Chapter 70: An Honor

Spoiler Warning: This page contains detailed analysis of Chapter 70 of The Way of Kings. Read on only if you have finished this chapter.

Summary

Kaladin sits in the barrack with Teft, staring at three glowing topaz chips on the floor. Despite intense effort, he cannot draw in Stormlight. Teft insists Kaladin simply needs practice, comparing it to a baby learning to walk, but Kaladin remains frustrated. The older bridgeman recites the First Ideal of the Immortal Words—"Life before death, strength before weakness, journey before destination"—explaining that the Knights Radiant lived by these tenets and that true Radiance requires more than just inhaling Light.

The conversation is interrupted by Brightness Hashal, whose palanquin arrives at the barrack. She coldly informs Kaladin that Bridge Four will now carry bridges on every single assault, while still working chasm scavenging duty at night. This effectively doubles their exposure to danger and is clearly intended to wipe out the crew. Kaladin barely contains his fury, but his anger causes an unintended effect: he breathes in sharply and accidentally draws in a wisp of Stormlight, which Syl observes came because he was consumed with emotion.

Afterward, Kaladin leads the men into the chasm for practice. Breaking away from the group, he seeks out fresh Parshendi corpses with Syl. There he successfully inhales Stormlight deeply, feeling a raging tempest inside him. He attempts to walk up the chasm wall but fails and loses the Light. Undeterred, he cuts the carapace breastplate and helm from a Parshendi body and sends Lopen to fetch an armored vest, cap, wooden shield, and Parshendi bones. Kaladin ties the breastplate to the vest, attaches the helm to the cap, and binds bones to the shield, crafting a crude but functional disguise.

With Lopen watching, Kaladin infuses a handful of stones with Stormlight and sticks them to the wall of a shallow chasm. He climbs forty feet to the underside of a permanent bridge, reciting the First Ideal as he goes. He secures a rope, hoists the sack of armor up, and ties it in place. With a final deep breath, he cuts the rope and plummets to the ground, landing in a crouch as his remaining Stormlight explodes outward in a ring of luminescent smoke. He instructs Lopen to retrieve the hidden armor during the next bridge run and give it to him before the final plateau assault, a desperate gambit to protect his men.

Key Events

  • Teft explains the First Ideal and the nature of the Knights Radiant.
  • Hashal condemns Bridge Four to daily bridge runs, making their survival nearly impossible.
  • Kaladin accidentally inhales Stormlight for the first time after becoming enraged at Hashal.
  • He successfully draws in and holds Stormlight intentionally while in the chasm.
  • Kaladin harvests Parshendi carapace and constructs a disguise for a future bridge run.
  • Using Stormlight-infused stones, he climbs to a bridge underside and stashes the armor.
  • He falls forty feet and lands safely, proving his control over Stormlight.

Character Development

  • Kaladin: Shifts from helpless frustration to desperate action. His initial skepticism about the Radiant ideals gives way to a grudging acceptance as he recites the oath and feels its power. The chapter showcases his ingenuity and willingness to break every rule to save his crew.
  • Teft: Acts as a reluctant mentor, revealing his family’s hidden knowledge of the Radiants. His faith in Kaladin strengthens when he sees the return of Stormlight.
  • Syl: Plays the role of playful guide and conscience. She urges Kaladin to trust her and his abilities, and her presence reinforces his connection to the spren world.
  • Lopen: Provides unwavering loyalty and humor. His casual acceptance of Kaladin’s “crazy” plan highlights the bond within Bridge Four.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Honor as Irony: Hashal’s pronouncement “Consider it an… honor” mocks the very concept; her “honor” is a death warrant. This contrasts with the Radiant ideal of honor as protecting life.
  • The First Ideal: The motto recurs throughout the chapter—Kaladin recites it as a kind of prayer before drawing Stormlight, and it underpins his resolve to act even when the path seems impossible.
  • The Storm Within: Kaladin’s experience of Stormlight as a tempest raging inside his veins mirrors both the uncontrollable force of nature and his own bottled fury, which ultimately becomes the key to unlocking his power.
  • Desperate Measures: The entire sequence—scavenging enemy dead, crafting a disguise, climbing a wall with infused stones—underscores the theme that when rational plans fail, survival demands bold, even foolhardy, action.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 70 marks the point where Kaladin stops merely enduring and starts proactively fighting for his men’s survival. The revelation of the First Ideal gives him a moral framework for his powers, while Hashal’s escalation forces him to take radical steps. His resourcefulness with Parshendi armor foreshadows the eventual rebellion of Bridge Four, and the successful climb demonstrates that he can consciously wield Stormlight. This chapter deepens the mythology of the Knights Radiant and cements Kaladin’s transformation from broken slave to emerging hero.

Study Questions

  1. How does Teft’s explanation of the First Ideal influence Kaladin’s actions later in the chapter?
    Teft’s words resonate with Kaladin when he needs to draw in Stormlight during the climb. He recites the Ideal internally, which helps him focus and succeed. The ideal of “journey before destination” also reflects his willingness to take a risky path to protect his men.

  2. Why does Kaladin choose to collect Parshendi armor and hide it under the bridge?
    With Hashal’s increased bridge runs, Kaladin knows his crew faces certain death. He plans to use the armor during a bridge run to survive and possibly fight back. The subterfuge is necessary because openly wearing armor would be forbidden and punished.

  3. What does Kaladin’s failed attempt to walk on the chasm wall and his successful climb with infused rocks reveal about his developing abilities?
    The failures show that Stormlight use requires practice and intent, not just raw power. The creative solution with rocks demonstrates Kaladin’s resourcefulness and his intuitive grasp of infusion, a core Radiant skill. It also highlights that his powers are tied to protecting others, aligning with the Ideals.

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