โAti was once a kind and generous man, and you saw what became of him. Rayse, on the other hand, was among the most loathsome, crafty, and dangerous individuals I had ever met.โ
โYeah, this was cut,โ the portly leatherworker said, holding up the straps as Adolin watched. โWouldnโt you agree, Yis?โ
The other leatherworker nodded. Yis was a yellow-eyed Iriali, with stark golden hair. Not blond, golden. There was even a metallic sheen to it. He kept it short and wore a cap. Obviously, he didnโt want to draw attention to it. Many considered a lock of Iriali hair to be a ward of good luck.
His companion, Avaran, was an Alethi darkeyes who wore an apron over his vest. If the two men worked in the traditional way, one would labor on the larger, more robust piecesโlike saddlesโwhile the other specialized in fine detail. A group of apprentices toiled in the background, cutting or sewing hogshide.
โSliced,โ Yis agreed, taking the straps from Avaran. โI concur.โ
โWell hie me to Damnation,โ Adolin muttered. โYou mean Elhokar was actuallyย right?โ
โAdolin,โ a feminine voice said from behind. โYou said weโd be going on a walk.โ
โThatโs what weโre doing,โ he said, turning to smile. Janala stood with arms folded, wearing a sleek yellow dress of impeccable fashion, buttoning
up the sides, cupping around the neck with a stiff collar embroidered with crimson thread.
โI had imagined,โ she said, โthat a walk would involve moreย walking.โ โHm,โ he said. โYes. Weโll be getting right to that soon. Itโll be grand.
Lots of prancing, sauntering, and, erโฆโ
โPromenading?โ Yis the leatherworker offered. โIsnโt that a type of drink?โ Adolin asked.
โEr, no, Brightlord. Iโm fairly certain itโs another word for walking.โ
โWell, then,โ Adolin said. โWeโll do plenty of it too. Promenading. I always love a good promenading.โ He rubbed his chin, taking the strap back. โHow certain are you about this strap?โ
โThereโs really no room for question, Brightlord,โ Avaran said. โThatโs not a simple tear. You should be more careful.โ
โCareful?โ
โYes,โ Avaran said. โMake sure that no loose buckles are scraping the leather, cutting into it. This looks like it came from a saddle. Sometimes, people let the girth straps hang down when setting the saddle for the night, and they get pinched underneath something. Iโd guess that caused the slice.โ
โOh,โ Adolin said. โYou mean it wasnโt cut intentionally?โ
โWell, it could have been that,โ Avaran said. โBut why would someone cut a girth like this?โ
Why indeed,ย Adolin thought. He bid farewell to the two leatherworkers, tucked the strap into his pocket, then held out his elbow to Janala. She took it with her freehand, obviously happy to finally be free of the leather-working shop. It had a faint odor about it, though not nearly as bad as a tannery. Heโd seen her reaching for her handkerchief a few times, acting as if she wanted to hold it up to her nose.
They stepped out into the midday sunlight. Tibon and Marksโtwo lighteyed members of the Cobalt Guardโwaited outside with Janalaโs handmaiden, Falksi, who was a young Azish darkeyes. The three fell into step behind Adolin and Janala as they walked out onto the street of the warcamp, Falksi muttering under her breath in an accented voice about the lack of a proper palanquin for her mistress.
Janala didnโt seem to mind. She breathed deeply of the open air and clung to his arm. She was quite beautiful, even if she did like to talk about herself. Talkativeness was normally an attribute he was fond of in a woman,
but today he had trouble paying attention as Janala began telling him about the latest court gossip.
The strap had been cut, but the leatherworkers had both assumed that it was the result of an accident. That implied theyโd seen cuts like this before. A loose buckle or other mishap slicing the leather.
Except this time, that cut had thrown the king in the middle of a fight.
Could there be something to it?
โโฆwouldnโt you say, Adolin?โ Janala asked. โUndoubtedly,โ he said, listening with half an ear. โSo youโll talk to him?โ
โHum?โ
โYour father. Youโll ask him about letting the men abandon that dreadfully unfashionable uniform once in a while?โ
โWell, heโs rather set on the idea,โ Adolin said. โBesides, itโs really not
thatย unfashionable.โ
Janala gave him a flat stare.
โAll right,โ he admitted. โIt is a little drab.โ Like every other high- ranked lighteyed officer in Dalinarโs army, Adolin wore a simple blue out- fit of militaristic cut. A long coat of solid blueโno embroideryโand stiff trousers in a time when vests, silk accents, and scarves were the fashion. His fatherโs Kholin glyphpair was emblazoned quite obtrusively on the back and breast, and the front fastened with silver buttons up both sides. It was simple, distinctly recognizable, but awfully plain.
โYour fatherโs men love him, Adolin,โ Janala said. โBut his requirementsย areย growing tiresome.โ
โI know. Trust me. But I donโt think I can change his mind.โ How to explain? Despite six years at war, Dalinar wasnโt weakening in his resolve to hold to the Codes. If anything, his dedication to them was strengthening.
At least now Adolin understood somewhat. Dalinarโs beloved brother had made one last request: Follow the Codes. True, that request had been in reference to a single event, but Adolinโs father was known to take things to extremes.
Adolin just wished he wouldnโt make the same requirement of everyone else. Individually, the Codes were only minor inconveniencesโ always be in uniform when in public, never be drunken, avoid dueling. In aggregate, however, they were burdensome.
His response to Janala was cut off as a set of horns blared through the camp. Adolin perked up, spinning, looking eastward toward the Shattered Plains. He counted off the next series of horns. A chrysalis had been spotted on plateau one-forty-seven. That was within striking distance!
He held his breath, waiting for a third series of horns to blare, calling Dalinarโs armies to battle. That would only happen if his father ordered it.
Part of him knew those horns wouldnโt come. One-forty-seven was close enough to Sadeasโs warcamp that the other highprince would certainly try for it.
Come on, Father,ย Adolin thought.ย We can race him for it!
No horns came.
Adolin glanced at Janala. Sheโd chosen music as her Calling and paid little attention to the war, though her father was one of Dalinarโs cavalry officers. From her expression, Adolin could tell that even she understood what the lack of a third horn meant.
Once again, Dalinar Kholin had chosen not to fight.
โCome on,โ Adolin said, turning and moving in another direction, practically towing Janala along by her elbow. โThereโs something else I want to check into.โ
Dalinar stood with hands clasped behind his back, looking out over the Shattered Plains. He was on one of the lower terraces outside Elhokarโs elevated palaceโthe king didnโt reside in one of the ten warcamps, but in a small compound elevated along a hillside nearby. Dalinarโs climb to the palace had been interrupted by the horns.
He stood long enough see Sadeasโs army gathering inside his camp. Dalinar could have sent a soldier to prepare his own men. He was close enough.
โBrightlord?โ a voice asked from the side. โDo you wish to continue?โ
You protect him your way, Sadeas,ย Dalinar thought.ย Iโll protect him my
way.
โYes, Teshav,โ he said, turning to continue walking up the switchbacks.
Teshav joined him. She had streaks of blond in her otherwise black Alethi hair, which she wore up in an intricate crossing weave. She had violet eyes, and her pinched face bore a concerned expression. That was normal; she always seemed to need something to worry about.
Teshav and her attendant scribe were both wives of his officers. Dalinar trusted them. Mostly. It was hard to trust anyone completely.ย Stop it,ย he thought.ย Youโre starting to sound as paranoid as the king.
Regardless, heโd be very glad for Jasnahโs return. If she ever decided to return. Some of his higher officers hinted to him that he should marry again, if only to have a woman who could be his primary scribe. They thought he rejected their suggestions because of love for his first wife. They didnโt know that she was gone, vanished from his mind, a blank patch of fog in his memory. Though, in a way, his officers were right. He hesitated to remarry because he hated the idea of replacing her. Heโd had everything of his wife taken from him. All that remained was the hole, and filling it to gain a scribe seemed callous.
Dalinar continued on his way. Other than the two women, he was attended by Renarin and three members of the Cobalt Guard. The latter wore deep blue felt caps and cloaks over silvery breastplates and deep blue trousers. They were lighteyes of low rank, able to carry swords for close fighting.
โWell, Brightlord,โ Teshav said, โBrightlord Adolin asked me to report the progress of the saddle girth investigation. Heโs speaking with leatherworkers at this very moment, but so far, there is very little to say. Nobody witnessed anyone interfering with the saddle or His Majestyโs horse. Our spies say there are no whispers of anyone in the other warcamps bragging, and nobody in our camp has suddenly received large sums of money, so far as weโve discovered.โ
โThe grooms?โ
โSay they checked over the saddle,โ she said, โbut when pressed, they admit that they canโtย specificallyย remember checking the girth.โ She shook her head. โCarrying a Shardbearer places great strain on both horse and saddle. If there were only some way to tame more Ryshadiumโฆ.โ
โI think youโll sooner tame the highstorms, Brightness. Well, this is good news, I suppose. Better for us all that this strap business turns out to
be nothing. Now, there is another item I wish you to look into.โ โIt is my pleasure to serve, Brightlord.โ
โHighprince Aladar has begun to talk of taking a short vacation back to Alethkar. I want to know if heโs serious.โ
โYes, Brightlord.โ Teshav nodded. โWould that be a problem?โ
โIโm honestly not sure.โ He didnโt trust the highprinces, but at least with them all here, he could watch them. If one of them returned to Alethkar, the man could scheme unchecked. Of course, even brief visits might help stabilize their homeland.
Which was more important? Stability or the ability to watch over the others?ย Blood of my fathers,ย he thought.ย I wasnโt made for this politicking and scheming. I was made to wield a sword and ride down enemies.
Heโd do what needed to be done anyway. โI believe you said you had information on the kingโs accounts, Teshav?โ
โIndeed,โ she said as they continued the short hike. โYou were correct to have me look into the ledgers, as it appears that three of the highprinces
โThanadal, Hatham, and Vamahโare well behind in their payments. Other than yourself, only Highprince Sadeas has actually paid ahead on what is owed, as the tenets of war require.โ
Dalinar nodded. โThe longer this war stretches, the more comfortable the highprinces are getting. Theyโre starting to question. Why pay high war time rates for Soulcasting? Why not move farmers out here and start growing their own food?โ
โPardon, Brightlord,โ Teshav said as they turned around a switchback. Her attendant scribe walked behind, several ledgers clipped to boards carried in a satchel. โBut do we really wish to discourage that? A second stream of supplies could be valuable as a redundancy.โ
โThe merchants already provide redundancy,โ Dalinar said. โWhich is one of the reasons I havenโt chased them off. I wouldnโt mind another, but the Soulcasters are the only hold we have on the highprinces. They owed Gavilar loyalty, but they feel little of that for his son.โ Dalinar narrowed his eyes. โThis is a vital point, Teshav. Have you read the histories I suggested?โ
โYes, Brightlord.โ
โThen you know. The most fragile period in a kingdomโs existence comes during the lifetime of its founderโs heir. During the reign of a man like Gavilar, men stay loyal because of their respect for him. During
subsequent generations, men begin to see themselves as part of a kingdom, a united force that holds together because of tradition.
โBut the sonโs reignโฆthatโs the dangerous point. Gavilar isnโt here to hold everyone together, but there isnโt yet a tradition of Alethkar being a kingdom. Weโveย gotย to carry on long enough for the highprinces to begin seeing themselves as part of a greater whole.โ
โYes, Brightlord.โ
She didnโt question. Teshav was deeply loyal to him, as were most of his officers. They didnโt question why it was so important to him that the ten princedoms regard themselves as one nation. Perhaps they assumed it was because of Gavilar. Indeed, his brotherโs dream of a united Alethkar was part of it. There was something else, though.
The Everstorm comes. The True Desolation. The Night of Sorrows.
He suppressed a shiver. The visions certainly didnโt make it sound like he had a great deal of time to prepare.
โDraft a missive in the kingโs name,โ Dalinar said, โdecreasing Soulcasting costs for those who have made their payments on time. That should wake up the others. Give it to Elhokarโs scribes and have them explain it to him. Hopefully he will agree with the need.โ
โYes, Brightlord,โ Teshav said. โIf I might note, I was quite surprised that you suggested I read those histories. In the past, such things havenโt been particular to your interests.โ
โI do a lot of things lately that arenโt particular to my interests or my talents,โ Dalinar said with a grimace. โMy lack of capacity doesnโt change the kingdomโs needs. Have you gathered reports of banditry in the area?โ
โYes, Brightlord.โ She hesitated. โThe rates are quite alarming.โ
โTell your husband I give him command of the Fourth Battalion,โ Dalinar said. โI want the two of you to work out a better pattern of patrol in the Unclaimed Hills. So long as the Alethi monarchy has a presence here, I doย notย want it to be a land of lawlessness.โ
โYes, Brightlord,โ Teshav said, sounding hesitant. โYou realize that means youโve committed two entire battalions to patrolling?โ
โYes,โ Dalinar said. He had asked for help from the other highprinces. Their reactions had ranged from shock to mirth. None had given him any soldiers.
โThat is added to the battalion you assigned to peacekeeping in the areas between warcamps and the exterior merchant markets,โ Teshav added.
โIn total, thatโs over a quarter of your forces here, Brightlord.โ
โThe orders stand, Teshav.โ he said. โSee to it. But first, I have more to discuss with you regarding the ledgers. Go on ahead to the ledger room and wait for us there.โ
She nodded respect. โOf course, Brightlord.โ She withdrew with her ward.
Renarin stepped up to Dalinar. โShe wasnโt pleased about that, Father.โ โShe wishes her husband to be fighting,โ Dalinar said. โThey all hope
that Iโll win another Shardblade out there, then give it to them.โ The Parshendi had Shards. Not many, but even a single one was surprising. Nobody had an explanation for where theyโd gotten them. Dalinar had won a Parshendi Shardblade and Plate during his first year here. Heโd given both to Elhokar to award to a warrior he felt would be the most useful to Alethkar and the war effort.
Dalinar turned and entered the palace proper. The guards at the doorway saluted him and Renarin. The young man kept his eyes forward, staring at nothing. Some people thought him emotionless, but Dalinar knew he was just preoccupied.
โIโve been meaning to speak with you, son,โ Dalinar said. โAbout the hunt last week.โ
Renarinโs eyes flickered downward in shame, the edges of his mouth pulling back in a grimace. Yes, heย didย have emotions. He just didnโt show them as often as others.
โYou realize that you shouldnโt have rushed into battle as you did,โ Dalinar said sternly. โThat chasmfiend could have killed you.โ
โWhat would you have done, Father, if it had been me in danger?โ
โI donโt fault your bravery; I fault your wisdom. What if youโd had one of your fits?โ
โThen perhaps the monster would have swept me off the plateau,โ Renarin said bitterly, โand I would no longer be such a useless drain on everyoneโs time.โ
โDonโt say such things! Not even in jest.โ โWas it jest? Father, I canโt fight.โ
โFighting is not the only thing of value a man can do.โ The ardents were very specific about that. Yes, the highest Calling of men was to join the battle in the afterlife to reclaim the Tranquiline Halls, but the Almighty accepted the excellence of any man or woman, regardless of what they did.
You just did your best, picking a profession and an attribute of the Almighty to emulate. A Calling and a Glory, it was said. You worked hard at your profession, and you spent your life trying to live according to a single ideal. The Almighty would accept that, particularly if you were lighteyedโthe better your blood as a lighteyes, the more innate Glory you had already.
Dalinarโs Calling was to be a leader, and his chosen Glory was determination. Heโd chosen both in his youth, though he now viewed them very differently than he once had.
โYou are right, of course, Father,โ Renarin said. โI am not the first heroโs son to be born without any talent for warfare. The others all got along. So shall I. Likely I will end up as citylord of a small town. Assuming I donโt tuck myself away in the devotaries.โ The boyโs eyes turned forward.
I still think of him as โthe boy,โย Dalinar thought.ย Even though heโs now in his twentieth year.ย Wit had been right. Dalinar underestimated Renarin.ย How would I react, if I were forbidden to fight? Kept back with the women and the merchants?
Dalinar would have been bitter, particularly against Adolin. In fact, Dalinarย hadย often been envious of Gavilar during their boyhood. Renarin, however, was Adolinโs greatest supporter. He all but worshipped his elder brother. And he was brave enough to dash heedless into the middle of a battlefield where a nightmare creature was smashing spearmen and tossing aside Shardbearers.
Dalinar cleared his throat. โPerhaps it is time to again try training you in the sword.โ
โMy blood weaknessโโ
โWonโt matter a bit if we get you into a set of Plate and give you a Blade,โ Dalinar said. โThe armor makes any man strong, and a Shardblade is nearly as light as air itself.โ
โFather,โ Renarin said flatly, โIโll never be a Shardbearer. You yourself have said that the Blades and Plate we win from the Parshendi must go to the most skilled warriors.โ
โNone of the other highprinces give up their spoils to the king,โ Dalinar said. โAnd who would fault me if, for once, I made a gift to my son?โ
Renarin stopped in the hallway, displaying an unusual level of emotion, eyes opening wider, face eager. โYou are serious?โ
โI give you my oath, son. If I can capture another Blade and Plate, they will go to you.โ He smiled. โTo be honest, Iโd do it simply for the joy of seeing Sadeasโs face when you become a full Shardbearer. Beyond that, if your strength is made equal to others, I expect that your natural skill will make you shine.โ
Renarin smiled. Shardplate wouldnโt solve everything, but Renarin would have his chance. Dalinar would see to it.ย I know what itโs like to be a second son,ย he thought as they continued walking toward the kingโs chambers,ย overshadowed by an older brother you love yet envy at the same time. Stormfather, but I do.
I still feel that way.
โAh, good Brightlord Adolin,โ the ardent said, walking forward with open arms. Kadash was a tall man in his later years, and wore the shaved head and square beard of his Calling. He also had a twisting scar that ran around the top of his head, a memento from his earlier days as an army officer.
It was uncommon to find a man such as himโa lighteyes who had once been a soldierโin the ardentia. In fact, it was odd for any man to change his Calling. But it wasnโt forbidden, and Kadash had risen far in the ardentia considering his late start. Dalinar said it was a sign of either faith or perseverance. Perhaps both.
The warcampโs temple had started as a large Soulcast dome, then Dalinar had granted money and stonemasons to transform it into a more suitable house of worship. Carvings of the Heralds now lined the inside walls, and broad windows carved on the leeward side had been set with glass to let in the light. Diamond spheres blazed in bunches hung from the high ceiling, and stands had been set up for the instruction, practice, and testing of the various arts.
Many women were in at the moment, receiving instruction from the ardents. There were fewer men. Being at war, it was easy to practice the masculine arts in the field.
Janala folded her arms, scanning the temple with obvious dissatisfaction as she stood beside Adolin. โFirst a stinky leatherworkerโs shop, now the temple? I had assumed we would walk someplace at leastย faintlyย romantic.โ
โReligionโs romantic,โ Adolin said, scratching his head. โEternal love and all that, right?โ
She eyed him. โIโm going to go wait outside.โ She turned and walked out with her handmaiden. โAnd someone get me a storming palanquin.โ
Adolin frowned, watching her go. โIโll have to buy her something quite expensive to make up for this, I suspect.โ
โI donโt see what the problem is,โ Kadash said. โIย think religion is romantic.โ
โYouโre an ardent,โ Adolin said flatly. โBesides, that scar makes you a little too unsightly for my tastes.โ He sighed. โItโs not so much the temple that has set her off, but my lack of attention. I havenโt been a very good companion today.โ
โYou have matters pressing upon your mind, bright one?โ Kadash asked. โIs this about your Calling? You havenโt made much progress lately.โ
Adolin grimaced. His chosen Calling was dueling. By working with the ardents to make personal goals and fulfill them, he could prove himself to the Almighty. Unfortunately, during war, the Codes said Adolin was supposed to limit his duels, as frivolous dueling could wound officers who might be needed in battle.
But Adolinโs father avoided battle more and more. So what was the point of not dueling? โHoly one,โ Adolin said, โwe need to speak somewhere we canโt be overheard.โ
Kadash raised an eyebrow and led Adolin around the central apex. Vorin temples were always circular with a gently sloping mound at the center, by custom rising ten feet high. The building was dedicated to the Almighty, maintained by Dalinar and the ardents he owned. All devotaries were welcome to use it, though most would have their own chapter houses in one of the warcamps.
โWhat is it you wish to ask of me, bright one?โ the ardent asked once they reached a more secluded section of the vast chamber. Kadash was deferential, though he had tutored and trained Adolin during his childhood.
โIs my father going mad?โ Adolin asked. โOr could he really be seeing visions sent by the Almighty, as I think he believes?โ
โThatโs a rather blunt question.โ
โYouโve known him longer than most, Kadash, and I know you to be loyal. I also know you to be one who keeps his ears open and notices things, so Iโm sure youโve heard the rumors.โ Adolin shrugged. โSeems like a time for bluntness if there ever was one.โ
โI take it, then, the rumors are not unfounded.โ
โUnfortunately, no. It happens during every highstorm. He raves and thrashes about, and afterward claims to have seen things.โ
โWhat sorts of things?โ
โIโm not certain, precisely.โ Adolin grimaced. โThings about the Radiants. And perhapsโฆabout what is to come.โ
Kadash looked disturbed. โThis is dangerous territory, bright one. What you are asking me about risks tempting me to violate my oaths. I am an ardent, owned by and loyal to your father.โ
โBut he is not your religious superior.โ
โNo. But heย isย the Almightyโs guardian of this people, set to watch me and make certain I donโt rise above my station.โ Kadash pursed his lips. โIt is a delicate balance we walk, bright one. Do you know much of the Hierocracy, the War of Loss?โ
โThe church tried to seize control,โ Adolin said, shrugging. โThe priests tried to conquer the worldโfor its own good, they claimed.โ
โThat was part of it,โ Kadash said. โThe part we speak of most often. But the problem goes much deeper. The church back then, it clung to knowledge. Men were not in command of their own religious paths; the priests controlled the doctrine, and few members of the Church were allowed to know theology. They were taught to follow the priests. Not the Almighty or the Heralds, but the priests.โ
He began walking, leading Adolin around the back rim of the temple chamber. They passed statues of the Heralds, five male, five female. In truth, Adolin knew very little of what Kadash was saying. Heโd never had much of a mind for history that didnโt relate directly to the command of armies.
โThe problem, bright one,โ Kadash said, โwas mysticism. The priests claimed that common men could not understand religion or the Almighty. Where there should have been openness, there was smoke and whispers.
The priests began to claim visions and prophecies, though such things had been denounced by the Heralds themselves. Voidbinding is a dark and evil thing, and the soul of it was to try to divine the future.โ
Adolin froze. โWait, youโre sayingโโ
โDonโt get ahead of me please, bright one,โ Kadash assured, turning back toward him. โWhen the priests of the Hierocracy were cast down, the Sunmaker made a point of interrogating them and going through their correspondences with one another. It was discovered that thereย hadย been no prophecies. No mystical promises from the Almighty. That had all been an excuse, fabricated by the priests to placate and control the people.โ
Adolin frowned. โWhere are you going with this, Kadash?โ
โAs close as I dare to the truth, bright one,โ the ardent said. โAs I cannot be as blunt as you.โ
โYou think my fatherโs visions are fabrications, then.โ
โI would never accuse my highprince of lying,โ Kadash said. โOr even of feebleness. But neither can I condone mysticism or prophecy in any form. To do so would be to deny Vorinism. The days of the priests are gone. The days of lying to the people, of keeping them in darkness, are gone. Now, each man chooses his own path, and the ardents help him achieve closeness to the Almighty through it. Instead of shadowed prophecies and pretend powers held by a few, we have a population who understand their beliefs and their relationship with their God.โ
He stepped closer, speaking very softly. โYour father is not to be mocked or diminished. If his visions are true, then it is between him and the Almighty. All I can say is this: I know something of what it is to be haunted by the death and destruction of war. I see in your fatherโs eyes much of what I have felt, but worse. My personal opinion is that the things he sees are likely more a reflection of his past than any mystical experience.โ
โSo he is going mad,โ Adolin whispered. โI did not say that.โ
โYou implied that the Almighty probably wouldnโt send visions like these.โ
โI did.โ
โAnd that his visions are a product of his own mind.โ
โLikelyย so,โ the ardent said, raising his finger. โA delicate balance, you see. One that is particularly difficult to keep when speaking to my highprinceโs own son.โ He reached out, taking Adolinโs arm. โIf any are to
help him, it must be you. It would not be the place of any other, even myself.โ
Adolin nodded slowly. โThank you.โ
โYou should likely go see to that young woman now.โ
โYes,โ Adolin said with a sigh. โI fear that even with the right gift, she and I are not long for courting. Renarin will mock me again.โ
Kadash smiled. โBest not to give up so easily, bright one. Go now. But do return sometime so we can speak of your goals in regard to your Calling. It has been too long since youโve Elevated.โ
Adolin nodded and hurried from the chamber.
After hours going over the ledgers with Teshav, Dalinar and Renarin reached the hallway before the kingโs chambers. They walked in silence, the soles of their boots clapping the marble flooring, the sound echoing against stone walls.
The corridors of the kingโs war palace were growing richer by the week. Once, this hallway had been just another Soulcast stone tunnel. As Elhokar settled in, he had ordered improvements. Windows were cut into the leeward side. Marble tiling was set into the floor. The walls were carved with reliefs, with mosaic trim at the corners. Dalinar and Renarin passed a group of stonemasons carefully cutting a scene of NalanโElin, emitting sunlight, the sword of retribution held over his head.
They reached the kingโs antechamber, a large, open room guarded by ten members of the Kingโs Guard, dressed in blue and gold. Dalinar recognized each face; he had personally organized the unit, handpicking its members.
Highprince Ruthar waited to see the king. He had brawny arms folded in front of him, and wore a short black beard that surrounded his mouth. The red silk coat was cut short and did not button; almost more of a sleeved vest, it was a mere token nod to traditional Alethi uniform. The shirt underneath was ruffled and white, and his blue trousers were loose, with wide cuffs.
Ruthar glanced Dalinarโs way and nodded to himโa minor token of respectโthen turned to chat with one of his attendants. He cut off, however, as the guards at the doorway stepped aside to let Dalinar enter. Ruthar sniffed in annoyance. Dalinarโs easy access to the king galled the other highprinces.
The king wasnโt in his wardroom, but the wide doors to his balcony were open. Dalinarโs guardsmen waited behind as he stepped out onto the balcony, Renarin hesitantly following. The light outside was dimming as sunset neared. Setting the war palace up high like this was tactically sound, but it meant the place was mercilessly buffeted by storms. That was an old campaign conundrum. Did one choose the best position to weather storms, or did one seize the high ground?
Most would have chosen the former; their warcamps on the edge of the Shattered Plains were unlikely to be attacked, making the advantage of the high ground less important. But kings tended to prefer height. In this instance, Dalinar had encouraged Elhokar, just in case.
The balcony itself was a thick platform of rock cut onto the top of the small peak, edged with an iron railing. The kingโs rooms were a Soulcast dome sitting atop the natural formation, with covered ramps and stairways leading to tiers lower on the hillside. Those housed the kingโs various attendants: guards, stormwardens, ardents, and distant family members. Dalinar had his own bunker at his warcamp. He refused to call it a palace.
The king leaned against the railing, two guards watching from a distance. Dalinar motioned for Renarin to join them, so that he could speak with the king in private.
The air was coolโspring having come for a timeโand it was sweet with the scents of evening: blooming rockbuds and wet stone. Below, the warcamps were starting to come alight, ten sparkling circles filled with watch-fires, cook fires, lamps, and the steady glow of infused gems. Elhokar stared over the camps and toward the Shattered Plains. They were utterly dark, save for the occasional twinkle of a watchpost.
โDo they watch us, from out there?โ Elhokar asked as Dalinar joined
him.
โWe know their raiding bands move at night, Your Majesty,โ Dalinar
said, resting one hand on the iron railing. โI canโt help but think they watch us.โ
The kingโs uniform had the traditional long coat with buttons up the sides, but it was loose and relaxed, and ruffled lace poked out of the collar and cuffs. His trousers were solid blue, and were cut in the same baggy fashion as Rutharโs. It all looked so informal to Dalinar. Increasingly, their soldiers were being led by a slack group who dressed in lace and spent their evenings at feasts.
This is what Gavilar foresaw,ย Dalinar thought.ย This is why he grew so insistent that we follow the Codes.
โYou look thoughtful, Uncle,โ Elhokar said. โJust considering the past, Your Majesty.โ
โThe past is irrelevant. I only look forward.โ
Dalinar was not certain he agreed with either statement.
โI sometimes think I should be able to see the Parshendi,โ Elhokar said. โI feel that if I stare long enough, I will find them, pin them down so I can challenge them. I wish theyโd just fight me, like men of honor.โ
โIf they were men of honor,โ Dalinar said, clasping his hands behind his back, โthen they would not have killed your father as they did.โ
โWhy did they do it, do you suppose?โ
Dalinar shook his head. โThat question has churned in my head, over and over, like a boulder tumbling down a hill. Did we off end their honor? Was it some cultural misunderstanding?โ
โA cultural misunderstanding would imply that theyย haveย a culture. Primitive brutes. Who knows why a horse kicks or an axehound bites? I shouldnโt have asked.โ
Dalinar didnโt reply. Heโd felt that same disdain, that same anger, in the months following Gavilarโs assassination. He could understand Elhokarโs desire to dismiss these strange, wildland parshmen as little more than animals.
But heโdย seenย them during those early days. Interacted with them. They were primitive, yes, but not brutes. Not stupid.ย We never really understood them,ย he thought.ย I guess thatโs the crux of the problem.
โElhokar,โ he said softly. โIt may be time to ask ourselves some difficult questions.โ
โSuch as?โ
โSuch as how long we will continue this war.โ
Elhokar started. He turned, looking at Dalinar. โWeโll keep fighting until the Vengeance Pact is satisfied and my father is avenged!โ
โNoble words,โ Dalinar said. โBut weโve been away from Alethkar for six years now. Maintaining two far-flung centers of government is not healthy for the kingdom.โ
โKings often go to war for extended periods, Uncle.โ
โRarely do they do it for so long,โ Dalinar said, โand rarely do they bring every Shardbearer and Highprince in the kingdom with them. Our resources are strained, and word from home is that the Reshi border encroachments grow increasingly bold. We are still fragmented as a people, slow to trust one another, and the nature of this extended warโwithout a clear path to victory and with a focus on riches rather than capturing ground
โis not helping at all.โ
Elhokar sniffed, wind blowing at them atop the peaked rock. โYou say thereโs no clear path to victory? Weโve been winning! The Parshendi raids are coming less frequently, and arenโt striking as far westward as they once did. Weโve killed thousands of them in battle.โ
โNot enough,โ Dalinar said. โThey still come in strength. The siege is straining us as much as, or more than, it is them.โ
โWerenโtย youย the one to suggest this tactic in the first place?โ โI was a different man, then, flush with grief and anger.โ
โAnd you no longer feel those things?โ Elhokar was incredulous. โUncle, I canโt believe Iโm hearing this! You arenโtย seriouslyย suggesting that I abandon the war, are you? Youโd have me slink home, like a scolded axehound?โ
โI said they were difficult questions, Your Majesty,โ Dalinar said, keeping his anger in check. It was taxing. โBut theyย mustย be considered.โ
Elhokar breathed out, annoyed. โItโs true, what Sadeas and the others whisper. Youโre changing, Uncle. It has something to do with those episodes of yours, doesnโt it?โ
โThey are unimportant, Elhokar. Listen to me! What are we willing to give, in order to get vengeance?โ
โAnything.โ
โAnd if that means everything your father worked for? Do we honor his memory by undermining his vision for Alethkar, all to get revenge in his name?โ
The king hesitated.
โYou pursue the Parshendi,โ Dalinar said. โThat is laudable. But you canโt let your passion for just retribution blind you to the needs of our
kingdom. The Vengeance Pact has kept the highprinces channeled, but what will happen once we win? Will we shatter? I think we need to forge them together, to unite them. We fight this war as if we were ten different nations, fighting beside one another but notย withย one another.โ
The king didnโt respond immediately. The words, finally, seemed to be sinking in. He was a good man, and shared more with his father than others chose to admit.
He turned away from Dalinar, leaning against the railing. โYou think Iโm a poor king, donโt you, Uncle?โ
โWhat? Of course not!โ
โYou always talk about what Iย shouldย be doing, and where I am lacking. Tell me truthfully, Uncle. When you look at me, do you wish you saw my fatherโs face instead?โ
โOf course I do,โ Dalinar said. Elhokarโs expression darkened.
Dalinar laid a hand on his nephewโs shoulder. โIโd be a poor brother if I didnโt wish that Gavilar had lived. I failed himโit was the greatest, most terrible failure of my life.โ Elhokar turned to him, and Dalinar held his gaze, raising a finger. โBut just because I loved your father doesย notย mean that I think you are a failure. Nor does it mean I do not love you in your own right. Alethkar itself could have collapsed upon Gavilarโs death, butย youย organized and executed our counterattack. You are a fine king.โ
The king nodded slowly. โYouโve been listening to readings from that book again, havenโt you?โ
โI have.โ
โYou sound like him, you know,โ Elhokar said, turning back to look eastward again. โNear the end. When he began to actโฆerratically.โ
โSurely Iโm not so bad as that.โ
โPerhaps. But this is much like how he was. Talking about an end to war, fascinated by the Lost Radiants, insisting everyone follow the Codesโฆโ
Dalinar remembered those daysโand his own arguments with Gavilar.ย What honor can we find on a battlefield while our people starve?ย the king had once asked him.ย Is it honor when our lighteyes plot and scheme like eels in a bucket, slithering over one another and trying to bite each otherโs tails?
Dalinar had reacted poorly to his words. Just as Elhokar was reacting to his words now.ย Stormfather! Iย amย starting to sound like him, arenโt I?
That was troubling, yet somehow encouraging at the same time. Either way, Dalinar realized something. Adolin was right. Elhokarโand the highprinces with himโwould never respond to a suggestion that they retreat. Dalinar was approaching the conversation in the wrong way.ย Almighty be blessed for sending me a son willing to speak his mind.
โPerhaps you are right, Your Majesty,โ Dalinar said. โEnd the war?
Leave a battlefield with an enemy still in control? That would shame us.โ Elhokar nodded in agreement. โIโm glad you see sense.โ
โBut somethingย doesย have to change. We need a better way to fight.โ
โSadeas has a better way already. I spoke of his bridges to you. They work so well, and heโs captured so many gemhearts.โ
โGemhearts are meaningless,โ Dalinar said. โAllย of this is meaningless if we donโt find a way to get the vengeance we all want. You canโt tell me you enjoy watching the highprinces squabble, practically ignoring our real purpose in being here.โ
Elhokar fell silent, looking displeased.
Unite them. He remembered those words, booming in his head. โElhokar,โ he said, an idea occurring to him. โDo you remember what Sadeas and I spoke of to you when we first came here to war? The specialization of the highprinces?โ
โYes,โ Elhokar said. In the distant past, each of the ten highprinces in Alethkar had been given a specific charge for the governing of the kingdom. One had been the ultimate law in regard to merchants, and his troops had patrolled the roadways of all ten princedoms. Another had administrated judges and magistrates.
Gavilar had been very taken by the idea. He claimed it was a clever device, meant to force the highprinces to work together. Once, this system had forced them to submit to one anotherโs authority. Things hadnโt been done that way in centuries, ever since the fragmenting of Alethkar into ten autonomous princedoms.
โElhokar, what if you named me Highprince of War?โ Dalinar asked.
Elhokar didnโt laugh; that was a good sign. โI thought you and Sadeas decided that the others would revolt if we tried something like that.โ
โPerhaps I was wrong about that too.โ
Elhokar appeared to consider it. Finally, the king shook his head. โNo. They barely accept my leadership. If I did something like this, theyโd assassinate me.โ
โIโd protect you.โ
โBah. You donโt even take theย presentย threats on my life seriously.โ Dalinar sighed. โYour Majesty, Iย doย take threats to your life seriously.
My scribes and attendants are looking into the strap.โ โAnd what have they discovered?โ
โWell, so far we have nothing conclusive. Nobody has taken credit for trying to kill you, even in rumor. Nobody saw anything suspicious. But Adolin is speaking with leatherworkers. Perhaps heโll bring something more substantial.โ
โItย wasย cut, Uncle.โ โWe will see.โ
โYou donโt believe me,โ Elhokar said, face growing red. โYou should be trying to find out what the assassinsโ plan was, rather than pestering me with some arrogant quest to become overlord of the entire army!โ
Dalinar gritted his teeth. โI do this for you, Elhokar.โ
Elhokar met his eyes for a moment, and his blue eyes flashed with suspicion again, as they had the week before.
Blood of my fathers!ย Dalinar thought.ย Heโs getting worse.
Elhokarโs expression softened a moment later, and he seemed to relax. Whatever heโd seen in Dalinarโs eyes had comforted him. โI know you try for the best, Uncle,โ Elhokar said. โBut you have to admit that youโve been erratic lately. The way you react to storms, your infatuation with my fatherโs last wordsโโ
โIโm trying to understand him.โ
โHe grew weak at the end,โ Elhokar said. โEveryone knows it. I wonโt repeat his mistakes, and you should avoid them as wellโrather than listening to a book that claims that lighteyes should be the slaves of the darkeyes.โ
โThatโsย notย what it says,โ Dalinar said. โIt has been misinterpreted. Itโs mostly just a collection of stories which teach that a leader should serve those he leads.โ
โBah. It was written by the Lost Radiants!โ
โThey didnโt write it. It was their inspiration. Nohadon, an ordinary man, was its author.โ
Elhokar glanced at him, raising an eyebrow.ย See,ย it seemed to say.ย You defend it.ย โYou are growing weak, Uncle. I will not exploit that weakness. But others will.โ
โI amย notย getting weak.โ Yet again, Dalinar forced himself to be calm. โThis conversation has gone off the path. The highprinces need a single leader to force them to work together. I vow that if you name me Highprince of War, Iย willย see you protected.โ
โAs you saw my father protected?โ Dalinarโs mouth snapped shut.
Elhokar turned away. โI should not have said that. It was uncalled for.โ โNo,โ Dalinar said. โNo, it was one of the truest things you have said
to me, Elhokar. Perhaps you are right to distrust my protection.โ Elhokar glanced at him, curious. โWhy do you react that way?โ โWhat way?โ
โOnce, if someone had said that to you, youโd have summoned your Blade and demanded a duel! Now you agree with them instead.โ
โIโโ
โMy father started refusing duels, near the end.โ Elhokar tapped on the railing. โI see why you feel the need for a Highprince of War, and you may have a point. But the others very much like the present arrangement.โ
โBecause it is comfortable to them. If we are going to win, we willย needย to upset them.โ Dalinar stepped forward. โElhokar, maybe itโs been long enough. Six years ago, naming a Highprince of War might well have been a mistake. But now? We know one another better, and weโve been working united against the Parshendi. Perhaps it is time to take the next step.โ
โPerhaps,โ the king said. โYou think they are ready? Iโll let you prove it to me. If you can show me that they are willing to work with you, Uncle, then Iโll consider naming you Highprince of War. Is that satisfactory?โ
It was a solid compromise. โVery well.โ
โGood,โ the king said, standing up. โThen let us part for now. It is growing late, and I have yet to hear what Ruthar wishes of me.โ
Dalinar nodded his farewell, walking back through the kingโs chambers, Renarin trailing him.
The more he considered, the more he felt that this was the right thing to do. Retreating would not work with the Alethi, particularly not with their
current mind-set. But if he could shock them out of their complacency, force them to adopt a more aggressive strategyโฆ
He was still lost in thought considering that as they left the kingโs palace and made their way down the ramps to where their horses waited. He climbed astride Gallant, nodding his thanks to the groom who had cared for the Ryshadium. The horse had recovered from his fall during the hunt, his leg solid and hale.
It was a short distance back to Dalinarโs warcamp, and they rode in silence.ย Which of the highprinces should I approach first?ย Dalinar thought.ย Sadeas?
No. No, he and Sadeas were already seen working together too often. If the other highprinces began to smell a stronger alliance, it would drive them to turn against him. Best that he approach less powerful highprinces first and see if he could get them to work with him in some way. A joint plateau assault, perhaps?
Heโd have to approach Sadeas eventually. He didnโt relish the thought. Things were always so much easier when the two of them could work at a safe distance from one another. Heโ
โFather,โ Renarin said. He sounded dismayed.
Dalinar sat upright, looking around, hand going for his side sword even while he prepared to summon his Shardblade. Renarin pointed. Eastward. Stormward.
The horizon was growing dark.
โWas there supposed to be a highstorm today?โ Dalinar asked, alarmed.
โElthebar said it was unlikely,โ Renarin said. โBut heโs been wrong before.โ
Everyone could be wrong about highstorms. They could be predicted, but it was never an exact science. Dalinar narrowed his eyes, heart thumping. Yes, he could sense the signs now. The dust picking up, the scents changing. It was evening, but there should still be more light left. Instead, it was rapidly growing darker and darker. The very air felt more frantic.
โShould we go to Aladarโs camp?โ Renarin said, pointing. They were nearest Highprince Aladarโs warcamp, and perhaps only a quarter-hour ride from the rim of Dalinarโs own.
Aladarโs men would take him in. Nobody would forbid shelter to a highprince during a storm. But Dalinar shuddered, thinking of spending a highstorm trapped in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by another highprinceโs attendants. They would see him during an episode. Once that happened, the rumors would spread like arrows above a battlefield.
โWe ride!โ he called, kicking Gallant into motion. Renarin and the guardsmen fell in behind him, hooves a thunder to precurse the coming highstorm. Dalinar leaned low, tense. The grey sky grew clotted with dust and leaves blown ahead of the stormwall and the air grew dense with humid anticipation. The horizon burgeoned with thickening clouds. Dalinar and the others galloped past Aladarโs perimeter guards, who bustled with activity, holding their coats or cloaks against the wind.
โFather?โ Renarin called from behind. โAre youโโ โWe have time!โ Dalinar shouted.
They eventually reached the jagged wall of the Kholin warcamp. Here, the remaining soldiers wore blue and white and saluted. Most had already retreated to their enclosures. He had to slow Gallant to get through the checkpoint. However, it would just be another short gallop to his quarters. He turned Gallant, preparing to go.
โFather!โ Renarin said, pointing eastward.
The stormwall hung like a curtain in the air, speeding toward the camp. The massive sheet of rain was a silvery grey, the clouds above onyx black, lit from within by occasional flashes of lightning. The guards who had saluted him were hurrying to a nearby bunker.
โWe can make it,โ Dalinar said. โWeโโ
โFather!โ Renarin said, riding up beside him and catching his arm. โIโm sorry.โ
The wind whipped at them, and Dalinar gritted his teeth, looking at his son. Renarinโs spectacled eyes were wide with concern.
Dalinar glanced at the stormwall again. It was only moments away.
Heโs right.
He handed Gallantโs reins to an anxious soldier, who took the reins of Renarinโs mount as well, and the two of them dismounted. The groom rushed away, towing the horses into a stone stable. Dalinar almost followed
โthere would be fewer people to watch him in a stableโbut a nearby barrack had the door open, and those inside waved anxiously. That would be safer.
Resigned, Dalinar joined Renarin, dashing to the stone-walled barrack. The soldiers made room for them; there was a group of servants packed inside as well. In Dalinarโs camp, no one was forced to weather the tempests in stormtents or flimsy wooden shacks, and nobody had to pay for protection inside stone structures.
The occupants seemed shocked to see their highprince and his son step in; several paled as the door thumped shut. Their only light was from a few garnets mounted on the walls. Someone coughed, and outside a scattering of windblown rock chips sprayed against the building. Dalinar tried to ignore the uncomfortable eyes around him. Wind howled outside. Perhaps nothing would happen. Perhaps this timeโ
The storm hit. It began.