The Way of Kings
by Brandon Sanderson
Contents
17. A Bloody, Red Sunset
Overview
Kaladin buys minimal medical supplies, learns more about the warcamps, then answers a chasmfiend hunt call. During the assault he takes the deathpoint, survives the volley, and rescues wounded bridgemen, performing improvised surgery to save lives. He confronts Gaz, bribing and threatening him to allow carrying the wounded back, even as a sphere drains unexpectedly. Kaladin’s leadership hardens: “They’re my men.”
Summary
Kaladin visits an apothecary, revealing his surgeon’s training as he buys bandages, a needle, and cheap larmic mucus after learning true antiseptics are prohibitively expensive for a bridgeman. He keeps one infused sphere for luck and light. Back in camp, he observes the divided warcamps and the gemheart races, while Syl laments human discord.
Horns sound for a chasmfiend chrysalis. Bridge Four forms up, and Kaladin refuses to rest at crossings, choosing to stand as the army passes—drawing jeers and notice, even from Highprince Sadeas. When the Parshendi arrive first, the assault begins. Kaladin abandons his safer post and takes the deathpoint, displacing Rock.
A hail of arrows cuts down Murk, Leyten, Adis, and Corl beside Kaladin. He feels a sudden surge of strength and survives as some Parshendi momentarily lower their bows. Bridge Four drops their bridge under covering fire, enabling Sadeas’s cavalry charge.
Afterward, Kaladin drags wounded to shelter, rescuing Hobber and a shocked Dabbid while finding Koorm dead. He pulls Gadol clear, but despite urgent efforts and a delirious warning, Gadol dies. Rock and Teft retrieve Leyten; Kaladin organizes the crew, heats a knife, cauterizes, stitches, cleans with a watergourd, and splints with arrows, stabilizing Leyten and treating Hobber and Dabbid.
Determined not to abandon the injured, Kaladin orders plans to lash them atop the bridge for the return. He confronts Gaz, who cites standing orders to leave non-walkers, and Kaladin counters with a bribe and a deadly threat; Gaz relents. The sphere he pays with proves unexpectedly dun. As victory cries rise and Parshendi retreat, Kaladin claims responsibility: “They’re my men,” resolving to rely on Gaz’s greed to protect them.
Who Appears
- KaladinBridgeleader and former surgeon’s apprentice; takes the deathpoint, rescues and treats wounded, and forces Gaz to allow their return.
- Sylphrena (Syl)Windspren companion; awed by the apothecary’s age, critiques human discord, flits during the charge, and warns Kaladin about Gaz.
- RockHorneater bridgeman; displaced from deathpoint, helps retrieve wounded and carry Dabbid, assists Kaladin despite calling him crazy.
- TeftGrizzled bridgeman; aids Rock in retrieving Leyten, supports Kaladin’s medical efforts, and offers him water.
- GazOne-eyed bridge sergeant; enforces leaving wounded, takes a bribe under intimidation, notices Kaladin’s sphere gone dun.
- LeytenBridgeman struck by arrows and trampled; stabilized by Kaladin through cautery, stitching, and splinting.
- HobberBridgeman with an arrow through the leg; rescued to cover and treated by Kaladin.
- DabbidBridgeman in shock with a broken arm; dragged from the chasm lip and set/splinted.
- GadolWounded bridgeman; pulled from danger but dies after a delirious, ominous warning.
- Highprince SadeasCommander of the assault; crosses the bridges, leads cavalry, emblematic of wasteful bridgeman tactics.
- DunnyYoung bridgeman; retrieves a knife and assists with Kaladin’s improvised surgery.
- NarmBridgeman who struggles but succeeds in starting the fire; provides heat for cauterization.
- MoashSkeptical bridgeman; supplies flint and steel, later assigned to help carry wounded.
- Brightlord LamarilGaz’s superior; cited as the authority behind leaving wounded, expected to depart with the main body.
- ApothecaryElderly merchant; sells bandages, larmic mucus, and needle; remarks on Kaladin’s dun spheres.
- MurkFront-row bridgeman; killed by the initial Parshendi volley beside Kaladin.
- AdisFront-row bridgeman; falls in the first arrowstorm during the assault.
- CorlFront-row bridgeman; killed in the initial volley at the chasm.
- KoormBridgeman found dead on the battlefield during Kaladin’s rescue efforts.