BackBlast

When she is having lunch with Adolin's companions, Danlan further distinguishes herself. She makes a point to point out that she hasn't been in the camps very long and is ignorant about the political situation there. When Adolin contradicts her and says that she is incredibly clever, she looked "oddly annoyed for a moment." Oddly annoyed, as if she were trying to hide her intelligence. She makes another statement, trying to get Adolin to talk to Dalinar about "relaxing all of these foolish restrictions our camp is under." It strikes me that this is not something that an intelligent girl would say. My guess is that she is trying to play off the stereotype of an average court-going girl who is more concerned with feasts and balls than anything else.

Now, I am convinced that Danlan is not a simple lighteyed girl who happens to be dating Adolin. But what is her ultimate objective? I have some speculations, but not very much to back them up with. You can take your pick.

1. She is working for the Ghostbloods.

2. She is spying for Sadeas or another highlord.

3. She is a spy for Taravangian (who may or may not be a Ghostblood).

While there may be a spy aspect to it, I think it's premature to jump to that conclusion. First, "our camp" clearly links Brightlord Morakotha into the Kholin camp which was sorta implied at his first mention. Given the level of loyalty typically afforded to Dalinar by those under him it is unlikely she is a spy for another highlord. Her appearance is also precedes events that would give cause for highlords to want highly placed spies in Dalanar's camp.

It is possible that she is a spy for the Ghostbloods and/or Taravangian. But certainly they have other spies that need not be so highly placed, it's certainly not a required aspect. Also, the stereo-typed females ala Elantris doesn't really exist here. It is common and commendable for intelligent women to be fully known for their prowess. The women are the scholars and engineers in the Voran lands and intelligence is a valued attribute. She simply doesn't have the motive to pretend to be dull minded.

If number 2 is true, then there is another, highly interesting possibility. In the whole Stormlight Archives, there will be ten books, with a different character as the focus of each one. Brandon has pondered on the possibility of doing another book on Kaladin, but that is not a certainty. So chances are, this will be the only book with Kaladin's flashbacks. Kaladin briefly mentions that when he was bummed after letting Tien die, a girl named Tarah saved him from working himself to death. And he has also apparently failed her in some significant way. Though she is only mentioned two times in the whole book, those passages hint at some greater significance. And yet, she is in the past. The opportunity for Kaladin's flashbacks has come and gone, but this significant character from Kaladin's past has not been explained. Although it's possible that her name could have been thrown in as added flavor, but I do not believe that Brandon would add something like that in there, knowing that she will remain unexplained. Tarah is going to come back.

Two mysterious women, one from the past and one from the future. Both under the reign of Sadeas (I'm assuming that Tarah was somehow attached to Amaram's army, which is under Sadeas). There isn't much of a connection beyond these two points, but I find it an intriguing possibility nonetheless. There are a few minor problems with this particular option, though.

1. We don't know anything about Tarah. It is too soon to know for certain whether or not there is a possibility of Tarah and Danlan being the same person.

2. Amaram is coming to the Shattered Plains, but this becomes known around the time when Sadeas and Dalinar start working together--a week after Danlan first appears. This theory might have been more convincing if Danlan had arrived at the same time as Amaram. Of course, this can be explained away easily. The difference between an individual booking passage on a ship and an army marching overland, perhaps?

Yeah, don't think this is the case. Especially with the implication above that Brightlord Morakotha is attached to the Kholin house. There is just no connection.

I remember reading somewhere that there would be two romances in The Stormlight Archives. Given what I know from the first book, it is likely that Kaladin and Shallan as young singles will both be on the list - not necessarily with each other. Dalinar and Navani may or may not be another one. I also recall him saying that Adolin would probably not get his own book - which probably means Danlan will remain a relatively minor character attached to a major but not primary character.