Rhythm of War (The Stormlight Archive #4) - Brandon Sanderson Page 0,456

the knowledge you seek, but also have a say in what we are doing. Our grand plans.”

Inside, Veil perked up at this. But Shallan was surprised by how much she responded to that offer. A full Ghostblood? That was the way … The way to …

“Strike at a Herald,” she said. “It sounds wrong, Mraize. Very wrong.”

“You are weak,” he said. “You know it.”

She bowed her head.

“But part of you is not,” he continued. “A part that can be that strong. Let that side of you do what needs to be done. Save your husband, your kingdom, and your world all at once. Become that hunter, Shallan.

“Become the knife.”

* * *

The honorspren surrounding the High Judge made room for Adolin as he approached, Blended following behind. He didn’t miss the glares that many of them gave her. No, there was no love lost between the two varieties of spren.

He should probably feel reverence for the High Judge. This was Kelek, though the spren called him Kalak for some reason. Either way, he was one of the Heralds—so Blended had explained. Many people back home thought of him as the Stormfather, and though that had never been true, he was one of the most ancient beings in all of creation. A god to many. An immortal soldier for justice and Honor.

He was also short, with thinning hair. He felt like the type of man you’d find administering some minor city in the backwater of Alethkar. And if he was anything like Ash or Taln, the two Heralds who now resided at Urithiru …

Well, his acquaintance with those two caused Adolin to lower his expectations in this particular case.

Kelek spoke with several honorspren leaders as they strolled up the lower portion of the western plane, entering a stone pathway made up of a multitude of colored cobblestones vaguely in the pattern of a gust of wind. The group paused as they saw Adolin ahead.

He removed his hand from his sword out of respect, then bowed to the Herald.

“Hmm? A human?” Kelek said. “Why is he here? He looks dangerous, Sekeir.”

“He is,” said the honorspren beside Kelek. Sekeir was a leader of the fortress, and appeared as an ancient honorspren with a long blue-white beard. “This is Adolin Kholin, son of Dalinar Kholin.”

“The Bondsmith?” Kelek said, and shied away from Adolin. “Good heavens! Why have you let him in here?”

“I have come, great one,” Adolin said, “to petition the honorspren for their aid in our current battle.”

“Your current battle? Against Odium?” Kelek laughed. “Boy, you’re doomed. You realize that, right? Tanavast is dead. Like, completely dead. The Oathpact is broken somehow. The only thing left is to try to get off the ship before it sinks.”

“Holy Lord,” Sekeir said, “we let this one in because he offered to stand trial in the stead of the humans, for the pain they have caused our people.”

“You’re going to try him for the Recreance?” Kelek asked, looking around uncertainly at the others near him. “Isn’t that a bit extreme?”

“He offered, Holy Lord.”

“Not a smart one, is he?” Kelek looked to Adolin, who hesitantly pulled up from his bow. “Huh. You’ve gotten yourself in deep, boy. They take this kind of thing very seriously around here.”

“I hope to show them, great one, that we are not their enemies. That the best course forward is for them to join us in our fight. It is, one might say, the honorable choice.”

“Honor is dead,” Kelek snapped. “Aren’t you paying attention? This world belongs to Odium now. He has his own storm, for heaven’s sake.”

Blended nudged Adolin. Right. He was so distracted by Kelek that he’d forgotten the purpose of meeting with him.

“Great one,” Adolin said, “I’ve decided to petition for a trial by witness. Would you be willing to grant me this?”

“Trial by witness?” Kelek said. “Well, that would make this mess end faster. What do you think, Sekeir?”

“I don’t think this would be a wise—”

“Hold on; I don’t care what you think,” Kelek said. “Here I am, years after joining you, and you still don’t have a way for me to get off this cursed world. Fine, boy, trial by witness it is. We can start it … um, the day after tomorrow? Is that acceptable for everyone?”

No one objected.

“Great,” Kelek said. “Day after tomorrow. Okay then. Um … let’s have it at the forum, shall we? I guess everyone will want to watch, and that has the most seats.”

“Object to this,” Blended whispered to Adolin. “Do not