41. Scars

Kaladin discovers he can manipulate gravity as a Windrunner, walking on the chasm walls by reorienting which direction is 'down.' After testing this newfound ability with Rock, Lopen, and Sigzil, he deduces that King Elhokar's railing was cut by a Shardblade after the highstorm—suggesting sabotage by one of the highprinces. Renarin Kholin then arrives at Bridge Four's barracks requesting to join the group as a common soldier, which Kaladin reluctantly accepts.

Kaladin begins the chapter training Bridge Seventeen in the chasms, though he grows anxious about racing against an unnamed deadline. Syl presses him to articulate what he truly wants, leading Kaladin to confess he must verify whether Dalinar is genuinely honorable before trusting him with knowledge of his abilities. He also vows to kill Amaram for past crimes. Kaladin then meets with Rock, Lopen, and Sigzil to discuss the Assassin in White's abilities; Syl confirms the assassin is a Windrunner like Kaladin. As Kaladin experimentally channels Stormlight against the chasm wall, he achieves the breakthrough: he reorients gravity and walks up the vertical surface, eventually racing toward the sky. Later, investigating the cleared chasm area, he and his companions deduce that King Elhokar's railing was cut with a Shardblade by someone who accessed the balcony after the storm, likely with help from an accomplice using a rope. Kaladin recalls that Moash was on the balcony that night, unsettling him. That evening, Renarin Kholin arrives at Bridge Four's barracks and requests to join as a regular soldier. Kaladin questions him about his epilepsy with medical knowledge surprising even himself, and ultimately assigns Renarin menial duties as a test. Moash expresses discomfort with Renarin's presence but accepts Kaladin's reasoning. When Moash and others invite Kaladin to drink at taverns, he declines, claiming he can no longer live a carefree life.