Oathbringer
81. Ithi and Her Sister
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with a scene of strategic secrecy and concern over the potential consequences of certain actions, hinting at the delicate balance of power and the risks involved in using mystical artifacts. Melishi expresses confidence about the outcome, but Naze-daughter-Kuzodo warns of unforeseen side effects, emphasizing the tension between intent and consequence in their magical endeavors. This sets a tone of cautious experimentation and highlights the stakes involved in their mystical manipulations, which could impact not only their immediate environment but also broader political or spiritual realms.
The narrative then shifts to Kaladin, who introduces himself in a formal setting within a barrack, where a small group of military personnel and officers are gathered. As Kaladin interacts with Azure and Battalionlord Hadinar, the conversation reveals underlying tensions about the use of a Soulcaster and the secret techniques employed to avoid attracting dangerous spren. Kaladin’s guarded attitude underscores the clandestine nature of their activities, and the scene underscores the importance of secrecy in their efforts to manipulate magical resources without alerting enemies or causing chaos.
Further exploration uncovers a hidden tunnel beneath the city, used by Azure for covert operations. Azure demonstrates her ingenuity by cutting through stone to extract building material without drawing attention, revealing her fears of the city’s instability. The group discovers a concealed chamber where a skilled female ardent uses a fabrial, indicating the presence of a genuine Soulcaster. This discovery raises questions about the true source of their magical power, as Azure’s reliance on the woman suggests a layered approach to magic, blending ancient technology and mystical craft to sustain their defenses.
The chapter concludes with a discussion about the broader strategic situation, focusing on a mysterious ancient device capable of instant teleportation. Kaladin reveals the existence of this device in Kholinar, which could be instrumental in saving the city if activated correctly. The soldiers’ excitement contrasts with Kaladin’s cautious tone, hinting at the complex logistical and magical challenges they face. The chapter ends with a sense of urgency and unresolved tension, as Kaladin hesitates to disclose the location of the device, emphasizing the high stakes and the delicate nature of their plans to save the city from impending disaster.
FAQs
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1. What is the significance of the secret tunnel and hidden room described in the chapter, and how does it relate to the characters’ efforts to maintain secrecy while working on their projects?
Answer:
The secret tunnel and hidden room are crucial for the characters’ covert operations, allowing them to work without attracting the attention of the screamers or other enemies. Azure reveals a concealed corridor that runs through the city wall, which she uses to cut stone blocks at night, indicating her effort to secretly reinforce or repair the city’s defenses. The locked door leading to a room with a Soulcaster and a female ardent shows their reliance on clandestine magical resources. These hidden spaces symbolize the need for secrecy in their work, especially when dealing with dangerous or forbidden magic, and highlight the risks they take to preserve their efforts and protect the city.2. How does Azure’s use of reflective metal walls to hide her activities illustrate the balance between necessity and limitation in their efforts to use magic safely?
Answer:
Azure’s use of reflective metal walls to prevent the screamers from sensing their Soulcasting activities demonstrates a strategic measure to maintain secrecy and safety. While effective in blocking the screamers’ detection, it also has the drawback of preventing spanreeds from communicating with the outside, illustrating a trade-off between security and information flow. This highlights the difficult balance the characters must strike: protecting their operations from immediate threats while risking isolation and reduced communication. It underscores the complexity of using magic in wartime—sometimes, protective measures can inadvertently hinder coordination and intelligence.3. Why is Kaladin’s mention of the ancient device in Kholinar significant, and what challenges does he imply about utilizing it?
Answer:
Kaladin’s mention of the ancient device capable of transporting large groups across great distances is significant because it represents a potential solution for quickly evacuating or reinforcing the city, which is under threat. The device’s importance lies in its ability to facilitate rapid movement, crucial for survival and strategic advantage. However, Kaladin admits that activating this device is not straightforward, implying that only a select few can operate it, and perhaps that it requires specific knowledge or conditions to function. This challenge underscores the urgency and difficulty of leveraging ancient technology in modern warfare, emphasizing that even powerful tools require specialized skills and knowledge.4. In what ways does the chapter explore the theme of secrecy and the use of magic in wartime?
Answer:
The chapter highlights the importance of secrecy through the hidden tunnel, locked doors, and reflective walls that obscure the characters’ activities, especially their use of magic. Azure’s efforts to conceal her Soulcasting operations and the presence of a hidden corridor reflect the necessity of clandestine dealings in wartime, where exposure could lead to destruction or loss of advantage. The use of magical artifacts, like the Soulcaster and reflective metal, illustrates how magic is both a vital resource and a risky tool, requiring careful management. This exploration underscores the tension between the need for secrecy to survive and the limitations imposed by magical safeguards, emphasizing that wartime strategies often involve clandestine actions and protective measures.5. How does the chapter portray the relationship between individual heroism and collective effort in the context of saving the city?
Answer:
The chapter portrays individual heroism through Kaladin’s willingness to share knowledge of the ancient device and his efforts to understand and navigate the complex magical and strategic landscape. However, it also emphasizes collective effort—Azure’s secret operations, the squad’s work, and the city’s overall reliance on coordinated actions—highlighting that saving the city depends on many individuals working in secret and in concert. Kaladin’s recognition that activating the device is complicated and requires specialized skill suggests that heroism is not solely about individual actions but also about facilitating and supporting collective endeavors. It underscores the importance of teamwork, hidden efforts, and shared knowledge in facing large-scale threats.
Quotes
1. “We are uncertain the effect this will have on the parsh. At the very least, it should deny them forms of power. Melishi is confident, but Naze-daughter-Kuzodo warns of unintended side effects.”
This quote highlights the cautious approach and potential risks involved in manipulating powerful magical artifacts, setting the tone for the chapter’s exploration of hidden knowledge and its consequences.
2. “Kaladin, standing in the barrack common room—which had been emptied at the highmarshal’s order—introduced himself with quiet dignity, his words hinting at secrets and orders from the king, yet grounded in the reality of his humble origins.”
This passage underscores Kaladin’s complex identity—both as a soldier and as someone with access to secret, possibly dangerous, knowledge—and marks a key moment of introduction and revelation.
3. “Azure pointed at the sides of the room, and for the first time Kaladin noticed the walls were covered in reflective metal plates. He frowned and rested his fingers against one, and found it cool to the touch. This wasn’t steel, was it?”
This quote reveals the presence of mysterious reflective metal walls that serve as a crucial technological safeguard, illustrating the chapter’s theme of secret defenses and concealed technologies.
4. “We keep poor Ithi and her sister working nonstop, trading off the Soulcaster. Feeding the entire city would be an impossible task for the two of them, but we’ve been able to at least keep our army strong, with some to spare.”
This statement emphasizes the immense effort and sacrifice involved in maintaining the city’s defenses, highlighting the critical role of the Soulcasters and the hidden labor behind the scenes.
5. “There’s a device in Kholinar of ancient design. It can instantly transport large groups of people across great distances. The soldiers looked stunned—all but Azure, who perked up. ‘Really? You’re serious?’ Kaladin nodded. ‘Great! Let’s get this thing working! Where is it?’ Kaladin took a deep breath. ‘Well, that happens to be the problem…’”
This passage encapsulates the chapter’s main turning point—Kaladin’s revelation about the transportation device—and the immediate challenge that lies ahead, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on hope, strategy, and the daunting obstacles to saving the city.
Quotes
1. “We are uncertain the effect this will have on the parsh. At the very least, it should deny them forms of power. Melishi is confident, but Naze-daughter-Kuzodo warns of unintended side effects.”
This quote highlights the cautious approach and potential risks involved in manipulating powerful magical artifacts, setting the tone for the chapter’s exploration of hidden knowledge and its consequences.
2. “Kaladin, standing in the barrack common room — which had been emptied at the highmarshal’s order—introduced himself with quiet dignity, his words hinting at secrets and orders from the king, yet grounded in the reality of his humble origins.”
This passage underscores Kaladin’s complex identity—both as a soldier and as someone with access to secret, possibly dangerous, knowledge—and marks a key moment of introduction and revelation.
3. “Azure pointed at the sides of the room, and for the first time Kaladin noticed the walls were covered in reflective metal plates. He frowned and rested his fingers against one, and found it cool to the touch. This wasn’t steel, was it?”
This quote reveals the presence of mysterious reflective metal walls that serve as a crucial technological safeguard, illustrating the chapter’s theme of secret defenses and concealed technologies.
4. “We keep poor Ithi and her sister working nonstop, trading off the Soulcaster. Feeding the entire city would be an impossible task for the two of them, but we’ve been able to at least keep our army strong, with some to spare.”
This statement emphasizes the immense effort and sacrifice involved in maintaining the city’s defenses, highlighting the critical role of the Soulcasters and the hidden labor behind the scenes.
5. “There’s a device in Kholinar of ancient design. It can instantly transport large groups of people across great distances. The soldiers looked stunned—all but Azure, who perked up. ‘Really? You’re serious?’ Kaladin nodded. ‘Great! Let’s get this thing working! Where is it?’ Kaladin took a deep breath. ‘Well, that happens to be the problem…’”
This passage encapsulates the chapter’s main turning point—Kaladin’s revelation about the transportation device—and the immediate challenge that lies ahead, emphasizing the chapter’s focus on hope, strategy, and the daunting obstacles to saving the city.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the secret tunnel and hidden room described in the chapter, and how does it relate to the characters’ efforts to maintain secrecy while working on their projects?
Answer:
The secret tunnel and hidden room are crucial for the characters’ covert operations, allowing them to work without attracting the attention of the screamers or other enemies. Azure reveals a concealed corridor that runs through the city wall, which she uses to cut stone blocks at night, indicating her effort to secretly reinforce or repair the city’s defenses. The locked door leading to a room with a Soulcaster and a female ardent shows their reliance on clandestine magical resources. These hidden spaces symbolize the need for secrecy in their work, especially when dealing with dangerous or forbidden magic, and highlight the risks they take to preserve their efforts and protect the city.
2. How does Azure’s use of reflective metal walls to hide her activities illustrate the balance between necessity and limitation in their efforts to use magic safely?
Answer:
Azure’s use of reflective metal walls to prevent the screamers from sensing their Soulcasting activities demonstrates a strategic measure to maintain secrecy and safety. While effective in blocking the screamers’ detection, it also has the drawback of preventing spanreeds from communicating with the outside, illustrating a trade-off between security and information flow. This highlights the difficult balance the characters must strike: protecting their operations from immediate threats while risking isolation and reduced communication. It underscores the complexity of using magic in wartime—sometimes, protective measures can inadvertently hinder coordination and intelligence.
3. Why is Kaladin’s mention of the ancient device in Kholinar significant, and what challenges does he imply about utilizing it?
Answer:
Kaladin’s mention of the ancient device capable of transporting large groups across great distances is significant because it represents a potential solution for quickly evacuating or reinforcing the city, which is under threat. The device’s importance lies in its ability to facilitate rapid movement, crucial for survival and strategic advantage. However, Kaladin admits that activating this device is not straightforward, implying that only a select few can operate it, and perhaps that it requires specific knowledge or conditions to function. This challenge underscores the urgency and difficulty of leveraging ancient technology in modern warfare, emphasizing that even powerful tools require specialized skills and knowledge.
4. In what ways does the chapter explore the theme of secrecy and the use of magic in wartime?
Answer:
The chapter highlights the importance of secrecy through the hidden tunnel, locked doors, and reflective walls that obscure the characters’ activities, especially their use of magic. Azure’s efforts to conceal her Soulcasting operations and the presence of a hidden corridor reflect the necessity of clandestine dealings in wartime, where exposure could lead to destruction or loss of advantage. The use of magical artifacts, like the Soulcaster and reflective metal, illustrates how magic is both a vital resource and a risky tool, requiring careful management. This exploration underscores the tension between the need for secrecy to survive and the limitations imposed by magical safeguards, emphasizing that wartime strategies often involve clandestine actions and protective measures.
5. How does the chapter portray the relationship between individual heroism and collective effort in the context of saving the city?
Answer:
The chapter portrays individual heroism through Kaladin’s willingness to share knowledge of the ancient device and his efforts to understand and navigate the complex magical and strategic landscape. However, it also emphasizes collective effort—Azure’s secret operations, the squad’s work, and the city’s overall reliance on coordinated actions—highlighting that saving the city depends on many individuals working in secret and in concert. Kaladin’s recognition that activating the device is complicated and requires specialized skill suggests that heroism is not solely about individual actions but also about facilitating and supporting collective endeavors. It underscores the importance of teamwork, hidden efforts, and shared knowledge in facing large-scale threats.
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