27. Chasm Duty
Contains spoilersOverview
Kaladin exposes an apothecary price-fixing scheme and sells knobweed sap, briefly weighing escape before recommitting to protecting Bridge Four. Forced into chasm duty, he leads salvage, stuns the crew with expert spearwork witnessed alongside a strange spren, and learns Parshendi grow carapace armor. That night, he unites the crew with stew, song, and a fire, and by morning most join his training.
Summary
Kaladin confronts the camp apothecary, discovering a cartel gouging the army for knobweed sap. He leverages the man’s fear to sell a bottle for a skymark and bandages, then wrestles with the temptation to escape. Choosing instead to protect his men, he returns to find Gaz has reassigned Bridge Four to dreaded chasm duty as punishment and example.
Descending into the dim, damp rifts, Kaladin marks their path with chalk and organizes salvage, showing reverence for the dead. He keeps Teft, Rock, and the shy singer Dunny talking to ease the crew’s fear, drawing a few others closer. They gather gear and spheres amid corpses, wary of chasmfiends and floods.
Provoked by taunts from Moash and others, Kaladin unconsciously falls into a breathtaking spear kata, moving with speed and grace that stuns the bridgemen; Teft even sees a pale, darting spren around him. Kaladin downplays it and continues the work. Around a bend, they find Parshendi bodies and discover their armor is grown carapace fused to the flesh. They salvage knives and infused gemstones from beards, noting intricate carvings that suggest unexpected culture.
On the return, Kaladin plans to win hearts quickly. That evening he buys a cauldron and ingredients, and with Rock’s cooking and Dunny’s songs, he builds a fire outside their barrack. The warmth and stew lure men like Skar out despite Gaz’s scowling pass-by, creating rare camaraderie without breaking any rules.
At dawn, most of Bridge Four answer Kaladin’s call and shoulder the bridge for practice; only a few holdouts, including Moash and Sigzil, refuse. Kaladin has begun binding the crew together—turning despair into purpose—while accelerating their chances to survive.
Who Appears
- Kaladin
Bridgeleader; sells knobweed sap, resists escaping, leads chasm salvage, reveals expert spear kata with spren present, and unites Bridge Four with stew and drills.
- Teft
Veteran bridgeman; trains with Kaladin, accompanies chasm duty, witnesses spren around Kaladin’s kata, helps with salvage and evening gathering.
- Rock (Numuhukumakiaki’aialunamor)
Horneater cook and humorist; assists in chasms, explains culture, prepares stew that draws bridgemen together, supports Kaladin’s leadership.
- Syl
Windspren; warns that the apothecary is lying, accompanies Kaladin, and is associated with the glowing spren seen during his spear kata.
- Gaz
Bridge sergeant; suspicious of Kaladin, assigns punitive chasm duty, later eyes the fire and stew but refuses engagement.
- Dunny
Young bridgeman and singer; helps in chasm salvage, sings to lift spirits, fetches water, and aids the evening stew gathering.
- Moash
Bridgeman detractor; mocks Kaladin in the chasms, later refuses to join morning drills.
- Sigzil
Dark-skinned bridgeman; criticizes Kaladin’s leadership in the chasms and remains a morning holdout.
- Skar
Bridgeman; first to accept stew at the fire, helping break the crew’s isolation.
- Hobber
Wounded bridgeman saved by Kaladin; emerges to support the evening fire and remains loyal.
- Apothecary
Camp supplier; part of a price-fixing scheme, buys Kaladin’s knobweed sap for a skymark and bandages.
- Drehy
Bridgeman; defends Kaladin during taunts and later engages in conversation on the return.