58. Never Again

Kaladin is imprisoned for insulting Highlord Sadeas in court, despite Dalinar's attempts to protect him. Elhokar demands execution but settles for imprisonment, while Sadeas narrowly escapes being trapped into an immediate duel and vows to destroy Dalinar through spies and assassins.

Kaladin sits chained in Dalinar's rooms as the commander argues with King Elhokar over the soldier's fate. Elhokar is furious that Kaladin publicly challenged Sadeas, believing it ruined their opportunity to shame the highlord into an immediate duel. Sadeas has instead agreed to face Adolin in one year's time—a delay that may render the duel meaningless. Elhokar demands execution as punishment for slandering a highlord, but Dalinar refuses to allow it and threatens to make an enemy of the king if he tries. Elhokar settles for indefinite imprisonment. Dalinar privately confronts Kaladin, revealing he investigated Kaladin's accusations against Amaram and found seventeen witnesses contradicting Kaladin's account—Amaram won his Shardblade four months ago, long after Kaladin claims to have been enslaved. Dalinar insists Kaladin is wrong and orders him to accept his imprisonment without resistance, emphasizing the kingdom's dire situation requires discipline, not vengeance. In his quarters, Sadeas trembles with fury and relief at his narrow escape. He realizes Adolin is growing into a formidable warrior like his father once was, and resolves that Dalinar must be destroyed. He orders his wife Ialai to mobilize all their spies and informants against Dalinar, followed by deployment of assassins to leave him desperate and broken. Kaladin is escorted through camp to the prison, where he is placed in an isolated stone cell with steel bars, chains still binding his wrists and feet. Syl appears, and Kaladin declares he will never trust lighteyes again.