Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
Prologue: To Pretend
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens seven years in the past, depicting Navani Kholin managing the chaotic preparations for a grand feast hosted by her husband, King Gavilar. Despite the last-minute addition of Parshendi drummers and an overwhelming guest list, Navani remains composed, directing staff and repurposing soldiers to assist. Her calm authority contrasts with the panic of the kitchen staff, highlighting her role as the stabilizing force behind Gavilar’s impulsive decisions. The scene underscores the tension between Gavilar’s grand visions and the practical challenges of execution, with Navani seamlessly bridging the gap.
As Navani navigates the kitchens, she reflects on earlier crises, such as contaminated grain stores, which she resolved by securing supplies from Brightlord Amaram. Her attention to detail extends to the palace gardens, where she ensures lanterns are prepared for the evening’s festivities. The narrative emphasizes her meticulous planning and adaptability, traits that make her indispensable to Gavilar’s rule. However, her frustration simmers beneath the surface, particularly when she discovers unexpected guests, like the renowned artifabrian Rushur Kris, whom Gavilar failed to inform her about.
A chance encounter with her daughter-in-law, Aesudan, reveals further tensions. Aesudan dismisses Rushur Kris as a bore, oblivious to his significance, while Navani is eager to engage with him about his groundbreaking fabrials. The interaction exposes their contrasting priorities—Aesudan’s focus on social status versus Navani’s intellectual curiosity. Navani’s suppressed anger at Gavilar’s oversight bubbles up, manifesting as angerspren, but she quickly regains control, demonstrating her disciplined demeanor even in moments of personal frustration.
The chapter concludes with Navani’s attention divided between the kitchens’ latest crisis and her desire to speak with Rushur Kris. Aesudan’s indifference to the artifabrian’s presence underscores her superficiality, while Navani’s irritation at Gavilar’s lack of communication hints at deeper marital strains. The prologue sets the stage for Navani’s complex role as both a behind-the-scenes orchestrator and an intellectually stifled figure, foreshadowing themes of duty, resentment, and unfulfilled potential that may unfold in the narrative.
FAQs
1. What logistical challenges does Navani face in preparing for Gavilar’s feast, and how does she address them?
Answer:
Navani faces multiple logistical challenges, including accommodating the Parshendi drums, managing overcrowding due to Gavilar’s excessive guest list, and ensuring sufficient food supplies. When informed about the drums, she quickly devises a solution by creating an exclusive upper ballroom feast for dignitaries while keeping the main feast below. To handle staffing shortages, she repurposes idle soldiers to assist with setup. Food shortages are mitigated by borrowing grain from Brightlord Amaram and recruiting extra cooks from the monastery. These actions demonstrate Navani’s resourcefulness and ability to maintain composure under pressure, contrasting with the panic of others like Maratham.2. How does the chapter portray the relationship dynamics between Navani and Gavilar?
Answer:
The chapter reveals a strained yet functional partnership between Navani and Gavilar. Gavilar makes significant decisions—such as inviting the Parshendi drummers and ardents like Rushur Kris—without consulting Navani, forcing her to clean up the resulting chaos. This reflects his disregard for her input on matters she clearly cares about, sparking her internal fury. However, Navani compensates for his shortcomings by efficiently managing the feast preparations, indicating her indispensable role in maintaining order. Their dynamic suggests a marriage where Navani’s competence enables Gavilar’s impulsiveness, leaving her to bear the emotional and logistical burdens.3. Analyze Navani’s reaction to discovering Rushur Kris’s presence. What does this reveal about her character?
Answer:
Navani’s immediate fascination with Rushur Kris—a master artifabrian—highlights her intellectual curiosity and passion for innovation. Her anger at Gavilar for not informing her of Kris’s arrival underscores her frustration at being excluded from scholarly opportunities, which she values deeply. The moment also reveals her self-discipline; despite her rage (manifested in angerspren), she suppresses it rationally, considering Gavilar might have planned a surprise. This duality—intense emotion tempered by pragmatism—paints her as a complex figure who balances personal interests with her role as a stabilizing force in the kingdom.4. How does the chapter use secondary characters like Aesudan and Maratham to emphasize Navani’s leadership qualities?
Answer:
Maratham’s panic over feast logistics contrasts sharply with Navani’s calm problem-solving, underscoring the latter’s leadership under pressure. Aesudan, meanwhile, serves as a foil through her superficial priorities (e.g., socializing with elites) and dismissive attitude toward intellectual pursuits like Kris’s fabrials. Navani’s willingness to engage with ardents and her focus on substantive issues (e.g., the heating fabrial) highlight her depth and competence. Both characters’ shortcomings amplify Navani’s strengths: strategic thinking, adaptability, and a commitment to meaningful work over appearances.5. What broader themes about power and gender roles are suggested in this chapter?
Answer:
The chapter subtly critiques gendered expectations in Alethi society. Navani operates as the de facto manager of the kingdom’s social and logistical affairs, yet her authority is contingent on Gavilar’s whims. Her unnoticed labor (e.g., fixing his oversights) mirrors traditional female roles, while her intellectual ambitions (e.g., interest in fabrials) are sidelined. Aesudan’s preoccupation with status further reflects how women are pressured to prioritize social performance over expertise. The angerspren scene, however, hints at Navani’s suppressed defiance, suggesting themes of unacknowledged labor and the tension between duty and self-actualization.
Quotes
1. “For everything else, he had Navani.”
This succinct line encapsulates Navani’s role as the stabilizing force behind King Gavilar’s impulsive decisions. It highlights the unspoken dynamic of their relationship, where she manages the practical consequences of his grand gestures.
2. “Emotion stirred deep inside her, a fury she kept carefully penned and locked away. That man. That storming man. How… how could he…”
This visceral reaction reveals Navani’s suppressed frustrations with Gavilar’s thoughtlessness. The moment marks a turning point where her composed exterior cracks, exposing the emotional labor required to maintain their royal facade.
3. “Angerspren, like boiling blood, began to well up in a small pool at her feet. Calm, Navani, the rational side of her mind said.”
This vivid description demonstrates the Stormlight Archive’s unique magic system while illustrating Navani’s internal conflict between emotion and duty. The physical manifestation of her anger contrasts sharply with her conscious effort to maintain control.
4. “She’d made it clear to them that doing their jobs efficiently was recognition enough.”
This insight into Navani’s leadership style shows her practical approach to management. Unlike typical royal behavior, she values competence over ceremony, establishing her as a different kind of ruler.
5. “Gavilar had invited one of the world’s most prominent artifabrians to visit Kholinar, and he hadn’t bothered to tell Navani?”
This rhetorical question reveals the core tension between Gavilar’s political maneuvers and Navani’s intellectual passions. It underscores how her husband’s actions repeatedly disregard her interests and expertise.