Search Jump: Comments
    Chapter Index
    Back to Story
    Cover of Oathbringer
    Adventure FictionFantasyFantasyFiction

    Oathbringer

    by Sanderson, Brandon
    Oathbringer, the third book in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive series, is an epic fantasy novel set on the planet Roshar. It follows Dalinar Kholin as he confronts his past, unravels ancient secrets, and strives to unite warring factions against existential threats. The story explores themes of leadership, memory, and redemption amid catastrophic conflicts and mystical revelations, advancing the series’ intricate world-building and character development.
    PreviousNext
    Oathbringer

    74. Swiftspren

    by Sanderson, Brandon

    The chap­ter begins with Veil reflect­ing on a dar­ing leap from a tow­er, cap­tur­ing her sense of free­dom and long­ing for the wind’s embrace. Her thoughts reveal a desire for con­nec­tion and the bit­ter­sweet nature of her actions, empha­siz­ing her com­plex emo­tions. As she moves through the city, she vis­its Grund, an urchin, and oth­er local inhab­i­tants, deliv­er­ing food and gath­er­ing infor­ma­tion. These inter­ac­tions high­light her efforts to main­tain rela­tion­ships and her aware­ness of the dan­ger­ous envi­ron­ment around her, espe­cial­ly with the ongo­ing threat posed by the Ever­storm and the unsta­ble polit­i­cal land­scape of Kholi­nar.

    Veil’s obser­va­tions of the city’s inhab­i­tants deep­en her under­stand­ing of the suf­fer­ing and fears that per­vade the pop­u­la­tion. She notes the pres­ence of var­i­ous spren—particularly hunger and fearspren—signaling the per­va­sive unrest and emo­tion­al tur­moil. Her role as a covert oper­a­tive is under­scored by her sub­tle manip­u­la­tions, includ­ing send­ing illu­sions of her­self to gath­er intel­li­gence and spread her rep­u­ta­tion secret­ly. Her inter­nal dia­logue reveals her desire to do more than small acts of kind­ness; she rec­og­nizes the lim­i­ta­tions of her cur­rent efforts but remains com­mit­ted to mak­ing a mean­ing­ful dif­fer­ence.

    The nar­ra­tive shifts to Veil’s par­tic­i­pa­tion in the Cult of Moments, where she adopts the guise of a Swift­spren, a spren that sym­bol­izes swift move­ment and change. She trans­forms her­self with Storm­light, blend­ing into the cult’s parade and observ­ing their chant­i­ng and rit­u­als. Veil sens­es the allure of sur­ren­der and release that the cultists expe­ri­ence, feel­ing their col­lec­tive desire to embrace change, storm, and spren. Her immer­sion in this scene reflects her strate­gic attempt to gath­er intel­li­gence and influ­ence the cult from with­in, all while grap­pling with her own doubts and the need to think on a grander scale.

    In the final moments, Veil’s inter­nal con­flict inten­si­fies as she rec­og­nizes her vul­ner­a­bil­i­ty to dark­ness and the seduc­tive pow­er of the cult’s ide­ol­o­gy. Her sense of pur­pose is chal­lenged by the real­iza­tion that she may have been car­ried away by the dark­ness rather than pur­su­ing her orig­i­nal goal of locat­ing the Oath­gate. Stand­ing amidst the chant­i­ng and illu­sions, she becomes acute­ly aware of the impor­tance of main­tain­ing her resolve and clar­i­ty. The chap­ter con­cludes with her trem­bling, aware that her actions and choic­es are crit­i­cal to her mis­sion and her own sense of iden­ti­ty amid the chaos sur­round­ing her.

    Down­load Free PDF

    FAQs

    • 1. Question 1

      What does Veil’s interaction with Grund and the other characters reveal about her character and her current situation?
      Answer:
      Veil’s interactions with Grund, Muri, and the beggars highlight her compassionate side and her sense of responsibility despite her clandestine activities. She provides food and aid, reflecting her desire to help those suffering in the city, even if her actions are covert and risky. Her suspicion of Grund indicates her awareness of potential threats and her cautious nature. The fact that she is recognized as “Swiftspren” and is spreading her reputation through illusions suggests she is also strategic, using her abilities to influence perceptions. Overall, these interactions reveal her complex character—caring and determined but also burdened by the secrecy and danger of her role in the city’s unrest.

      2. Question 2

      How does Veil’s use of illusion and her transformation into the Swiftspren reflect her internal struggles and her approach to her mission?
      Answer:
      Veil’s transformation into the Swiftspren through illusions symbolizes her desire to adopt a more powerful, impactful persona beyond her previous limitations. The elaborate costume and her ability to blend into the crowd illustrate her efforts to think bigger and act more boldly. This transformation also mirrors her internal conflict: she is trying to reconcile her identity as a broken girl with her aspirations to influence and protect others. Her desire to do “more” and think “grander schemes” indicates her frustration with small-scale actions and her longing for greater significance. The illusion becomes a tool for both her strategic goals and her psychological need for empowerment and agency.

      3. Question 3

      What is the significance of the cult of moments and their chant in the chapter, and how does Veil’s participation in their ritual reflect her evolving understanding of her role?
      Answer:
      The cult of moments, with its chant of “Our time has passed” and “The spren have come,” symbolizes a collective surrender to change and transformation, embracing the chaos and new order brought by the spren and storm. Veil’s participation—wearing the garb of a spren and immersing herself in their chants—demonstrates her willingness to adopt their mindset, at least temporarily, to gain insight and influence. It reflects her internal struggle between her desire for control and her recognition of the power of surrender and chaos. Her immersion in their ritual signifies her evolving understanding that sometimes, embracing transition and relinquishing resistance can be a strategic move, aligning her with forces of change rather than opposing them.

      4. Question 4

      In what ways does Veil’s reflection on her small actions versus her desire to think “grander schemes” reveal her growth as a character?
      Answer:
      Veil’s acknowledgment that her current efforts—feeding a few people—are “too small” and her desire to think “grander schemes” reveal her aspiration to have a more profound impact. This shift indicates her growth from focusing solely on immediate, small-scale aid to understanding the importance of larger strategic plans, possibly involving influence over cults, spren, or political forces. It shows her awareness that her potential is greater than her current actions and that she seeks to leverage her abilities and influence more effectively. This introspection marks a maturation in her understanding of her role, moving from reactive to proactive, and signifies her ambition to be a catalyst for broader change.

      5. Question 5

      Evaluate the symbolism of Veil’s illusionary costume as a spren and her internal dialogue about “thinking bigger.” What might this suggest about her future path and the themes of identity and transformation?
      Answer:
      Veil’s illusionary costume as a spren symbolizes her desire to embody a more powerful, influential identity—one that transcends her previous limitations and self-doubt. The costume, elaborate and striking, represents her aspiration to become something more significant, aligning with the spren’s themes of change and evolution. Her internal dialogue about “thinking bigger” underscores a key theme of transformation: that true growth involves adopting new perspectives and embracing larger visions. This suggests her future path may involve deeper engagement with the spren, the cult, and the larger forces at play, as she seeks to redefine herself beyond her past and current role. It reflects a journey from concealment and struggle toward self-empowerment and strategic influence, central themes in her character arc.

    Quotes

    • 1. “Today, I leaped from the tower for the last time. I felt the wind dance around me as I fell all the way along the eastern side, past the tower, and to the foothills below. I’m going to miss that.”

      This opening quote captures the narrator’s sense of finality and longing, setting a reflective tone that underscores themes of departure and change central to the chapter.

      2. “She had prepared packages for the two women who stayed here with Grund… She checked in on Muri next, the former seamstress with three daughters. She was of second nahn, high ranking for a darkeyes, and had run a successful business in a town near Revolar. Now she trolled the water ditches following storms for the corpses of rats and cremlings.”

      This passage highlights the stark contrast between past prosperity and current hardship, emphasizing the resilience and shifting circumstances of the chapter’s characters.

      3. “The Swiftspren!” he said. “Look, the Swiftspren!” He cackled, digging into the package, and his friend roused from his sleep and snatched some flatbread.”

      This quote illustrates the spreading reputation of Veil as the Swiftspren, blending her clandestine activities with folklore and the perception of her as a mythic figure, which is crucial to understanding her influence and identity.

      4. “I have to do more, I have to think grander schemes.”

      This introspective line reveals Veil’s internal conflict and her realization that her current efforts are too small, hinting at her desire for greater impact and the need to evolve her plans.

      5. “Embrace the end.”

      This haunting phrase, spoken by the spren-like influence during the cult’s chanting, encapsulates the chapter’s exploration of surrender, transition, and the allure of releasing control—central themes that drive the narrative’s tension.

    Quotes

    1. “Today, I leaped from the tower for the last time. I felt the wind dance around me as I fell all the way along the eastern side, past the tower, and to the foothills below. I’m going to miss that.”

    This opening quote captures the narrator’s sense of finality and longing, setting a reflective tone that underscores themes of departure and change central to the chapter.

    2. “She had prepared packages for the two women who stayed here with Grund… She checked in on Muri next, the former seamstress with three daughters. She was of second nahn, high ranking for a darkeyes, and had run a successful business in a town near Revolar. Now she trolled the water ditches following storms for the corpses of rats and cremlings.”

    This passage highlights the stark contrast between past prosperity and current hardship, emphasizing the resilience and shifting circumstances of the chapter’s characters.

    3. “The Swiftspren!” he said. “Look, the Swiftspren!” He cackled, digging into the package, and his friend roused from his sleep and snatched some flatbread.”

    This quote illustrates the spreading reputation of Veil as the Swiftspren, blending her clandestine activities with folklore and the perception of her as a mythic figure, which is crucial to understanding her influence and identity.

    4. “I have to do more, I have to think grander schemes.”

    This introspective line reveals Veil’s internal conflict and her realization that her current efforts are too small, hinting at her desire for greater impact and the need to evolve her plans.

    5. “Embrace the end.”

    This haunting phrase, spoken by the spren-like influence during the cult’s chanting, encapsulates the chapter’s exploration of surrender, transition, and the allure of releasing control—central themes that drive the narrative’s tension.

    FAQs

    1. Question 1

    What does Veil’s interaction with Grund and the other characters reveal about her character and her current situation?
    Answer:
    Veil’s interactions with Grund, Muri, and the beggars highlight her compassionate side and her sense of responsibility despite her clandestine activities. She provides food and aid, reflecting her desire to help those suffering in the city, even if her actions are covert and risky. Her suspicion of Grund indicates her awareness of potential threats and her cautious nature. The fact that she is recognized as “Swiftspren” and is spreading her reputation through illusions suggests she is also strategic, using her abilities to influence perceptions. Overall, these interactions reveal her complex character—caring and determined but also burdened by the secrecy and danger of her role in the city’s unrest.

    2. Question 2

    How does Veil’s use of illusion and her transformation into the Swiftspren reflect her internal struggles and her approach to her mission?
    Answer:
    Veil’s transformation into the Swiftspren through illusions symbolizes her desire to adopt a more powerful, impactful persona beyond her previous limitations. The elaborate costume and her ability to blend into the crowd illustrate her efforts to think bigger and act more boldly. This transformation also mirrors her internal conflict: she is trying to reconcile her identity as a broken girl with her aspirations to influence and protect others. Her desire to do “more” and think “grander schemes” indicates her frustration with small-scale actions and her longing for greater significance. The illusion becomes a tool for both her strategic goals and her psychological need for empowerment and agency.

    3. Question 3

    What is the significance of the cult of moments and their chant in the chapter, and how does Veil’s participation in their ritual reflect her evolving understanding of her role?
    Answer:
    The cult of moments, with its chant of “Our time has passed” and “The spren have come,” symbolizes a collective surrender to change and transformation, embracing the chaos and new order brought by the spren and storm. Veil’s participation—wearing the garb of a spren and immersing herself in their chants—demonstrates her willingness to adopt their mindset, at least temporarily, to gain insight and influence. It reflects her internal struggle between her desire for control and her recognition of the power of surrender and chaos. Her immersion in their ritual signifies her evolving understanding that sometimes, embracing transition and relinquishing resistance can be a strategic move, aligning her with forces of change rather than opposing them.

    4. Question 4

    In what ways does Veil’s reflection on her small actions versus her desire to think “grander schemes” reveal her growth as a character?
    Answer:
    Veil’s acknowledgment that her current efforts—feeding a few people—are “too small” and her desire to think “grander schemes” reveal her aspiration to have a more profound impact. This shift indicates her growth from focusing solely on immediate, small-scale aid to understanding the importance of larger strategic plans, possibly involving influence over cults, spren, or political forces. It shows her awareness that her potential is greater than her current actions and that she seeks to leverage her abilities and influence more effectively. This introspection marks a maturation in her understanding of her role, moving from reactive to proactive, and signifies her ambition to be a catalyst for broader change.

    5. Question 5

    Evaluate the symbolism of Veil’s illusionary costume as a spren and her internal dialogue about “thinking bigger.” What might this suggest about her future path and the themes of identity and transformation?
    Answer:
    Veil’s illusionary costume as a spren symbolizes her desire to embody a more powerful, influential identity—one that transcends her previous limitations and self-doubt. The costume, elaborate and striking, represents her aspiration to become something more significant, aligning with the spren’s themes of change and evolution. Her internal dialogue about “thinking bigger” underscores a key theme of transformation: that true growth involves adopting new perspectives and embracing larger visions. This suggests her future path may involve deeper engagement with the spren, the cult, and the larger forces at play, as she seeks to redefine herself beyond her past and current role. It reflects a journey from concealment and struggle toward self-empowerment and strategic influence, central themes in her character arc.

    Note