Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive, #2)

by Brandon Sanderson

‘Historians,’ Shallan said, ‘are a bunch of liars.’ ‘Mmmmm,’ Pattern said, sounding satisfied. ‘That wasn’t a compliment.’ ‘Oh.’

‘This is a Surge,’ Pattern said. ‘Sound is a part of it. Mmm . . . Cousins of one another. Very similar. It can be done.’ ‘How?’ ‘Mmmm. Somehow.’ ‘You’re very helpful.’ ‘I am glad . . .’ He trailed off. ‘Lie?’ ‘Yup.’

‘Perhaps a story for a child,’ Wit said. ‘I will tell you one, to get you in the mood. A bunny rabbit and a chick went frolicking in the grass together on a sunny day.’ ‘A chick . . . baby chicken?’ Kaladin said. ‘And a what?’ ‘Ah, forgot myself for a moment,’ Wit said. ‘Sorry. Let me make it more appropriate for you. A piece of wet slime and a disgusting crab thing with seventeen legs slunk across the rocks together on an insufferably rainy day. Is that better?’

‘That is a joke,’ Pattern continued. ‘I understand why it is funny. Ha ha.

Pattern hummed. ‘I’m sorry that your mystical, godlike powers do not instantly work as you would like them to.’ She raised an eyebrow at him. ‘I thought you didn’t understand humor.’ ‘I do. I just explained . . .’ He paused for a moment. ‘Was I being funny? Sarcasm. I was sarcastic. By accident!’ He seemed surprised, even gleeful.

‘Yes!’ Pattern said. He zipped off toward the stairs, excited to be part of the lie.

‘You want to get a palanquin?’ Lopen asked. ‘Those are for women.’ ‘Ain’t nothing wrong with being a woman, gancho,’ Lopen said. ‘Some of my relatives are women.’