17. Trapped in Shadows

Kaladin, bound by the escaped parshmen, learns they are guided by a Voidspren and discusses his own understanding of slavery with their leader. When he notices their supplies are spoiling, he offers practical survival advice and regains their cautious trust by demonstrating how to preserve their food and build fires in damp conditions.

Kaladin remains tied to a tree in the parshmen's camp as they debate his fate, with Khen arguing for his execution while others question the necessity. He observes a group of parshmen children with orange-pink carapaces, recognizing them as a family unit rather than mere bred animals. As the group moves at nightfall, Kaladin's captor questions him about the card game, and Kaladin notes the familiar feeling of fleeing—reminiscent of his own escape attempts as a slave. When Kaladin calls them runaway slaves, his captor erupts in fury, explaining how parshmen were mentally suppressed their entire lives, their families torn apart for breeding purposes, before Kaladin's people literally stole their ability to change forms. Syl reveals a Voidspren is guiding the parshmen and that the Everstorm restored their minds and souls. Kaladin offers tactical advice about splitting into smaller groups and avoiding the riverbed, though his captor remains skeptical. At a rest stop, the parshman's daughter brings Kaladin water and asks why humans must chase them, expressing her innocence and confusion. Syl overhears plans to camp, noting the Voidspren wants them to march through the day. Kaladin cuts his bonds and summons Syl as a knife, but rather than escape, he uses a rockbud shell to demonstrate how to preserve their spoiling grain supplies. The parshmen, initially suspicious, are impressed enough by his survival knowledge that they return his knife and have him build a fire, which he accomplishes despite the wet conditions.