Resumen:Palabras radiantes
This page contains a chapter by chapter summary of Words of Radiance. 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.
[[../Summary/Prologue|Prologue: To Question]]
- Characters
- Jasnah Kholin (Point of view)
- Meridas Amaram
- Ash (Mentioned only)
- Gangnah
- Aesudan Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Gavilar Kholin
- Klade
- Liss
- Nale
- Nale's unknown companion
- Torol Sadeas
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano
- Talak
- Tearim
- Varnali
- Plot summary
- Six years ago
Jasnah leaves the feast celebrating the signing of the Alethi treaty with the Parshendi. On her way to a clandestine meeting that she had scheduled, she notices her shadow pointing the wrong way. Her shadow slowly returns to normal, but she is disconcerted. This isn't the first time her this has happened, and she wonders if she is cursed. As she continues, she observes a group of oily black figures materialize before her. Jasnah then transfers to Shadesmar for the first time. She almost drowns in the sea of beads before figuring out how to form the beads into the shape of one of the palace hallways. One of the figures approaches her drawing a sword and Jasnah manifests a statue of Talenel to protect herself. The figure bows to her while his companions whisper to each other, and Jasnah is transfered back to the Physical Realm. She notices that the lanterns near her have been drained of Stormlight.
She hurries on to the meeting, where she tells the assassin Liss that she only wants her brother's wife, Aesudan, watched for now. Jasnah reminds Liss of their first agreement, according to which Jasnah will match payment of any offer made against a member of her family, in exchange for the name of whoever tried to have them assassinated.
As she leaves Jasnah hears the Parshendi's drums cease. As she walks she encounters Nale and an unidentified man discussing an individual named Ash as well what Jasnah believes is a shardblade. Continuing on, Jasnah hears screams and starts running, following a trail of destruction that leads to her father's rooms. She watches as Szeth collapses the balcony beneath himself and Gavilar. She begins to cry as he stands over her father and wonders what he is doing. When he walks away she sees that her father is dead, his blade having appeared next to him, and despairs over failing in her efforts to protect her family.
Members of the Parshendi ruling council, including Klade, Gangnah, and Varnali, approach Jasnah and apologize. They confess to hiring Szeth to assassinate Gavilar, claiming he was about to do something very dangerous.
Part One: Alight
[[../Summary/Chapter 1|Chapter 1: Santhid]]
To be perfectly frank, what has happened these last two months is upon my head. The death, destruction, loss, and pain are my burden. I should have seen it coming. And I should have stopped it.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Shallan Davar(Point of view)
- Ashlv
- Beznk
- Nanhel Eltorv
- Jasnah Kholin
- Tozbek
- Yalb
- Mentioned only
- Balat Davar his brothers and his betrothed
- Adolin Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Naladan
- Plot Summary
- Tanatashah 1173
The chapter opens with Shallan sketching Shadesmar aboard Tozbek's ship, The Wind's Pleasure, sailing south of Roshar. While sketching, she notices a pattern appear on her sketch. This marks the first time Pattern manifests in the physical realm, appearing as an embossed sequence of complex lines with sharp angles and repeated arrowhead shapes. The appearance of Pattern startles Shallan, causing her to drop her sketches which Yalb collects for her.
Shortly thereafter, a scout spotts something in the water which turns out to be a Santhid - a large, rare sea creature viewed by sailors as good luck and whose shell is the only thing anyone ever sees. Seeing an opportunity, Shallan decides she needs to sketch the first ever picture of a living Santhid. After much debate with Yalb and Tozbek, and after conversing with Jasnah about Shadesmar and Spren in some detail for the first time, the sailors finally agree to allow Shallan to be lowered over the side of the boat to get a look at the Santhid. Jasnah tells Shallan that she has spoken to Navani about the possibility of repairing the Soulcaster Shallan posses so that her brothers can give it back to the Ghostbloods. Shallan is also informed that she has been betrothed to Adolin Kholin, which she accepts willingly.
- Notable
- Pattern manifests in the physical realm for the first time.
- Shallan is betrothed to Adolin and gets the first sketch of a living Santhid
Chapter 2: Bridge Four
Our first clue was the Parshendi. Even weeks before they abandoned their pursuit of the gemhearts, their pattern of fighting changed. They lingered on the plateaus after battles, as if waiting for something.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Mentioned only
- Plot Summary
- Tanatashah 1173
Kaladin rides out the first highstorm since being freed in a small room attached to his mens' new barracks within Dalinar's war camp. Upon exiting the room he is greeting with cheers by his men who have shaving their beards in the riddens of the storm with Rock's razor. Kaladin contemplates the betrayals of both Sadeas and Amaram while speaking with Skar, Teft, and Moash about how to proceed training the newly freed bridgemen. There are some 1,000 men situated in 20 now empty buildings in Dalinar's camp; buildings recently emptied after the betrayal of Sadeas and the subsequent loss of soldiers. Kaladin decides they will find the most eager bridgemen and train them personally, sending them back to pass on their training to larger groups of bridgemen, all of whom have been given permission to leave as free men although the majority of them have not done so. Kaladin says his worst case scenario plan is to have all 1,000 men trained and able to leave the war camp as a cohesive band of mercenaries if it comes to that. Being named Captain by Dalinar, the highest rank Dalinar dared appoint a darkeyes. He plans to name Sigzil, Rock, Teft, Moash, and Skar lieutenants. Rock will be quartermaster with Lopen as his second, Teft will be in charge of training, Sigzil will be the clerk, and Moash, Skar, and Kaladin will be mainly in charge of guarding Dalinar, who they have mutually agreed after some discussion, is there best hope remaining free men.
Later, the men previously of Bridge Four visits a tattooist. The tattooist sets about covering the slave brands with tattoos of freedom, including some details of who freed them and when. First Hobber decides he wants a Bridge Four glyph added and after this decision, the rest demand the same. Not to indicate freedom from Bridge Four, but to embrace the unity they found there. Even those members of Bridge Four who were without slave brands opt to get the tattoo including Shen, most on their foreheads though Moash chooses to get it on his arm. Finally Kaladin sits for his tattoo but the ink will not take - his stormlight expelling it - even after banishing his stormlight until the tattoo is set the ink immediately melts away when he again sucks in stormlight.
After leaving, Kaladin and his men walk through the war camp noting the general mood. Kaladin decides the camp has an heir of dread to it following Sadeas' betrayal. The men receive Bridge Four salutes from a few people they pass, Kaladin wondering where they even learned the salute. The men visit the head quartermaster, Rind, to discuss uniforms for the bridgemen. Rind hands out what's left of the old Cobalt Guard uniforms and the men try them on, eventually coming to admire how they look in them. After some discussion with Kaladin, explaining to him that they all identify as Bridge Four despite being free, Kaladin requests that Rind commission new Bridge Four glyph patches for the uniforms.
- Notable
- The men of Bridge Four continue to identify as Bridge Four with pride
Chapter 3: Pattern
Soldiers reported being watched from afar by an unnerving number of Parshendi scouts. Then we noticed a new pattern of their penetrating close to the camps in the night and then quickly retreating. I can only surmise that our enemies were even then preparing their stratagem to end this war.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Shallan Davar(Point of View)
- Jasnah Kholin
- Mentioned only
- Plot Summary
- Tanatabach 1173
Shallan sits in her cabin on the Wind's Pleasure reading a book written by Jasnah about Vorinism and the Recreance and it's effect on the documentation of history such as the existence of Shadesmar. While studying Pattern shows up again, this time on the cabin wall, vanishing when she looks directly at it. Shallan notes the similarity between Pattern and the symbol headed creatures she'd seen previously. She immediately attempts to sketch the pattern, drawing many creationspren, though she found it difficult to capture the precise pattern. When finished, the pattern seemed to leave the paper and move to the floor. Jasnah comes to Shallan's room just as Shallan leaves to find her. Shallan catches a glimpse of what Jasnah explains to her is her own spren, just as she tells Shallan that the pattern is Shallan's spren, a Cryptic. Jasnah explains about the Knights Radiant and the Orders, explaining that their Soulcasting is a shared surge, but that their Orders are not the same, judging by their different spren. A lengthy discussion of sprens' nature and Jasnah's opinions of the Almighty and the Herald follows.
- Notable
- Shallan's spren is a Cryptic
Chapter 4: Taker of Secrets
The next clue came on the walls. I did not ignore this sign, but neither did I grasp its full implications.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Dalinar Kholin (Point of view)
- Kaladin
- Adolin Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Rushu
- An unnamed Knight Radiant
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatakes 1173
Dalinar is experiencing another vision. He describes how he is running through what he believes to be the Purelake along with about a dozen armed and armored men, though he notes that they are clad in ancient leather armor. At first he is unsure if they are running away from something or toward something until he notices a Fortress apparently made completely made out of onyx. His group meets up with another one lead by a Radiant in deep red glowing Plate. Dalinar thus determines that this vision takes place before the Recreance. The Radiant informs them that Caeb thought he saw something and tells them to look around. When one of the men hears Dalinar mumbling to himself, as he describes what is happening, he tells Dalinar to look for a spren that isn't behaving the way it should. Since spren that were touched by Sja-anat are different. Dalinar repeats the word quietly hoping that Navani will record them, when he notices that the female Knight is talking apparently to nobody. As he looks around he sees a face of shadow with red eyes in the water. When he points this out to the others the Knight, after noting that this is Sja-anat's spy sends Kade to the checkpoint and tells the others to keep watching for the carrier. Dalinar chases after the spren while describing it, when it is suddenly joined by a six feet tall spren. As the second one dive into the rock Dalinar stumbles back. He gets pulled back further by one of the man as the ground starts to tremble. Dalinar watches as the spren, having somehow apparently animated the rock, starts to climb out of the rock with its new rockbody. The soldiers, recognizing it as a Thunderclast, start yelling for Hammers.
- Notable
- In Dalinar's vision, the Knight Radiant seems to have a conversation with a person that is not present, implying that the Knights Radiant had a means of telecommunication.
- The vision shows how Thunderclasts were created.
- The first countdown appears (62 days).
Chapter 5: Ideals
The sign on the wall proposed a greater danger, even, than its deadline. To foresee the future is of the Voidbringers.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Torol Sadeas (Point of view)
- Eth
- General Khal
- Adolin Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Gavilar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Leyten
- Lopen
- Mart
- Moash
- Rock
- Ialai Sadeas
- Shen
- Sigzil
- Skar
- Teft
- Teshav
- An unnamed member of the King's Guard
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatakan 1173
Kaladin and the members of Bridge Four listen to a crier read Dalinar's proclamation. The proclamation states that all gemhearts won in battle will now belong to the king, and shares of that wealth will be apportioned at the Crown’s discretion. The men are concerned that this will sow even more discontent among the highprinces, making their job as bodyguards to Dalinar more difficult. Kaladin orders Rock to start training cooks for the other bridgeman barracks, hoping it will make them less despondent, then heads to the Pinnacle to relieve Skar's team. On the way, Syl worries that Kaladin no longer laughs.
Once at the king's palace, Kaladin is allowed to stay for a meeting consisting of Dalinar, King Elhokar, Adolin, Navani, Renarin, General Khal, and his wife Teshav. Teshav reports that the highprinces are irate. They had hoped that Dalinar would reconsider, and sending the proclamation out to the public has provoked them. Elhokar says that it is a disaster, and fears that they'll be dead before the week is out. Dalinar says he'll unite the kingdom or destroy it trying. The proclamation was made in order to re-focus the highprinces’ attention on the war, and Dalinar did this knowing that it would enrage them. He wants the highprinces angry, to remind them of why they came to the Shattered Plains in the first place. He then announces his intention to "disarm" the highprinces by having Adolin begin dueling for the Shardblades and Shardplate in their armies. Lastly, when prompted on his endgame, Dalinar states his intention to refound the Radiants. He isn’t sure why exactly he needs to do this, but he knows he has to.
Meanwhile, Torol Sadeas sits in front of an elaborate stone table with Oathbringer stuck through it. He thinks about how often he had lusted after the weapon, but now possessing it felt hollow. His wife Ialai enters the room, and mentions that she's used Dalinar's heavy recruitment drive to more place more spies in his warcamp. They talk about how the other highprinces hate the proclamation, and plan to fan the flames of discontent. Torol wants conquest. He plans to let Dalinar alienate the other highprinces and fracture the kingdom, at which point he will "forge a new Alethkar from flame and tears."
- Notable
- Elhokar has what may be the corpse of a Larkin inside a crystal paperweight in the conference room.
Chapter 6: Terrible destruction
We had never considered that there might be Parshendi spies hiding among our slaves. This is something else I should have seen.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Jasnah Kholin
- Pattern
- Yalb
- An unnamed new crew member of the Wind's Pleasure
- Mentioned Only
- Plot summary
- Tanatakach 1173
Shallan sits on the deck of the Wind's Pleasure, bundled up because of the cold. She's observing and taking notes on the complex geometric spren, who she'd named Pattern. Pattern asks about the concept of food, and replies "Terrible! Desctruction!" when Shellan describes eating. Shallan notes that Pattern is connecting increasingly complex thoughts. When she asks him about his first memories, Pattern starts to vibrate and Shellan can hear wind blowing through branches, and the deck starts to turn to a dirt path in front of her. Shallan is horrified and the images vanish. Just then, Yalb comes over and introduces her to "New kid", a six-foot-tall hulk of a man. Yalb tricks New Kid into doing galley duty for him, which Pattern seems to like. Shallan asks him if he likes lies, to which pattern replies that he likes "good lies ... True lies."
Shallan heads below deck to her cabin where gets caught up in her research. Hours go by before she closes her books, and her spheres are getting dim. She feels satisfied, her life seems to finally be coming together. She fishes some newly-restored spheres out of her safepouch to replace those in the goblet, but strangely they are completely dun. When she goes to ask Jasnah for some new spheres, Shallan notices that Jasnah is uncharacteristically disconcerted. She seems exhausted, and her poise has been replaced by worry. They discuss the return of Surgebinding, and Jasnah asks that Shallan focus on learning the Illumination Surge rather than Soulcasting, as the later can be dangerous. Jasnah also reveals that she is worried about the parshmen, who she thinks are secretly the Voidbringers. They worry that because the parshmen are so integrated into Vorin society they could cause utter collapse if they rebelled. Jasnah speaks of how in ages past, the Heralds would return before Desolations and train the Knights Radiant. She reveals that she hopes to find a path to Urithiru, the legendary city of the Knights Radiant, in the Shattered Plains. There she will try to find information that will convince the Alethi leaders to expel the parshmen.
Before Shallan leaves, Jasnah gives her a book that contains information on the Order of Lightweavers. The book is called Words of Radiance. She goes to sleep planing to read the book in the morning.
She is awoken by screams, shouts, and smoke.
- Notable
- This is the first time we see Pattern talk, and the first time we see his three-dimensional form.
- The titular Words of Radiance is seen here.
Chapter 7: Open Flame
I was unprepared for the grief my loss brought—like an unexpected rain—breaking from a clear sky and crashing down upon me. Gavilar's death years ago was overwhelming, but this... this nearly crushed me.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- The unnamed new crew member
- Two companions of the new crew member
- Tozbek and his sailors (mentioned only)
- Plot summary
- Tanatakach 1173
Shallan wakes up in a panicked state, and rushes out of her cabin into the passageway. She sees three men holding torches with their backs to her, and one of them throws Jasnah's body to the deck, then stabs her through the heart. She screams, recognizing one of the men as a new sailor, and returns to her cabin, locking the door. The men break down the door, but fail to see Shallan as she manages to draw in stormlight then create an illusion of shadow to hide in, and another visible moving image for them to chase to another part of the ship. She sends Pattern to spy and he tells her the regular sailors are being killed on the main deck. She makes her way to Jasnah's cabin, surprised to not trip over her mentor's body in the dark. She finds Jasnah's chest and opens it to access her spheres, and hears as the sailors are being murdered. Shallan tells Pattern she wants to soulcast the bottom of the ship to sink it and use the confusion to help the sailors, and Pattern intercedes, giving her passage to Shadesmar. Pattern is there also, appearing like a symbol-head. He tells her to find the bead representing the Wind's Pleasure and persuades it to change and sink so that it can possibly save some of the sailors that it serves. Shallan returns to the physical plane and the sinking ship, and starts going under as she can't find the way out, then something grabs her, dragging her down.
Chapter 8: Knives in the Back - Soldiers on the Field
I seek not to use my grief as an excuse, but it is an explanation. people act strangely soon after encountering an unexpected loss. Though Jasnah had been away for some time, her loss was unexpected. I, like many, assumed her to be immortal.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Dalinar Kholin (Point of view)
- Aladar
- Adolin Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Mentioned Only
- General Khal
- Gavilar Kholin
- Roion
- Yenev
- Plot summary
- Tanatakach 1173
Dalinar watches on as Highprince Aladar's army, who has gotten to the plateau faster than his own, fight the Parshendi over a gemheart. Davilar feels bitter and jaded, as the plateau runs no longer feel like they represent the fulfillment of the Vengeance Pact. Kaladin and his guards cross a bridge to guard Dalinar as he joins Aladar on his command plateau adjacent to where the battle is being fought, while Adolin and General Khal lead the Kholin forces to the fight. Dalinar joins Aladar and tells him that he saved the other Highprince from losing, but Aladar complains that he will earn less and that he is being punished for being successful. Dalinar threatens Aladar on the consequences of disobedience, but Aladar counters that Gavilar didn't use honor to unite the kingdom originally, which strikes a nerve. Aladar thinks the Parshendi are about to push, but Davilar thinks otherwise, and turns out to be correct about them getting ready to harvest the gemstone and withdraw, and they end up victorious. Dalinar notices as the Parshendi Shardbearer watches from a distance, having never entered the battle, and states that this has never happened before. Aladar thanks Dalinar for his advice, but refuses to trust him regarding politics since he fears betrayal. Back in his bunker, he notes there are now sixty days left in the mysterious countdown, and receives a letter announcing that an old friend of his would be coming soon to the Shattered Plains who might solve some problems that Dalinar is dealing with.
Chapter 9: Walking the Grave
I wish to think had I not been under sorrow's thumb, I would have seen earlier the approaching dangers. Yet in all honesty, I'm not certain anything could have been done.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
Kaladin leads the way down into the chasms, accompanied by Rock, Teft, Sigzil, Sylphrena, and forty bridgemen from the reorganized crews, who are there to practice spears under Teft's guidance and become future sergeants. Kaladin and Syl stroll off, debating the laws of physics and Syl jokes about her ability to defy gravity. They discuss Dalinar's plan to refound the Knights Radiant, which Syl likes, and the mysterious countdown. Syl mentions dangerous red spren that she sees on occasion. Kaladin asks if there are other surgebinders and Syl says yes, and there are other spren of different types doing what she is, but that she is the only honorspren and that she defied the Stormfather to do so. Syl tells Kaladin to be what Dalinar is looking for, and he says that he will try, despite his painful past. Rock interrupts them, praising Syl and offering to build a shrine dedicated to her. Rock says that Teft moved their training to a different spot, and says the bridgemen are becoming less reticent. Kaladin agrees to allow Sigzil to do his testing now to determine the extent of Kaladin's abilities.
Chapter 10:Red Carpet, Once White
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Lin Davar
- Shallan's mother (mentioned only)
- Another man (mentioned only)
- Plot summary
- Six years ago
Shallan believing the world is ending and it being her fault is crying. As her father tries getting her to sleep he wipes some blood from her face and starts singing a lullaby. Shallan thinks her self to be a monster that kills and thus unworthy of the love and affection her father is giving her. In the room there are several corpses one of them being a woman in white, Shallan's mother. She didn't bleed very much but the other man did. As Shallan and her father pass the his save in the wall Shallan can see the light form the "monster" coming from inside of it. After the song ends her father leaves the bedroom closing the door on the corpses.
- Notable
“Sleep now dear one, crimson sky will fall behind you.
Through rock and dread, through rock and dread, may be your dead, you will sleep my loved one dear. Now comes the storm, that you'll be warm, the wind may shake your dreams. The crystals fine, will glow sublime, so sleep my loved one dear. And like a song, it wont be long, you sleep my loved one dear.
”
—The lullaby Lin sings to Shallan
Chapter 11: An Illusion of Perception
But, understandably, we were focused on Sadeas. His betrayal was still fresh, and I saw its signs each day as I passed empty barracks and greving widows. We knew that Sadeas would not simply rest upon his slaughters in pride. More was coming.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Tanatakev 1173
Shallan awakes on a rock surrounded by ocean water, just offshore. She sees the santhid that saved her swim off toward the horizon. Pattern says that the ship sank and doesn't know if any of the sailors survived. Shallan forces herself to accept that Jasnah is dead. She manages to tread water and reach the shore. She waits on the beach for awhile looking for signs of survivors but sees none. Pattern says that he found someone and urges Shallan to follow him, and leads her to Jasnah's trunk, which contains her books and notes intact in a waterproof enclosure.
Shallan is unable to build a fire, so she decides to try to soulcast one. Pattern eases her into Shadesmar, and she sees large, fuzzy-looking, bird-like spren that hover overhead, which are exhaustionspren that are drawn to her. She takes a bead that represents a piece of wood and tries to persuade it that it could be fire, but it prefers to be a stick instead. Her sphere is drained of stormlight and she flees from Shadesmar, having failed to make a fire start. She gets up and starts walking, though her feet are cut up and bleeding, and ends up encountering a group of strangers around a fire, and due to her state of exhaustion, lays down next to the fire and goes to sleep.
Shallan wakes up as someone with a Thaylen accent addresses her as Brightness, but he isn't one of the sailors as she initially thinks. She realizes that they are slavers, led by a man named Tvlakv, and asserts herself as she imagines that Jasnah would, introducing herself and ordering them to retrieve Jasnah's trunk and escort her to the Shattered Plains, overcoming Tvlakv's objections by sheer force of will and gaining his reluctant compliance.
Chapter 12: Hero
Unfortunately, we fixated upon Sadeas's plotting so much that we did not take note of the changed pattern of our enemies, the murderers of my husband, the true danger. I would like to know what wind brought about their sudden inexplicable transformation.
—From the journal of Navani Kholin, Jesesach 1174
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Meridas Amaram
- Drehy (mentioned only)
- Dalinar Kholin
- Lopen
- Rock
- Sigzil
- Teft
- Plot summary
Sigzil finally gets the possibility to 'measure' Kaladin's abilities. Down in the chasms—while Teft and Drehy are working with twenty others to train them—Kaladin, Sigzil, Rock and Lopen are doing experiments. Lopen guards the location to avoid unbidden guests. They try to measure how long a rock which Kaladin infused with Stormlight and stuck to a chasm wall stays stuck. Rock hints at spren that pull the stone to the wall. Kaladin sees them, too, when looking close, but Sigzil doesn't.
Sigzil takes notes writing them down in glyphs. And he is confused. He says he would need a clock to orderly measure times and that he has no real references to compare. So they start testing other things, things, Kaladin can do in battle with his Stormlight. For example Infusing his spear and making it stuck on the spear of a foe or Infusing the ground causing others that step in to topple. For this experiments Lopen and Rock joined Sigzil as sparring partners. It's shown that Rock indeed knows how to fight though he still refuses to do so aside from this sparring for testing Kaladin's abilities.
Teft comes and sees the last part of the sparring. He asks Kaladin to release him from his task of training new recruits, but Kaladin refuses.
When Kaladin and his men leave the chasm he was told by another darkeyed soldier that a Brightlord just arrived at Dalinar's warcamp. But it's not only "a Brightlord". So Kaladin rushes to Dalinar's command complex to see this Brightlord with his own eyes and the soldier was right, it is Brightlord Amaram.
Interludes
Interlude I-1: Narak
- Characters
- Plot summary
Eshonai leads the Parshendi as they return to their home plateau after successfully harvesting a gemheart that was brought back by Devi to carry it as a reward. She wonders where Dalinar is, and feels a need to speak with him, but she can't join battles since her leg is still injured from when Kaladin stabbed her during the Battle of the Tower. She wanders through the ancient ruins on the plateau they named Narak, or Exile, where her people came to escape their gods. She enters the Hall of Art to observe the heretofore futile efforts to rediscover a new form for making art, as an incremental step towards discovering other more useful forms, but Varanis, one of her lieutenants, is unsuccessful in trying to attract creationspren to his novice attempts at painting. She contemplates the six current known forms, and laments the loss of the hundreds that their old songs mention, thinking her people may die off if they don't become more versatile.
She leaves the Hall, and encounters three mateforms who are playing idly in a pool, and berates them for being unproductive. She reflects back on how she and the rest of the Parshendi leaders conspired to assassinate Gavilar, to prevent the Parshendi gods from returning, at the cost of the slow annihilation of her people. She returns to her home, and finds her sister, Venli, and tells her of the plateau run and that Dalinar was not present on the Alethi side. Eshnonai says that she wants to talk to Dalinar and sue for peace but Venli thinks that he wouldn't accept, and says that she discovered stormform. Eshonai exclaims that this could cause their gods to return, but Venli says that is a moot point since the Alethi now have surgebinders, though Eshonai isn't sure about this. Demid, Venli's former mate, agrees that they should risk using stormform to protect their people from being wiped out. Venli says she wants to raise the issue with the Five, and Eshnonai says she will consider supporting it.
Interlude I-2: Ym
- Characters
- Plot summary
Ym is in his shop trimming a small block of wood. The cobbler had been taught to make the wooden forms himself, so he does. It's the way it's been done for centuries, which is good enough for him.
A spren moves in the dimness to his right. It has been coming around more often lately, and Ym had never seen one like it before. As it moves it looks like specks of light, like those from a piece of crystal suspended in a sunbeam. When it stops, light creeps upward from it, like small plants growing, which withdraw when it starts moving again.
They talk briefly about the shoes, and that Ym finds himself needing more shoes for children lately. The spren shakes suddenly, and warns "He Comes." Anxious, Ym stands up looking for "the watcher," a man in a military coat, but finds only a child peering through the door.
Ym invites the urchin in, who's feet are dirty and scraped. The boy is Iriali, with their characteristic golden skin and hair, and walks with a limp. Ym offers the him a pair of shoes in exchange for his story. As the boy speaks, Ym cleans his feet to fit the shoes. One of the feet has a nasty cut on the bottom, infected and crawling with rotspren. Ym cleans it and puts on antiseptic, then subtly uses some stormlight to heal the cut. They speak of Ym's religious beliefs, and the boy leaves after receiving the shoes.
The spren whispers "He's still here," and Ym spins as he hears a rustling behind him. A dark-skinned man with a crescent scar on his cheek steps out of the shadows in the back of the shop. The man accuses Ym of commiting a murder in his youth. Ym tells the man that it wasn't intentional, but the man says he is guilty nonetheless, then summons a Shardblade. Ym runs, but he is old and quickly tires. He stops, trying to pull out a sphere for some Stormlight, but the dark-skinned man slams him against a wall and stabs him in the chest with the Shardblade.
Interlude I-3: Rysn
- Characters
- Plot summary
Rysn is traveling with Vstim to the Reshi isles to do trading, but Vstim is very sick. Gu, the flotilla's guide, take them there, guiding them since the islands move. Rysn is quite shocked and amazed when she realizes that the moving islands are incredibly large great shells. The group lands on one of the islands, and Vstim tells Rysn that she must go and trade with the Reshi, as he is too ill to do so. He tells her to be bold, and although Rysn is nervous, she agrees to do so. Kyrlm and Nlent, two of the guards, accompany her as she ascends the island. While Rysn is observing the island, she sees Axies hanging upside down. They talk for a bit, and then Rysn and the guards continue their way up the island.
They make it to the King, and as Rysn approaches to speak with her, Talik comes and speaks on behalf of the queen. Talik, the Reshi trader, is disappointed that Vstim himself did not come to trade, and initially turns her away. Rysn is insistent in her trade, wishing to prove herself to Vstim, and the king eventually relents so that Rysn is speaking to the king, and not to Talik. The Reshi are opposed to trading with Rysn since they do not yet respect her and do not know if they can trust her. The king eventually dismisses Rysn, telling her that she did very well.
Rysn, worrying that Vstim is dying, instead insists on talking to the great shell that is the island, Relu-nu. She slides down the side of the head on a rope and begins to talk with it, pleading her case. Talik attempts to bring her back on top of the island, but Relu-nu takes a bite of the fruit at the bottom of the rope and breaks it, causing Rysn to fall. As she crashes into the water, Relu-nu cushioned her fall, and Rysn fell unconscious.
Rysn wakes up in a hut in the island with her legs paralzed. She sees Vstim, a Reshi healer, and Talik around her. They scold her for her stupidity, but Rysn insists that it was boldness, to allow for the trade. Rysn realizes that it was all a test that Vstim had set up for her to trade, and feels foolish. Vstim reveales that the trade was for a larkin corpse, but that Rysn has been granted a live larkin by the island itself. Vstim and Rysn will stay on the island while Rysn's legs heal.
Interlude I-4: Last Legion
- Characters
- Plot summary
Part Two: Winds' Approach
Chapter 13: The Day's Masterpiece
Warform is worn for battle and reign,
Claimed by the Gods, given to kill.
Unknown, unseen, but vital to gain.
It comes to those with the will.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 15th stanza
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Bluth
- Jasnah Kholin (mentioned only)
- Pattern
- Tag
- Tvlakv
- Plot summary
- Tanatakah 1173
Chapter 14: Ironstance
Mateform meek, for love to share,
Given to life, it brings us joy.
To find this form, one must care.
True empathy one must employ.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 5th stanza
- Characters
- Adolin Kholin (Point of view)
- Salinor Eved
- Istow
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatatah 1173
Chapter 15: A Hand with the Tower
Workform worn for strength and care.<br? Whispering spren breathe at your ear.
Seek first this form, its mysteries to bear.
Found here is freedom from fear.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 19th stanza
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Bluth
- Pattern
- Tag
- Tvlakv
- Plot summary
- Tanatatah 1173
Chapter 16: Swordmaster
Nimbleform has a delicate touch.
Gave the gods this form to many,
Tho' once defied, by the goods they were crushed.
This form craves precision and plenty.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 27th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Drehy
- Adolin Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Lopen
- Moash
- Shen
- Skar
- Syl
- Zahel
- The lead ardent
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 17: A Pattern
Dullform dread, with the mind most lost.
The lowest, and one not bright.
To find this form, one need banish the cost.
It finds you and brings you to blight.
—From the listener Song of Listing, final stanza
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Bluth
- Jasnah Kholin (Mentioned only)
- Pattern
- Tag
- Tvlakv
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 18: Bruises
Scholarform shown for patience and thought.
Beware its ambitions innate.
Though study and diligence bring the reward,
Loss of innocwnce may be one's fate
—From the listener Song of Listing, 69th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Adolin Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Lopen
- Rlain
- Syl
- Zahel
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 19: Safe Things
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Balat Davar (Mentioned only)
- Helaran Davar
- Lin Davar
- Two unnamed Davar maids
- Plot summary
- Five and a half years ago
Shallan is wearing a new silk dress, a gift from her father. The dress is that of a woman as she is now old enough to cover her safehand. She starts to think of her mother, then stops, like a candle suddenly snuffed. Two maids bustle past, getting ready for guests. Shallan overhears one softly whisper "She saw. Poor thing was in the room when it happened. Hasn't spoken a work in five months. The master killed his own wife and her lover." Shallen thinks that because she doesnt speak, apparently the maids didnt think she could hear either. At times, she wonders if she is invisible or isn't real.
The door suddenly slams open, and her brother Helaran enters. Grinning wide, he gives her a gift of charcoal pencils and thick, expensive paper. He's missed her drawings and asks her to practice more. He tells her she needs to be strong, and that he needs her to look after the other brothers for him. The door slams open again, this time admitting her father, Lin Davar. Her father and brother start arguing, and Helaran calls their father a murder and summons a Shardblade. Lin cuts off, putting his hands up and says "you don't know what you think you know. Your mother-", but Helaran cuts him off. Shallan manages to say "No" to Helaran, stopping him from killing Lin. Helaran leaves, saying that he has important work to do, but warns their father the he will be checking in on the house.
Chapter 20: The Coldness of Clarity
Artform applied for beauty and hue.
One years for the songs it creates.
Most misunderstand by the artis it's true,
Come the Spren to foundation's fate.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 90th stanza
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 21: Ashes
Mediationform made for peace, it's said.
Form of teaching and consolation.
When used by the gods, it became instead
Form of lies and desolation.
—From the listener Song of Listing, 33rd stanza
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 22: Lights in the Storm
Stormform is said to cause
A tempest of winds and showers,
Beware its powers, beware its powers.
Though its coming brings the gods their night,
It obliges a bloodred spren.
Beware its end, beware its end.
—From the listener Song of Winds, 4th stanza
- Characters
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 23: Assassin
Nightform predicting what will be,
The form of shadows, mind to foresee.
As the gods did leave, the nightform ehispered.
A new storm will come, someday to break.
A new storm a new world to make.
A new storm a new path to take, nightform listens.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, 17th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Idrin
- Adolin Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Moash
- Sylphrena
- An unnamed member of the King's Guard
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Tanatishes 1173
Chapter 24: Tyn
Decayform destroys the souls of dreams.
A form of gods to avoid, it seems.
Seek not its touch, nor beckon its screams, deny it.
Watch where you walk, your toes to tread,
O'er hill or rocky riverbed
Hold dear the fears that fill your head, defy it.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, 27th stanza
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Tanatishan 1173
Chapter 25: Monsters
Smokeform for hiding and slipping between men.
A form of power, like human Surges.
Bring it 'round again.
Though crafted of gods,
It was by Unmade hand.
Leaves its force to be but one of foe or friend.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, 127th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Meridas Amaram
- Jenet
- Adolin Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Moash
- Natam
- Sylphrena
- Plot summary
- Tanatishah 1173
Chapter 26: The Feather
They blame our people
For the loss of that land.
The city that comes once covered it
Did range the eastern strand.
The power made known in the tomes of our clan
Our gods were not who shattered these plains.
—From the listener Song of Wars, 55th stanza
- Characters
- Adolin Kholin (Point of view)
- Eshonai
- Inkima (Mentioned only)
- Jakamav
- Dalinar Kholin (Mentioned only)
- Renarin Kholin
- Teft (Probably)
- Plot summary
Chapter 27: Fabrications to Distract
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Jushu Davar
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Five years ago
Shallan is outside in the gardens of their estate sketching. She longs to stay out there, where people didn't scream at each other, where there was peace. Unfortunately, it was a fake peace, cultivated like the garden itself. She hears shouts from the nearby manor house, which cause her to tense up and ruin the sketch she's working on. She thinks of her brother Helaran, who brings her the fine sketching paper. His returns home are unpredictable and short, and no one knows where he goes when he leaves. She stares at a blank piece of paper, and loses track of time.
Eventually noticing the sky has darkened, Shallan packs up her things and heads inside. Her father has been throwing feasts regularly, and it is almost time for the one tonight. She turns up the stairs to get ready. There would be a new dress for her to wear as she sat quietly. She suspects her father doesn't like that she had begun speaking again. Perhaps he doesn't want her to be able to speak of things she's seen. Her mind goes blank.
Her brother Jushu finds her on the stairs, stairing at the wall. Jushu's jacket is undone and askew, and his cheeks are flush with wine. He has no cufflinks or belt, having gambled them away. When asked, Jushu tells Shallan that he heard the yelling. Balat has been starting fires again, and nearly burned down the servants building. Jushu says that he's the only one left in the family with any sense. They pass their father's quarters. It is being tidied with the door open, which allows Shallan to see the far wall. She stumbles. Though hidden behind a painting, she can see the outline of the strongbox glowing, blazing like fire. Jushu asks what she is staring at, but when she tells him he thinks she's crazy. Shallan continues to stare at the light, thinking a monster hides there. That her mother's soul hides there.
Chapter 28: Boots
The betrayal of spren has brought us here.
They gave their Surges to human heirs,
But not to those who know them most dear, before us.
'Tis no surprise we turned away
Unto the gods we spent our days
And to become their molding clay, they changed us.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, 40th stanza
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Ishanach 1173
Chapter 29: Rule of Blood
Artform for colors beyond our ken;
For its grand songs we yearn.
We must attract creationspren;
These songs suffice 'till we learn.
—From the listener Song of Revision, 279th stanza
- Characters
- Torol Sadeas (Point of view)
- Meridas Amaram
- Eranniv
- Hatham
- Adolin Kholin
- Ialai Sadeas
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
Chapter 30: Nature Blushing
'Tis said it was warm in the land far away
When Voidbringers entered our songs.
We brought them home to stay
And then those homes became their own,
It happened gradually.
And years ahead 'twil still be said 'tis how it has to be.
—From the listener Song of Histories, 12th stanza
- Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Gaz
- Glurv (Mentioned only)
- Adolin Kholin (Mentinoned only)
- Macob
- Pattern
- Tyn
- Vathah
- Plot summary
- Ishanev 1173
Chapter 31: The Stillness Before
Somkeform for hiding and slipping 'tween men.
A form of power—like Surges of spren.
Do we dare wear this form again? It spies.
Crafted of gods, this form we fear.
By Unmade touch its curse to bear,
Formed from shadow—and death is near. It lies.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, 51st stanza
- Characters
- Mentioned only
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Chapter 32: The One Who Hates
The spren betrayed us, it's often felt.
Our minds are too close to their realm
That gives us our forms, but more is then
Demanded by the smartest spren,
We can't provide what the humans lend,
Though broth are we, their meat is men.
—From the listener Song of Spren, 9th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Shallan Davar (Point of view))
- Beld
- Eth
- Hobber
- Adolin Kholin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Mart
- Moash
- Ralinor
- Stormfather
- Sylphrena
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Chapter 33: Burdens
But it is not impossible to blend
Their Surges to ours in the end.
It has been promised and it can come.
Or do we understand the sum?
We question not if they can have us then,
But if we dare to have them again.
—From the listener Song of Spren, 10th stanza
- Characters
- Kaladin (Point of view)
- Adolin Kholin (Point of view)
- Beld (Mentioned only)
- Eth
- Hobber
- Dalinar Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Navani Kholin
- Renarin Kholin
- Mart
- Moash
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Chapter 34: Blossoms and Cake
Our gods were born splinters of a soul,
Of one who seeks to take control,
Destroys all lands that he beholds, with spite.
They are his spren, his gift, his price.
But the nightforms speak of future life,
A challenged champion. A strife even he must requite.
—From the listener Song of Secrets, final stanza
';Characters
- Shallan Davar (Point of view)
- Gaz
- Jasnah Kholin (Mentioned only)
- Pattern
- Tyn
- Valam (Mentioned only)
- Vathah
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Interludes
Interlude I-5: The Rider of Storms
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Interlude I-6: Zahel
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Interlude I-7: Taln
- Characters
- Taln (Point of view)
- Bordin
- Dalinar Kholin
- Elhokar Kholin
- Wit (Mentioned only)
- Plot summary
Interlude I-8: A Form of Power
- Characters
- Plot summary
- Ishanah 1173
Part Three: Deadly
Chapter 35: The Multiplied Strain of Simultaneous Infusion
They also, when they had settled their rulings in nature of each bond's placement, called the name of it the Nahel bond, with regard to its effect upon the souls of those caught in its grip; in this description, each was related to the bonds that drive Roshar itself, ten Surges, named in turn and two for each order; in this light, it can be seen that each order would by necessity share one Surge with each of its neighbors.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 8, page 6
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Adolin
Navani
Chapter 36: A New Woman
And when they were spoken of by the common folk, the Releasers claimed to be misjudged because of the dreadful nature of their power; and when they dealt with others, always were they firm in their claim that other epithets, notably "Dustbringers," often heard in the common speech, were unacceptable substitutions, in particular for their similarity to the word "Voidbringers." They did also exercise anger in great prejudice regarding it, though to many who speak, there was little difference between there two assemblies.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 17, page 11
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Shallan
Chapter 37: A Matter of Perspective
Now, as each order was thus matched to the nature and temperament of the Herald it named patron, there was none more archetypal of this than the Stonewards, who followed after Talenelat'Elin, Stonesinew, Herald of War: they thought it a point of virtue to exemplify resolve, strength, and dependability. Alas, they took less care for imprudent practice of their stubbornness, even in the face of proven error.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 13, page 1
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Adolin
Chapter 38: The Silent Storm
Now, as the Windrunners were thus engaged, arose the event which has hitherto been referenced: namely, that discovery of some wicked thing of eminence, though whether it be some rogueries among the Radiants' adherents or of some external origin, Avena would not suggest.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 38, page 6
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Shallan
Chapter 39: Heterochromatic
- Plot Summary
- Four years ago
Shallan
Chapter 40: Palona
That they responded immediately and with great consternation is undeniable, as these were primary among those who would forswear and abandon their oaths. The term Recreance was not then applied, but has since become a popular title by which this event is named.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 38, page 6
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Shallan
Chapter 41: Scars
This act of great villainy went beyond the impudence which had hitherto been ascribed to the orders; as the fighting was particularly intense at this time, many attributed this act to a sense of inherent betrayal; and after they withdrew, about two thousand made assault upon them, destroying much of the membership; but this was only nine of the ten, as one said they would not abandon their arms and flee, but instead entertained great subterfuge at the expense of the other nine.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 38, page 20
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 42: Mere Vapors
But as for Ishi'Elin, his was the part most important at their inception; he readily understood the implications of Surges being granted to men, and caused organization to be thrust upon them; as having too great power, he let it be known that he would destroy each and every one, unless they agreed to be bound by precepts and laws.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 2, page 4
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Shallan
Chapter 43: The Ghostbloods
And thus were the disturbances in the Revv toparchy quieted, when, upon their ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, Nalan'Elin betook himself to finally accept the Skybreakers who had named him their master, when initially he had spurned their advances and, in his own interests, refused to countenance that which he deemed a pursuit of vanity and annoyance; this was the last of the Heralds to admit to such patronage.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 5, page 17
- Plot Summary
- Ishaches 1173
Shallan
Chapter 44: One Form of Justice
But as for the Bondsmiths, they had members only three, which number was not uncommon for them; nor did they seek to increase this order was in continual accompaniment of Urithiru and its thrones. Their spren was understood to be specific, and to persuade them to grow to the magnitude of the other orders was seen as seditious.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 16, page 14
Kaladin
Chapter 45: Middlefest
- Plot Sumary
- Three and a half years ago
Shallan
Chapter 46: Patriots
When Simol was informed of the arrival of the Edgedancers, a concealed consternation and terror, as is common in such cases, fell upon him; although they were not the most demanding of orders, their graceful, limber movements hid a deadliness that was, by this time, quite renowned; also, they were the most articulate and refined of the Radiants.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 20, page 12
- Plot Summary
- Ishachah 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 47: Feminine Wiles
Yet, were the orders not disheartened by so great a defeat, for the Lightweavers provided spiritual sustenance; they were enticed by those glorious creations to venture on a second assault.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 21, page 10
- Plot Summary
- Isheves 1173
Shallan
Chapter 48: No More Weakness
- Plot Summary
- Three years ago
Shallan
Chapter 49: Watching the World Transform
These Lightweavers, by no coincidence, included many who pursued the arts; namely: writers, artists, musicians, painters, sculptors. Considering the order's general temperament, the tales of their strange and varied mnemonic abilities may have been embellished.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 21, page 10
- Plot Summary
- Isheves 1173
Shallan
Chapter 50: Uncut Gems
And now, if there was an uncut gem among the Radiants, it was the Willshapers; for though enterprising, they were erratic, and Invia wrote of them, "capricious, frustrating, unreliable," as taking it for granted that others would agree; this may have been an intolerant view, as often Invia expressed, for this order was said to be most varied, inconsistent in temperament save for a general love of adventure, novelty, or oddity.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 7, page 1
- Plot Summary
- Isheves 1173
Adolin
Chapter 51: Heirs
In short, if any presume Kazilah to be innocent, you must look at the facts and deny them in their entirety; to say that the Radiants were destitute of integrity for executing one of their own, one who had obviously fraternized with the unwholesome elements, indicates the most slothful of reasoning; for the enemy's baleful influence demanded vigilance on all occasions, of war and of peace.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 32, page 17
- Plot Summary
- Ishevan 1173
Adolin
Chapter 52: Into the Sky
Now, as the Truthwatchers were esoteric in nature, their order being formed entirely of those who never spoke or wrote of what they did, in this lies frustration for those who would see their exceeding secrecy from the outside; they were not naturally inclined to explanation; and in the case of Corberon's disagreements, their silence was not a sign of exceeding abundance of disdain, but rather and exceeding abundance of tact.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 11, page 6
- Plot Summary
- Ishevan 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Chapter 53: Perfection
As to the other orders that were inferior in this visiting of the far realm of spren, the Elsecallers were prodigiously benevolent, allowing others as auxiliary to their visits and interactions; though they did never relinquish their place as prime liaisons with the great ones of the spren; and the Lightweavers and Willshapers both also had an affinity to the same, though neither were true masters of that realm.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 6, page 2
- Plot Summary
- Ishevach 1173
Adolin
Chapter 54: Veil's Lesson
There came also sixteen of the order of Windrunners, and with them a considerable number of squires, and finding in that place the Skybreakers dividing the innocent from the guilty, there ensued a great debate.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 28, page 3
- Plot Summary
- Ishevach 1173
Shallan
Chapter 55: The Rule of the Game
The considerable abilities of the Skybreakers for making such amounted to an almost divine skill, for which no specific Surge or spren grants capacity, but however the order came to such an aptitude, the fact of it was real and acknowledged even by their rivals.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 28, page 3
- Plot Summary
- Ishevev 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 56: Whitespine Uncaged
Twenty-three cohorts followed behind, that come from the contributions of the King of Makabakam, for though the bond between man and spren was at times inexplicable, the ability for bonded spren to manifest in our world rather than their own grew stronger through the course of the oaths given.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 35, page 9
- Plot Summary
- Ishevah 1173
Kaladin
Adolin
Kaladin
Adolin
Dalinar
Adolin
Dalinar
Chapter 57: To Kill the Wind
Malchin was stymied, for though he was inferior to none in the arts of war, he was not suitable for the Lightweavers; he wished for his oaths to be elementary and straightforward, and yet their spren were liberal, as to our comprehension, in definitions pertaining to this matter; the process included speaking truths as an approach to a threshold of self-awareness that Malchin could never attain.—From Words of Radiance, chapter 12, page 12
- Plot Summary
- Ishevah 1173
Shallan
Kaladin
Chapter 58: Never Again
So Melishi retired to his tent, and resolved to destroy the Voidbringers upon the next day, but that night did present a different stratagem, related to the unique abilities of the Bondsmiths; and being hurried, he could make no specific account of his process; it was related to the very nature of the Heralds and their divine duties, an attribute the Bondsmiths alone could address.
—From Words of Radiance, chapter 30, page 18
- Plot Summary
- Ishevah 1173
Kaladin
Sadeas
Kaladin
Interludes
Interlude I-9: Lift
Interlude I-10: Szeth
Interlude I-11: New Rhythms
- Plot Summary
- Ishashes 1173
Eshonai
Part Four: The Approach:
Chapter 59: Fleet
I'll address this letter to my "old friend," as I have no idea what name you're using currently.
- Plot Summary
- Ishahach 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 60: Veil Walks
Have you given up on the gemstone, now that it is dead? And do you no longer hide behind the name of your old master? I am told that in your current incarnation you've taken a name that references what you presume to be one of your virtues.
Shallan
Chapter 61: Obedience
- Plot Summary
- One and a half years ago
Shallan
Chapter 62: The One who Killed Promises
This is, I suspect, a little like a skunk naming itself for its stench.
- Plot Summary
- Ishashev 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 63: A Burning World
Now, look what you've made me say. You've always been able to bring out the most extreme in me old friend. And I do still name you a friend, for all that you weary me.
- Plot Summary
- Ishashah 1173
Shallan
Chapter 64: Treasures
Yes, I'm disappointed. Perpetually, as you put it
- Plot Summary
- Ishashah 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Chapter 65 The One who Deserves It:
- Plot Summary
- One and a half years ago
Shallan
Chapter 66: Stormblessings
Is not the destruction we have wrought enough? The worlds you now tread bear the touch and design of Adonalsium. Our interference so far has brought nothing but pain.
- Plot Summary
- Ishabev 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 67: Spit and Bile
My path has been chosen very deliberately. Yes, I agree with everything you have said about Rayse, including the severe danger he presents.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakan 1173
Dalinar
Chapter 68: Bridges
However, it seems to me that all things have been set up for a purpose, and if we—as infants—stumble through the workshop, we risk exacerbating, not preventing, a problem.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakach 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 69: Nothing
Rayse is captive. He cannot leave the system he now inhabits. His destructive potential is, therefore, inhibited.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakach 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Chapter 70: From a Nightmare
Whether this was Tanavast's design or not, millennia have passed without Rayse taking the life of another of the sixteen. While I mourn for the great suffering Rayse has caused, I do not believe we could hope for a better outcome than this.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakach 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Chapter 71: Vigil
He bears the weight of God's own divine hatred, separated from the virtues that gave it context. He is what we have made him to be, old friend. And that is what he, unfortunately, wished to become.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakev 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 72: Selfish Reasons
I suspect that he is more a force than an individual now, despite your insistence to the contrary. That force is contained, and an equilibrium reached.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakev 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Chapter 73: A Thousand Scurrying Creatures
- Plot Summary
- One year ago
Shallan
Chapter 74: Striding the Storm
You, however, have never been a force of equilibrium. You tow chaos behind you like a corpse dragged by on leg through the snow. Please, hearken to my plea. Leave that place and join me in my oath of nonintervention.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakev 1173
Kaladin
Chapter 75: True Glory
The cosmere itself may depend upon our restraint.
- Plot Summary
- Ishakev 1173
Dalinar
Shallan
Interludes
Interlude I-12: Lhan
Interlude I-13: A Part to Play
Eshonai
Interlude I-14: Taravangian
Taravangian awakes on a ship with stiff muscles, but noting that he doesn't feel stupid, which he considers a good sign. He notes that his ship has moored on time, when his servants arrive. Maben brings him his morning meal, but is stopped by Mrall, one of the Kings testers. He wants Taravangian to take the test first since it is an important day and he want to know what to expect. Taravangian agrees with him and Mrall lets the testers approach. The three stormwardens give the King some paper on which some math-problems are put down with in figures and glyphs. Taravangian made these him self on one of his better day's and even though he knows he is not a complete idiot, he finds that he is only average on this day. After checking the papers the stomwardens judge: “He is fit to serve,” one proclaimed. “He may not change the Diagram, but he may interact outside of supervision, may change policy, and pass judgment.” Mrall after getting Taravangian's acceptance lets Maban bring him his breakfast. Taravangian considers that even though it always takes up one hour of every day the test is the best way for a man who wakes up every morning with a different level of intelligence. He contemplate that life can be tricky especially when the world might depend of him.
Part Five: Winds Alight
Chapter 76: The Hidden Blade
They will come you cannot stop their oaths look for those who survive when they should not that pattern will be your clue.
—From the Diagram, Coda of the Northwest Bottom Corner: paragraph 3
- Plot Summary
- Ishakah 1173
Kaladin
Dalinar
Sadeas
Dalinar
Kaladin
Sadeas
Chapter 77: Trust
One danger in deploying such a potent weapon will be the potential encouragement of those exploring the Nahel bond. Care must be taken to avoid placing these subjects in situations of powerful stress unless you accept the consequences of their potential Investiture.
—From the Diagram, Floorboard 27: paragraph 6
- Plot Summary
- Ishakah 1173
Shallan
Kaladin
Chapter 78: Contradictions
AhbuttheywereleftbehindItisobviousfromthenatureofthebond ButwherewherewhereSetoffObviousRealizationlikeapricity TheyarewiththeShinWemustfindoneCanwemakeaTruthless
Canwecraftaweapon
—From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the first
- Plot Summary
- Ishatev 1173
Shallan
Chapter 79: Toward the Center
Q: For what essential must we strive? A: The essential of preservation, to shelter a seed of humanity through coming storm. Q: What cost must we bear? A: The cost is irrelevant. Mankind must survive. Our burden is that of the species, and all other considerations are but dust by comparison.
—From the Diagram, Catechism of the Back of the Flowered Painting: paragraph 3
- Plot Summary
- Ishatah 1173
Dalinar
Chapter 80: To Fight the Rain
You must become king. Of Everything.
—From the Diagram, Tenets of Instruction, Back of the Footboard: paragraph 1
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Shallan
Kaladin
Chapter 81: The Last Day
The Unmade are a deviation, a flair, a conundrum that may not be worth your time. You cannot help but think of them. They are fascinating. Many are mindless. Like the spren of human emotions, only much more nasty. I do believe a few can think however.
—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: paragraph 14
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Dalinar
Kaladin
Adolin
Shallan
Dalinar
Chapter 82: For Glory Lit
There is one you will watch. though all of them have some relevance to precognition, Moelach is one of the most powerful in this regard. His touch seeps into a soul as it breaks apart form the body, creating manifestations powered by the spark of death itself. But no, this is a distraction. Deviation. Kingship. We must discuss the nature of Kingship.—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Desk Drawer: paragraph 15
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Kaladin
Adolin
Dalinar
Kaladin
Chapter 83: Time's Illusion
Obviously they are fools The Desolation needs no usher It can and will sit where it wishes and the signs are obvious that the spren anticipate it doing so soon The Ancient of Stones must finally begin to crack It is a wonder that upon his will rested the prosperity and peace of a world for over four millennia.
—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: pattern 1
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Shallan
Adolin
Dalinar
Kaladin
Chapter 84: The One Who Saves
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21061534
—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: pattern 15
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Shallan
Adolin
Kaladin
Chapter 85: Swallowed by the Sky
But who is the wanderer, the wild piece, the one who makes no sense? I glimpse at his implications, and the world opens to me. I shy back. Impossible. Is it?.
—From the Diagram, West Wall Psalm of Wonders: paragraph 8 (Note by Adrotagia: Could this refer to Mraize?)
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Dalinar
Shallan
Dalinar
Adolin
Dalinar
Adolin
Chapter 86: Patterns of Light
One is almost certainly a traitor to the others.
—From the Diagram, Book of the 2nd Ceiling Rotation: paragraph 27
- Plot Summary
- Ishishach 1173
Kaladin
Shallan
Dalinar
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Shallan
Kaladin
Chapter 87: The Riddens
Chaos in Alethkar is, of course, inevitable. Watch carefully, and do not let power in the kingdom solidify. The Blackthorn could become an ally or our greatest foe, depending on whether he takes the path of the or not. If he seems likely to sue for peace, assassinate him expeditiously. The risk of competition is too great.
—From the Diagram, Writings upon the Bedstand Lamp: paragraph 4 (Adrotagia's 3rd translation from the original hieroglyphics)
Kaladin
Shallan
Chapter 88: The Man Who Owned the Winds
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1173100603 1173100804
—From the Diagram, North Wall Coda, Windowsill region: paragraph 2 (This appears to be a sequence of dates, but their relevance is as yet unknown)
Shallan
Szeth
Chapter 89: The Four
TherehastobeananswerWhatistheanswerStopTheParshendi OneofthemYestheyarethemissingpiecePushfortheAlethitodestroy
themountrightbeforethisoneobtaintheirpowerItweillformabridge
—From the Diagram, Floorboard 17: paragraph 2, every second letter starting with the second
- Plot Summary
- Jesesach 1174
Dalinar
Adolin
Dalinar
Epilogue: Art and Expectation
Endnote
Ars Arcanum
Notes