dead, and that which they held has been Splintered. Presumably to prevent anyone from rising up to challenge Rayse.

Dalinar goes with his sons to the king’s feast. Adolin reports that according to the leatherworkers he consulted, the strap was cut, though it could’ve been an accident. They discuss the king’s paranoia and Dalinar refuses to talk about his episode in the highstorm, saying that perhaps it was good for the men in the barracks to witness it, as the rumors about his condition were perhaps worse than the truth.

Dalinar chafes at the sloppy fashionableness of the other nobles and the fact that their drunkenness is in violation of the Alethi War Codes. The king’s Wit insults people and warns Dalinar that the rumor has spread of Dalinar’s weakness and his asking the king to end the war. Lady Navani, Gavilar’s widow, unexpectedly shows up to the feast, having just arrived to the Shattered Plains. Dalinar tries to hide his attraction to her with the utmost propriety, addressing her as a sister.

King Elhokar then announces that in light of the recent attempt on his life with the cut girth strap, he is appointing Sadeas to Highprince of Information to investigate. This is to snub Dalinar, who he believes is not giving the investigation serious attention. Dalinar realizes that this is Sadeas’s way of outmaneuvering his Highprince of War idea.

Chapter 23: Many Uses

You have accused me of arrogance in my quest. You have accused me of perpetuating my grudge against Rayse and Bavadin. Both accusations are true.

Bridge 4 is on rock duty, finding stones to soulcast into food. Kaladin has Rock and Teft searching for knobweed to extract the antiseptic sap from. Rock, who can inexplicably see Syl, finds knobweed quickly guided by her. Kaladin ties bundles of the reed to the bottom of the cart to conceal them. Syl comes to him excitedly, telling him that she led Rock to a pile of dung as a joke. He makes small talk with the bridgecrew, trying to soften their attitude towards him, with little success. Kaladin realizes that even though he has saved lives in Bridge 4, no one will follow his leadership unless he finds a way to make their lives worth living.

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 shardplate. When he lost, Rock, his cousin and servant, was bound to Sadeas. He was a cook, until he snuck chull dung into Sadeas’ 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.

Chapter 24: The Gallery of Maps

Neither point makes the things I have written to you untrue.

Dalinar stands in the king’s Gallery of Maps, waiting for Highprince Roion to come and meet him. Dalinar’s ultimate goal is to follow his visions by uniting the highprinces, and he thinks he can start by working with another prince on a joint plateau assault. Since Roion has won the fewest gemhearts of all the princes, Dalinar tries to convince him that working together would be more effective. Roion is suspicious of this, because he is afraid Dalinar will take any gemhearts and shards for himself. Dalinar compromises, saying that they will split gemhearts and that the first set of plate can go to Roion. Roion rebuffs this offer, instead insinuating that Dalinar is growing weak and deluded by his lapses from sanity during highstorms. Roion says he’ll think about a joint assault and leaves.

A few minutes later, as Dalinar is thinking about how to discover what Gavilar’s last words really meant, Adolin meets Dalinar. He asks him how the meeting went and when Dalinar tells him that they went poorly, Adolin tells him that Sadeas is asking for permission to enter their warcamp to investigate the threat to the king. Adolin is worried that he may create false evidence framing Dalinar, but Dalinar tells Adolin to allow him to because his vision said to trust Sadeas. At this, Adolin becomes irate, telling Dalinar that to stake the future of their house on hallucinations is folly. Adolin shouts at Dalinar that his visions are just figments of his imagination. Dalinar tells Adolin to leave.

Chapter 25: The Butcher

Seven years ago:

Kal overhears some villagers speaking poorly of his father's work, accusing him of stealing the spheres and suspicious of how Lirin can write. Kal meets with his mother, Hesina, who tells him not to hate the villagers for repeating what they have heard. They respect Lirin but are intimidated by his status as second nahn. Kal realizes his parents had hoped to marry him off to Laral. He can't decide if he wants to be a soldier or a surgeon.

The new citylord, Brightlord Roshone, arrives. He is less-than-pleased to be in a backwater city. He blames Lirin for his predicament, because Lirin let Wistiow die. Lirin and Hesina don't know things are better or worse for them with this new citylord.

Chapter 26: Stillness

I am being chased. Your friends of the Seventeenth Shard, I suspect. I believe they're still lost, following a false trail I left for them. They'll be happier that way. I doubt they have any inkling what to do with me should they actually catch me.

Brightness Litima reads the Way of Kings to Dalinar. Renarin is with him. Listening usually comforts Dalinar, but not this time. It reminds him of Adolin's arguments. Dalinar thinks about the nature of his visions. It disturbs him. Dalinar tells Renarin that Highprince Aladar refused his offer of an alliance, just as Roion did. Horns sounds outside. Dalinar enters the war room and gives Teleb an order to march. Dalinar gives Teleb a permission to recruit and train a single bridge crew. Sadeas comes to interview Dalinar's solders. Dalinar and his army leaves, Sadeas and his attendants follows behind. Dalinar and Sadeas talks about the Thrill. Usually men dodn't speak about it.

Dalinar summons Oathbringer and together with Adolin they attack Parshendi. The Thrill gives him strength, focus and power until he feels a sudden stab of powerful revulsion. He forces himself fighting again but feels sick. Dalinar hears a voice saying Life beofre death but nobody is near enough. He starts to fight for his men.

Dalinar won 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 large Parshendi wearing a Shardplate. Dalinar wonders why the Shardbearer hadn't been here during the battle. The group flees toward their base at the center of the Plains.

Chapter 27: Chasm Duty

If anything I have said makes a glimmer of sense to you, I trust that you'll call them off. Or maybe you could astound me and ask them to do something productive for once.

Coming back from the apothecary where Kaladin sold the self-made knobweed sap, he discovers that Gaz had changed Bridge Four's work duty for this day to chasm duty.

Down in the chasms they have to look for corpses to get their equipment and whatever else can be found. Kaladin, Teft and Rock walk ahead talking. They find Dunny listening, try to make him participate, and it works. As the tension grows more easy they discover that Dunny can sing. The other crew members don't walk up.

Eventually they find a lot of corpses and begin their weird work. Kaladin picks up a spear and gets overwhelmed by his memories. Forgetting the others he spins the spear in an advanced kata, feeling in balance with himself. When finishing his kata he realizes he's down in the chasms, being gazed in amazement by the others. Kaladin plays down the issue and tells the crew to keep working.

Later Syl looks with Rock and Dunny for more corpses and they find Parshendi. So they discover that the Parshendi's armor is grown from their bodies.

Then the crew finishes their chasm duty and goes back. Kaladin muses how to get the crew together and comes up with an idea. Back at the barracks he and Rock buy a cauldron and supplies and Rock cooks an evening stew for all men of Bridge Four. One after one they join and sit around the fire, eating Rock's stew.

The next morning much more members of Kaladin's crew come up when he calls to rise.

Chapter 28: Decision

For I have never been dedicated to a more important purpose, and the very pillars of the sky will shake with the results of our war here. I ask again. Support me. Do not stand aside and let disaster consume more lives. I've never begged you for something before, old friend.
I do so now.

Interludes

Interlude I-4: Rysn

Rysn and her babsk Vstim visit Shinovar to trade soulcast metal with Thresh for chickens. She learns that Shin farmers are highest in the social order and warriors are the lowest. Thresh had traded Szeth to Vstim 7-years ago.

Interlude I-5: Axies the Collector

Axies the Collector wakes up in Kasitor. He had gotten drunk to see if he could spot Alespren. He sees Cusicesh the Protector

Interlude I-6: A Work of Art

Szeth works for Makkek and then gets employed by a new master (who had Makkek beheaded). Szeth is given a list of high ranking noble men to assassinate.

Part Three: Dying

Chapter 29: Errorgance

The ones of ash and fire, who killed like a swarm, relentless before the Heralds

Chapter 30: Darkness Unseen

They were suddenly dangerous. Like a calm day that became a tempest

Chapter 31: Beneath the Skin

Six years ago:

Chapter 32: Side Carry

They lived high atop a place no man could reach, but all could visit. The tower city itself, crafter by the hands of no man.

Lopen joins Bridge Four. Lopen and Dabbid bring a water cart for the first time. Near the final assault Kaladin sees that the Parshendi are already set up. He realizes that if they lose a couple more men, the bridge could topple and crush the entire crew. Kaladin orders Bridge Four to do the side-carry technique to prevent them from being killed.

Bridge Four succeeds and none of them die, however Kaladin realizes that he undermined Sadeas' entire assault. Most of the other bridges fell, either due to the concentrated fire from the Parshendi, or their unpractised attempts at emulating Bridge Four. Only a few bridges land, and when they do they are scattered. Sadeas' Forces are seperated from each other, and are forced to retreat.

Lamaril and Gaz show up with some men, ready to kill Kaladin. Kaladin instead convinces them he will be needed alive, to convince Sadeas that it wasn't their idea. Kaladin is then beaten by Lamaril's men as Bridge Four watches. Kaladin loses the spheres he earned from selling the knobweed sap.

Chapter 33: Cymatics

They changed, even as we fought them. Like shadows they were, that can transform as the flame dances. Never underestimate them becaues of what you first see.

Chapter 34: Stormwall

I walked from Abamabar to Urithiru.

Kaladin gains consciousness to find himself tied upside down by his ankles outside on the barrack. Syl tells him that Lamaril was executed and Gaz was left on his position. And, that Kaladin was to be judged by the highstorm, so as by Jezrien himself. Since the highstorm has not come yet, Syl goes for the brigdemen and comes back with Rock, Teft and Moash. They tell Kaladin about the disaster caused by the side carry of Bridge Four. And 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 of them are retreating inside the barrack. Then the stormwall approaches.

Chapter 35: A Light By Which to See

Though many wished Urithiru to be built in Alethela, it was obvious that it could not be. And so it was that we asked for it to be placed westward, in the place nearest to Honor.

The stormwall hits Kaladin, flings him around, presses him against the side of the barrack. He screames what is a mistake because it let the coldness course into his mouth. He clutches the sphere as if his life depends on it. Syl is around and tells him to grab the roof. He does and comes to lay on the roof. As for more grip he snatches the ring where his ropes are tied to. So he 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.

Eventually he gets hit, his vision flashing and suddenly there is darkness, no rain, no storm, no lighting, no noises. He stumbles to his feet. In the darkness an enormous face appears just in front of his. Kaladin feels a deep chill running through his body, his sphere glows brightly. The face is gone. The storm comes back and Kaladin falls to unconsciousness.

After the highstorm Rock leaves the barracks, followed by Teft. They find Kaladin in a terrible shape, looking all but living. Though they wanted to believe that Kaladin could survive the highstorm they think they find themselves confirmed.

Then Kaladin’s eyes snapped open. The bridemen gasp. It takes a few moments until they realize that Kaladin lives and they help him down. Teft sees Kaladin dropping the sphere. It is dun.

Chapter 36: The Lesson

Taking the Dawnshard, known to bind any creature voidish or mortal, he crawled up the steps crafted for Heralds, ten strides tall apiece, toward the grand temple above.

Shallan almost steals Jasnah's Soulcaster while serving as her bathing attendant, but can't do it. Jasnah decides to teach Shallan philosophy hands-on by taking a walk at night in a dangerous part of town. When attacked by murderers, Jasnah Soulcasts on of the men to fire. As the frightenedattackers leave, Jasnah Soulcasts one that falls into crystal and uses Stormlight lightning to kill the last two. After returning to their rooms, Shallan decides that Jasnah doesn't deserve to use a holy thing like the Soulcaster in such a way and swaps her broken Soulcaster for Jasnah's.

Chapter 37: Sides

Five and a half years ago:

Though his mother tries to engage Kal in helping her with cooking he sneaks out and catches up with his father who has an appointment with citylord Roshone. Lirin is surprised because Kal shouldn't have known about it but lets him join. This meeting is about the spheres that Lirin got from the former citylord Wistiow. Lirin and Kal dine with Roshone but eventually Kal is sent to the kitchen to leave his father and Roshone alone. There he meets Laral and Roshone's son Rillir who behave like Kal is a servant of their's what he refuses.

While on the way home Lirin tells Kal that he made Roshone believe that he probably will bend on the topic of these spheres, and during this conversation Kal realizes that Wistiow did never give the spheres to Lirin. Kal's foundations are shaking but he understands his father and makes the decision to go to Kharbranth and become a real surgeon. And there is another decision Kal makes this night: He starts going with his full name "Kaladin" as for it is a man's name.

Chapter 38: Envisager

Born from the darkness, they bear its taint still, marked upon their bodies much as the fire marks their souls.

Kaladin lies in Bridge Four's barrack, suffering fever from the wounds he got being strung up in the highstorm. Most of the time he's unconscious. In his rare lucid moments he sees deathspren, and Syl, a little-bitty figure of pure white light holding a sword made of light. She fights the deathspren with her sword and her light warded them off. But they grow more and more. Eventually Teft comes to look after Kaladin, having a strange idea in mind given from his education: He has three diamond spheres which he puts in Kaladins hand, putting his fingers around them. Then Teft waits. When he nearly thinks that he wasn't right Kaladin gasped, using up the stormlight of these spheres and Teft sees Stormlight rising from Kaladin's body, knitting some of the wounds. It's not long and the Stormlight is depleted, and Kaladin seems more relaxed than before, some color has returned to his skin.

While Teft wavers about his actions in his past and why this happens now and around him, he decides to give more Stormlight to Kaladin, well dosed, so that nobody will see what he does.

Chapter 39: Burned Into Her

Within a heartbeat, Alezarv was there, crossing a distance that would have taken more than four months to travel by foot.

Chapter 40: Eyes of Red and Blue

Death upon the lips. Sound upon the air. Char upon the skin.

Yet weak on his feet but growing stronger with each step Kaladin leaves the barrack for the first time after his judgment in the highstorm. The members of Bridge Four, doing daily bridge training, nearly stumble about one another when they see him. Moash tells him that it's only been ten days and Rock says Kaladin must have bones like granite. When the horns blow for a bridge run and Bridge Four -- on duty -- gathers, Kaladin joins them helping Lopen and Dabbid with the water. Later he watches the battle, thinking about what he did with the side carry and comes to understand what's the purpose of bridgemen: to be bait for the Parshendi because bridgemen are cheaper and don't need training and equipment.

On that evening Bridge Four give Rock a razor as a gift for him working on the stew every evening. He is very surprised and runs in the barrack, letting the others behind wavering if this gift was a good idea. Dunny takes it to serve the stew to the others. Only Sigzil doesn't join and Kaladin seeks him for a conversation, and then tells Kaladin about Marabethia and the way of judgment there. Eventually Rock comes back, shaved, happy and grateful and tells Bridge Four that he will shave everybody who wants it.

Chapter 41: Of Alds and Milp

Five and a half years ago:

Brightlord Roshone and his son Rillir were attacked by whitespine while on a hunt for them. They are both wounded, Rillir fatally so. Lirin tries to save Rillir, but realizes it is hopeless, and so turns his attention to Roshone, who tells him to go back to helping his son. Lirin refuses, explaining the guidelines of a surgeon with two patients: If the wounds are equal, treat the youngest first. If the wounds are not equally threatening, treat the worst wound first. A surgeon must know when someone is beyond their ability to help.

While stitching up part of Roshone's wound, Lirin's knife is dangerously close to a major artery. He hesitates and his hand shakes, but he continues and saves Roshone's life. Kaladin asks Lirin later why he didn't cut the artery and let Roshone die, as it would've solved all of their problems. Lirin says it would've been murder, and he is not a killer. Kaladin realizes that, given the option, he would've let Roshone die. He decides that just as some body parts are beyond repair in a surgery, some people need to be removed.

Chapter 42: Beggars and Barmaids

Like a highstorm, regular in their coming, yet always unexpected.

Chapter 43: The Wretch

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

Chapter 44: The Weeping

Five years ago:

Chapter 45: Shadesmar

Yelig-nar, called Blightwind, was one that could speak like a man, though often his voice was accompanied by the wails of those he consumed.

Shallan continues her study of Gavilar's meetings with the Parshendi before his death. She notices a discrepancy about Gavilar's uncharacteristic scholarly interest in the Parshendi. She plans to leave for Jah Keved the next day to take the stolen Soulcaster to her family. Under the pretense of looking for another book, she researches a little of her own about the Voidbringers, as she perceives that's Jasnah's true research interest. On the way, she meet up with Kabsal and after a theological discussion about the Voidbringers, she tells him of her plans to leave. He requests a likeness of him from her, and after paying her for it, asks for another one with himself and her in the picture. As she's drawing, she draws two creatures in the background, with symbols for a head. Frightened, she runs to her room while being pursued by the creatures , which continue to show up in her sketchings. Trapped in her room, she begins to summon her Shardblade and one of the creatures asks her what she is. While touching a glass goblet filled with diamond spheres, her response of "I'm terrified" transports her to Shadesmar where she Soulcasts the goblet to blood. Scared of Jasnah discovering her soulcasting, she cuts herself to explain the presence of the blood.

Chapter 46: Child of Tanavast

Though I was due for dinner in Veden City that night, I insisted upon visiting Kholinar to speak with Tivbet. The tariffs through Urithiru were growing quite unreasonable. By then, the so-called Radiants had already begun to show their true nature.

Kaladin rides the highstorm as he sweeps across Roshar, as one point seeing Szeth in the midst of an assassination. A Voice calls Kaladin a child of Tanavast and of Honor, tells him that Odium comes, and when asked why there is so much war, states that Odium reigns. Kaladin awakes, restrained by members of Bridge Four, and Rock uses his razor to shave Kaladin and others. Rock also reveals that Sigzil is a Worldsinger. Bridge Four is assigned a new crew member, Shen the Parshman. While walking the war camp to clear his head, Kaladin sees Adolin Kholin defend a whore from one of Sadeas' officers and throws Kaladin an emerald chip to pass along a message for him, which Kaladin doesn't pass along.

Chapter 47: Stormblessings

One year ago:

Chapter 48: Strawberry

They take away the light, wherever they lurk. Skin that is burned.

Chapter 49: To Care

Radiant / or birthplace / the announcer comes / to come announce / the birthplace of Radiants.

Chapter 50: Backbreaker Powder

Flame and char. Skin so terrible. Eyes like pits of blackness.

Chapter 51: Sas Nahn

One year ago:

Interludes

Interlude I-7: Baxil

Baxil and his cousin are trashing art.

Interlude I-8: Geranid

Geranid and Ashir are researching spren. They notice that when you record a measurement of a spren, the spren is fixed to that measurement.

Interlude I-9: Death Wears White

Szeth nears his final target, Taravangian. He gets a tour of the hospitals of Kharbranth.

Part Four: Storm's Illumination

Chapter 52: A Highway to the Sun

I'm standing over the body of a brother. I'm weeping. Is that his blood or mine? What have we done?

Chapter 53: Dunny

He must pick it up, the fallen title! The tower, the crown, and the spear!

Chapter 54: Gibletish

The burdens of nine become mine. Why must I carry the madness of them all? Oh, Almighty, release me.

Chapter 55: An Emerald Broam

A woman sitys and scratches out her own eyes. Daughter of kings and winds, the vandal.

Chapter 56: That Storming Book

Light grows so distant. The storm never stops. I am broken, and all around me have died. I weep for the end of all things. He has won. Oh, he has beaten us.

Chapter 57: Wandersail

I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it gain us further breath to draw.

Kaladin meets Hoid in the plains. Hoid tells him of Derethil and the Wandersail.

Chapter 58: The Journey

Re-Sephir, the Midnight Mother, giving birth to abominations with her essence so dark, so terrible, so consuming. She is here! She watches me die!

Chapter 59: An Honor

Above the final void I hang, friends behind, friends before. The feast I must drink clings to their faces, and the words I must speak spark in my mind. The old oaths will be spoken anew.

Chapter 60: That Which We Cannot Have

The death is my life, the strength becomes my weakness, the journey has ended.

Dalinar has decided not to abdicate to Adolin. The two wait for the coming highstorm in Dalinar's chambers with Renarin and Navani. Navani has a new fabrial, an early model of a painrial, which she shows the three by using it on an ache in Adolin's hand. Despite all the discoveries the engineers have made with fabrials, they are no closer to making new Shardblades and Shardplate. Dalinar begins to say the Blades and Plate may have been given to the ancients via the Heralds, but the highstorm hits, and he enters another vision.

He talks with a man with a regal bearing, who Dalinar later realizes must be a younger Nohadon, writer of The Way of Kings. A Desolation has just ended, and nine out of ten of the people Nohadon ruled are dead. Some of those still alive try to cast blame on the Surgebinder Alakavish, who began a war just before the Desolation started. Nohadon contemplates giving up his throne, if he cannot actually do any good with his leadership. Dalinar, who Nohadon believes is his advisor Karm, tells him to write a book about his philosophy on leadership and how people should live. Nohadon scoffs at this idea and says that action and the sword are what is needed. He would like peace, but "to be human is to want that which we cannot have." He walks off.

Just before the end of the vision, Dalinar repeats Nohadon's statement. He comes back to the present time and believes he did little about discovering any facts about proving his visions true or false. Navani cuts him off, asking him to repeat the last thing he said. She then tells him she believes he has been speaking in the Dawnchant, a dead language, and the phrase he just gave her may be the key needed to translate the language. She tells Dalinar and his sons that this is the proof they were looking for and that the visions are real.

Chapter 61: Right for Wrong

In the storm I awaken, falling, spinning, grieving.

Chapter 62: Three Glyphs

The darkness becomes a palace. Let it rule! Let it rule!

Chapter 63: Fear

I wish to sleep. I know now why you do what you do, and I hate you for it. I will not speak of the truths I see.

Chapter 64: A Man of Extremes

They come from the pit, two dead men, a heart in their hands, and I know that I have seen true glory.

Chapter 65: The Tower

I see them. They are the rocks. They are the vengeful spirits. Eyes of red.

Chapter 66: Codes

That chanting, that singing, those rasping voices.

Chapter 67: Words

Let me no longer hurt! Let me no longer weep! Dai-gonarthis! The Black Fisher holds my sorrow and consumes it!

Chapter 68: Eshonai

They named it the Final Desolation, but they lied. Our gods lied. Oh, how they lied. The Everstorm comes. I hear its whispers, see its stormwall, know its heart.

Chapter 69: Justice

All is withdrawn for me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.

At Sadeas' staging area Navani forces her way through the crowd after hearing rumours that Sadeas came back from battle without Dalinar. Renarin follows her. Sadeas tells Navani that the Parshendi overwhelmed Dalinar's forces, and he was forced to retreat in-order to save his own men after claiming to watch Dalinar fall to Parshendi hammers. Unwilling to believe Sadeas's account, Navani begins creates a enormous Thath glyph across the staging area stone ground in burn ink. Upon finishing the glyph, Navani releases her prayer for Justice by lighting the whole glyph which leaves a scorch mark on the stone. Shortly after the flames die and one of Sadeas' message runner approaches with news of Dalinar's survival.

Sadeas is visibly upset but pretends to be relieved that Dalinar survived. They talk to each other for a while. Then Dalinar asks Sadeas for the costs for Bridge Four. As Sadeas blocks the possibility to give away his bridgemen, Dalinar summons his Shardblade and offers it for trade to get all of Sadeas' bridgemen. Sadeas, eager to finally get a Shardblade, makes this deal.

Later on this day Dalinar goes to confront Elhokar that he cut his saddle girth himself thereby bringing suspicion on Dalinar what could have ended bad. He also tells Elhokar about what happened on the battlefield when Sadeas betrayed Dalinar. Then Dalinar forces Elhokar to proclaim him as Highprince of War.

Part Five: The Silence Above

Chapter 70: A Sea of Glass

Shallan lay in her hospital bed lementing her actions and surprisingly Kabsal death. But as she recalls events things do not completely add up. She wonders why the antidote did not work for Kabsal and why Jasnah was not poisoned since she too had eaten the poisoned bread. She finds her sketchpad and draws an imperfect drawing of Jasnah examining the strawberry jam. Remembering that she was not repulsed by the smell. Then she draws Jasnah eating the bread. In her drawing it looks like it is melting. Relizing something, she leaves the hospital and walks in the darkness to the Conclave wearing only her hospital robe. Finding Jasnah she Confronts her by telling her that she knows that Jasnah uses a fake Soulcaster. Showing her the picture Shallan had drawn of Shadesmar to a shocked Jasnah she concludes that Jasnah never had a working Soulcaster. Jasnah disregards Shallan's statements as fatigue induced delusions. To prove her statements Shallan attempts to return to Shadesmar. Holding her partially done garnet sphere she speaks with the twisted symbol headed spren. They request a truth, preferably a secret truth, to form a bond. To from the bond, Shallan admits to killing her father and she falls into the sea of beads. She begins to drown in that sea but is rescued by Jasnah who reprimands her for going to Shardesmar with only a single dim sphere.

Back in the alcove, Shallan ask to be part of Jasnah work in truth. To be train to use her Soulcasting ability. At first Jasnah objects but Shallan apologizes and explains that she could be someone that can share Jasnah's secrets. Jasnah relents and makes Shallan promise never to lie or steal again and gives Shallan her notes on the Voidbringers.

Chapter 71: Recorded In Blood

Szeth, working as a porter, walks the streets of Kharbranth towards the King's palace. Having assassinated the other names on the list given him by his unseen master, he was in Kharbranth to finish his work and kill King Taravangian. Using his shard blade he cuts a whole in the servants privy to access the king's portion of the palace. Szeth easily subdues Taravangian's guards and enters the kings study. Following his instructions, Szeth informs the king that he has killed the others and is there to finish the job. But the king reveals himself to be Szeth unknown master having put his name of the list to deflect suspicion should Szeth had failed. They discuss Szeth's actions. The king claims the assassinations are necessary to build a stronger Roshar for the coming years. Szeth accuses the king of using him to do his dirty work and as a response the king takes him to his secret hospital. The hospital is filled with dying people who are having their blood slowly drained. Here the King shows Szeth that his hands are not clean, having drained the blood of many. The King explains that the dying see something important as they die and here they record their words. The King believes their words may contain the key to everyone's salvation. The King then adds a name to Szeth's list that he had hoped to avoid but recent events had made necessary, Dalinar Kholin.

Chapter 72: Veristitalian

Before reading Jasnah's notes on the Voidbringers, Shallan asks Jasnah how she soulcasted her blood multiple times if she was so unskilled in organics material, Jasnah had previously soulcasted Strawberry Jam into something uneatable. Jasnah replies that blood is one of the Essences and is therefore easy to soulcast. Shallan has a great many additional questions about soulcasting but Jasnah returns the conversation back to the Voidbringers. Shallan ask how Jasnah could believe in these myths when so many trusted scholars considered the Voidbringers a fabrication. Jasnah replies that she in general seek to find natural meanings to supernatural events. Believing something caused the legends of the Voidbringers. Reading from her notes, Jasnah help Shallan see that the Humans on Roshar did not destroy or banish the Voidbringers. They instead enslaved them as the Parshmen.

Chapter 73: Trust

Kaladin waits at the 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 truely protect by killing and whether the three lives lost from his bridge crew were worth the thousands of soldiers and lighteys 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 think 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. And wants the rest of the bridge men to be trained as spearmen company. 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.

Kaladin returns to bridge four's barrack to find his men engaging in their nightly tradition of eating Rock's stew. They talk to him about his extraordinary abilities and they want him to teach 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 finally succeed in saving someone.

Chapter 74: Ghostblood

Shallan finishs reading Jasnah's notes concerning the Voidbringers and comes to the same concusion as Jasnah, that the parshmen are the Voidbringers. They discuss the frightening ramifications of this conclusion and they make plans to travel to the Shattered Plains to continue exploring King Gavilar's death and the Parshendi transformation into warriors. They also discuss the Ghostbloods, a secret organization seeking answers about the Voidbringers. Jasnah names Kabsal a member of the Ghostbloods and after seeing their secret symbol, Shallan relizes that her father was also likely a member.

Chapter 75: In the Top Room

During the next highstorm after Sadeas's betrayal, in one of Dalinar's visions, he finds himself in a white rocky landscape with smokey figures rising around him. The voice again tells Dalinar to "... unite them". Dalinar then demands to know why the voice lied to him with regards to trusting Sadeas. But instead of answering, the voice appears in human form and continues exhorting Dalinar to prepare for the Everstorm, showing him a wall of darkness approaching a ruined Kholinar. Dalinar continues to ask questions and demand answers but soon realizes that the voice can not hear him and never could.

The voice continues telling Dalinar that this vision is a glimpse into the future born of his fears. Dalinar then sees that the wall of darkness is a wall of dust and as it passes by, the ground falls away leaving the land and where Kholinar was an empty void. Only the space where Dalinar stands remains. The voice tells Dalinar that someone must lead, unite and protect the people. He then commands Dalinar to rebuild the Knights Radiants, explaining that unity will be key in facing The True Desolation.

The voice then ends by proclaming that he was God and that he is now dead after being killed by Odium.

Endnote

The Endnote is about thoughts from Joshor, Head of His Majesty's Silent Gatherers, on a Ketek told by a dying Herdazian who barely spoke the Alethi language, and unlikely had the education that he had heard of such a ketek before. They decided to leave this death quote to Taravangian to solve the puzzle that it tells.