text stringlengths 1.73k 3.83k |
|---|
in battle, it is important that others be capable of their immediate use.” That made sense, Kaladin supposed, though he found it hard to imagine any lighteyes letting someone else touch his Blade. “The king has two Shardblades?” “One is that of his father, kept for the tradition of training Shardbearers.” The ardent gl... |
to walk around the perimeter of the practice grounds, noting each entrance. Perhaps he was being overly cautious. He just liked doing jobs well, and it had been a lifetime since he’d had a job other than saving Bridge Four. Sometimes, though, it seemed like his job was impossible to do well. During the highstorm last w... |
honorable?” “I—” “Don’t you lie to me, Kaladin,” she said, stepping forward, pointing. Diminutive though she was, in that moment, she seemed as vast as a highstorm. “No lies. Ever.” He took a deep breath. “No,” he finally said. “No, Dalinar gave up his Blade for us. He’s a good man. I accept that. Amaram has him fooled... |
hairs overwhelmed by quite a bit of golden blond. His father didn’t have that. Adolin’s mother had been from Rira, perhaps? Kaladin turned to walk toward the northern side of the courtyard, where he’d have a different view from Moash. “Bridgeman,” Adolin called. “You’ve decided to start using proper titles for people? ... |
stay alive would have been a boon for Bridge Four. Kaladin leaned back against a column, folding his arms, spear in the crook of his arm, watching the area for trouble and inspecting everyone that got too close to the princelings. Adolin walked over and grabbed his brother by the shoulder, towing him across the courtya... |
Long-haired, with a short but scruffy black beard, he wore loose tan clothing tied with ropes. He looked out of place in the sparring yard, and that itself was probably enough to indicate he wasn’t an assassin. The best assassins never stood out. Still, the man had a robust build and a scar on his cheek. So he’d seen f... |
“Health problems of some sort.” “And they’d really turn him down?” Kaladin asked. “The highprince’s own son?” “They could, but they probably won’t. Not brave enough.” The man narrowed his eyes as Adolin stood up and gestured. “Damnation. I knew it was suspicious that he waited for this until I got back.” “Swordmaster Z... |
back in the cup she’d been using to nurture it. She glanced over her shoulder. No sign of pursuit. She really should just stop worrying. She turned back to her new sketchbook—one of Jasnah’s notebooks that didn’t have many pages filled—then began a quick sketch of the small leaf. She didn’t have very good materials, on... |
horizon to the south. A thin trail of smoke rose in that direction. Shallan felt an immediate chill. She scrambled from the wagon and hurried to Tvlakv. “Storms!” Shallan said. “Is it the deserters? They are following us?” “Yes. They have stopped to cook for midday, it seems,” Tvlakv said from his perch atop his wagon.... |
Shallan tucked her sketchbook under her arm and took a Memory of the two of them working there. These are evil monsters, she told herself forcefully, creatures of legend who will soon be bent on destroying everyone and everything around them. Standing here, looking in at them, she found it difficult to believe, even th... |
you say there was probably going to be a highstorm tonight?” “Yes,” Tvlakv said, reluctant. “Two hours after sunset, if the list I bought is correct.” “I don’t know how bandits normally weather the storms,” Shallan said, “but they’ve obviously committed to chasing us down. I’d bet they plan to use the wagons as shelter... |
turned to idle sketches, simply letting her pencil go where it willed. She drew skyeels dancing in the air. She drew the docks of Kharbranth. She did a sketch of Yalb, though the face felt off to her, and she didn’t quite capture the mischievous spark in his eyes. Perhaps the errors related to how sad she became, think... |
in the front. Those tiny rockbuds caused a surprising amount of jarring and jolting. Jasnah’s trunk was tied in place near the front wall. She opened the lid—letting the spheres inside provide dusky illumination—then settled back on her improvised cushion, a pile of the cloths Jasnah had used to wrap her books. The bla... |
came, and they hadn’t caught up to the group ahead? Would the deserters push through the storm itself to reach them? And, potentially, the safety of their wagons? Storms, what a mess. She needed an edge. “The Knights Radiant formed a bond with spren,” Shallan said, more to herself than to Pattern. “It was a symbiotic r... |
muscles to use, or even if muscles mattered. Frustrated, she sat there trying to find a way to make the Stormlight work, feeling inept as it escaped through her skin. It took several minutes for it to dissipate completely. “Well, that was distinctly unimpressive,” she said, moving to get more stalks of knobweed. “Maybe... |
even braiding it was hard. Storms, she thought, I need a bath. And soap. And a dozen other things. “Yes,” Pattern said. “The knights killed their spren.” “How? Why?” “Their oaths,” Pattern said. “It is all I know. My kind, those who were unbonded, we retreated, and many kept our minds. Even still, it is hard to think a... |
of the men weeks, but not you,” Kaladin said, shading his eyes from the sun and leaning on his spear. He was still on the lighteyes’ practice grounds, watching over Adolin and Renarin—the latter of whom was receiving his first instructions from Zahel the swordmaster. “You had a good attitude from the first day we found... |
entire family would be together for the highstorm.” “If the winds will, gon,” Lopen said, finishing his last bite of chouta. He whistled then, looking in at the practice grounds. “That is something, isn’t it?” Kaladin followed Lopen’s gaze. Adolin, having left his brother with Zahel, was now executing a training sequen... |
Zahel snapped. “You people don’t have proper idioms for anything. Go!” Renarin sprang to his feet, kicking up sand, and hustled away. “Your helmet, son!” Zahel called. Renarin stopped, then scrambled back and snatched his helmet off the ground, nearly slipping onto his face as he did so. He spun, off balance, and ran a... |
chance.” “Yes, well, I’ve already done the ‘new recruit’ thing. Yelled at by sergeants, worked to the bone, marched for hours on end. Really, I’m fine.” “This isn’t the same at all,” Zahel said, waving down one of the ardents walking past. The man was carrying a Shardblade with metal guards over the sharp edges, one of... |
had the second King’s Blade and a suit of Plate. How would this work? If Zahel scored a hit on Kaladin’s spear, would they pretend it had cut through? The ardent approached in a rush, raising the Blade in a two-handed grip. The familiar calmness and focus of battle enveloped Kaladin. He did not draw in Stormlight. He n... |
wouldn’t have made the mistake of letting you get to Renarin.” Zahel grinned. It looked a dangerous expression on him. He stepped forward, and Kaladin understood. There would be no backing away and leading him off this time. Kaladin wouldn’t have that option if he were protecting a member of Dalinar’s family. Instead, ... |
fell. The princeling got a gauntleted hand up underneath Kaladin. Kaladin slammed his weapon downward. Adolin heaved upward with one hand. Kaladin’s blow didn’t connect; instead he found himself airborne, thrown with all the Plate-augmented strength of a Shardbearer. He floundered in the air before slamming down eight ... |
you to learn,” Zahel said, standing up. “I don’t think I could force you, actually.” Kaladin squeezed his eyes shut. He felt humiliated, but why should he? He’d lost sparring matches before. It happened all the time. “You remind me a lot of him,” Zahel said. “Adolin wouldn’t let me teach him either. Not at first.” Kala... |
wasn’t real. That would be nice. . . . The door to the hall slammed open, and Nan Helaran entered. Tall, muscular, square-chinned. Her oldest brother was a man. The rest of them . . . they were children. Even Tet Balat, who had reached the age of adulthood. Helaran scanned the chamber, perhaps looking for their father.... |
than anyone else on the estate. More parshmen entered after him, carrying bundles of food for the kitchens. All three had marbled skin, two red on black and one red on white. Father liked parshmen. They did not talk back. “I got word that you told the stable to prepare one of my carriages, Helaran!” Father bellowed. “I... |
“Farewell, Father,” Helaran said, turning and striding from the room. “Try not to ruin too much while I’m gone. I will come back periodically to check.” His voice echoed in the hallway outside as he left. Brightlord Davar stood, roaring. The few maids left in the room fled out the side door into the gardens. Shallan sh... |
surrender his spyglass, and he did so reluctantly. The lens was cracked, but Shallan still got a good look at the force. The thirty or so men were soldiers, as Bluth had reported. They flew no banner, and did not march in formation or wear one uniform, but they looked well equipped. “We need to go down and ask the othe... |
they didn’t want to lose any more goods.” Two forces, then. Bandits ahead and behind. Shallan found herself sweating in the cold air as the sun finally vanished beneath the western horizon. The woman was looking northward, toward where her group of bandits must have retreated. “Yeah, they’ll be back,” the woman said. “... |
had not expected their prey to come to them. Her arrival stunned them for a moment. An important moment. There will be an officer, Shallan thought, standing up on her seat. They are soldiers, or once were. They’ll have a command structure. She took a deep breath. Bluth raised his sphere, looking at her, and grunted as ... |
change your future.” “We are wanted men.” “Yes, I came here wanting men. Hoping to find men. You are offered the chance to be soldiers again. Come with me. I will see to it you have new lives. Those lives start by saving instead of killing.” Vathah snorted in derision. His face looked unfinished in the night, rough, li... |
every one.” “They are not idiots for wanting to be better than they are,” Shallan said. He snorted, looking her over. She had an immediate flash of fear. Moments ago, this man was ready to rob her and probably worse. He didn’t make any moves toward her, though his face looked even more threatening now that most of the ... |
Shallan thought, looking back down at Bluth, his dead face lit by fires. What separates the heroes from the villains? One speech in the night? Bluth wasn’t the only casualty of the assault; Vathah had lost seven soldiers. They had killed over twice that many bandits. Exhausted, Shallan rose, but hesitated as she saw so... |
“Offer, she calls it. My associate is under the impression that it was really a threat! These mercenaries obviously work for you. We are wondering what your intention is for this caravan.” “The mercenaries didn’t work for me before,” Shallan said, “but they do now. It took a little persuasion.” Tyn raised an eyebrow. “... |
he said. She hadn’t realized how much he towered over her. “Did my eyes mistake me? I saw a queen in the darkness. Now I see a child.” “Perhaps you saw what your conscience needed you to see,” Shallan said, tugging—unsuccessfully—on her arm. She blushed. Vathah leaned in. His breath wasn’t particularly sweet. “My men h... |
should hope he is,” Shallan said, walking to the back of Tag’s wagon nearby. “For if he is not, then Damnation itself awaits men like you.” She inspected the cage. Five slaves in grimy clothing huddled inside, each one looking alone, though they were crammed in close. “These are mine now,” Shallan told Tvlakv. “What!” ... |
the side of one of the bonfires. The deserters threw the last body—one of their own—into the flames, then stepped back, wiping brows. One of the darkeyed caravan women stepped up, holding out a sheet of paper to a former deserter. He took it, scratching at his beard. He was the shorter, one-eyed man who’d spoken during... |
green eyes forward. He was dark-skinned for an Alethi, perhaps with some Azish blood in him, and wore a full beard. Men from Bridge Four had been taking shifts with his men, as Dalinar suggested, and so far Kaladin had been impressed by the man and the team he had run. However, when the horns for a plateau run sounded,... |
drawings were quite good, their faces done in as much detail as their garments. “Fashion?” Kaladin asked. He hadn’t intended to speak, but it came out anyway. “You’re spending the highstorm looking for new clothing?” Adolin snapped the book closed. “But you only wear uniforms,” Kaladin said, confused. “Do you need to b... |
coming in the same order as last time, and some are new, so perhaps there is something to learn we have not yet discovered . . .” Noticing Kaladin, he trailed off, then changed the topic. “Well, as long as we’re waiting here, perhaps I can get an update. Adolin, when can we expect more duels?” “I’m trying,” Adolin said... |
his father. “There’s no need to fight every Shardbearer in camp,” Dalinar said softly. “We need to narrow our attack, choose duels for you that point us toward the ultimate goal.” “Which is?” Adolin asked. “Undermining Sadeas.” Dalinar almost sounded regretful. “Killing him in a duel, if we have to. Everyone in camp kn... |
King’s Guard is almost over,” Moash noted. “I’ll head back after.” “Fine,” Kaladin said. “Keep Leyten with you. Natam, you and Mart guard Brightness Navani. I’ll see Dalinar back to camp and post guards at his door.” “Then you’ll get some sleep?” Moash asked. The others glanced at Kaladin. They were worried as well. “Y... |
Syl sitting on a shalebark ridge just to the right. She nodded at him. He has to know. It was just . . . He’d never spoken of this, not in full. Not even to Rock, Teft, and the others. “It wasn’t that, sir,” Kaladin said, meeting Dalinar’s eyes by spherelight. “I know where Amaram got his Shardblade. I was there. I kil... |
I’ll return to the palace,” Dalinar said. “I don’t think I’ll get much sleep tonight, so I might want to pester the dowager with my thoughts. Her guards can watch over me. I’ll take one with me when I return to my camp.” Kaladin let out a long breath. Then saluted. Fine, he thought, continuing down the dark, damp path.... |
rock beside the fire. “Do I know you?” he asked, pointing at the bald, muscular man. He had tan skin, like an Alethi, but he didn’t seem to have the right face shape. Herdazian? “Oh, don’t mind Punio,” Lopen called from nearby. “He’s my cousin.” “You had a cousin on the bridge crews?” Kaladin asked. “Nah,” Lopen said. ... |
for a parshman. Certainly more freedom than any other of his kind. And were you satisfied with that? a voice inside him asked. Were you happy to be a well-treated slave? Or did you try to run, fight your way to freedom? What a mess. He mulled over those thoughts, digging into his stew. He got two bites down before Nata... |
“Are you trying to make me panic?” I wonder if I could survive that fall. . . . He’d dropped half that once before, filled with Stormlight, and had landed without trouble. He stepped back for Moash’s sake, though even before gaining his special abilities, heights had fascinated him. It felt liberating to be up so high.... |
. .” “Yes?” “Whoever tried this is an idiot.” Dalinar looked to him, raising an eyebrow in the lantern light. “How could they know where the king would lean?” Kaladin said. “Or even that he would? This trap could easily have caught someone else, and then the would-be assassins would have exposed themselves for nothing.... |
looked at Kaladin, face lit by the sphere in his hand. A strong face, with a nose that had once been broken. Blunt. Real. “I don’t know whom I can trust these days. Can I trust you, Kaladin Stormblessed?” “Yes. I swear it.” Dalinar nodded. “I’m going to relieve Idrin of this post and assign him to a command in my army.... |
this one removed, it left only three at each corner to hold up the roof. He dropped the bar with satisfaction, then dusted off his work gloves. This would help transform the vehicle from a rolling cage into a conveyance more suitable for a lighteyed lady. “I remember it,” Red continued, sitting down on the wagon’s bed,... |
normal life again and were determined to hold to it. There hadn’t been a single problem with discipline in the days they’d been together, and they were quick, even eager, to be of service to her. Evidence of that came as Gaz folded the side of her wagon back up—then opened a latch and lowered a small window to let the ... |
wanted!” He looked at her, then flushed and took a moment, trying to come up with a response. Shallan cut in before he could do so. “I’m not surprised you’re at a loss for words, as it’s also an experience I’m sure you’re accustomed to. You must feel it every time someone asks you a challenging question—such as the col... |
notebook. It listed him as conniving and dangerous, but noted that both he and his wife were sharp of wit. A man of intelligence might listen to Shallan’s arguments and understand them. Aladar was listed as another highprince that Jasnah respected. Powerful, known for his brilliant political maneuvers. He was also fond... |
great pains to contradict one another, and they dance around topics of import like spren around a fire—never providing heat themselves, just making a show of it.” Pattern hummed. “Truth is individual.” “What? No it’s not. Truth is . . . it’s Truth. Reality.” “Your truth is what you see,” Pattern said, sounding confused... |
and . . . and another. Fragments broken off.” “Another?” Shallan prodded. Pattern’s buzz became a whine, going so high pitched she almost couldn’t hear it. “Odium.” He spoke the word as if needing to force it out. Shallan wrote furiously. Odium. Hatred. A type of spren? Perhaps a large unique one, like Cusicesh from Ir... |
low travel table, meant for people to eat at while sitting on the floor. The parshmen hurried out, and Shallan watched them suspiciously. Tyn herself stood by a window cut into the cloth. She wore her long, tan coat, buckled at the waist and almost closed. It had a dresslike feel to it, though it was far stiffer than a... |
forward. “It’s all right; you don’t need to keep up the front with me. You’re actually doing a good job here. I’ve discarded my annoyance with you and have decided to be impressed instead. You’re new to this, but talented.” “This?” Shallan asked. “The art of the con, of course,” Tyn said. “The grand act of pretending t... |
people.” Tyn leaned forward, and her expression darkened. “But if she doesn’t, she can make enemies really quickly. Trust me, you want to know who I know, and you want to work with them. Without their approval, nothing big happens at the Shattered Plains. So I ask you again. What are you hoping to accomplish there?” “I... |
send over Jenet, the stablemaster.” “We’ll await him with eagerness, sir,” Kaladin said, trying to sound like he meant it. Two of Kaladin’s men escorted Dalinar as he walked toward the stables, a set of large, sturdy stone buildings. From what Kaladin saw, when the horses weren’t inside, they were allowed to roam freel... |
hold the reins properly and how to balance. All before being allowed to even touch one of the creatures. Eventually, the boredom was interrupted by the arrival of a man on horseback. Unfortunately, it was Adolin Kholin, riding that white monster of a horse of his. It was several hands taller than the one Jenet was show... |
Whoa. How do I get it to stop walking?” “You dropped the reins,” Jenet called after him. “Storming fool! Were you even listening?” “Reins,” Moash said, scrambling for them. “Can’t I just slap it over the head with a reed, like you do a chull?” Jenet rubbed her forehead. Kaladin looked into the eye of his own chosen bea... |
we ain’t moving any faster than walking, right?” Again, Kaladin remembered the image of that charging mounted Shardbearer from long ago. Yes, Kaladin could see the reason for horses. Sitting up higher made it easier to strike with power, and the size of the horse—its bulk and momentum—frightened soldiers on foot and se... |
would have blown down the railing,” Kaladin said. “Bending it!” Syl said, standing up and grinning. “Ooohhh . . .” “It was cut clean through, the mortar on the bottom chipped away,” Kaladin continued. “I’ll bet the force of the winds was easily equal to the weight the king put on it.” “So the sabotage must have happene... |
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jenet asked, riding up to him. “I’m going to get on that,” Kaladin said, pointing at Dreamstorm. Jenet snorted. “She’ll throw you in a heartbeat and you’ll break your crown, bridgeman. She’s not good with riders.” “She has a saddle on.” “So she can get used to wearing one.” The horse f... |
He hadn’t realized that the Stormlight in the saddle was exhausted. In a fitting fulfillment of his earlier prediction, Kaladin found himself dazed, lying on his back staring at the sky, having trouble remembering the last few seconds of his life. A number of painspren wiggled out of the ground beside him, little orang... |
from slapping around too much. Natam watched him as he moved up. “That’s unfair, sir.” “What I did with Dreamstorm?” “No. The way you just ride like that. Seems so natural for you.” Didn’t feel that way. “I want to talk some more about that night.” “Sir?” the long-faced man asked. “I haven’t thought of anything yet. Be... |
Adolin and his soldiers pushed through the Parshendi, joining up with a frantic set of soldiers in green uniforms with gold accents, led by a Shardbearer in matching colors. The man fought with a large Shardbearer’s hammer—he had no Blade of his own. Adolin pushed through to him. “Jakamav?” he asked. “You all right?” “... |
but the Parshendi had the approach clogged. He’d really like to reach the top. . . . He looked at the sheer cliff face between his tier and the one above. “Jakamav,” he called, pointing. Jakamav followed Adolin’s gesture, looking upward. Then stepped back from the fighting. “That’s crazy!” Jakamav said as Adolin jogged... |
he stepped onto the flat of the blade. Shardblades couldn’t break—they could barely bend—so it held him. He suddenly had leverage and good footing, and so when he crouched down and leaped, the Plate hurled him upward. As he passed the edge of the top tier, he grabbed the rock there—just beneath the feet of the Parshend... |
group of Parshendi soldiers charged past the Shardbearer, running toward the long drop-off at the back of the formation, where the hill had been split down the center. The Shardbearer handed his gemheart to one of these charging men, then turned and watched them jump. They soared across the gap to land on the top of th... |
run ended with the Alethi controlling the plateau, but with no gemheart to show for it. He released one gauntlet, the straps undoing themselves automatically at his will, then hooked it at his waist. He used a sweaty hand to push back sweatier hair. Now where had Renarin gotten to? There, on the staging plateau, sittin... |
“I can see what you and your father are doing here, Adolin. But if you keep dueling, you’re going to lose your Shards. Even you can’t always win. Eventually you’ll hit an off day. Then it will all be gone.” “I might lose at some point,” Adolin agreed. “Of course by then I’ll have won half the Shards in the kingdom, so ... |
and lift his cup of wine. Adolin set aside his own cup untouched and stalked off. Sureblood was ready and waiting for him when he reached his men. Adolin moved to swing into the saddle, stewing, but the white Ryshadium nudged him with a butt of the head. Adolin sighed, scratching at the horse’s ears. “Sorry,” he said. ... |
had gone in or out—different men from last time, which made it unlikely it had been one of them. Storms. That had been scratched on the wall while Adolin had been sleeping just one room away. Who, or what, had done it? “Need to be ready,” Renarin said. “For the coming storm. So little time . . .” FIVE YEARS AGO Shallan... |
he thought it a pity she had begun speaking again. Perhaps he did not wish her to be able to speak of things she’d seen. She stopped in the hallway, her mind going blank. “Shallan?” She shook herself to find Van Jushu, her fourth brother, on the steps behind her. How long had she been standing and staring at the wall? ... |
they’re roit nice. Roit nice indeed. Ain’t never had a cloth for my backside that was so pleasant.’” “You’re exaggerating that!” Shallan said, though she couldn’t help laughing. “A tad,” Tyn said, leaning back and sweeping her long, chull-guiding reed in front of her like a Shardblade. “I don’t see why knowing a Bav ac... |
without melting down the whole thing.” “Anyway,” Tyn said, “you’ll need a good backwater accent or two. Herdazian, Bavlander, something like that.” “I probably have a rural Veden accent,” Shallan admitted. “That won’t work out here. Jah Keved is a cultured country, and your internal accents are too similar to one anoth... |
lightly by caravan masters. She was the authority here, but she allowed those with more experience to call stops and choose their path. “Come on,” Tyn said, stopping the chull with a whack of the stick, then hopping down from the wagon and grabbing her coat and sword off their pegs. Shallan scrambled down, putting on h... |
this one. “Her Highness,” Tyn announced in a loud voice, gesturing toward Shallan, “Princess Unulukuak’kina’autu’atai! You are in the presence of royalty, darkeyes!” “A Horneater?” the man said, leaning down, inspecting Shallan’s red hair. “Wearing a Vorin dress. Rock would have a fit.” Tyn looked to Shallan and raised... |
“Very offend!” “You’d better apologize.” “No apologize!” Shallan declared. “Boots!” Kal leaned back, looking between the two of them, trying to parse what had just been said. “Boots?” he asked. “Yes,” Shallan said. “I am liking your boots. You will apology with boots.” “You . . . want my boots?” “Did you not hear Her H... |
catch you.” “I suppose,” Shallan said. “Those boots are too big for you,” Tyn noted. “Though I did love the look on his face when you asked for them. ‘No apologize. Boots!’” “I really need some boots,” Shallan said. “I’m tired of walking around on rock barefoot or in slippers. A little padding, and these will fit.” She... |
crews Sadeas preferred was that they needed very little training to function. If Dalinar had thought to slow him down with his stunt of trading Oathbringer for Sadeas’s bridgemen, he had been proven a fool. “We needed to get out here,” Amaram said, “seize the gemheart, and return before the others arrived. Then you cou... |
weren’t like that before.” “I’ve learned to accept the world as it is, Amaram,” Sadeas said, turning his horse. “That’s something very few people are willing to do. They stumble along, hoping, dreaming, pretending. That doesn’t change a single storming thing in life. You have to stare the world in the eyes, in all its ... |
lusted when seeing him. Lusted for his power, for who he was. He was losing that. Oh, he was still powerful—perhaps more so. But the look in their eyes was different. And every way of responding to his loss of youthfulness made him look petulant. He was dying, step by step. Like every man, true, but he felt that death ... |
of that disturbance at the king’s chambers two weeks ago,” Ialai noted. Sadeas smiled, eyes still on the bout. “Of course you did.” “Assassination attempt,” she said. “Someone sabotaged the king’s balcony in a crude attempt at dropping him a hundred feet to the rocks. From what I hear, it nearly worked.” “Not so crude ... |
we can exploit,” Sadeas said. “Dalinar has always had a problem giving up authority. He never really trusts anyone to do their job. He didn’t come to me when he should have. This weakens his claims that all parts of the kingdom should work together. It’s a chink in his armor. Can you ram a dagger in it?” Ialai nodded. ... |
so than his father, at least. “Another Shard won,” Ialai said with dissatisfaction as Adolin raised a hand and walked off the field. “I’ll redouble my efforts to make certain this doesn’t happen again.” Sadeas tapped his finger against the side of his seat. “What was it you said about duelists? That they’re brash? Hoth... |
reluctant to agree to the detour, but fortunately he accepted her authority. The caravan was about a day out from the Shattered Plains. They’d been taking it easy. Shallan struggled to contain her excitement. So much out here in the Frostlands was uniformly dull; something new to draw was exciting beyond normal reason.... |
lips pursed, wiping his forehead. “What do you want, Gaz?” “Well,” he said, shuffling. “I was wondering . . .” He glanced at the sketchpad. Shallan flipped to a new page in the pad. “Of course. Like the one I did for Glurv, I assume?” Gaz coughed into his hand. “Yeah. That one looked right nice.” Shallan smiled, then s... |
bobbing between leaves and blossoms. Pattern moved out onto the water and, amusingly, began quietly counting the leaves on a nearby tree. Shallan got a good half-dozen drawings of the pond and trees, hoping she’d be able to identify those from a book later on. She made sure to do some close-up views showing the leaves ... |
they’re lucky enough to survive.” “I think you’ll find,” Shallan said, “that my life hasn’t been one of nonstop blossoms and cake.” “I’m sure you think that,” Tyn said. “Everyone does. Shallan, I like you, I really do. I think you’ve got heaps of potential. But what you’re training for . . . it will require you to do v... |
be too easy for the son to capture. Which one is it, by the way? The older one or the younger one?” “Adolin,” Shallan said. “Hmmm . . . Not sure if that’s better or worse than Renarin. Adolin Kholin is a flirt by reputation, so I can see why his father wants him married off. It will be tough to keep his attention, thou... |
and strong features, had not joined the others at the stew cauldron. Kaladin searched for his name . . . “Pitt, isn’t it?” Kaladin said. “Yes, sir,” the man replied. “Bridge Seventeen.” “What did you need?” “I just . . .” The man glanced at the inviting fire, with members of Bridge Four laughing and chatting with the p... |
do to soldiers,” Kaladin said. “Have you seen Teft?” “No, sir,” Sigzil said. He nodded toward the fire. “You’ll want to get some stew. We won’t have much time for chatting tonight.” “Highstorm,” Kaladin realized. It seemed like too soon since the last one, but they weren’t always regular—not in the way he thought of it... |
other hand.” “A lot of women have breasts that aren’t much more pronounced than male ones,” Shallan snapped. “That doesn’t make it right for them to go out wearing no shirt, like a man would!” “Actually, in parts of the Reshi Isles and Iri, it’s not uncommon for women to walk about topless. It gets hot up there. Nobody... |
feel bad about lying to her. She lies to everyone. Thinking that made her wince. Tyn was right; Shallan was naive. She couldn’t help feeling guilty about lying, even to a professed con woman! “I’d have expected more from you,” Tyn said, closing her eye. “Considering.” That provoked Shallan, and she found herself wiggli... |
his dream, Kaladin was the storm. He claimed the land, surging across it, a cleansing fury. All washed before him, broke before him. In his darkness, the land was reborn. He soared, alive with lightning, his flashes of inspiration. The wind’s howling was his voice, the thunder his heartbeat. He overwhelmed, overcame, o... |
under the wood. Navani and Dalinar would be in the room next door. The king wasn’t there. “His Majesty!” Kaladin cried, scrambling to his feet. “In the privy, bridgeboy,” Adolin said, nodding to another door. “You can sleep during a highstorm. That’s impressive. Almost as impressive as how much you drool when you’re do... |
are you doing?” Navani demanded. “How dare you?” “Can you wake him?” Kaladin asked, stepping into the room. “We need to leave this room, leave this palace.” “Nonsense.” It was the king’s voice. Elhokar stepped into the room behind him. “What are you babbling about?” “You’re not safe here, Your Majesty,” Kaladin said. “... |
silent. Everyone was sheltering in their rooms during the highstorm. Dalinar joined Kaladin at the front of the group. “I will be curious to hear exactly what prompted this, soldier,” he said. “Once we are safely evacuated.” My spren is having a fit, Kaladin thought, watching her zip back and forth in the corridor. Tha... |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.