33. Burdens
Contains spoilersOverview
Kaladin survives the fall, heals a Shardblade wound, and forces Szeth to flee upon realizing Radiants may be returning. Back with Dalinar’s party, they regroup and discover the countdown now reads thirty-eight days. Kaladin mourns Beld, rescues a maimed Hobber, and questions the assassin’s strange Blade and source of power.
Summary
Kaladin plummets with the Assassin in White, draws Stormlight from spheres on the assassin, and crashes to the ground with his right arm deadened by a Shardblade strike. Forcing the Stormlight to work, he restores color and sensation to the limb, consuming most of his Light.
Confronting the assassin, Kaladin claims to be a Windrunner. Szeth, stunned that another Surgebinder exists, names himself Truthless and flees into the night. Kaladin collapses, then awakens and returns to the king’s chambers, where Dalinar, Adolin, Elhokar, Navani, and Bridge Four survivors have regrouped.
Kaladin conceals his abilities, attributing his actions to instinct. Elhokar assumes he was the target, while Dalinar and Kaladin remain silent about Szeth’s true aim. Dalinar has ordered the servants evacuated. Adolin, suspicious of Kaladin’s miraculously whole arm, is shaken further when glyphs scratched on Elhokar’s door reveal a countdown: thirty-eight days until “the end of all nations.”
Retracing the fight’s path, Kaladin finds Beld dead, eyes burned out, and grieves the loss. With Syl, he debates responsibility and Surgebinding. Syl insists other honorspren have not done what she has, notes the assassin bears no spren, and says his Shardblade felt different, consuming unusual amounts of Light.
Kaladin discovers Hobber alive but with legs rendered grey and lifeless by the Shardblade. Reassuring Hobber he remains Bridge Four and promising him a new role, Kaladin draws more Light, lifts him despite exhaustion, and carries him back to the others—renewing his commitment to protect.
Who Appears
- Kaladin
Windrunner; survives the fall, heals a Shardblade wound, confronts Szeth, mourns Beld, rescues Hobber.
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano (Assassin in White)
Surgebinding assassin; shocked by another Windrunner’s existence, declares himself Truthless, and flees.
- Sylphrena (Syl)
Honorspren; notes the dead, counsels Kaladin, and remarks the assassin’s Blade felt different and sprenless.
- Dalinar Kholin
Target of the assassin; survives, orders evacuations, and leads the shaken group after the attack.
- Adolin Kholin
Wounded by Szeth; suspects something about Kaladin’s arm, witnesses the countdown revelation.
- Elhokar Kholin
Shaken king; drinks heavily, assumes he was the target, discovers his door defaced with the countdown.
- Navani Kholin
With Elhokar during the aftermath; questions Szeth’s return and reacts to the scratched warning.
- Renarin Kholin
Exhausted; discards his Shardblade and reads the glyphs: thirty-eight days to the end.
- Moash
Bridge Four member; guards the king’s chambers and reports the evacuation of servants.
- Mart
Bridge Four sentry; challenges Kaladin in the hall and helps guard the king’s room.
- Eth
Bridge Four medic; tends Dalinar’s injuries after the attack.
- Beld
Bridge Four veteran; killed by Szeth, eyes burned, bearing Bridge Four freedom tattoos.
- Hobber
Bridge Four man; survives with legs deadened by Shardblade. Kaladin vows he remains Bridge Four.