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=== Early Life (1153–1168) ===
==== Childhood ====
Kaladin was born in late 1153 to hisLirin fatherand [[LirinHesina]], a surgeon,family andof mothersecond [[Hesinanahn]], in the town of [[Hearthstone]] in the[[Torol Sadeas]]' [[Sadeas princedom|princedom]]. Twoin yearsnorthwestern later,Alethkar. hisHis younger brother [[Tien]] iswas born. Histwo entireyears familylater. isDue ofto the secondclass [[nahn]],disparity whichbetween outranksKaladin's family and the other inhabitants of the town, who are mostlywere of fourth andor fifth nahn.{{book, ref|sa1|16}}as Duewell to this rank disparity andas the superstitions surrounding his father's work as a surgeon, Kaladin growsgrew up mostlyisolated infrom isolation.{{bookthe ref|sa1|16}}majority of the townsfolk. As a result, he iswas very close with his brother, and, after beinghis encouragedparents byencouragement, his family,and becomesbecame friends with [[Laral Wistiow]], the daughter of the citylord. As a youth, he dislikes his name "Kaladin" because he thinks that it is a lighteyes name; instead he goes by "Kal." When he reaches eight, his father starts training Kaladin in surgery. Kaladin is talented and learns quickly.{{book ref|twoksa1|10}}
At age eight, he started training with his father in surgery, though he had dreams of becoming a soldier. In 1164, he assisted his father in amputating one of the fingers of a fifteen-year-old girl named [[Sani]]. When they were finished, Lirin quizzed Kaladin on medicine and praised him when he answered correctly. Lirin announced that he planned to send Kaladin to train in the Great Concourse of [[Kharbranth]] when he turned sixteen.{{book ref|sa1|10}}
[[File:Kaladin_young.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Kaladin as a child by [[User: Botanicaxu]]]]
==== Surgery on Sani ==== ▼In 1164, at the age of ten, Kaladin helps his father perform a surgery on a fifteen-year-old girl named [[Sani]], who has badly injured her [[safehand]]. Late to the surgery, Kaladin inspects the patient and is told to wash his hands. The two then remove the makeshift bandages on Sani's hand, and Kaladin sees they would have to amputate the girl's third finger. Lirin does the actual amputating while Kaladin helps him as a nurse. They finish the surgery, able to save Sani's other four fingers, and apply antiseptic and bandages.
He waited two years before telling Laral about his father's intentions of sending him to Kharbranth, to her annoyance. Laral encouraged him into becoming a soldier instead, saying if he went to war, he could win a [[Shardblade]] and become a lighteyes, thus worthy of marrying into a lighteyed family. Kaladin missed Laral's implication of marriage between them, even though he was attracted to her. When they saw a group of older boys, the duo went to see one of the boys, [[Jost]], claim his father had won a Shardblade in the [[wastescum skirmishes]]. At Laral's prompting, Kaladin pointed out that there were no Shardbearers in that conflict. Embarrassed, Jost challenged Kaladin to a quarterstaff fight, and Kaladin accepted it, neither willing to back down in front of Laral. Although initially overwhelmed, Kaladin gained the upper hand when his natural talent for combat manifested itself for the first time, but stopped himself because he did not want to hurt the other boy. Jost, having no similar inhibition, beat Kaladin to the ground. Kaladin asked Jost to teach him, but the older boy declined, telling Kaladin to "be what he is." Joined by Tien, Kaladin made his way home while contemplating what he wanted to be. At home, Lirin told Kaladin that Citylord [[Wistiow]] had died and unveiled a goblet full of [[spheres]]; a bequest from Wistiow on his deathbed to Kaladin so that he could study in Kharbranth.{{book ref|sa1|16}}
When they are finished, Lirin addresses Kaladin's performance of the surgery. Lirin tells Kaladin that he needs to address his nerves and to not let caring for his patients interfere with his work. Upon being questioned about his tardiness, Kaladin tells Lirin that he and Tien were watching [[Jam]], an older boy, demonstrate the quarterstaff fighting that his father taught him. This leads into an argument over the relative value of soldiers and surgeons to society; these two conflicts—caring too much and Kaladin's role in society—continue to plague Kaladin throughout his life. Eventually his father tells Kaladin there are two kinds of people in the world: those who save lives and those who take lives. Lirin eventually ends the conversation by praising Kaladin's medical talent and tells Kaladin that he would like to send him to [[Kharbranth]] when he turns sixteen so that he can train with true surgeons.{{book ref|sa1|10}}
Two months later, a thirteen-year-old Kaladin attemptsattempted to treat a five-year-old girl named [[Miasal]] on his own. The girl had suffered a compound fracture in her leg, a bleeding head wound, and bleeding due to a severed artery in her lower leg. Kaladin cauterizescauterized the wound and tiestied off the artery, but he iswas too late as the little girl dies due to blood loss. An hour later, his father findsfound Kaladin in front of the surgery room crying to himself. Lirin tellstold him he iswas proud of Kaladin's work and there was nothing he could have done to stop the girl's death. Kaladin tellstold Lirin he doesn'tdid not want to be a surgeon, but Lirin answersanswered he would have to learn when to care.{{book ref|sa1|20}} ▼==== Wistiow's Death ====
[[File:Kaladin_and_Tien.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Kaladin and Tien by [[User: Botanicaxu]]]]
In mid-1166, Kaladin starts a sober conversation with Laral when he tells her that Lirin wants to send him to Kharbranth to train as a surgeon. Laral, angry at Kaladin for not telling her of his father's intentions, chastises him. She tries to convince him to join the army by recounting Alethkar's military heritage and repeating the legend that a darkeyes who wins a [[Shardblade]] on the battlefield will become a lighteyes, thus worthy of marrying into a lighteyed family. Though the two are mutually attracted to each other, Kaladin misses Laral's implication that the two could then marry if Kaladin raises his rank.
Throughout their conversation, they are joined by Tien. Tien, in an attempt to cheer up Kaladin, shows Kaladin a rock he finds that has a distinctive pattern on it, visible only when wet. This, surprisingly, has an uplifting effect on Kaladin. Kaladin suggests to Tien that he goes to play with some lurgs, a type of insect, which he does.
As Tien leaves, Kaladin and Laral resume their conversation and see a group of older boys, sons of farmers, walking past. Led by Laral, the two go to investigate. In the ensuring conversation, the boys ask Kaladin whether he knows anything about a [[darkeyes]] becoming a [[lighteyes]]. One of the boys, [[Jost]], claims his father had won a Shardblade in the wastescum skirmishes in the north but that it was stolen by another soldier while his father was unconscious on the battlefield. At Laral's prompting, Kaladin points out that there weren't any Shardbearers in those battles. Jost grows angry at Kaladin and challenges Kaladin to a fight with quarterstaffs. Not wanting to back down in front of Laral, Kaladin accepts. Initially overwhelmed by Jost, Kaladin beats the older boy down while marveling at the feeling of the staff in his hands. His natural talent for wielding spears unleashed for the first time, Kaladin restrains himself from attacking further due to the fact that it was the first time he had ever hurt someone. Jost, not having the same inhibition, beats Kaladin to the ground. Kaladin, who is enthralled with the feeling of the staff in his hands, begs Jost to teach him how to fight. Jost declines, accepting his position in life, saying "You go be what you are, Kal. I'll be what I am." Meanwhile, Laral leaves for her home without saying anything or helping Kaladin.
Eventually, Kaladin returns home with Tien while contemplating what he wants to be. When they get home, Lirin tells Kaladin that Citylord Wistiow has died, and unveils a goblet full of [[spheres]]: a bequest from Wistiow on his deathbed to Kaladin so that he can study in Kharbranth when he is sixteen.{{book ref|sa1|16}}
==== Roshone's Arrival ====
▲Two months later, a thirteen-year-old Kaladin attempts to treat a five-year-old girl named [[Miasal]] on his own. The girl had suffered a compound fracture in her leg, a bleeding head wound, and bleeding due to a severed artery in her lower leg. Kaladin cauterizes the wound and ties off the artery, but he is too late as the little girl dies due to blood loss. An hour later, his father finds Kaladin in front of the surgery room crying to himself. Lirin tells him he is proud of Kaladin's work and there was nothing he could have done to stop the girl's death. Kaladin tells Lirin he doesn't want to be a surgeon, but Lirin answers he would have to learn when to care.{{book ref|sa1|20}}
▲==== SurgeryNew on SaniCitylord ====
Towards the end of 1166, Kaladin overhears Nanha [[Terith]] and Nanha [[Relina]] talking about his family. The two disparage Lirin's profession and claim that Lirin stole the spheres from Wistiow. Angered, Kaladin passively confronts the two as he makes sure he is seen when he passes by. When he returns home, he confronts his mother about the things he has heard, but his mother convinces him to not hate the ignorant townspeople because they are afraid of what they do not understand. Their conversation turns to Kaladin's own future and he realizes that the reason his parents had encouraged him to spend time with Laral was because they hoped the two would marry. As Kaladin mulls over their conversation, Lirin arrives with news that the new citylord has arrived. The family make their way to the town square in time to see Citylord Roshone arrive, however, he does not give any speeches or introductions to the townspeople as they had expected. At Lirin's offer to show him around the town, Roshone merely acknowledges him as the person that allowed Wistiow to die and continues towards the citylord's mansion.{{book ref|sa1|25}}
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