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exposed. This was a low-end tavern, and likely wouldn’t work for her needs. She’d need a place that was lower, yet somehow richer. More disreputable, but with access to the powerful members of the warcamp undergrounds. Still, this seemed a good place to practice. The bar was made of stacked boxes and had some actual ch... |
no sweetness to it at all, not even a hint of flavor. Just that burning sensation, like someone was scraping her throat with a scouring brush! Her face immediately grew warm. It hit her so fast! The bouncer was holding his face, trying—and failing—not to laugh out loud. The barkeep patted Shallan on the back as she kep... |
‘escort’ someone out of the feast hall, instead of throwing them out. It’s actually easier.” He cocked his head. “But strangely, more dangerous at the same time.” He laughed. Kelek, Veil realized as he scooted closer. He’s flirting with me. She probably shouldn’t have found it so surprising. She’d come in alone, and wh... |
trying to forget…” “She’s just enjoying a little free time,” Jor said. “Sure, sure. With eyes like those? I’m sure that’s it.” The barkeep moved away. “Hey,” Jor said, nudging Shallan. “Where are you staying? I’ll call you a palanquin to cart you home. You awake? You should get going before things go too late. I know s... |
soon as I lost control, Veil slipped away from me.” “Veil is just a face.” No. Veil was a woman who didn’t giggle when she got drunk, or whine, fanning her mouth when the drink was too hard for her. She never acted like a silly teenager. Veil hadn’t been sheltered, practically locked away, until she went crazy and murd... |
clacking a few spheres onto the improvised counter. The others in line had been shooting her glares for ignoring the line, but at this their expressions turned to amusement. The barkeep poured Veil a very small cup of the stuff and set it before her. She downed it in one gulp. Shallan trembled inside at the burning tha... |
just hunting the one who did it.” She hung on as the barkeep tried to pull away again. “Listen. I’m not going to make trouble. I just need information. I hear there were … unusual circumstances about this death. This rumored death. The man who killed my sister, he has something strange about him. He kills in the same w... |
jug as a joke.” The woman in the havah laced her fingers before herself, inspecting Veil. “Look,” Veil said, “just tell me what the information will cost me.” “One can’t buy,” the woman said, “what isn’t for sale.” “Everything is for sale,” Veil said, “if you ask the right way.” “Which you’re not doing.” “Look,” Veil s... |
this smaller room, whispering. “I’ll—” “Quiet, Ur,” the woman in the havah said. He sputtered. “But Betha!” “You think,” the woman said to Veil, “assaulting my friends is going to make me more likely to talk?” “Honestly, I just wanted the seat back.” Veil shrugged, scratching at the tabletop with her knife. “But if you... |
the barkeep; your tab is my debt, tonight.” She spared a glance for Ur, who hunched nearby and regarded her with a sullen expression. She waved her bloodied fingers at him, then made her way back toward the main tent room of the tavern. She hovered just inside it, contemplating her next move. Her hand throbbed, but she... |
violet wine. The kind you could smell from across the room, potent and flavorful. A feast hall spread before him, dozens of tables set on the floor of the large stone room. The place was far too warm, and sweat prickled on his arms and forehead. Too many candles maybe. Outside the feast hall, a storm raged like a madma... |
newer style. Formal, rigid. Dalinar instead wore his skirtlike takama and an open overshirt that went down to midthigh, his chest bare. Sadeas held court with a group of lesser lighteyes at a table across the hall. Every one of that group had been carefully chosen: men with uncertain loyalties. He’d talk, persuade, con... |
of lightning were barely enough to see by. Still, Dalinar knew his way around well enough. This was a highstorm waystop, a place built to house patrolling armies during storms. He and Gavilar had been positioned at this one for a good four months now, drawing tribute from the nearby farms and menacing House Evavakh fro... |
“This is a fortified waystop, with walls and bunkers. We needn’t be scared of a little wind.” “Toh thinks differently, I assure you.” “You’re grinning.” “You may have just proven in one moment, Dalinar, a point I’ve spent a half hour trying to make politically. Toh wonders if we’re strong enough to protect him.” “Is th... |
vapid—” “A touch?” Navani asked. “—but I’m reasonably sure she’s being honest.” “The brother seems the same,” Gavilar said, rubbing his chin and inspecting Toh, who was nursing a drink near the bar. “Innocent, wide-eyed. I think he’s genuine though.” “He’s a sycophant,” Dalinar said with a grunt. “He’s a man without a ... |
making a stabbing motion. “Pretend it’s some thick-necked man who has been insulting your biceps.” “If someone insulted my biceps, I wouldn’t attack him,” Dalinar said. “I’d refer him to a physician, because obviously something is wrong with his eyes.” Navani laughed, a musical sound. “Oh, Dalinar,” Sadeas said. “I don... |
away, Dalinar caught sight of something. A woman peeking into the room from the other feast hall. She wore a delicate, filmy dress of pale yellow, matched by her blonde hair. He leaned forward, curious. Toh’s sister Evi was eighteen, maybe nineteen. She was tall, almost as tall as an Alethi, and small of chest. In fact... |
action.” Again, everyone in the feast was gawking at the high table. Dalinar cut his steak again, shoving another piece into his mouth. What? He wasn’t going to drink the wine he’d washed the blood into. He wasn’t a barbarian. “I know I said I wanted you free to make your own choice in regard to a bride,” Gavilar said.... |
nobody paying attention to Aunt Navani’s directives? He dealt with this wagon, then had to break up an argument among men who were angry they had been set to hauling water. They claimed that was parshman work, beneath their nahn. Unfortunately, there were no parshmen any longer. Adolin soothed them and suggested they c... |
“They don’t go natural directions. We got turned about and…” “Thought he might have returned to another part of the tower,” a man said. “We spent last night searching for him there. Some people said they thought they’d seen him, but they were wrong, and…” And a highprince was left lying here in his own gore for half a ... |
“Well!” said Palona, hands on hips as she regarded Sadeas’s corpse. “I guess that’s one problem solved!” Everyone in the room turned toward her. “What?” she said. “Don’t tell me you weren’t all thinking it.” “This is going to look bad, Brightlord,” Kalami said. “Everyone is going to act like those soldiers outside and ... |
ones that were like wide patios. Above him rose the enormous tower city of Urithiru, a strikingly high structure built up against the mountains. Created from a sequence of ten ringlike tiers—each containing eighteen levels—the tower city was adorned with aqueducts, windows, and balconies like this one. The bottom floor... |
about.” Dalinar turned around, gripping the top of the stone wall with both hands, fingers cold. A chill wind blew against him, and a few windspren passed like little translucent people riding on the breeze. “Brightness Kalami,” Dalinar said. “What do you know of the Desolations?” “Brightlord?” she asked, hesitant. “Th... |
deep breath. A voice echoed in the back of his mind, as if distant. Unite them. Be ready for when the enemy’s champion arrives. “Our ultimate goal is the preservation of all Roshar,” Dalinar said softly. “We’ve seen the cost of division in our ranks. Because of it, we failed to stop the Everstorm. But that was just the... |
as pots for boiling—and the waterskins were going to be a lifesaver. He joined Sah, the parshman who had originally been his captor, among the trees of their improvised camp. The parshman was lashing a stone axehead to a branch. Kaladin took it from him and tested it against a log, judging how well it split the wood. “... |
to one of their own, what brutality awaits a bunch of thieving parshmen?” “Sah, it doesn’t have to come to war. You don’t have to fight the humans.” “Perhaps. But let me ask you this.” He set the axe across his lap. “Considering what they did to me, why wouldn’t I?” Kaladin couldn’t force out an objection. He remembere... |
might actually lose. Storms, I shouldn’t be here. I’m starting to want to defend these people! Teach them to fight. I don’t dare—the only way I can fight the Voidbringers is to pretend there’s a difference between the ones I have to protect and the ones I have to kill.” He trudged through the underbrush and started hel... |
Adolin brought in a small pot of warm washwater for her face and hands. Bless him. And Palona, who had probably sent it with him. Damnation, her hand ached. And her head. She remembered occasionally burning off the alcohol last night, but hadn’t ever held enough Stormlight to completely fix the hand. And never enough t... |
and she let out a relieved sigh as the headache vanished as well. Adolin was left with a dun sphere. “You know, when my father explained that good relationships required investment, I don’t think this is what he meant.” “Mmm,” Shallan said, closing her eyes and smiling. “Also,” Adolin added, “we have the strangest conv... |
standing up. “It’s not like her opinion of me could get any worse. Meet me at Sebarial’s sitting room. Father wants me to take some reports from him on commerce.” “Tell him the booze in the market is good.” “Sure.” Adolin glanced again at the empty jug of Horneater white, then shook his head and left. * * * An hour lat... |
to hear that—he worries I will stretch our forces too thin. But those warcamps are going to be vital for trade; we can’t leave them completely to Thanadal and Vamah.” Great. Another problem to think about. No wonder Adolin looked so distracted. He’d noted they’d be late to visiting Ialai, but didn’t seem particularly e... |
I think we’ll be fine.” “Shallan, being guarded isn’t always about safety. It’s about prestige.” “I’ve got plenty. Prestige is practically leaking from my nose these days, Adolin.” “That’s not what I meant.” Adolin leaned down, whispering. “This is for them. You don’t need guards, maybe, but you do need an honor guard.... |
certain Dalinar Kholin couldn’t hope for a better son, and … storms. That idea bothers you.” “What? No!” Shallan poked Adolin in the shoulder with her freehand. “You’re not telling me something.” “Maybe.” “Well, thank the Almighty for that.” “Not … going to ask what it is?” “Ash’s eyes, no. I’d rather figure it out. A ... |
things she’d seen sold in cages at markets. But seriously. Who walked around with a pet chicken? They were for eating, right? Adolin noted the chicken and raised an eyebrow, but Mraize didn’t give any sign that he knew Shallan. He slouched like the other soldiers, holding a halberd and glaring at Adolin. Ialai hadn’t s... |
Mraize lurched off in the same direction she’d been told to go, so Shallan bore the indignity and stalked after him. The next room was much smaller, cut out of the same stone as the others, but with a muted pattern of strata. Oranges and reds that blended together so evenly you could almost pretend the wall was all one... |
you’re already undertaking. Surely you have sensed the darkness in this place. The … wrongness.” Shallan looked about the small room, flickering with shadows from a few candles on the counter. “Your task,” Mraize said, “is to secure this location. Urithiru must remain strong if we are to properly use the advent of the ... |
gaped. “Amaram? Highmarshal Amaram?” “Of course,” Ialai said. “He is among my husband’s most acclaimed generals.” Amaram. He’d killed her brother. She glanced at Mraize, who kept his expression neutral. Storms, what did he know? She still didn’t understand where Helaran had gotten his Shardblade. What had led him to cl... |
said as he led Kaladin into the storm bunker. “But your brightlord and his men can weather in here, and for cheap.” He waved his cane toward the large hollow building. It reminded Kaladin of the barracks on the Shattered Plains—long and narrow, with one small end pointed eastward. “We’ll need it to ourselves,” Kaladin ... |
person. It’s important nobody know of our passing. Very important.” He laid his hand on his belt knife. The lighteyed man just sniffed. “I can be trusted to hold my tongue, soldier. And don’t threaten me. I’m sixth dahn.” He raised his chin, but when he hobbled back into his house, he shut the door tight and pulled clo... |
willing to look after a battalion. Since when had the state of the entire world become his concern? I need to steal back my spanreed at the very least, and send a message to Brightness Navani. Something flickered at the edge of his vision. Syl had come back? He glanced toward her, a question on his lips, and barely sto... |
that comment. She merely held her knowing smile, then faded from his view. I have no doubt that you are smarter than I am. I can only relate what happened, what I have done, and then let you draw conclusions. —From Oathbringer, preface Dalinar remembered. Her name had been Evi. She’d been tall and willowy, with pale ye... |
of Urithiru was ringed by ten large platforms, each raised about ten feet high, with steps up beside a ramp for carts. At the center of each one was a small building containing the device that— With a bright flash, an expanding wave of Stormlight spread outward from the center of the second platform from the left. When... |
rested a careful hand on the king’s shoulder, just in case. “So many levels,” Taravangian said. “And this balcony. Tell me, Brightlord. What makes it move?” His sincerity was so unexpected. Dalinar had been around Alethi politicians so much that he found honesty an obscure thing, like a language he no longer spoke. “My... |
do not think you and I are destined for such a glorious place. Men of blood and sorrow don’t get an ending like that, Dalinar Kholin.” Dalinar found himself without a reply. Adrotagia gripped Taravangian on the forearm with a comforting gesture, and the old king turned away, hiding his emotional outburst. What had happ... |
Dustbringer, though they don’t like the term. She claims her spren told her that.” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t like how she smiles.” “If she’s truly a Radiant,” Navani said, “can she be anything but trustworthy? Would the spren pick someone who would act against the best interests of the orders?” Another question he d... |
with you is absolutely, for sure not what’s causing the memories to come back?” “I’ll see.” The Stormfather rumbled. Why would she want me to say more? I have spoken, and spren do not change like men. This is not my doing. It is not the bond. “He says it’s not him,” Dalinar said. “He’s … annoyed at you for asking again... |
or something? Like Marati barbarians?” Adrotagia tapped his arm fondly, but looked to Dalinar, obviously curious about the other monarchs. Dalinar cleared his throat, but Navani spoke. “So far, Your Majesty,” she said, “you are the only one who has heeded our warning call.” Silence followed. “Thaylenah?” Adrotagia aske... |
“I’d rather have the Emuli anyway,” Navani said. “Their soldiers might be less capable, but they’re also … well, not crazy.” “So … we are alone?” Taravangian said, looking from Dalinar to Adrotagia, uncertain. “We are alone, Your Majesty,” Dalinar said. “The end of the world has come, and still nobody will listen.” Tar... |
never seen the sun. Storms that raged through Roshar never touched here. This was a place of eternal stillness, and men could no more conquer it than cremlings could claim to have conquered the boulder they hid beneath. She defied Dalinar’s orders that all were to travel in pairs. She didn’t worry about that. Her satch... |
you’d like them,” she said. “People in a group each pretend to be someone different, and tell a story together.” She strode down the steps at the side, walking among the benches. “The audience out here watches.” Pattern hovered in the center of the stage, like a soloist. “Ah…” he said. “A group lie?” “A wonderful, wond... |
man selling fruit, speaking with her own voice. “To keep the bad things out,” he replied. “What bad things?” “Very bad things. There is a wall. Do not go beyond it, or you shall die.” The fruit seller picked up his cart and moved away. And still, the girl looked up at the wall. Pattern hovered beside her and hummed hap... |
from its front in bristling patches. I didn’t draw this scene out. At least … not recently. She’d drawn it as a youth, in detail, putting her imagined fancies down on paper. “What happened?” Pattern said. “Shallan? I must know what happened. Did she turn back?” “Of course she didn’t turn back,” Shallan said. “She climb... |
shadowed figures in the seats started to evaporate. Stormlight streamed back to Shallan, stoking the storm inside. “That’s how it ended?” Pattern asked. “No,” Shallan said, Stormlight puffing from her lips. “She goes down, sees a perfect society lit by Stormlight. She steals some and brings it back. The storms come as ... |
She could feel air moving through them. What was the purpose of a room like this? Had the people who had designed this place been mad? Radiant noted faint light coming from several of the slots—and with it the sounds of people in a low, echoing clatter. The Breakaway market? Yes, she was in that region, and while she w... |
rest of their finds were heaped in the tents here, watched over by guards with long cudgels and short tempers. Veil shoved her way to the front of the crowd, finding a large Horneater man cursing and holding his hand. Rock, she thought, recognizing the bridgeman though he wasn’t in uniform. His hand was bleeding. Like ... |
the arm. “Please. The world is wrong now. Nothing makes sense. But you … your group … you know things. I don’t want to be blind anymore.” Shallan hesitated. She could understand that desire to do something, rather than just feeling the world tremble and shake. But the Ghostbloods were despicable. This woman would not f... |
a long engagement, and her brother kept trying to get new provisions into the contract. Dalinar stomped away. In his pocket he held another glyphward: one provided by Navani, who obviously worried about the accuracy of Evi’s foreign script. He felt at the smooth paper, and didn’t burn the prayer. The stone ground benea... |
from the enemy. But no, Kalanor’s army was still deploying. It wasn’t men that had attracted the scout’s attention, but horses. A small herd of them, eleven or twelve in number, galloping across the battlefield. Proud, majestic. “Ryshadium,” Gavilar whispered. “It’s rare they roam this far east.” Dalinar swallowed an o... |
a cautious wave, shields raised toward the sky. Gavilar’s archers released flights of arrows. Kalanor’s men were well trained; they maintained their formations beneath the deadly hail. Eventually they met Kholin heavy infantry: a block of men so armored that it might as well have been solid stone. At the same time, mob... |
them, Plate lending him energy, Blade granting him precision, and the Thrill … the Thrill giving him purpose. In moments like this, he could see why he had been created. He was wasted listening to men blab. He was wasted doing anything but this: providing the ultimate test of men’s abilities, proving them, demanding th... |
the Kholin dead. “Make certain they, and theirs, are cared for.” “Of course, sir.” Dalinar dashed toward the oncoming force, his Shardplate crunching against stones. He felt sad to have to engage a Shardbearer, instead of continuing his fight against the ordinary men. No more laying waste; he now had only one man to ki... |
to open a hole to flesh. Dalinar grunted, batting away his opponent’s Shardblade. Kalanor was old, but skilled. He had an uncanny ability to pull back before Dalinar’s strikes, deflecting some of the force of the impact, preventing the metal from breaking. After furiously exchanging blows for several minutes, both men ... |
climbed up a safe distance from his enemy, then summoned Oathbringer. Storms. There was barely enough room up here to stand. Wind buffeted him, a windspren zipping around to one side. “Nice view,” Kalanor said. Though the forces had started out with equal numbers, below them were far more fallen men in silver and red s... |
army. Dalinar breathed out, then sank down, wrung out. Shadows stretched long across the land as the sun met the horizon. It had been a fine fight. He’d accomplished what he’d wanted. He’d conquered all who stood before him. And yet he felt empty. A voice within him kept saying, “That’s it? Weren’t we promised more?” D... |
down Gallam, winning Shards for his son. Talanor took a Blade, and I hear you finally drew out Kalanor. Please tell me he didn’t escape you.” “He…” Dalinar licked his lips, breathing in and out. “He is dead.” Dalinar pointed toward the fallen form, visible only as a bit of silvery metal shining amid the shadows of the ... |
tired of feeling trapped in the dark hallways of the lower levels, always feeling that something was watching her. She finished her sketch, then tipped it toward Pattern, holding the sketchbook with her sleeved safehand. He rippled up from his post to inspect her drawing: the slot obstructed by a mashed-up figure with ... |
his hand to the side in a summoning posture. Dalinar stopped him, as Ruthar must have known that he would. Shallan shook her head, letting herself instead be drawn farther into her sketching. A few creationspren appeared at the top of her drawing pad, one a tiny shoe, the other a pencil like the one she used. Her sketc... |
word of a few stuffy Alethi about this entire ‘Desolation’ business, eh sister?” Shallan blinked at the casual way it was said, along with a wink. Malata smiled and sauntered back toward the front of the room. “Well,” Shallan whispered, “she’s annoying.” “Mmm…” Pattern said. “It will be worse when she starts destroying... |
house title. He is, for all intents, Highprince Sadeas now. I would ask the king to ratify this.” Shallan’s breath caught. King Elhokar looked up from his seat, where he—seemingly—had been lost in thought. “Is this legal?” “Yes,” Navani said, arms folded. “Dalinar,” Amaram said, stepping down several of the steps towar... |
by a sphere—and placed it into a slot along the railing. Stormlight began to drain from the stone, and the balcony shook, then slowly began to descend. Removing the gem would tell the lift to stop at the next floor. A simple lever, pushed one way or the other, would determine whether the lift crawled upward or downward... |
on the walls. Locked up and filled with only the cheapest diamond spheres, they shouldn’t be worth the effort to break into, but the light they gave was also rather dim. She should have stayed above; her absence must have destroyed the illusion of the map. She felt bad about that. Was there a way she could learn to lea... |
were only twelve men now. Some had made their way to other jobs. A few others had died in the Battle of Narak. She’d kind of been hoping that they would all drift away—if only so she wouldn’t have to figure out what to do with them. She now realized that Adolin was right. That was a terrible attitude. These men were a ... |
the large chambers were a reminder of how enormous this place was. In a small room like this, you could pretend that you were in a cozy bunker somewhere. Of course, even in a small chamber there were reminders that Urithiru wasn’t normal. The strata on the walls, like the folds of a fan. Or the holes that commonly show... |
pact. You’ve dodged my requests long enough.” Nearby, the chair finally dropped from the wall and clattered to the floor. He prepared himself for another round of verbal sparring, of half promises and veiled meanings. Fen had been growing increasingly formal during their exchanges. The spanreed wrote, then halted almos... |
outside the first level of the tower, where three more bridgemen waited near some rows of stone planters, probably for growing tubers. “We noticed this by accident,” Leyten said as they walked among the planters. The hefty bridgeman had a jovial way about him, and talked to Dalinar—a highprince—as easily as he’d talk t... |
entered the tower and climbed a stairway. “Could we save the spren who made this Blade?” I know of no way, the Stormfather said. It is dead, as is the man who broke his oath to kill it. Back to the Lost Radiants and the Recreance—that fateful day when the knights had broken their oaths, abandoned their Shards, and walk... |
make you feel better about your past, but morality is not a thing you can simply doff to put on the helm of battle, then put back on when you’re done with the slaughter.” He nodded his head in esteem, as if he hadn’t just rammed a sword through Dalinar’s gut. Dalinar spun and left Amaram holding Oathbringer. Dalinar’s ... |
Dalinar said, “coming from a place beyond. A light I can almost see. If there is a God, it was not the Almighty, the one who called himself Honor. He was a creature. Powerful, but still merely a creature.” “Then how do you know what is right? What guides you?” Dalinar leaned forward. He thought he could see something l... |
as men did: they’d conquered. Only later had Gavilar started to seek validation for their actions. “Why not let them all go?” Dalinar said. “If you can’t prove who is guilty—if you can’t be sure—I think you should let them go.” “Yes … one innocent in four is too many for you. That makes sense too.” “No, any innocent is... |
do I sit here and pretend that I can do all this on my own? “Do you have any more visions of Nohadon?” Dalinar asked the Stormfather, hopeful. I have shown you all that was created for you to see, the Stormfather said. I can show no more. “Then I should like to rewatch the vision where I met Nohadon,” Dalinar said. “Th... |
useful these days. Sword training with Adolin each day—more frolicking and flirting than useful swordplay—and the occasional meeting with Dalinar where she had nothing to add but a pretty map. Veil though … Veil hunted the hunter. Dalinar acted like a soldier: increased patrols, strict rules. He asked his scribes to fi... |
promise.” She looked back at him, then started snickering. “That was a decently good line.” “Thanks!” He raised his mug. “So…” “Sorry, not interested.” He sighed, but raised his mug farther before taking a pull on it. “Where did you come from, anyway?” Gaz said, inspecting her with his single eye. “Shallan kind of suck... |
an outcropping, hanged by the neck. Hanged. Storm it. The thing didn’t imitate the attack with the bottle … it imitated the execution that followed! Vathah pointed. “Killer dropped the person up there, leaving them to twitch. Then the killer jumped down. All that distance, Veil. How—” “Where?” she demanded. “Glurv is t... |
to her knees, spotting the thing as it wriggled out the other side of the hole. Not that thick, she thought, standing. “Pattern!” she demanded, thrusting her hand to the side. She attacked the wall with her Shardblade, slicing chunks free, dropping them to the floor with a clatter. The strata ran all the way through th... |
Pattern approached and tried to slide up her illusory dress, but then stopped, backing away and humming in pleasure at the lie. “I found him!” he proclaimed. “I found Adolin!” “I see that,” Shallan said. “He came at me,” Adolin said, “in the training rooms, screaming that you’d found the killer. Said that if I didn’t c... |
said. She thought his name was Drehy. “Storming lovely,” Drehy said. “Marching orders, Teft?” “That’s up to Brightlord Adolin.” “I brought the best men I could find,” Adolin said to Shallan. “But I feel like I should bring an entire army instead. You sure you want to do this now?” “Yes,” Shallan said. “We have to, Adol... |
Here, piles of splinters scattered at the edges of the round chamber, covered in decayspren. There had once been a banister for the steps, but it had fallen to the effects of time. The bottom of the shaft had only one exit, a large archway more elaborate than others in the tower. Up above, almost everything was the sam... |
depths, sphere held absently in one gauntleted hand, Shardblade in the other. Shallan stepped up hesitantly beside him. A cool breeze blew from behind them, as if being sucked into that darkness. The mystery lurked in that direction, the captivating depths. She could sense it more distinctly now. Not an evil really, bu... |
in the distance. A living darkness. That darkness seeped down the hallway. It wasn’t fast, but there was an inevitability about the way it coated everything, flowing up the sides of the walls, onto the ceiling. On the ground, shapes split from the main mass, becoming figures that stepped as if from the surf. Creatures ... |
know you,” she whispered to the blackness, realizing it was true. “I know what you’re doing.” Men grunted and stabbed. Adolin swept before himself, Shardblade trailing black smoke from the creatures’ wounds. He chopped apart dozens of the things, but new ones continued forming, wearing familiar shapes. Dalinar. Teshav.... |
you?” “Yeah. I just summoned my Shardblade.” “It’s a little like that.” Shallan stepped forward, and Adolin joined her. Renarin summoned his Blade and took a few quick steps to reach them, his Plate clicking. The darkness pulled back, revealing that the hallway opened up into a room ahead. As she approached, Shallan’s ... |
a spear line to either side of her. Ahead, Adolin pushed toward the pillar, Renarin at his back preventing him from being surrounded, bridgemen in turn pushing up along the sides to keep Renarin from being overwhelmed. The monsters no longer bore even a semblance of humanity. They struck Adolin, too-real claws and teet... |
so he could bring his elites in as a flanking force. He hadn’t expected the enemy to fire this plain, desperately burning their own crops to block the southern approach. Well, the fires could go to Damnation. Though some of his men were overwhelmed by the smoke or heat, most stayed with him. They’d crash into the enemy... |
shaking off his bloodied blade, feeling alert, excited, but not yet alive. Where was it? Come on.… A larger group of enemy soldiers was jogging down the street toward him, led by several officers in white and red. From the way they suddenly pulled up, he guessed they were alarmed to find their spearmen falling so quick... |
anything—man or storm—turn you aside. Dalinar battered at the brightlord, driving him backward, furious and persistent. He felt like he was winning the contest, controlling it, right up until he slammed his shield at the enemy and—in the moment of stress—felt something snap. One of the straps that held the shield to hi... |
his nose into the guard’s eyes, then kicked him in the stomach. He turned toward the brightlord, who was trying to flee. Dalinar growled, full of the Thrill. He swung the poleaxe with one hand, hooking the spike into the brightlord’s side, and yanked, dropping him yet again. The brightlord rolled over. He was greeted b... |
flared up from his side. He blinked as he found himself lying on the ground. A storming arrow sprouted from his right shoulder, with a long, thick shaft. It had gone straight through the chain mail, just to the side of where his cuirass met his arm. “Brightlord!” Thakka said, kneeling, shielding Dalinar with his body. ... |
he was quite a sight, covered in soot from the fires, his face a mask of blood from the nose and the cut scalp, stuck with not one but two arrows. “You waited until my helm was off,” Dalinar demanded. “You are an assassin. You were set here specifically to kill me.” The man winced, then nodded. “Amazing!” Dalinar said,... |
that. Alternatively, you can join me and name your price.” “The life of my brightlord Yezriar,” the archer said. “The heir.” “Is that the fellow…?” Dalinar said, looking to Thakka. “… That you killed down below? Yes, sir.” “He’s got a hole in his chest,” Dalinar said, looking back to the assassin. “Tough break.” “You …... |
mount a resistance.” “That would be impressive,” Dalinar said, “considering what I did to him.” Sadeas relaxed visibly. “Oh, Dalinar. What would we do without you?” “Lose. Someone get me something to drink and a pair of surgeons. In that order. Also, Sadeas, I promised we wouldn’t pillage the city. No looting, no slave... |
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