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is time.” ~ Lightsong waited beneath his canopy, a couple of serving men fanning him, a cup of chilled juice in his hand, lavish snacks spread out to his side. Blushweaver brought me into this, he thought. Because she was worried that Hallandren would be taken by surprise. The priests were consulting with their gods. H...
them have the same right.” “But you have the Lifeless.” “That doesn’t mean I have to do what I’m told.” There was a moment of silence before Blushweaver waved to her priestess. The woman stood, then raised a ﬂag of green and ran down to join the others. This brought forth a roar. The people must know that Blushweaver’s...
life. A thousand Breaths. That was what it took to Awaken an object of steel and give it sentience. Even Shashara hadn’t fully understood the process, though she had first devised it. It took a person who had reached the Ninth Heightening to Awaken stone or steel. Even then, this process shouldn’t have worked. It shoul...
Awakened objects didn’t change or grow, they simply were what they were. It was still a good idea. “Maybe later,” Vasher said, turning away from the building. You are afraid, Nightblood said. “You don’t know what fear is,” Vasher replied. I do. You don’t like killing Returned. You’re afraid of them. The sword was wrong...
is she? Is she here? She doesn’t like me, but I like her. Vasher hesitated in the dark hallway. You do? Yes. She’s nice. And she’s pretty. Nice and pretty—words that Nightblood didn’t really understand. He had simply learned when to use them. Still, the sword did have opinions, and it rarely lied. It must like Vivenna,...
reached for Nightblood and pulled the sword slightly out of its sheath. The girl immediately looked sick. A good sign. “I need to know where the queen is,” Vasher said, forcing Nightblood up so that his hilt touched her cheek. “You’re going to tell me.” He held her like that for a time, watching her squirm, feeling unh...
of one of the fallen men and Awakening it. That cloak whipped about, taking down another man, whom Vasher then killed with a swipe of his dagger. He kicked another man, throwing him backward, opening a pathway. Vasher lunged, making for Nightblood, but three more figures burst out the rooms around him, cutting him off....
Denth wrapped up Nightblood securely; Vasher watched, hoping to see the lust appear in Denth’s eyes. Unfortunately, Denth was far too strong-willed to be taken by the sword. He had nearly as much history with it as Vasher did. “Take away all his Awakened clothing,” Denth said to his men, walking away. “Then hang him up...
the point of all this, Your Grace?” “This is what I mean to them,” Lightsong said, gulping down some more wine. “The people. They’ll give up their riches for me. They sacrifice the Breath of their souls to keep me alive. I suspect that many would even die for me.” Llarimar nodded quietly. “And,” Lightsong said, “all I’...
should have unified us?” “I don’t know, Your Grace,” Llarimar said. Lightsong smiled, standing. “Well then,” he said, eyeing his high priest. “Let’s find out.” ~ Siri would have been annoyed if she hadn’t been so terrified. She sat alone in the black bedchamber. It felt wrong for Susebron to not be there with her. She’...
patrol was approaching. “Your Grace?” Llarimar asked, sounding more nervous. The portly high priest knelt on the grass beside Lightsong. “I should have brought a sword,” Lightsong said thoughtfully. “You don’t know how to use one, Your Grace.” “We don’t know that,” Lightsong said. “Your Grace, this is foolishness. Let’...
Grace,” Llarimar said. “We’ve found the secret hiding place of their ﬂour.” Lightsong snorted, moving through the chamber, poking at the walls. “Something living,” he said, pointing at one wall. “That direction. I can feel it with my life sense.” Llarimar raised an eyebrow, standing. They pulled back a few boxes, and b...
walked back up the steep tunnel to the main one just below the palace. Lightsong still felt life down a side tunnel, but he chose the other branch to explore. It soon became apparent that this one split and turned numerous times. “Tunnels to some of the other palaces,” he guessed, poking at a wooden beam used to suppor...
need you to interrogate.” “Too bad,” the first voice said, growing distant. “I’ve got an old friend to torture. I just had to pause to dispose of his monstrosity of a sword.” “Denth! Come back here!” “You didn’t hire me, little man,” the first voice said, growing fainter. “If you want to make me do something, go get yo...
Then one of the standing guards thrust his sword into Lightsong’s thigh. The leg bled blood as red as that of any mortal. Suddenly, Lightsong knew pain. Pain literally greater than any he’d known in his short life. He screamed. He saw, through tears, Llarimar heroically trying to tackle a guard from behind, but the att...
in and grab her. She screamed for help. “Quiet, you fool!” Treledees said. “We’re trying to help you.” His lies rang hollow in her ears, and she struggled as the soldiers pulled her from the room. Outside, bodies were lying on the ground, some in guard uniforms, others in nondescript armor, still others with grey skin....
You can admire me a little bit longer, if you must. After that, though, we really need to get back to shore. ~ Vasher awoke groggily. He was tied by his wrists to a hook in the ceiling of a stone room. The rope that had been used to tie him, he noticed, was the same one he’d used to tie up the maid. It had been complet...
him, holding up a knife. “I’ve always wondered what he finds so enjoyable about causing pain.” ~ Dawn was approaching. Vivenna threw off her blanket, unable to sleep. She dressed, frustrated, but not sure why. Vasher was probably just fine. He was likely out carousing somewhere. Of course, she thought wryly, carousing....
began to twist, and she raised each foot in turn, letting the tassels wrap around the bottoms. Her stance felt firmer, the leggings pulled tight against her skin. Finally, she tied on the sword Vasher had given her. She still didn’t know how to use it, though she could hold it properly. It felt right to bring it. Then ...
changed. You become a god, and I still end up in prison!” The heavy priest slumped down, breathing in deep gasps, shaking his head in obvious frustration. Blushweaver was staring at them. And so were the priests. What is it I find odd about them? Lightsong thought, trying to sort out his thoughts and emotions as the gr...
cage. “No!” Lightsong screamed. “We are serious, Lightsong,” the man said. “Very, very, serious. We know how much you care for your high priest. You now know that we will kill him if you don’t do as we say.” “Why?” Lightsong said. “What is this even about? The God King you serve could order us to move the armies if he ...
buildings near the wharf. Maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for there.” ~ Light peeked through the window. Morning already? Vasher thought, head down, still hanging by his wrists. He knew what to expect from torture. He was not new to it. He knew how to scream, how to give the torturer what he wanted. He knew how t...
figured out that much, priest,” Siri snapped. “Who are they?” “We don’t know,” Treledees said, turning from her. As he did, a distant scream came from outside the room. It was followed by the sound of fighting. Treledees glanced toward the sounds. “We have to move,” he said to one of the other priests. There were, perh...
be slaughtered. “Come on!” Bluefingers hissed. Susebron looked at her, frightened. She slowly let Bluefingers tug her and the God King to the side, to where the solitary priest and three soldiers had been joined by a group of servants in brown. Something whispered in her mind. Something...Lightsong had told her. Don’t ...
to fight our way out.” ~ It was easy for Vivenna to find the location the beggar had mentioned. The building—a slum tenement—was surrounded by gawkers, despite the morning hour. People whispered, talking about spirits and death and ghosts from the sea. Vivenna stopped at the perimeter, trying to see what had drawn thei...
taken by Denth. She shivered, remembering the anger in Denth’s voice when he’d spoken of Vasher. She gritted her teeth and grabbed a dirty blanket off the crude bed and wrapped it around Nightblood so that she wouldn’t have to touch him. Ah, Nightblood said. You don’t really need to do that. I had the old man clean me ...
found you dead, I lost hope. I was going to resign my position. I knelt above your body, weeping. And then, the Colors started to glow. You lifted your head, body changing, getting larger, muscles growing stronger. “I knew it at that moment. I knew that if a man like you were chosen to Return—a man who had died to save...
the rest of his life—so long as he should desire—in peace. We change God Kings whenever an infant Returns. It is our sign that the previous God King has done his duty, and should be allowed to live the rest of his life without bearing his terrible burdens.” Siri looked at him skeptically. “That’s foolish, Treledees. If...
warriors with grey faces. Priest after priest jumped in the way, some with weapons, others simply waving their arms in a hopeless attack. She saw Treledees grit his teeth, terror showing in his eyes as he ran forward, trying to attack a Lifeless. He died like the others. His secrets died with him. The Lifeless stepped ...
palace was very well guarded by a group of men who weren’t wearing uniforms. He’s in there, Nightblood said. I can feel him. Third ﬂoor. Where he and I were before. Vivenna got an image of the room shoved into her head. She frowned. Remarkably useful, she thought, for an evil weapon of destruction. I’m not evil, Nightb...
some decorative stonework that could serve as handholds, but she grew dizzy even thinking about climbing them. An arrow snapped against the stone beside her, making her jump. Several guards below had bows. Colors! she thought, pulling herself up to the next block. She heard a whoosh behind her, and cringed, feeling as ...
didn’t know what he was thinking—they hadn’t been able to pause long enough for him to write anything. He gave her a comforting smile, but she knew that this all must be just as terrifying for him as it was for her. Probably more so. “You can’t do this, Bluefingers,” Siri said, snapping at the little balding man. “It i...
Austre...Siri thought, feeling numb. Lord of Colors... “Take the God King below,” Bluefingers said, waving to several Lifeless. “Hold him until it is time.” They were joined by a Pahn Kahl scribe wearing fake priest’s robes as they towed Susebron toward the stairwell. Siri reached for him. He continued to struggle, rea...
window, breathing deeply, sweating heavily. She’d peeked inside. Denth was in there, as was Tonk Fah. Vasher was hanging from a hook on the ceiling. He was bloodied, and he held no Breath, but he seemed to be alive. Can I stop both Denth and Tonk Fah? she thought. Her arms were tired. She had a couple of lengths of rop...
I’m not very impressed.” Tonk Fah knocked over his stool in his thrashing. Denth glanced at him, then back at Vivenna. There was a moment of silence, save for Tonk Fah’s weakening struggles. finally, Denth cursed and jumped over to cut at the rope on his friend’s neck. “You all right?” Vasher asked from beside her. She...
was no contest. Denth was clearly the better. Perhaps it was Vasher’s wounds. Perhaps it was the growing anger she saw in Vasher’s eyes as he fought, marring his ability to be calm and collected during the fight. Maybe he just really wasn’t as good as Denth. However, as Vivenna watched, she realized that Vasher was goi...
whistled. He screamed in frustration, pulling free the rope at his waist, Vivenna’s Breath a lively strength within him. “Grab things,” he Commanded, whipping the rope out, drawing color from his bloodstained shorts. They bled to grey, and the rope wrapped around an outcropping of stone on the palace wall. It pulled ta...
of clothing, then stepped with an unclothed toe on the fallen set, recovering the Breath from it as well. The soldiers backed away, wary, more than happy to let the Lifeless take him. And in that moment of peace, Vasher charged for the gates to the palace. He threw his shoulder against them, slamming them open, skiddin...
wall, finding the room where he had been tortured. It was empty. He cried out, arm shaking. Destroy...evil...Nightblood said in his mind, all lightness gone from the tone, all familiarity. It boomed like a command. An awful, inhuman thing. The longer Vasher held the sword, the faster it drained his Breath. Gasping, he ...
Denth’s men had taken over the palace. “I’ll let you die easily,” Denth said, raising his blade. “Just tell me the truth. You never beat Arsteel in a duel, did you?” Vasher raised his own blade. The cuts, the pain in his arm, the exhaustion of being awake so long...it was all wearing on him. Adrenaline could only get h...
this one. You know they will.” And she did. She’d heard similar stories since her childhood. Hallandren was remote to her people: frightening, bizarre. Siri struggled, feeling even more worried. Bluefingers glanced back at her. “I truly am sorry.” ~ I am nothing, Lightsong thought. Why couldn’t I save her? Why couldn’t...
right. Llarimar yelled to Lightsong, asking him to lash down the barrels. Lightsong nodded, grabbing a rope and tying one end to a davit. A wave hit, and he skidded, almost falling over the rail into the water. He froze, gripping the rope, looking into the sea’s mad, terrifying depths. He shook himself free, then tied ...
he wept. The God King in prison. Lightsong had seen that too. But above it all, he remembered standing on the other side of a brilliant, colorful wave of light, looking down at the world from the other side. And seeing everything he loved dissolve into the destruction of war. A war greater than any the world had known,...
that. Neither of us do. Goodbye, Vasher.” He raised his blade to strike. And Vasher moved his arm up, touching Denth’s leg. “My life to yours, my Breath become yours.” Denth froze, then stumbled. fifty Breaths ﬂed from Vasher’s chest and surged into Denth’s body. They would be unwelcome, but he couldn’t turn them away....
sun rose above the mountains. The walls, the ceiling, the ﬂoor—all of the black stone faded. The priests stepped away from it, looking frightened, one hopping onto a rug to keep from touching the strange white stones. Bluefingers looked at her, confused. The ground continued to tremble, but he raised his blade anyway, ...
the hope that it would weaken both kingdoms and let Pahn Kahl gain independence.” “So? Denth is dead now.” “So are the scribes who had the Command phrases for the Lifeless armies,” Vasher said. “And they already dispatched the troops. The Lifeless left the city over an hour ago, charging for Idris.” Vivenna fell silent...
stop our armies from destroying your people.” ~ “There has to be a way, Vasher,” Vivenna said. She knelt next to him. He tried to push down his rage, his anger at himself. He’d come to the city to stop a war. Once again, he’d been too late. “Forty thousand Lifeless,” he said, pounding his fist against the ﬂoor. “I can’...
tongue was removed when he was a child.” “And you can’t get it out of him somehow?” Vasher shrugged. “The Tenth Heightening allows a man to Command mentally, without speaking, but it can take months of training to learn how to do that—even if you have someone to teach you. I think his priests must know how, so they can...
start cleaning up the wreckage of the palace. The breeze blew Siri’s hair—red, to show her displeasure—as they stood atop the palace. “There, my lord!” a guard said, pointing. Susebron turned, walking over to the edge of the palace. Most of his entourage of twisting cloths were no longer streaming about him, but they w...
Siri thought it was Vivenna. She wore trousers and a tunic, with a sword tied at her waist, and she appeared to have a bloody wound on one shoulder. She saw Siri, and smiled, her hair turning yellow with joy. Vivenna’s hair changing? Siri thought. It can’t be her. But it was. The woman laughed, dashing across the top o...
so regal, with that commanding bearing and ability to keep her hair black? Her little sister, no longer quite as little, seemed to wear the expensive dress well. It fit her. Odd. On the other end of the rooftop, the guards took Vasher behind a screen to change. They obviously wanted to be certain none of his clothing w...
to give you the one I left behind three hundred years ago. The people call them Kalad’s Phantoms. They are the force by which I made Hallandren stop its war.” “Stop the Manywar, my lord?” Susebron said. “You did that by negotiation.” Vasher snorted. “You don’t know much about war, do you?” The God King paused, then sho...
Chapter Eleven Annotations for Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Annotations for Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Annotations for Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Annotations for Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Annotations for Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Annotations for Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Annotations fo...
Awakened statues charge into the distance. “I think you were right.” “You think?” She smiled. “Will they really be able to stop the other army?” “Probably,” Vasher said, shrugging. “They’ll be fast enough to catch up—the ﬂesh Lifeless won’t be able to march as quickly as ones with stone feet. I’ve seen those things fig...
think they are. They don’t automatically have hundreds or thousands of Breath.” “But—” “They’re of the fifth Heightening,” Vasher said, interrupting her. “But they don’t get there by the number of Breaths, but by the quality. Returned have a single, powerful Breath. One that takes them all the way to the fifth Heighten...
them,” he said. “A tyrant of some kind. He’s apparently recruited an old friend of mine.” “Another one?” she asked. He shrugged. “There were five of us. Me, Denth, Shashara, Arsteel, and Yesteel. It looks like Yesteel has resurfaced, finally.” “He’s related to Arsteel?” Vivenna guessed. “Brothers.” “Great.” “I know. He...
This e-book is for your personal use only. You may not print or post this e-book, or make this e-book publicly available in any way. You may not copy, reproduce or upload this e-book, other than to read it on one of your personal devices. Prologue Annotations to the Prologue It’s funny, Vasher thought, how many things ...
whistled as he unwrapped the cloth, revealing a long, thin-bladed sword in a silver sheath. The hilt was pure black. “Who do you suppose he stole this from?” The lead guard eyed Vasher, likely wondering if Vasher was some kind of nobleman. Though Hallandren had no aristocracy, many neighboring kingdoms had their lords ...
vaulting between the bars. Vasher pulled off his cloak and set it on the ﬂoor. It was the perfect shape of a person—marked with rips that matched the scars on Vasher’s body, its hood cut with holes to match Vasher’s eyes. The closer an object was to human shape and form, the fewer Breaths it took to Awaken. Vasher lean...
his plan. finding a tavern that was frequented by priests of the Iridescent Tones had been easy enough. Getting into a bar fight—then striking one of those same priests—had been equally simple. Hallandren took their religious figures very seriously, and Vasher had earned himself not the usual imprisonment in a local ja...
“Yes. But you’re not going to give it to one of the Returned. You’re going to give it to me. In exchange for killing you.” “Doesn’t seem like much of a trade.” There was a hardness—a void of emotion—in Vahr that Vasher had not seen the last time they had parted, years before. Odd, Vasher thought, that I should finally,...
year, perhaps.” “Will you use it against them?” “My goals are my own to know, Vahr. Will you take my deal or not? Quick death in exchange for those Breaths. I promise you this. Your enemies will not have them.” Vahr grew quiet. “It’s yours,” he finally whispered. Vasher reached over, resting his hand on Vahr’s forehead...
his time. He quietly reached up and recovered his Breath from the scarf, then left Vahr dangling in his cell. Vasher passed quietly through the prison, marveling at the color of the woods and the stones. After a few moments of walking, he noticed a new color in the hallway. Red. He stepped around the pool of blood—whic...
of Knights Radiant on this list, alongside the Heralds themselves, who each had a classical association with one of the numbers and Essences. I’m not certain yet how the ten levels of Voidbinding or its cousin the Old Magic fit into this paradigm, if indeed they can. My research suggests that, indeed, there should be a...
to a heavy stone, you will need the same strength to lift the conjoined fabrial that you would need to lift the stone itself. There appears to be some sort of process used during the creation of the fabrial that influences how far apart the two halves can go and still produce an effect. Reversers: Using an amethyst ins...
a Windrunner would infuse an object with Stormlight, then press another object to it. The two objects would become bound together with an extremely powerful bond, nearly impossible to break. In fact, most materials would themselves break before the bond holding them together would. I believe this may actually be a spec...
lacks some scientific merit, but is intrinsically tied to the folklore surrounding Soulcasting. An emerald can be used to create food—and thus is traditionally associated with a similar Essence. Indeed, on Roshar there are considered to be ten elements; not the traditional four or sixteen, depending upon local traditio...
than living beings, depending on those beings’ emotional, mental, and spiritual states. Why is stone so eager to change for a Stoneward or Willshaper? What about it makes it so likely to respond to their desires, to incorporate them, and to enjoy the result? Like a willing audience at a comedy, the stone lets the Surge...
morning fog obscured Hearthstone. It seemed to be a group of dark, shadowy lumps. Like tumors. Lirin could barely make out tarps stretched between buildings, offering meager shelter for the many refugees pouring out of Herdaz. Entire streets were closed off, and phantom sounds—plates clinking, people talking—rose throu...
a scalpel. “Once you enter the town,” he said, “look for tent fourteen. Tell the women there I sent you.” The man nodded dully, his stare hollow. Had he registered the words? Memorizing the man’s features—greying hair with a cowlick in the back, three large moles on the upper left cheek, and of course the missing arm—L...
manuscripts—translations of translations of translations—mentioned quick-spreading diseases that had killed tens of thousands. Such things hadn’t been recorded in any modern texts he’d been read, but he had heard rumors of something strange to the west—a new plague, they were calling it. Details were sparse. Abiajan mo...
finally collapsed, hopefully the refugee flood would slow. Laral watched him with pale green eyes. She was a keen one. How he wished life had gone in another direction, that old Wistiow had held on a few more years. Lirin might call this woman daughter, and might have both Tien and Kaladin beside him now, working as su...
resistance has failed, General,” Lirin said, pulling the bandage tight. “Your kingdom has fallen like my own. Further conflict will only leave more men dead.” “Surely you don’t intend to obey these monsters.” “I obey the person who holds the sword to my neck, General,” Lirin said. “Same as I always have.” He finished h...
refugees sit and wait for my return.” Of the three parshmen assigned as inspectors, only Dor bothered to check the “wounded” man’s face against the drawings. The Mink was top of the list of dangerous refugees, but Dor didn’t spare a glance for the litter bearers. Lirin had noticed the oddity a few days earlier: when he...
expecting Lirin to follow. He met the Mink’s eyes and nodded for him to wait, then hurried after the citylady. What could have put her so out of sorts? She’d been practicing a regal air, but had now abandoned it completely. Lirin crossed the field outside of town, walking alongside the line of refugees, and soon found ...
a young man, a spy of the most dangerous kind. He would be fit and strong compared to these refugees, though he might have feigned weakness.” “That … that could describe any number of people,” Lirin said. Could he be in luck? Could this be a coincidence? It might not be about the Mink at all. Lirin felt a moment of hop...
grieved, seemed to want another bond soon—as it helped them move past the pain of loss. Kaladin didn’t pretend to understand spren psychology, but Yunfah had seemed to deal with the death of his Radiant well. Treating it as a battlefield loss of an ally, rather than the destruction of part of his own soul. Indeed, Yunf...
cisterns rose around them now. With the wall going right up to the chasm, and with collapsible bridges outside, this isolated plateau was quickly becoming impregnable from ordinary ground assault. “Imagine if the Parshendi had known modern fortification techniques,” Kaladin said to Syl as she blew past in the shape of ...
of the base between two Soulcast grain shelters. The king didn’t speak at first, but Kaladin knew this trick. It was an old disciplinary tactic—you left silence hanging in the air. That made your man begin explaining himself first. Well, Kaladin didn’t bite. Dalinar studied him, taking note of his burned and bloodied u...
“Honorspren are more … rigid,” she said. “Most of them at least.” She shrugged and looked to the side, as if ashamed. Human gestures from her were so common these days that Kaladin barely paused to notice them. “We need to do something,” Dalinar said. “It’s been eight months without a new honorspren coming to us.” He e...
down again. He would not let some lighteyed blowhard take everything from him again. “I can’t believe this!” Kaladin said, angerspren pooling underneath him. “You were supposed to be different. You—” “Why?” Dalinar asked, standing calmly. “Why what?” Kaladin snapped. “Why am I different?” “Because you don’t throw us aw...
went into battle in the old days. I myself have found many ways to serve this war without swinging a Blade on the front lines.” Kaladin looked to Syl, who nodded. Yes, he could keep his oaths this way. “You won’t be the first celebrated soldier who has moved to a support position after seeing one too many friends die,”...
course. Take from me the one thing that matters, then tell me I’m valuable. We both know I’m nothing. Kaladin fought against those thoughts, and forced out another smile. “I’ll think about it, sir. I might need time to decide what I want, though.” “Very well,” Dalinar said. “You have ten days. Before then, I want you t...
“I know. I’m sorry.” Adolin grimaced. “I’m not explaining it well. I just … I don’t think Shallan is as weak as you say. Weakness doesn’t make someone weak, you see. It’s the opposite.” “That is foolishness,” she said. “Return to sleep. Your trial is in a couple hours, and you shouldn’t be fatigued for it.” Formless st...
Veil thought. Storms. I should have seen this. I should have known.… She glanced at herself in the mirror, and found the Lightweaving to be perfect. She looked exactly like Lusintia, the honorspren woman. She even gave off the same faint glow. This was going to be so easy. Formless packed her drawing tools in case she ...
at the top of the plane, near the battlements. It was difficult to ignore the strange geometry up here, past the parks and the trees, because the sky was so close. She wanted to spend time drawing it, but of course she wasn’t like that anymore. She needed to find all this disorienting and strange. Like Veil. It helped ...
“That’s why you kept spending time with the Ghostbloods. That’s why you’re here. You see this as an out from your life. You figure if you become the despicable person the darkness whispers that you have been, then it will all be decided. No going back. Decision’s made.” Formless … Formless … Was just Shallan. And Shall...
hand. “Take them back, Shallan.” Shallan wavered. Formless had vanished like a puff of smoke, revealing all her lies. And there was Veil’s hand. Inviting. Offering to prove that Shallan was strong. Shallan took her hand. Memories flooded her. Playing in the gardens as a child, meeting a Cryptic. A beautiful, spiraling ...
spren. My wonderful, beautiful, kindly spren. I broke my oaths, and I killed her.” Veil stood with her hands clasped before her. “It’s going to hurt,” Veil warned. “I’m sorry for the pain, Shallan. I did what I could—but I did it for too long.” “I know,” Shallan said. “But I have no strength that you do not, Shallan,” ...
I’d like you to reconsider.” Kelek wiped his brow with a handkerchief from his pocket. “So many questions,” he said, as if he hadn’t heard her request. “Who else knows I’m here? I feel like I’m close to finding a way offworld. Maybe … Maybe I should wait.…” “I have information that could help you,” Shallan said. “But I...
like this, Adolin thought. He hadn’t slept well—and he worried about the way Shallan had been acting lately. She wasn’t sitting in her spot, and neither was Pattern. Was she going to skip this most important day of the trial? He was about halfway down the steps when he noticed another oddity: Kelek wasn’t there. Sekeir...
was Maya. Amuna led her by the hand, forcing back the watching honorspren. Though Adolin had gone to see Maya each morning—and they’d let him do his exercises with her—bars had separated them. They hadn’t otherwise allowed him to interact with her, claiming deadeyes did best when it was quiet. If so, why were they drag...
that we do … we use them. We need to.” “Because you need to kill,” Sekeir said, walking up to Adolin. “Humans are monsters, with a lust for death that can never be sated. You thrive upon the terrible emotions of the Unmade. You don’t fight Odium. You are Odium.” “Your point is made,” Adolin said more softly. “Let Maya ...
as a Blade while in Shadesmar. “She’s in pain!” Adolin shouted, lunging forward. The spren watching him, however, had been waiting for this. They grabbed him and held him tight. “Let her go, you bastard! Your point is made!” “My point cannot be made strongly enough,” Sekeir shouted. “It must be repeated over and over. ...
it should. Sekeir put his hand to his chest, eyes wide as her screech transformed into words. “You. Cannot. Have. My. SACRIFICE!” she shouted. “Mine. My sacrifice. Not yours.” She pointed at the crowd. “Not theirs.” She pointed at Adolin. “Not his. Mine. MY SACRIFICE.” “You knew what was going to happen when the Radian...
you. That friendship exists between you. I sought proof, and found that her name—recorded in old documents of spren treaties—is as you said. A curious fact to find. Indeed.” Blended strolled around Adolin and studied Maya’s face. “Still scratched out…” she said. “Though a bond between you is.” “I’m … no Radiant,” Adoli...
more dangerous, than we ever knew.” With that, Blended left. Adolin let Maya rest for a few minutes. When he finally stood up, she joined him. She followed him as she normally did, expressionless and mild, but he could feel that she was not as insensate as she’d been. She was conserving energy. She wasn’t healed, but s...
arrived? Surely the other battlefronts are doing better, she thought, squeezing her eyes closed and listening to the Rhythm of Panic. Surely the listeners are winning. What of Ulim’s promises? What of Venli’s throne? She breathed in cold air, water streaming along the sides of her face, leaving her skin numb and her ca...
needed to feel. This was her battlefield. She’d crafted this, she’d brought it all together. There was nothing to fear here. This was her victory celebration. She passed one of the humans’ dead horses, a Ryshadium by the size. It had been killed by lightning, so at least some of her people were capable of controlling t...
of her true emotions—the wild, frenetic beat of the Rhythm of Panic. A more virulent version of the Rhythm of the Terrors. Everything went black, the last few hints of sunlight consumed by the weight of this new storm. Then, red lightning. It electrified the sky, and Venli crouched. No. She was still too exposed. She k...

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