Kaladin struggles to consciously draw Stormlight from spheres despite Teft’s coaching. Teft explains the Knights Radiant’s First Ideal—“Life before death, Strength before weakness, Journey before destination”—and frames Radiance as a code as much as a power. Kaladin remains skeptical but listens, weighing ideals against the brutal reality of bridgeman life.

Hashal arrives and orders Bridge Four onto every bridge run and night scavenging, effectively a death sentence. As Kaladin’s anger rises, Syl notices he reflexively inhales Stormlight when he breathes in. Determined to act immediately, Kaladin sends Teft to continue drills, tasks Syl to find Parshendi corpses, and leads the men to the chasms while he prepares a desperate countermeasure.

After organizing formations, Kaladin goes deeper alone, reflecting on deaths in the chasms and on purpose. Recalling the First Ideal, he successfully draws in Stormlight, discovering he can hold it by holding his breath. A reckless attempt to run on a wall fails, but he confirms the power’s vigor and limits.

At fresh Parshendi bodies, he and Lopen harvest carapace, then assemble improvised armor: breastplate and helm strapped to a spearman’s vest and cap, a shield faced with Parshendi bones. A nearby chasmfiend passes, underscoring the danger. Kaladin relocates to a shallow chasm beneath a fixed bridge to stage his plan.

Infusing fist-sized stones, he sticks them to the wall and climbs to the bridge’s underside, hauls up the sack, and ties the armor package in place to hide it from inspections. At Syl’s urging, he cuts his support rope and drops forty feet, cushioning the fall with a burst of Stormlight. He assigns Lopen to retrieve and deliver the hidden armor during the next run’s final assault, preparing to shield his men despite Hashal’s lethal edict.