Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
47. A Cage Forged of Spirits
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with Dalinar Kholin and his allies under attack by Skybreakers on a flying platform used to oversee the battlefield. As the platform lurches violently, Windrunners led by Sigzil engage the attackers, driving them away. Dalinar observes the enemy’s reliance on Skybreakers rather than the expected Heavenly Ones, suggesting a strategic shift. The Mink, tethered to Dalinar, remains unfazed by the danger, displaying a mix of paranoia and recklessness. Below, the battle rages between Dalinar’s forces—augmented by disciplined Azish troops—and Taravangian’s traitorous Vedens, who are beginning to falter under the coordinated assault.
Dalinar and the Mink analyze the battlefield dynamics, noting the Azish soldiers’ exceptional discipline and how their pike formations complement Alethi flexibility. The Mink orders a flanking maneuver with light cavalry, further destabilizing the Veden lines. Despite the chaos, the platform provides a strategic vantage point, though the Mink expresses concerns about their shared vulnerability. Dalinar reassures him, revealing a contingency plan involving an escape route through Shadesmar using Jasnah’s prepared boat and Dalinar’s ability to open a perpendicularity—a plan the Mink distrusts due to its unpredictability.
As the battle progresses, Dalinar briefly opens the perpendicularity to replenish the Windrunners’ Stormlight, forcing the Skybreakers to retreat. The Mink receives casualty reports, including the loss of two Windrunner squires. A scribe then delivers urgent news from Urithiru: Navani reports a mysterious defensive aura disrupting Radiant powers and fabrials, explaining the Oathgate malfunction. Despite the setback, she assures Dalinar of their safety and requests updates on his situation. Dalinar instructs the scribe to inform Navani of Taravangian’s betrayal while emphasizing their imminent victory.
The chapter highlights the tension between strategic innovation and the unpredictability of supernatural warfare. Dalinar’s leadership is tested as he balances battlefield command, trust in his nascent powers, and concern for his family’s safety. The Mink’s tactical brilliance contrasts with his aversion to relying on Dalinar’s abilities, underscoring the theme of control in the face of chaos. Meanwhile, the disruption at Urithiru hints at a larger threat, leaving Dalinar to grapple with the broader implications of the conflict beyond the immediate battle.
FAQs
1. What tactical advantages do the Azish troops provide to Dalinar’s forces, and how do they complement the Alethi fighting style?
Answer:
The Azish troops provide exceptional discipline and coordination, forming “vast blocks of Azish pikes” that serve as immovable wedges in battle. While less mobile than Alethi forces, their impeccable formation and teamwork make them a formidable defensive asset. This complements the Alethi’s more flexible, specialized fighting style—the Azish hold the line while Alethi troops exploit openings with their varied tactics. Dalinar notes that combined, this hybrid approach allows them to counter enemy advantages like carapace armor and stronger builds. The chapter highlights how cultural military differences can synergize when strategically combined.2. Analyze Dalinar and the Mink’s differing perspectives on risk and leadership as revealed in their platform conversation.
Answer:
Their exchange reveals a fundamental contrast in leadership philosophies. The Mink, though often paranoid, displays cavalier disregard for personal danger (leaning over the platform’s edge) but prioritizes strategic redundancy—he suggests separating leaders to ensure continuity if one falls. Dalinar, however, focuses on proactive protection, emphasizing his role is to “get [the Mink] out before you are killed.” Their rope tether symbolizes this tension between the Mink’s contingency planning and Dalinar’s protective instincts. Both perspectives reflect their backgrounds: the Mink’s guerrilla warfare experience values dispersed leadership, while Dalinar’s Bondsmith role centers on safeguarding key individuals.3. How does the chapter illustrate the evolving dynamics between Radiant orders and their tactical applications in warfare?
Answer:
The chapter showcases specialized Radiant roles: Windrunners (mobile strikers), Skybreakers (elite assassins targeting fabrials), and Dalinar’s Bondsmith abilities (perpendicularity control). Skybreakers are noted to typically avoid battles where Dalinar is present, as his ability to selectively renew Windrunners’ Stormlight creates an asymmetric advantage. This reflects strategic adaptation—both sides deploy Radiants where their strengths counter enemy weaknesses. The limited Heavenly Ones’ presence further suggests Fused are conserving forces, relying on Skybreakers instead. These dynamics portray a magical arms race where sides constantly adjust tactics based on opponent capabilities.4. What does the spanreed message from Urithiru reveal about the broader conflict, and how might it connect to events in this battle?
Answer:
Navani’s message reveals a mysterious “defensive aura” disabling Radiant powers and fabrials (including Oathgates), suggesting a coordinated anti-Investiture strategy by the enemy. This likely connects to Taravangian’s betrayal—the timing implies his forces may have triggered the aura to isolate Urithiru. The interference with fabrials also parallels the Skybreakers’ attack on the platform’s “fabrial housings,” showing enemy focus on disrupting technological advantages. The shared theme of power suppression (Radiants here being starved of Stormlight by Skybreakers) hints at a larger pattern of targeting magical and mechanical infrastructure simultaneously.
Quotes
1. “‘I approach this project with inspiration renewed; the answers are all that should matter.’ —From Rhythm of War, page 1 undertext”
This epigraph sets a philosophical tone for the chapter, emphasizing the pursuit of truth and solutions amidst chaos. It mirrors Dalinar’s strategic mindset in the battle.
2. “‘Storm it, where was—’ Sigzil and his force of ten Windrunners came swooping back, striking at the underside of the flying platform.”
This moment captures the urgency and unpredictability of battle, showing Dalinar’s reliance on his Radiants and the sudden reversals of combat.
3. “‘My job in this battle isn’t to command if you are killed. It’s to get you out before you are killed.’”
Dalinar reveals his protective leadership style and the value he places on the Mink’s expertise, highlighting the theme of strategic preservation over blind heroism.
4. “‘She begs for your patience, and asks if anything strange has happened here.’”
The scribe’s report about Urithiru’s fabrial failure introduces a parallel crisis, expanding the scope of the conflict beyond the immediate battlefield.
5. “‘They’ll break soon,’ the Mink said softly, surveying the battlefield. ‘Their line is bowing. Those Azish fight well. Better than I thought they would.’”
This showcases the Mink’s tactical acumen and the unexpected effectiveness of Azish discipline, underscoring the chapter’s theme of underestimated strengths.