A Tale of Kaladin, Shallan, Adolin…and Moash

[Confused]

I believe Odium’s forces – led by Moash – will kidnap Shallan. I think Odium needs either a Lightweaver or a Cryptic for some reason – perhaps to “re-make” Re-Shephir, whose captivity seems to have diminished her. Kaladin and Adolin lead Shallan’s rescue attempt. Kaladin secures Shallan, and Adolin fights furiously to allow Kaladin and Shallan to escape. He demands Kaladin leave him and take Shallan to safety. With no other choice, Kaladin finally speaks the Fourth Oath – (IMO) “I will protect the one I can save.”

That’s the summary; here are the details. There’s a bit of evidence here and there, but, needless to say, this post is mostly invention, a tale.

Foreshadowing

Kaladin’s faced this situation before, when the Fused wound Adolin in Shadesmar. “Leave me,” Adolin said, coughing.” (OB, Chapter 117, Kindle p. 1116.) But Kaladin couldn’t leave him and “couldn’t say those Words. He wasn’t strong enough.” (OB, Chapter 118, Kindle p. 1132.)

I believe Kaladin will have a second chance. He will say the Fourth Oath this time. I do not predict Adolin will die (though that’s possible). Maybe he’ll be an Edgedancer by then and escape himself. But Kaladin IMO will leave Adolin to protect Shallan, the one he can save.

Odium’s Need for Cryptic

The best evidence Odium needs a Cryptic is the OB Epilogue, where Hoid bonds one. Hoid notices the Fused breaking down the palace, as if searching for something.

Quote

He passed the sentry post, and wondered if anyone else thought it irregular that the Fused spent so much time here near this fallen section of the palace. Did anyone wonder why they worked so hard, clearing blocks, breaking down walls?

(OB, Kindle p. 1232.)

The Fused are not keen on Radiant spren of any type. But to me this shows surprising dedication to find Elhokar's Cryptic. The Fuseds’ motivation is unclear, but I link it to Shallan’s encounter with Re-Shephir.

Shallan and Re-Shephir

Re-Shephir’s captivity traumatized it. When it meets Shallan, Re-Shephir wants to replace Pattern and bond Shallan:

Quote

Shallan knew Re-Shephir at the same time as the thing came to know her. The spren tugged and prodded at Shallan’s bond with Pattern, seeking to rip it free and insert herself instead….

Almighty above … it’s like a creationspren. Only so, so wrong….

The imprisonment had been unexpected, presumed impossible. And it had been done by a Lightweaver like Shallan, who had understood this creature….

Shallan hung on, pressing herself against the enemy, but realization washed over her—the understanding that this thing was going to know her completely, discover each and every one of her secrets….

Re-Shephir broke. It screeched, a sound that vibrated through Shallan. A screech that remembered its imprisonment and feared something worse...Fleeing, escaping, determined to get as far from Shallan as it could.

(OB, Chapter 30, Kindle pp. 309-311.)

Re-Shephir now knows Shallan as well as Shallan knows it, the perfect environment for bonding. Shallan says Re-Shephir is like a “wrong” creationspren. I suspect Cryptics are like the “right” creationspren. IOW, creationspren form the base of both Re-Shephir and Cryptics, which is why Shallan attracts them.

I speculate Re-Shephir needs to be “Re-Made” - it’s become too fearful. I envision two possibilities – start from scratch with a new Cryptic or bond Re-Shephir to a Lightweaver to stabilize it. Either way, Pattern and Shallan will be natural Odium targets.

Moash

Why Moash? Odium clearly has plans for him. His star rises among the Fused when he kills Jezrien and accepts the Honorblade and the name Vyre. (Will he form a relationship with Lady Leshwi?) The human Moash can scout and enter places Singers can’t readily go.

Five Singers Moash helped and fought with “want to be near” him – Khen, Pal, Nam, and two others. (OB, Chapter 122, Kindle p. 1222.) I see them forming the rudiments of a Singer Bridge Four. They are a natural strike force to steal Shallan. If Moash (or Odium) noticed Kaladin’s agony at seeing his friends kill one another, this group will be hard for Kaladin to deal with. Adolin must take the larger role in the fight because Kaladin may not be able to kill his friends.

I don’t think this will be the last Kaladin-Moash confrontation. I believe Moash retains his loyalty and friendship to Kaladin on simmer regardless of what he thinks of other humans and their society. In the end, I think this one Connection will be enough to cause Moash to waver. Only Brandon knows if Moash dies or changes sides again.

Conclusion

All of this is raw but, IMO, reasonable speculation. Something to ponder as a possibility, nothing more.

Edited September 22, 2018 by Confused

[Toaster Retribution he/him]

It is an interesting idea, but I think the weakest part is the Unmade connection. There isn’t much proof for that. I agree that it is wierd that Odium wants Elhokars Cryptic though. 

[Confused]

@Toaster Retribution, Odium may also want a Lightweaver to replace Re-Shephir because she can’t imitate humans and he wants a Mother of Lies who can:

Quote

Re-Shephir had been ordered to sow chaos, spawning horrors to confuse and destroy men….

Her creations had come to imitate what she saw in the world, but lacking love or affection. Like stones come alive, content to be killed or to kill with no attachment or enjoyment. No emotions beyond an overpowering curiosity, and that ephemeral attraction to violence.

(OB,  Chapter 30, Kindle pp. 309-10.)

Maybe Odium will try to turn Shallan as he tried with Dalinar and offer her a path from her pain. He’ll bombard her with visions of her early childhood. We’ll finally see what horrors attracted Pattern so early in her life.

Re-Shephir may once have been human herself. Odium may seduce Shallan with grand visions of future fame:

Quote

A name from ancient lore, one of the Unmade, princes of the Voidbringers. People sang about Re-Shephir in poetry and epics, describing her as a dark, beautiful figure. Paintings depicted her as a black-clad woman with red eyes and a sultry gaze….

There was a deeper mystery beyond that, a wisp of something she’d glimpsed while intertwined with Re-Shephir. It made Shallan wonder if this spren wasn’t merely trying to understand humankind, but rather searching for something it itself had lost. Had this creature—in distant, distant time beyond memory—once been human?

OB, Chapter 32, Kindle p. 325, bold added.)

As Re-Shephir succumbed then, Shallan threatens to now. Her “boys” come to save her.

Brandon just confirmed the Fused did seek Elhokar’s Cryptic at the palace. (Thanks, @RShara!) Further reason to think Odium wants a Lightweaver with a built-in Cryptic.

Quote

R'Shara [PENDING REVIEW]

The Fused were looking for something at the palace at Kholinar at the end. Were they looking for Hoid's Cryptic?

Brandon Sanderson [PENDING REVIEW]

Yes they were. Good question! Did people think they were looking for the black gemstone? That would be the other big guess. But they were looking for the Cryptic.

Source.

Here’s still another reason Kaladin and Adolin rescue Shallan: Mraize knows Sja-anat wants out of the Odium den. (I still think Mraize is a Dysian.) In Mraize’s last letter to Shallan, he charges her to persuade Sja-anat to help the Ghostbloods or capture Sja-anat for them. (OB, Chapter 122, Kindle pp. 1225-1226.)

Maybe Odium discovers Sja-anat’s treachery, and the Fused take Shallan. Moash and his marbled band guard her. Come Kaladin and Adolin, and the rest plays out as the OP describes.

Edited September 26, 2018 by Confused

[Solarserpent]

I think Hoid's Cryptic is a lighteyed among the Cryptics, perhap a king or prince in the cognitive realm (perhaps why Elhokar was chosen). Also what do cryptics do. They work with lies and truths, aka secrets. This Cryptic knows something important.