AFTERWORD

Chapter 4

Navani’s Notebook: The Fourth Bridge

Overview

Kaladin engages a dangerous new variety of Fused with teleportation abilities near Hearthstone, surviving a harrowing battle. Meanwhile, Shallan (disguised as Chanasha) is drugged and kidnapped in the Sadeas warcamp as planned, and Kaladin arrives at Hearthstone to evacuate the townspeople on Navani's newly constructed flying platform.

Summary

Kaladin battles a seventh variety of Fused capable of teleporting via ribbons of red-violet light. The creature proves far more dangerous than previous enemies, employing expert grappling tactics and repeatedly severing Kaladin's spine. After a prolonged and nearly fatal fight, Kaladin determines the Fused cannot maintain bodies indefinitely and must retreat to refill on Voidlight. He eventually outpaces the creature through sustained Lashing and returns to Hearthstone. Upon arrival, he quickly defeats the six singer soldiers accompanying the Fused and discovers the Herdazian resistance leader, the Mink, has slipped away from his guards in characteristic fashion. Kaladin meets with his mother Hesina and confronts his father Lirin, who reiterates his refusal to abandon Hearthstone. Kaladin reveals he has arranged evacuation: a massive floating platform constructed by Navani appears overhead, crewed by two dozen Windrunners in formation. In a parallel sequence, Shallan operates under the guise of a merchant named Chanasha in the Sadeas warcamp, attempting to provoke her own kidnapping by the Sons of Honor. After weeks of careful undercover work, her drugged wine finally takes effect, and she loses consciousness—her kidnapping has begun as planned.

Characters

  • KaladinWindrunner who battles a new Fused variety and returns to Hearthstone to evacuate the townspeople
  • SylKaladin's spren companion who forms weapons and provides emotional support during the battle
  • The FusedSeventh variety of Fused with teleportation powers who nearly kills Kaladin in a grappling-focused battle
  • HesinaKaladin's mother who manages refugees and welcomes him upon his return
  • OrodenKaladin's young brother who plays with Syl
  • LirinKaladin's father, a surgeon who refuses to abandon Hearthstone despite the danger
  • AbiajanSinger who helps persuade the defeated singer soldiers to retreat
  • The MinkHerdazian resistance leader who sneaks away from his guards before Kaladin can meet him
  • RoshoneBrightlord mentioned as conferring with Hesina and Laral about managing refugees
  • LaralPerson whom Kaladin's mother gathers to help organize the townspeople
  • Shallan/VeilOperating undercover as merchant Chanasha in the Sadeas warcamp; is drugged and kidnapped
  • PatternShallan's spren who watches from hiding and monitors her location for Adolin's soldiers
  • AdolinMentioned as having soldiers stationed to protect Shallan during her undercover operation
  • NavaniConstructs and pilots the floating platform that arrives to evacuate Hearthstone
  • ChanashaReal merchant whose identity Shallan has borrowed for her undercover mission
  • The shoe merchantSadeas warcamp merchant who belongs to the Sons of Honor and agrees to Shallan's business proposition
  • Serving girlWinehouse employee who serves Shallan her drugged wine
  • LynCharacter mentioned as having broken up with Kaladin before this chapter
  • RadiantOne of Shallan's personality aspects who interacts with Veil during the undercover operation
  • The tall HerdazianGuard of the Mink who explains his leader's habit of sneaking away from his men