One year earlier, Kaladin, now a respected squadleader in Highmarshal Amaram’s army, prepares for a border battle. He bribes rival squadleader Gare to transfer a green recruit, Cenn, then secures priority care from the surgeons by paying Ven. Determined to keep his men alive, Kaladin positions the squad at the front.

As the lines clash, Cenn is knocked down. Kaladin breaks formation to save him, felling six enemies in a fluid assault and binding Cenn’s leg. Spotting a lighteyed battalionlord, Kaladin orchestrates a pincer and personally kills the officer, though finds no spheres, as Amaram’s forces begin to steady.

A golden Shardbearer erupts through Amaram’s lines, trampling Cenn and casually killing Dallet and others. Kaladin is overwhelmed by grief but tries to save who he can; Cenn dies uttering a cryptic warning. The Shardbearer drives toward Amaram, whose horse is felled, pinning him.

Kaladin rallies his squad against the Shardbearer. The enemy’s Shardblade cuts down most of them in moments. With Amaram crawling clear, Kaladin engages alone, probing for a weakness. After a failed dagger throw at the visor slit, he seizes a falling spearhead midair and drives it into the slit, killing the Shardbearer.

Amaram, freed, confirms the Shardbearer is dead as the armor falls and the Blade remains. Kaladin’s surviving men urge him to claim the prize, but he refuses, haunted by his fallen friends, and instead offers the Shardblade to Coreb and the squad. He leaves the field, emotionally spent.