Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive, #4)

by Brandon Sanderson

The Pursuer’s head … it was pulling forward against his neck, his eyes bulging. He groaned, and Venli realized that Stormblessed had infused the ground, then made it pull on the Pursuer’s head. But his body was stuck to the wall. Kaladin turned and strode toward the watching Heavenly Ones as the Pursuer’s head ripped from his body and slammed to the floor with a crunch.

He knew where he was going. He’d stood on this ledge before. Long ago in the rain. This time he jumped.

Raboniel launched herself at him, clawing up his body. Her legs didn’t work, but she gripped Moash with talonlike fingers, snarling, and stabbed him repeatedly with the dagger Navani had left.

She expected to hear whimpering or weeping—the only response she’d received over the last few days. This time she heard a strange tone, both harmonious and discordant at once. The Rhythm of War.

“I’m not strong enough,” he whispered to the angry winds, and closed his eyes, letting go of her hand.

Venli braced herself. Then she drew in Stormlight from the spheres in her pocket, and let herself begin glowing. Leshwi hummed immediately to Destruction and grabbed Venli by the face in a powerful grip. “What?” she said. “What have you done?”

WHY WON’T YOU SAY THE WORDS? the Stormfather asked. “I’ve forgotten them,” Kaladin whispered. YOU HAVE NOT.

“Tien,” Kaladin said. “Why did you do it? You should have stayed safe.” Tien turned to him, then smiled. “They would have been alone. They needed someone to help them feel brave.” “They were slaughtered,” Kaladin said. “So were you.” “So it was good someone was there, to help them not feel so alone as it happened.” “You were terrified. I saw your eyes.” “Of course I was.” Tien looked at him as the charge began, and the enemy advanced up the hillside. “Who wouldn’t be afraid? Doesn’t change that I needed to be here. For them.”

Then Tien, poor little Tien, wrapped his arms around Kaladin and held him. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “I’m here. To help you feel brave.”

“Why do we fight, Kal? Why do we keep going?” “I don’t know,” Kaladin whispered. “I’ve forgotten.” “It’s so we can be with each other.” “They all die, Tien. Everyone dies.” “So they do, don’t they?” “That means it doesn’t matter,” Kaladin said. “None of it matters.” “See, that’s the wrong way of looking at it.” Tien held him tighter. “Since we all go to the same place in the end, the moments we spent with each other are the only things that do matter. The times we helped each other.”

“I’m not strong enough,” Kaladin whispered. “You’re strong enough for me.” “I’m not good enough.” “You’re good enough for me.” “I wasn’t there.” Tien smiled. “You are here for me, Kal. You’re here for all of us.” “And…” Kaladin said, tears on his cheeks, “if I fail again?” “You can’t. So long as you understand.”

“I accept it, Stormfather! I accept that there will be those I cannot protect!” The storm rumbled, and he felt warmth surrounding him, Light infusing him. He heard Syl gasp, and a familiar voice, not the Stormfather’s. THESE WORDS ARE ACCEPTED. “We couldn’t save Teft, Syl,” Kaladin whispered. “We couldn’t save Tien. But we can save my father.” And when he opened his eyes, the sky exploded with a thousand pure lights.

She flew directly into the fight and began pulling away the soldiers, shouting for them to halt. When they didn’t, Leshwi started swinging. And in seconds her troops had joined her, as singer fought singer.

“Emulsifier,” Navani whispered. What? “A joined purpose. Humans and singers. Honor and Odium. They’re fighting to protect the helpless, Sibling.”

Honor’s song welled up inside her, and she sang it. The pillar began to vibrate as the Sibling sang Cultivation’s song. The pure sound of Lifelight. The sound began to shift, and Navani modulated her tone, inching it closer and closer to … The two snapped into harmony. The boundless energy of Cultivation, always growing and changing, and the calm solidity of Honor—organized, structured. They vibrated together. Structure and nature. Knowledge and wonder. Mixing. The song of science itself.

Navani, the Sibling said. I accept your Words.

“Journey before destination, you bastard.”

But as he did, he found scabs flaking away, the brands falling off to the stones below like a shell outgrown, discarded. Clean, smooth skin was left behind.

The room went dark. Then it shone as crystals grew out from his feet like … like stained glass windows, covering the floor. They showed a figure rising in blue-glowing Shardplate, and a tower coming alight. Keep fighting, a voice said in his head. Salvation will be, Rlain, listener. Bridger of Minds. I have been sent to you by my mother, at the request of Renarin, Son of Thorns. I have watched you and seen your worthiness. Speak the Words, and do not despair.

War was a masculine art, but when you started attacking women, you’d stopped engaging in war. You deserved anything that happened to you after that point.

Kaladin Stormblessed, bright as the sun.

“You may turn in your weapons,” Stormblessed said to the enemy. “And return to your kind unharmed, so long as you promise me one thing.” He smiled. “Tell him that I’m particularly going to enjoy hearing what he looked like when he found out what happened here today.”

Spren don’t have corpses, the Stormfather said. Spren do not die like men. They are power that cannot be destroyed. They … This is IMPOSSIBLE.

And before that, a terrible sound. It had pushed away his Connection to Odium, forcing Moash to feel pain for the things he’d done—pain he didn’t want. Pain he’d given away. That pain seethed and spread inside him. He’d killed Teft. He’d. Killed. TEFT.

Odium feared men who would not obey him. He feared Dalinar.

Taravangian seized the sword and pulled it free of its scabbard, hearing it scream for pleasure. He turned and thrust it upward—black smoke curling around his hands. “Destroy!” the sword bellowed. “DESTROY!” Taravangian rammed it up into Odium’s chest.

Taravangian hesitated briefly, then thrust his hands into the well of power. And Ascended to godhood, becoming Odium.

And Shallan had not one Shardblade, but two.

FAREWELL, ESHONAI, the Rider of Storms said. FAREWELL, RADIANT.