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[[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 hadhas 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. When they are finished, Kaladin's father tells him that he still has to work on his nerves, and that it was alright to care, as long as it didn't interfere with his ability to perform surgery. 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. The two argue over the relative value of soldiers and surgeons to society; eventually his father tells Kaladin there are two kinds of people in the world: those who saved lives and those who took lives. Lirin then proceeds to quiz Kaladin about his medical knowledge and praises Kaladin for his excellent responses; Lirin announces that he would like to send Kaladin to Kharbranth when he turns sixteen so that he can train with true surgeons.{{ref|b|sa1|c|10}}
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.{{ref|b|sa1|c|10}}
==== 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.
In mid-1166, Kaladin told Laral that Lirin wanted to send Kaladin to Kharbranth. At age twelve, he was becoming interested girls for the first time, and he was attracted to Laral. She was angry that he hadn't told her about his father's intentions for two years and made her think he would join the army to win a Shardblade and become lighteyes. She tried to convince him to join the army by saying the Alethi had a noble heritage of soldiery. Kaladin's answer wasn't very enthusiastic, which prompted Laral to say that she hated speaking with him when Kaladin was moping around. Tien joined the two and showed Kaladin a rock he had found, as was the younger brother's habit, to make Kaladin feel better and somehow succeeded in boosting Kaladin's morale. Once Tien left, Kaladin and Laral saw a group of older boys who usually worked at farms and, at Laral's prompting, went to meet them to see them. They found out the boys were talking about darkeyes becoming lighteyes by winning Shardblades. One of the boys, [[Jost]], claimed his father had won a Shardblade in the wastescum skirmishes in the north but it was stolen by someone else when his father was unconscious. Kaladin pointed out there weren't any Shardbearers in those battles. At Laral's provocations, Jost grew angrier and challenged Kaladin to a fight with quarterstaffs. At first, Jost easily overwhelmed Kaladin, but once he grew angry because he was in pain, Kaladin felt an [[Thrill|exhilaration]] and almost beat the older boy, but stopped at the last instant because he didn't want to hurt him. The other boy didn't have the same inclination, so he beat Kaladin to the ground. Laral left for her home without saying anything or helping Kaladin up. Kaladin asked Jost to teach him how to fight, but the older boy refused by saying that Kaladin should be what he is. Kaladin met with Tien, and he walked towards home thinking about what he wanted to be. When they got home, Lirin told Kaladin that Brightlord Wistiow was dead, and he had left them a goblet full of spheres so Kaladin would study to be a master surgeon in Kharbranth, then return home.{{ref|b|sa1|c|16}}
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 darkeyes become 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.{{ref|b|sa1|c|16}}
==== Roshone's Arrival ====
Two months, in which he had barely seen Larallater, aftera Wistiow's death,thirteen-year-old Kaladin attemptedattempts to healtreat a five -year -old girl named [[Miasal]] on his own. He was thirteen, but thought he was well trained. The girl had suffered a compound fracture in her leg after a fall, a bleeding head wound, and was bleeding due to a severed artery in her lower leg. Kaladin cauterizedcauterizes the wound and tiedties off the artery, but he wasis too late as the little girl dieddies due to blood loss. An hour later, his father foundfinds Kaladin in front of the surgery room crying to himself. Lirin toldtells him he wasis proud of Kaladin's work and there was nothing he could have done to stop the girl's death. Kaladin toldtells Lirin he didndoesn't want to be a surgeon, but Lirin answeredanswers he would have to learn when to care.{{ref|b|sa1|c|20}}
Towards the end of 1166, Kaladin overheardoverhears Nanha [[Terith]] and Nanha [[Relina]] talking about his family. Their superstitionThe abouttwo notdisparage seeingLirin's angered himprofession and claimsclaim that Lirin stole the spheres from Wistiow. angered himAngered, soKaladin hepassively made sure he was seen byconfronts the two womenas andhe gavemakes themsure ahe sharpis lookseen aswhen he passedpasses by them. HeWhen reachedhe returns home, tohe findconfronts his mother, Hesina, cleaningabout the [[crem]]things lefthe inhas their house's roof. He complained that everyone hated Lirinheard, but Hesinahis answeredmother they didn't hateconvinces him; heto justnot madehate themthe uncomfortableignorant townspeople because ofthey theirare ownafraid ignorance.of Aswhat Kaladinthey climbeddo upnot tounderstand. help his mother, theirTheir conversation ledturns to Kaladin's own future, and he realizedrealizes that the reason his parents had encouraged him to spend time with Laral was sobecause they hoped the two would marry. WhileAs Kaladin was deep in thought mullingmulls over histheir mother's wordsconversation, Lirin arrivedarrives towith saynews that the new citylord hadhas arrived. The triofamily mademake their way to the town square andin weretime joinedto bysee Tien.Citylord Roshone arrivedarrive, withhowever, ahe retinuedoes thatnot impressedgive theany youngspeeches Kaladin,or butintroductions to the Brightlordtownspeople himselfas saidthey nothinghad exceptexpected. forAt aLirin's fewoffer contemptuousto wordsshow him around the town, Roshone merely acknowledges him as the processionperson continuedthat allowed Wistiow to die and continues towards the citylord's mansion.{{ref|b|sa1|c|25}}
==== Conflict with Roshone ====
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