Kenshu Ani

I found another hint while finishing the book again. Sorry that I don't have the exact quotes, but I drive a lot and have been listening to the audio book. The audible app is a pain to use when trying to find a specific quote, so again, sorry.

You remember when Dalinar is at the King's feast and we see another high prince use his ardent to manipulate a merchant into signing a contract quickly? Dalinar has an exchange with this ardent and then reflects on the fact that even though the ardentia is theoretically supposed to stay out of politics, that they are becoming more influential at court.

Just another hint that the ardentia have more going on than meets the eye. The ardents that would want to be involved in court politics would be the ones that still cling to old vorinism like Kabsal. Ardents who are angry that they were scourged and believe that religious rule would be better for mankind than what they currently have.

In that same chapter, Gibletish, there was another interesting section. When Dalinar was speaking to the ardent that had manipulated the merchant, the ardent said:

“Just as Hatham wishes his partner in negotiations to know of his goodwill, I wish you to know of our goodwill toward you, Brightlord.”

Dalinar frowned. He’d never had much to do with the ardents— his devotary was simple and straightforward. Dalinar got his fill of politics with the court; he had little desire to find more in religion. “Why? What should it matter if I have goodwill toward you?”

The ardent smiled. “We will speak with you again.” He bowed low and withdrew.

Ghostblood? Something is definitely up.

... Anyone else fearing a possible Shallan/Kaladin romance? They aren't far apart in age...

I don't see that happening. Kaladin has too many issues with lighteyes that would need to be resolved first.

He has to obey whoever holds his stone, and obedience is a kind of honor, but assassination is not honorable.

The problem here is that honorable acts can be different depending on one's cultural influence. Example: In feudal Japan, an act that brings honor to someone that has previously brought shame on to himself is to commit sepaku, suicide. However, suicide for Catholics is considered a mortal sin. One act, two different reactions.

If we assume that keeping one's word is the most honorable action for a Shin, then following his master's instructions for assassinating people would be honorable; especially since he does not want to kill.

But he also seems to feel a bit guilty about it and Renarin's poor health. There's no reason to feel guilty about forgetting his wife unless he thinks he asked for it. And there's no reason to feel guilt for his son's poor health unless he feels responsible for it, as if he thinks it's his curse.

Also he stated very decisively that he knows for certain what his curse and boon were. I for one view a charcter's certainty (espescially about memory altering events) suspect.

Well, Dalinar tends to feel guilty over everything. Navani: "Feeling guilty. Dalinar, you are a wonderful, honorable man - but you really are quite prone to self-indulgence."

We'll probably just have to wait and see to find out what his boon/curse is.

There are at least 8 ranks of dahn. From the begining of the chapter, "Nearer the Flame"

"Victory! We stand atop the mount! We scatter them before us!

Their homes become our dens, their lands are now our farms! And

they shall burn, as we once did, in a place that is hollow and forlorn."

-Collected on Ishashan, 1172, 18 seconds pre-death. Subject was a light-

eyed spinster of the eighth dahn.

Personally, I think there are 10 ranks of dahn and nahn. It fits well with the 10 Heralds, and could be a symbolic gesture.

I have to recommend M.Y.T.H adventures by Robert Asprin. I challenge you to find a funnier fantasy book. Extremely addictive, a fast and light read.

Awesome series! The sci-fi version, Phule's Company is great too! Sometimes it is a great idea to step away from the heavy reading for something fast and light.

As for the challenge... Its tough, but I think Discworld by Terry Pratchet could give the M.Y.T.H. series a run for its money.

My pet theory is that Dalinar's boon was forgetting his wife. His price was becoming more honorable.

I don't think that was his boon. In the chapter, "Highprince of War" Dalinar refered to his amnesia:

He hesitated to remarry because he hated the idea of replacing her. He'd had everything of his wife taken from him. All that remained was the hole, and filling it to gain a scribe seemed callous.

With the phrase, "taken from him" I get the impression that his amnesia was the curse.

It was summer of 1990 (maybe '91) and I was living overseas at the time. Since I had a very limited vocabulary in Arabic, I depended on this small bookstore in the US embassy for reading materials. It was on the shelf, I had money, so I bought it along with another book that I can't recall (hey, its been 20 years). Since I was in high school at the time and most of my friends were spending their summer in the states visiting family, I read the book two or three times that summer. I was hooked then.

When I found out about Mr. Rigney's illness from the manager at the bookstore I frequented; I resigned myself to not seeing the end of the series completed. Then I found out that Mr. Sanderson was taking over and had been approved by Mr. Rigney, I was willing to give the book a try. When it came out, I read TGS...

...

Then I went out and bought Elantris, Warbreaker, and The Mistborn Trilogy.

Hello everyone.

I was just re-reading WoK for the third time, when I noticed something that motivated me to look for answers on the net. Then I stumbled my way her. Three hours later, I no longer remember what I was looking for; but I was thoroughly entertained during my stay.

I'll be back to lurk, maybe add my own thoughts; but after I get some sleep