Chapter 34: 1-4: RYSN
Spoiler Warning: This page explores details from Chapter 34 of The Way of Kings. If you haven't read this chapter and wish to avoid spoilers, proceed with caution.
Summary
Rysn, an apprentice merchant to Babsk Vstim, arrives in Shinovar after a long journey. Stepping off the caravan wagon, she is disturbed by the grass beneath her feet—it doesn't retract when touched, unlike any grass she knows. The ground, which Vstim calls "soil," feels springy and unsettling. Rysn notices the complete absence of spren, making the landscape feel eerily dead.
At Vstim's direction, she sets up a tripod fabrial designed to detect approaching people, using a large heliodor gemstone. Soon, a group of Shin riders approaches. Their arrival is announced by the fabrial's glowing pulse. The group is led by a farmer in a bright, multicolored cloak, while his attendants wear more subdued clothing. Thresh-son-Esan, a translator, dismounts and greets Vstim in Thaylen. Rysn is astonished to learn that the plainly dressed men in brown are warriors—the lowest social class in Shin society—while the farmer is revered.
Vstim presents a crate of scrap metal Soulcast from shells and bark, certified by notaries as having never been mined. Thresh is delighted, as the Shin value metal that hasn't broken rocks. In return, Vstim receives chickens, cloth, and dried meats. During the negotiation, both parties emphasize how worthless their goods are—a stark contrast to typical haggling. Vstim later explains that the Shin respect humility and straightforwardness; trying to cheat them would be futile.
As they conclude the trade, Vstim privately asks about acquiring another Shin soldier, referring to a "Truthless" he once owned. Thresh declines, stating such individuals are rare and cannot be sold to outsiders. After the Shin depart, Vstim instructs Rysn to dig up some grass and soil in a pot and care for it, promising it will make her a better merchant by teaching her to stop seeing unfamiliar things as odd.
Key Events
- Rysn experiences Shinovar's immobile grass and soil, and notes the lack of spren.
- Vstim has Rysn set up a valuable warning fabrial.
- A Shin delegation arrives, headed by a farmer; warriors are low‑status men in brown.
- Vstim trades Soulcast scrap metal for livestock and goods, using a form of humble negotiation.
- Vstim reveals he once owned a Truthless from the Shin, whom he later traded away.
- Rysn is tasked with keeping a pot of Shin grass to cultivate understanding.
Character Development
Rysn: The chapter is presented from her perspective, highlighting her Thaylen upbringing and biases. She finds Shinovar alien, from the unresponsive grass to the social hierarchy. Her initial disdain (comparing the land to a brain-damaged man) slowly gives way to curiosity as Vstim guides her. By the end, she is willing to follow his odd request, showing a budding openness to learn.
Vstim: The seasoned merchant demonstrates why he succeeds in unusual markets. He respects Shin customs, speaks their language, and trades with transparency. His methods emphasize empathy and long-term trust over short-term gain. The lesson he imparts—that understanding differences is vital for a merchant—encapsulates his wisdom.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Immobile Grass: The grass that doesn't retract symbolizes Shinovar's isolation and the Shin people's resistance to change. It also represents the unfamiliar, which Rysn must learn not to dismiss.
- Soil: Literally foreign to Rysn, soil stands for the foundational differences between cultures—what one people takes for granted, another finds bizarre.
- Fabrial: The detection device underscores the theme of preparedness and the value of new technology in a dangerous world.
- Reversed Social Order: In Shin society, farmers are holy and warriors are beneath even servants. This inversion challenges Rysn's—and the reader's—assumptions about status and worth.
- Humble Negotiation: The trade scene exemplifies a cultural practice where both sides downplay their goods. It teaches that commerce can be built on mutual respect rather than deception.
Why This Chapter Matters
"Rysn" serves as a crucial worldbuilding interlude, offering the first in-depth look at Shinovar and its unique ecology and customs. It reinforces the broader theme that perception shapes reality—something fundamental to the Stormlight Archive. Moreover, the chapter plants seeds for future storylines: the mention of the Truthless foreshadows Szeth's backstory, and Rysn's introduction sets up her later roles. Her assigned task to care for the grass echoes the series' emphasis on seeking to understand before judging.
Study Questions and Answers
-
What makes the grass in Shinovar so strange to Rysn, and how does she initially react?
The grass does not retract or move when stepped on, and no spren appear around it. Rysn finds it "slow of wit" and compares it to a brain-damaged man. She sees the entire landscape as dead and unsettling. -
How does the trade negotiation with the Shin differ from typical haggling?
Instead of hyping their wares, both Vstim and Thresh emphasize how worthless their goods are. This humility aligns with Shin cultural values, and Vstim explains that the Shin respect honesty and undervaluation, rewarding it with fair payment. -
Why does Vstim want Rysn to care for the pot of grass, and what lesson is he teaching?
He wants her to stop thinking of the grass as odd and instead learn to understand it. By caring for something foreign, she will become a better merchant—one who approaches unfamiliar people and customs with an open mind rather than scorn.