Why not use Windrunners?

[Xabben]

One of the main plot lines of RoW is the travel to Lasting Integrity of Adolin, Shalland and company. However... Why didn't they use Windrunners to arrive earlier to the city? They were clearly in a hurry to convince Honorsprens to participate in the war, and still they took the long and slow path. And don't tell me that stormlight leaks faster in shademar, Windrunners could have brought the entire party close to Lasting Integrity in less than a day.

[Ascended Grubberfly He/Him]

8 minutes ago, Xabben said:

One of the main plot lines of RoW is the travel to Lasting Integrity of Adolin, Shalland and company. However... Why didn't they use Windrunners to arrive earlier to the city? They were clearly in a hurry to convince Honorsprens to participate in the war, and still they took the long and slow path. And don't tell me that stormlight leaks faster in shademar, Windrunners could have brought the entire party close to Lasting Integrity in less than a day.

Any Honorspren at the time were considered rebels and wouldn’t make good emissaries. Likely, their mere presence would make the Honorspren less willing to listen to the group.

[Frustration]

The official reason was that the Honorspren wouldn't want to hear from wind runners.

 

The real reason is Brandon wanted to do things during travel they couldn't do if they sent Windrunners.

[Xabben]

Just now, Ascended Grubberfly said:

Any Honorspren at the time were considered rebels and wouldn’t make good emissaries. Likely, their mere presence would make the Honorspren less willing to listen to the group.

Okay, but they didn't need to bring the others just to the gates of Lasting Integrity. They could have brought them some kilometers away, so that the other Honorspren couldn't see them, potentially shortening the entire trip to just a couple of hours at most.

2 minutes ago, Frustration said:

The real reason is Brandon wanted to do things during travel they couldn't do if they sent Windrunners.

Obviously. But if we just accepted this kind of justification, then this forum wouldn't have a reason to exist

[Treamayne]

3 hours ago, Xabben said:

One of the main plot lines of RoW is the travel to Lasting Integrity of Adolin, Shalland and company. However... Why didn't they use Windrunners to arrive earlier to the city? They were clearly in a hurry to convince Honorsprens to participate in the war, and still they took the long and slow path. And don't tell me that stormlight leaks faster in shademar, Windrunners could have brought the entire party close to Lasting Integrity in less than a day.

This was discussed in RoW Ch 19. They didn't have enough Windrinners for the War campaign as it was; which is why they needed to send an envoy to convince the Honorspren to allow bonds again and stop treating those Honorspren that did seek a bond as outlaws. They couldn't afford to lose a Radiant and their squires just to ferry the envoy party - even if it was only to Nameless. RoW Ch 19:

Spoiler

“It highlights another problem though,” Fen said. “We need more Windrunners. Kmakl has been raving about your flying fortress—I’ll have you know, I haven’t seen him this smitten since our first days courting. But the enemy has both Fused and Skybreakers, and you can’t protect a ship like that without air support. Stormfather help us if enemies in the air catch one of our ocean fleets unprotected.”

“We’ve been working on a solution,” Dalinar promised. “It is a … difficult problem. Spren can be even more stubborn than men.”

“Makes sense,” Fen said. “I’ve never met a wind or current that would change course because I shouted at them.”

Someone cleared their throat, and Navani was surprised to see Sigzil stepping forward again. “I’ve been speaking with my spren, Your Majesty, and I might be able to offer a potential solution to this problem. I believe we should send an envoy to the honorspren.”

Navani leaned forward in her seat. “What kind of envoy?”

“The honorspren can be a … touchy group,” Sigzil explained. “Many are not as carefree as our initial interactions with them led us to believe. Among spren, they are some of the closest in spirit and intent to the god Honor. While obviously individuals will vary in personality, there is a general feeling of discontent—well, insult—among them regarding humans.”

 

[Nitpicking]

The Radiant Honorspren might not be willing to get close to Lasting Integrity, considering how abusive the current junta there was. Being captured could have been very bad for them.