Search the Community

I haven't seen this theory in the forums, so I thought I would bring it up here. Way of Kings, Page 874 "'...I let Tien die, I failed my spearmen, the slaves I tried to rescue, Tarah...' He hadn't thought of her in some time. His failure with her had been different from the others, but a failure was nonetheless." Page 880 "What would have happened to him, if Tarah hadn't coaxed him out of his single-minded dedication? Would he have burned himself out, as she'd claimed?" So who is Tarah? Facts: - A woman from Kaladin's past who came into his life after he took up the spear. Likely after Tien died, because he wasn't dedicated until after that event. - Someone Kaladin failed, but in a different way than the others. Likely she isn't dead, because all the others died. - She helped Kaladin enjoy more in life than the spear. Kaladin's history with Laral shows he is attracted to women. Kaladin describes Tarah as coaxing him, which sounds like something someone would do with flirting. So if she didn't die, how would he have failed her? Could he have been engaged or even married to her and failed to fulfill his obligation because he was sold into slavery? Maybe Kaladin's heart is already taken.