Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
“Rhythm of War” is the fourth installment in Brandon Sanderson’s epic fantasy series, The Stormlight Archive. Set on the planet Roshar, the novel continues the conflict between Dalinar Kholin’s coalition of Knights Radiant and the forces of Odium, a malevolent god seeking dominion. The story delves deeper into the psychological and emotional struggles of key characters, including Kaladin, Shallan, and Navani, as they grapple with war, trauma, and the mysteries of ancient magics. Themes of resilience, identity, and the cost of power are explored amidst intricate world-building and high-stakes battles. The book expands the Cosmere universe, revealing new layers of lore and setting the stage for future confrontations.
46. The Weight of the Tower
bySanderson, Brandon
The chapter opens with Navani Kholin adapting to life under Fused occupation in Urithiru, demonstrating resilience despite being denied servants. She maintains her dignity by presenting herself impeccably, even without access to functioning fabrials for warm water. Summoned to the library, Navani encounters Raboniel, the Fused leader, who reviews her research notes. Their interaction is tense yet measured, as Navani bows with calculated deference and agrees to continue her scholars’ work under Raboniel’s supervision—a decision she views as both dangerous and necessary for survival.
Raboniel questions Navani about the missing schematics for her flying machine, prompting Navani to strategize. Recognizing she cannot conceal the technology indefinitely, Navani decides to feign cooperation by offering to reconstruct the designs from memory. She begins sketching conjoined fabrials, explaining their vertical lift mechanism while withholding full details. Raboniel proves surprisingly knowledgeable, pressing Navani on how lateral movement is achieved, which leads to a pivotal exchange about fabrial mechanics and aluminum’s role in disrupting Connection.
The conversation takes a revelatory turn when Raboniel mentions Voidspren’s reluctance to manifest as devices, unlike spren of Honor or Cultivation. This insight stuns Navani, helping her realize that Soulcasters are not containers for spren but spren themselves—manifesting physically like Shardblades. Awespren erupt around her as the implications unfold, exposing gaps in modern Rosharan understanding compared to ancient knowledge. Raboniel observes Navani’s astonishment with amusement, highlighting the irony that Navani’s innovations surpass ancient achievements yet overlook foundational truths.
The chapter concludes with technical discussions about fabrial limitations, including the challenge of simultaneous vertical and lateral motion. Navani shares her team’s workarounds while Raboniel speculates about applications for mobile spanreeds. Their dialogue blends scholarly collaboration with underlying tension, as Navani probes Raboniel about Fused weaponry—only to be dismissed. The exchange underscores their uneasy alliance, with Navani balancing deception and genuine scientific curiosity amid the occupation’s constraints.
FAQs
1. Comprehension Question
What significant revelation does Navani have about fabrials and spren during her conversation with Raboniel?
Answer:
Navani realizes that fabrials like Soulcasters do not contain spren—they are spren manifesting in the Physical Realm, similar to Shardblades. This epiphany comes when Raboniel mentions that Voidspren are less willing to manifest as devices compared to spren of Honor or Cultivation. Navani connects this to the tower’s non-functional fabrials, which lack gemstones because the spren themselves became the devices. This explains why ancient fabrials like Soulcasters appear as metal objects rather than gemstone-based mechanisms, fundamentally altering her understanding of fabrial mechanics.
2. Analytical Question
How does Navani balance cooperation and resistance in her interactions with Raboniel? Provide specific strategies she employs.
Answer:
Navani adopts a calculated approach: she feigns cooperation to buy time while withholding critical information strategically. For example, she claims the flying platform schematics exist only in her mind, forcing Raboniel to rely on her for reconstruction. She also selectively shares knowledge (e.g., explaining lateral fabrial movement) to appear compliant while omitting key details (like simultaneous vertical/horizontal motion limitations). Her bow—precise but not subservient—mirrors this duality. By appearing useful yet maintaining control over information, Navani stalls for potential future resistance.
3. Application Question
How might Raboniel’s comment about aluminum’s interference with Connection influence future fabrial research?
Answer:
Raboniel’s observation that aluminum disrupts Connection could lead to breakthroughs in spanreed communication and mobile fabrials. If researchers isolate how aluminum affects Spiritual Realm bonds, they might engineer fabrials that maintain functionality during motion—solving Navani’s current limitation where vertical and lateral movement cannot occur simultaneously. Additionally, this principle could be applied to shield fabrials from enemy interference or create portable devices that resist spren corruption, expanding their utility in warfare or exploration.
4. Critical Thinking Question
Why does Raboniel share the truth about fabrial spren with Navani, despite their adversarial relationship?
Answer:
Raboniel likely aims to foster a collaborative dynamic by appealing to Navani’s scientific curiosity, hoping to accelerate research through mutual exchange. By revealing a fundamental truth Navani missed, she demonstrates her own expertise, positioning herself as an intellectual equal rather than just an occupier. This tactic may also test Navani’s willingness to engage authentically—if Navani becomes invested in solving fabrial mysteries, she might prioritize discovery over resistance. However, Raboniel’s dismissive tone about ancient weapons suggests she still withholds strategically critical information.
5. Thematic Reflection Question
How does the chapter’s epigraph (“I approach this project with… trepidation and hope”) reflect Navani’s dilemma?
Answer:
The epigraph mirrors Navani’s tension between fear (of aiding the enemy) and hope (for scientific progress or eventual escape). Her “project” is survival under occupation, requiring her to collaborate with Raboniel while secretly resisting. The trepidation stems from the moral weight of sharing knowledge that could harm her allies, while hope lies in potential discoveries (e.g., the spren revelation) or stalling tactics. Like the epigraph’s author, Navani cannot predict which emotion—caution or optimism—will ultimately govern her choices, underscoring the chapter’s moral ambiguity.
Quotes
1. “I approach this project with an equal mixture of trepidation and hope. And I know not which should rule.”
This epigraph sets the tone for the chapter, capturing Navani’s conflicted emotions as she begins her forced collaboration with Raboniel. It foreshadows the delicate balance between cooperation and resistance that defines their interactions.
2. “Raboniel hummed to a rhythm, but Navani couldn’t tell what it represented. However, Raboniel seemed skeptical as she stood and waved for Navani to sit down.”
This moment highlights the cultural and power dynamics between Navani and Raboniel. The humming rhythms represent the Fused’s alien nature, while the silent power struggle over the drawings demonstrates their tense partnership.
3. “Soulcasters didn’t hold spren because they were spren. Manifesting in the Physical Realm like Shardblades.”
This revelation represents a major breakthrough in fabrial science, connecting ancient Radiant technology with modern understanding. The realization that spren can manifest as tools rather than just weapons opens new possibilities for Navani’s research.
4. “Odd that you should have made so many advances that we never dreamed of in epochs past, yet you’ve forgotten the far simpler method your ancestors used.”
Raboniel’s observation underscores the theme of lost knowledge and technological evolution. It shows how both sides have gaps in their understanding, setting up the complementary nature of their forced collaboration.
5. “We learned to isolate planes for conjoined fabrials… That maintains vertical position, but allows the gemstone to be moved horizontally.”
This technical explanation represents Navani’s expertise and the novel discoveries of modern fabrial science. It demonstrates how human ingenuity has advanced beyond ancient knowledge in some areas, making Navani’s contributions valuable to Raboniel.