Wind and Truth (The Stormlight Archive, #5)

by Brandon Sanderson

Ishar moved with a crash of speed. A pop, and a rush, and suddenly he was there with a hand at Kaladin’s throat. “I will crush you. You will fall here, Stormblessed. You cannot help. You cannot stop me. Everyone you love will die for this insolence. Doesn’t that terrify you?” “Yes,” Kaladin admitted. The darkness wanted him to see himself failing. It tried to show him. Except Kaladin had learned, and Words formed without him realizing that he’d begun to know them. The Words that both soldier and surgeon needed to learn eventually. Two halves of one man. A singular lesson. A step forward from what he’d learned in storm and tempest two weeks ago, Words said in agony. This was a counterpoint, learned with a peace that flowed through him and held off the darkness. Quiet Words. Reminiscent of what Teft had learned, and his friend’s wisdom helped now. Kaladin rested his hand comfortingly on Ishar’s shoulder, ignoring the hand at his throat, and spoke them. “I will protect myself, so that I may continue to protect others.”