Warbreaker Full 6.1

8/12/2019 Warbreaker Full 6.1

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Sanderson/Warbreaker/1

Introduction to WARBREAKER

Welcome! My name is Brandon Sanderson. Before anytin else" I#d like to tank you

for your interest in my books. I o$e you en%oy Warbreaker.In case you don#t kno&" I#m a $rofessional fantasy no'elist. My first book" Elantris" &as

$ublised in some tirteen lanuaes" earned me a (am$bell nomination" and ot starred re'ie&s

in )ubliser#s Weekly and te *ibrary +ournal. It &as also $icked by Barnes and ,oble editorsas te best fantasy or science fiction book of te year.

My second book" Mistborn- e inal Em$ire" is out in $a$erback" as is te se0uel"

Mistborn- e Well of Ascension. Book tree is out ctober 12tof tis year. I also a'e a kid#sbook Alcatra3 'ersus te E'il *ibrarians out from Scolastic )ress. 4ou can find sam$le

ca$ters of tese books at te end of tis file. If you like Warbreaker" I umbly ask tat you

consider lookin into my $ublised &orks!

As many of you already kno&" I &as cosen in 5ecember of 6778 to com$lete Robert

+ordan#s e$ic master$iece e Weel of ime. I#m ard at &ork on te t&elft and final no'el intis series" titled A MEMR4 *I9:. It sould be out sometime in te fall or &inter of

677;. (oincidentally" tat sould be te same year Warbreaker is released. $eriment= and &ill be$ublised in ardco'er in 677;" &it a $a$erback release to follo& te ne>t year.

I like to a'e a lot of contact &it my readers" and as I contem$lated releasin a ne&

book


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tis book in s$ecific. By doin tis" I could make Warbreaker a $ro%ect &ic &ould enae my

already e>istin readers as &ell as $eo$le &o#d ne'er tried my books before.

I decided to o aead and i'e tis a try. at &as back in +une of 677.

My Worries

Releasin te book tis &ay is a amble for t&o reasons.

irst off" tere#s te $erennial fear tat I tink all artist et &en tey i'e a&ay teir artfor free. A $art of me &orries tat by i'in tis book a&ay" it &ill end u$ sellin dreadfully

&en it#s actually released. )oor sales like tat on one book ecuti'es a$$ear to feel. I tink tat $eo$le WI** $ay money for sometin

tey#'e already read if tey liked it enou. ey can al&ays et books for free 'ia te library

any&ay. Besides" I#m not tryin to recruit $eo$le to buy one bookC I#m tryin to recruit lifelon

readers &o &ill still be buyin Brandon Sanderson no'els t&enty years from no&.n to$ of all tat" I belie'e tat releasin at least one no'el for free &ill brin my &ork to

many readers &o &ouldn#t oter&ise be familiar &it my &ork. e $otential ains farout&ei te $otential losses.

Still" I &orry a little bit. But artists tend to do tat.

e second fear I a'e relates not to releasin a &ork on?line" but releasin an unfinised&ork on line. ou tis is te si>t draft of te book" my no'els usually see some&ere near

eit drafts before tey o to $ress. is is still a &ork in $roress. Wat if readers $ick tis u$"

read trou it" and %ude me fla&ed as a &riter because teir only e>$erience &it me comes

from an un$olised &ork@is one really boters my aent. :e#s ot a ood $oint. Still" I tink te o$$ortunity

tat tis affords my readers??$articularly te as$irin &riters amon tem??&as too reat to

inore. It is done" and I intend to stick to my oriinal $lan. I &ill $ost e'ery draft as I com$letetem" ten &ill e'entually $ost com$arisons of te drafts so tat readers can follo& te canes

made to te book.

Remember" tou" tat tis is still a &ork in $roress. 5on#t %ude me too arsly basedon its fla&s.

(onclusion

My o$e is still to let readers collaborate a little bit on tis book. eel free to 'isit my

forums and email me &it your im$ressions of te no'el. 4our feelins and 0uestions are

im$ortant to me and can el$ tis book ro& better.I o$e tat you en%oy tis book. If you do" te best tin you can do to say tanks &ould

be to $urcase a co$y &en it is released!


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/D

5ocument Ma$ to %um$ to tem. [email protected]


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Rits E>$lanation

I am releasin eac draft of WARBREAKER under a (reati'e (ommons non?commercial" non?deri'ati'e &ork license. or an official e>$lanation of tis" 'isit te (reati'e (ommons &ebsite.

is &ork is licensed under a (reati'e (ommons Attribution?,oncommercial?,o 5eri'ati'e

Works D.7 nited States *icense.

In a more s$ecific e>$lanation" tis means tat-

1= 4ou are free to sare tis book &it anyone you like" $ro'ided you dont cane te documentat all or $rofit from te distribution.

6= 4ou may $rint off co$ies of te book for $ersonal use" but??aain??may not $rofit from doin

so.

D= 4ou may not cane te te>t of te &ork in any &ay" or im$ly tat you &rote te book" or

anytin of tat nature.

2= ere is a no deri'ati'e &orks clause on tis" since I dont &ant $eo$le addin ca$ters to te

end or alterin te &ork. :o&e'er" I $ro'ide an e>em$tion for fan art" $ro'ided you do not

attac it to te document and clearly e>$lain tat te art is not mine or related officially to te$ro%ect.

J= I also $ro'ide an e>em$tion for fanfics" $ro'ided tat??aain??you do not attac tem to tis

&ork or im$ly tey are my &ork. In addition" by &ritin a fanfic tat uses tese caracters" tis

maic" or tat is related to tis &ork in any &ay" you &ai'e all rits to tat &ork.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/J

5edication

or Emily Sanderson"

Wo said yes.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/

Ackno&ledements

I a'en#t yet com$lied a list of all te $eo$le &o a'e i'en feedback on tis $ro%ect.

It#s oin to be a lare task to do so! I $lan to do it e'entually" tou.

Many tanks to te follo&in $eo$le &o a'e commented on te book so far" or &o

a'e i'en me $roofreadin el$! S$ecial tanks in tis de$artment o to Emily Sanderson"

+oe'ansD" and 5reamkin28 for teir e>tensi'e suestions.

Also" many tanks to +eff (reer" Mean Kauffman" telsd%" )eter Alstrom" Miriel"

9reyound" e>>as" 5emented 4am" 5.5emille" *oryn" Kuntry Bum$ken" Barbara+" Sir

:asirim" 5iitalbias" S$ink *onfello&" amyface" Ricard 9ordon" S&ily" 5a&nca&ley"

5erio" amyface" and 5a'id B for teir suestions and encouraement.


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)roloue

It#s funny" aser tout" o& many tins bein &it me ettin tro&n into $rison.

e uards laued to one anoter" slammin te cell door sut &it a clan. aser

stood and dusted imself off" rollin is soulder and &incin. Wile te bottom alf of is cell

door &as solid &ood" te to$ alf &as barred" and e could see te tree uards o$en is lare

duffle and rifle trou is $ossessions.

ne of tem noticed im &atcin. e uard &as an o'ersi3ed beast of a man &it a

sa'ed ead and a dirty uniform tat barely retained te brit yello& and blue colorin of te

#elir city uard.

Brit colors" aser tout. I#ll a'e to et used to tose aain. In any oter nation"

te 'ibrant blues and yello&s &ould a'e been ridiculous on soldiers. is" o&e'er" &as

:allandren- land of Returned 9ods" *ifeless ser'ants" Bio(romatic researc" and??of course??

color.

e lare uard sauntered u$ to te cell door" lea'in is friends to amuse temsel'es

&it aser#s belonins. Ley say you#re $retty tou" te man said" si3in u$ aser.

aser did not res$ond.

Le bartender says you beat do&n some t&enty men in te bra&l. e uard rubbed

is cin. L4ou don#t look tat tou to me. Eiter &ay" you sould a'e kno&n better tan to

strike a $riest. e oters" tey#ll s$end a nit locked u$. 4ou" tou. . .you#ll an.

(olorless fool.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/;

:e &as rit. And e &as &ron.

L*et me see tat" te lead uard said" takin te s&ord. :e runted" ob'iously sur$rised

by its &eit. :e turned it about" notin te clas$ tat tied seat to ilt" kee$in te blade from

bein dra&n. :e undid te clas$.

e colors in te room dee$ened. ey didn#t ro& briter??not like te uard#s 'est

ad &en e a$$roaced aser. Instead" tey re& stroner. 5arker. Reds became maroon.

4ello&s ardened to old. Blues a$$roaced na'y.

LBe careful" friend" aser said softly" Ltat s&ord can be danerous.

e uard looked u$. All &as still. en" te uard snorted and &alked a&ay from

aser#s cell" still carryin te s&ord. e oter t&o follo&ed" bearin aser#s duffle" enterin

te uard room at te end of te all&ay.

e door tum$ed sut. aser immediately knelt beside te $atc of stra&" selectin a

andful of sturdy lents. :e $ulled treads from is cloak??it &as beinnin to fray at te

bottom??and tied te stra& into te sa$e of a small $erson" $era$s tree inces i" &it

busy arms and les. :e $lucked a air from one of is eyebro&s" set it aainst te stra&

fiure#s ead" ten reaced into is boot and $ulled out a brilliant red scarf.

en aser Breated.

It flo&ed out of im" $uffin into te air" translucent yet radiant" like te color of oil on

&ater in te sun. aser felt it lea'e- Bio(romatic Breat" scolars called it. Most $eo$le %ust

called it Breat. Eac $erson ad one. r" at least" tat &as o& it usually &ent. ne $erson"

one Breat.

aser ad around fifty Breats" %ust enou to reac te irst :eitenin. :a'in so

fe& made im feel $oor com$ared to once e#d once eld" but many &ould consider fifty Breats


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to be a reat treasure. nfortunately" e'en A&akenin a small fiure made from oranic

material??usin a $iece of is o&n body as a focus??drained a&ay some alf of is Breats.

e little stra& fiure %erked" suckin in te Breat. In aser#s and" alf of te brilliant

red scarf faded to rey. aser leaned do&n??imainin &at e &anted te fiure to do??and

com$leted te final ste$ of te $rocess as e a'e te (ommand.

Letc keys" e said.

e stra& fiure stood and raised its sinle eyebro& to&ard aser.

aser $ointed to&ard te uard room. rom it" e eard sudden souts of sur$rise.

,ot muc time" e tout.

e stra& $erson ran alon te floor" ten %um$ed u$" 'aultin bet&een te bars. aser

$ulled off is cloak and set it on te floor. It &as te $erfect sa$e of a $erson??marked &it ri$s

tat matced te scars on aser#s body" its ood cut &it oles to matc aser#s eyes. e

closer an ob%ect &as to uman sa$e and form" te fe&er Breats it took to A&aken.

aser leaned do&n" tryin not to tink of te days &en e#d ad enou Breats to

A&aken &itout reard for sa$e or focus. at ad been a different time. Wincin" e $ulled a

tuft of air from is ead" ten s$rinkled it across te ood of te cloak.

nce aain" e Breated.

It took te rest of is Breat. Wit it one??te cloak tremblin" te scarf losin te rest

of its color??aser felt. . .dimmer. *osin one#s Breat &as not fatal. Indeed" te e>tra Breats

aser used ad once beloned to oter $eo$le. aser didn#t kno& &o tey &ereC e adn#t

atered tese Breats imself. ey ad been i'en to im. But" of course" tat &as te &ay it

&as al&ays su$$osed to &ork. ne could not take Breat by force.


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Bein 'oid of Breat did cane im. (olors didn#t seem as brit. :e couldn#t feel te

bustlin $eo$le mo'in about in te city abo'e" a connection e normally took for ranted. It

&as te a&areness all men ad for oters??tat tin &ic &is$ered a &arnin" in te

dro&siness of slee$" &en someone entered te room. In aser" tat sense ad been manified

fifty times.

And no& it &as one. Sucked into te cloak and te stra& $erson" i'in tem $o&er.

e cloak %erked. aser leaned do&n. L)rotect me" e (ommanded" and te cloak

re& still. :e stood" tro&in it back on.

e stra& fiure returned to is &indo&. It carried a lare rin of keys. e fiure#s

stra& feet &ere stained red. e crimson blood seemed so dull to aser no&.

:e took te keys. Lank you" e said. :e al&ays tanked tem. :e didn#t kno& &y"

$articularly considerin &at e did ne>t. L4our Breat to mine" e commanded" toucin te

stra& $erson#s cest. e stra& $erson immediately fell back&ard off te door??life drainin

from it??and aser ot is Breat back. e familiar sense of a&areness returned" te

kno&lede of connectedness" of fittin. :e could only take te Breat back because e#d

A&akened tis creature imself??indeed" A&akenins of tis sort &ere rarely $ermanent. :e

used is Breat like a reser'e" dolin it out" ten reco'erin it.

(om$ared to &at e ad once eld" t&enty?fi'e Breats &as a lauably small number.

:o&e'er" com$ared to notin" it seemed infinite. :e si'ered in satisfaction.

e yells from te uard room died out. e duneon fell still. :e ad to kee$ mo'in.

aser reaced trou te bars" usin te keys to unlock is cell. :e $used te tick

door o$en" rusin out into te all&ay" lea'in te stra& fiure discarded on te round. :e


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didn#t &alk to te uard room??and te e>it beyond it??but instead turned sout" $enetratin

dee$er into te duneon.

is &as te most uncertain $art of is $lan. indin a ta'ern tat &as fre0uented by

$riests of te Iridescent ones ad been easy enou. 9ettin into a bar fit??ten strikin one

of tose same $riests??ad been e0ually sim$le. :allandrens took teir reliious fiures 'ery

seriously" and aser ad earned imself not te usual im$risonment in a local %ail" but a tri$ to

te 9od Kin#s duneons.

Kno&in te kind of men &o tended to uard suc duneons" e#d ad a $retty ood

idea tat tey &ould try to dra& ,itblood. at ad i'en im te di'ersion e#d needed to

et te keys.

But no& came te un$redictable $art.

aser sto$$ed" A&akened cloak rustlin. It easy to locate te cell e &anted" for around

it a lare $atc of stone ad been drained of color" lea'in bot &alls and doors a dull rey. It

&as a $lace to im$rison an A&akener" for no color meant no A&akenin. aser ste$$ed u$ to

te door" lookin trou te bars. A man un by is arms from te ceilin" naked and cained.

:is color &as 'ibrant to aser#s eyes" is skin a $ure tan" is bruises brilliant s$lases of blue

and 'iolet.

e man &as aed. Anoter $recaution. In order to A&aken" te man &ould need

tree tins- Breat" color" and a (ommand. e :armonics and te :ues" some called it. e

Iridescent tones" te relationsi$ bet&een color and sound. A (ommand ad to be s$oken clearly

and firmly in te A&akener#s nati'e lanuae??any stutterin" any mis$ronunciation" &ould

in'alidate te A&akenin. e Breat &ould be dra&n out" but te ob%ect &ould be unable to

act.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/1D

aser used te $rison keys to unlock te cell door" ten ste$$ed inside. is man#s aura

made colors ro& briter by sar$ measure &en tey ot close to im. Anyone &ould be able

to notice an aura tat stron" tou it &as muc easier for someone &o ad reaced te irst

:eitenin.

It &asn#t te stronest Bio(romatic aura aser ad e'er seen??tose beloned to te

Returned" kno&n as ods ere in :allandren. Still" te $risoner#s Bio(roma &as 'ery

im$ressi'e and muc" muc stroner tan aser#s o&n. e $risoner eld a lot of Breats.

:undreds u$on undreds of tem.

e man s&un in is bonds" studyin aser" aed li$s bleedin from lack of &ater.

aser esitated only briefly" ten reaced u$ and $ulled te a free.

L4ou" te $risoner &is$ered" couin slitly. LAre you ere to free me@

L,o" ar" aser said 0uietly. LI#m ere to kill you.

ar snorted. (a$ti'ity adn#t been easy on im. Wen aser ad last seen ar" e#d

been $lum$. +udin by is emaciated body" e#d been &itout food for some time no&. e

cuts" bruises" and burn marks on is fles &ere fres.

Bot te torture and te aunted look in ar#s ba?rimmed eyes bes$oke a solemn trut.

Breat could only be transferred by &illin" intentional (ommand. at (ommand could"

o&e'er" be encouraed.

LSo" ar croaked" Lyou %ude me" %ust like e'eryone else.

L4our failed rebellion is not my concern. I %ust &ant your Breat.

L4ou and te entire :allandren court.

L4es. But you#re not oin to i'e it to one of te Returned. 4ou#re oin to i'e it to

me. In e>cane for killin you.


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L5oesn#t seem like muc of a trade. ere &as a ardness??a 'oid of emotion??in ar

tat aser ad not seen te last time tey ad $arted" years before.

dd" aser tout" tat I sould finally" after all of tis time" find sometin in te man

tat I can identify &it.

aser ke$t a &ary distance from ar. ,o& tat te man#s 'oice &as free" e could

(ommand. :o&e'er" e &as toucin notin e>ce$t for te metal cains" and metal &as 'ery

difficult to A&aken. It ad ne'er been ali'e" and it &as far from te form of a man. E'en durin

te eit of is $o&er" aser imself ad only manaed to A&aken metal on a fe&" select

occasions. f course" some e>tremely $o&erful A&akeners could brin ob%ects to life tat tey

&eren#t toucin" but &ic &ere in te sound of teir 'oice. at" o&e'er" re0uired te ,int

:eitenin. E'en ar didn#t a'e tat muc Breat. In fact" aser kne& of only one li'in

$erson &o did- te 9od Kin imself.

at meant aser &as $robably safe. ar contained a reat &ealt of Breat" but ad

notin to A&aken. aser &alked around te cained man" findin it 'ery difficult to offer any

sym$aty. ar ad earned is fate. 4et te $riests &ould not let im die &ile e eld so muc

BreatC if e died" it &ould be &asted. 9one. Irretrie'able.

,ot e'en te o'ernment of :allandren??&ic ad suc strict la&s about te buyin and

$assin of Breat??could let suc a treasure sli$ a&ay. ey &anted it badly enou to forestall

te e>ecution of e'en a i?$rofile criminal like ar. In retros$ect" tey &ould curse

temsel'es for not lea'in im better uarded.

But" ten" aser ad been &aitin t&o years for an o$$ortunity like tis one.

LWell@ ar asked.

L9i'e me te Breat" ar" aser said" ste$$in for&ard.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/1J

ar snorted. LI doubt you a'e te skill of te 9od Kin#s torturers" aser??and I#'e

&itstood tem for t&o &eeks no&.

L4ou#d be sur$rised. But tat doesn#t matter. 4ou are oin to i'e me your Breat.

4ou kno& you a'e only t&o coices. 9i'e it to me" or i'e it to tem.

ar un by is &rists" rotatin slo&ly. Silent.

L4ou don#t a'e muc time to consider" aser said. LAny moment no&" someone is

oin to disco'er te dead uards outside. e alarm &ill be raised. I#ll lea'e you" you &ill be

tortured aain" and you &ill e'entually break. en all te $o&er you#'e atered &ill o to te

'ery $eo$le you 'o&ed to destroy.

ar stared at te floor. aser let im an for a fe& moments" and could see tat te

reality of te situation &as clear to im. inally" ar looked u$ at aser. Lat. . .tin you

bear. It#s ere" in te city@

aser nodded.

Le screams I eard earlier@ It caused tem@

aser nodded aain.

L:o& lon &ill you be in #elir@

Lor a time. A year" $era$s.

LWill you use it aainst tem@

LMy oals are my o&n to kno&" ar. Will you take my deal or not@ Nuick deat in

e>cane for tose Breats. I $romise you tis. 4our enemies &ill not a'e tem.

ar re& 0uiet. LIt#s yours" e finally &is$ered.

aser reaced o'er" restin is and on ar#s foreead??careful not to let any $art of is

clotin touc te man#s skin" lest ar dra& fort color for A&akenin.


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ar didn#t mo'e. :e looked numb. en" %ust as aser bean to &orry tat te

$risoner ad caned is mind" ar Breated. e color drained from im. e beautiful

Iridescence" te aura tat ad made im look ma%estic des$ite is &ounds and cains. It flo&ed

from is mout" anin in te air" simmerin like mist. aser dre& it in" closin is eyes.

LMy life to yours" ar (ommanded" a int of des$air in is 'oice. LMy Breat become

yours.

e Breat flooded into aser" and e'erytin became 'ibrant. :is bro&n cloak no&

seemed dee$ and ric in color. e blood on te floor &as intensely red" as if aflame. E'en

ar#s skin seemed a master$iece of color" te surface marked by dee$ black airs" blue bruises"

and sar$ red cuts. It ad been years since aser ad felt suc. . .life.

:e as$ed" fallin to is knees as it o'er&elmed im" and e ad to dro$ a and to te

stone floor to kee$ imself from to$$lin o'er. :o& did I li'e &itout tis@

:e kne& tat is senses adn#t actually im$ro'ed" yet e felt so muc more alert. More

a&are of te beauty of sensation. Wen e touced te stone floor" e mar'eled at its rouness.

And te sound of &ind $assin trou te tin duneon &indo& u$ abo'e. :ad it al&ays been

tat melodic@ :o& could e not a'e noticed@

LKee$ your $art of te barain" ar said. aser noted te tones in is 'oice" te

beauty of eac one" o& close tey &ere to armonics. aser ad ained $erfect $itc. A ift

for anyone &o reaced te Second :eitenin. It &ould be ood to a'e tat aain.

aser could" of course" a'e u$ to te ift :eitenin at any time" if e &ised. at

&ould re0uire certain sacrifices e &asn#t &illin to make. And so" e forced imself to do it te

old fasioned &ay" by aterin Breats from $eo$le like ar.


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aser stood" ten $ulled out te colorless scarf e ad used earlier. :e tossed it o'er

ar#s soulder" ten Breated.

:e didn#t boter makin te scarf a'e uman sa$e" didn#t need to use a bit of is air

or skin for a focus??tou e did a'e to dra& te color from is sirt.

aser met ar#s resined eyes.

LStranle tins" aser (ommanded" finers toucin te 0ui'erin scarf.

It t&isted immediately" $ullin a&ay a lare??yet no& inconse0uential??amount of Breat.

e scarf 0uickly &ra$$ed around ar#s neck" titenin" cokin im. ar didn#t strule or

as$" e sim$ly &atced aser &it atred until is eyes buled and e died.

:atred. aser ad kno&n enou of tat in is time. :e 0uietly reaced u$ and

reco'ered is Breat from te scarf" ten left ar danlin in is cell. aser $assed 0uietly

tou te $rison" mar'elin at te color of te &oods and te stones. After a fe& moments of

&alkin" e noticed a ne& color in te all&ay. Red.

:e ste$$ed around te $ool of blood??&ic &as see$in do&n te inclined duneon

floor??and mo'ed into te uard room. e tree uards lay dead. ne of tem sat in a cair.

,itblood" still mostly seated" ad been rammed trou te man#s cest. About an inc of a

dark black blade &as 'isible beneat te sil'er seat.

aser carefully slid te &ea$on fully back into its seat. :e did u$ te clas$.

I did 'ery &ell today" a 'oice said in is mind.

aser didn#t res$ond to te s&ord.

I killed tem all" ,itblood continued. Aren#t you $roud of me@

aser $icked u$ te &ea$on" accustomed to its unusual &eit" and carried it in one

and. :e reco'ered is duffle and slun it o'er is soulder.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/1F

I kne& you#d be im$ressed" ,itblood said" soundin satisfied.


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/1;

(a$ter ne

ere &ere reat ad'antaes to bein unim$ortant.

rue" by many $eo$le#s standards" Siri &asn#t Ounim$ortant.# Se &as" after all" te

dauter of a kin. ortunately" er fater ad four li'in cildren" and Siri??at se'enteen years

of ae??&as te younest. afen" te dauter %ust older tan Siri" ad done te family duty and

become a monk. Abo'e afen &as Rider" te eldest son. :e &ould inerit te trone.

And ten tere &as i'enna. Siri sied as se &alked do&n te $at back to te city.

i'enna" te firstborn" &as. . .&ell. . .i'enna. Beautiful" $oised" $erfect in most e'ery &ay. It

&as a ood tin" too" considerin te fact tat se &as betroted to a od. Eiter &ay" Siri??as

fourt cild??&as redundant. i'enna and Rider ad to focus on teir studiesC afen ad to do

er &ork in te $astures and omes. Siri" o&e'er" could et a&ay &it bein unim$ortant.

at meant se could disa$$ear into te &ilderness for ours at a time.

)eo$le &ould notice" of course" and se &ould et into trouble. 4et e'en er fater

&ould a'e to admit tat er disa$$earance adn#t caused muc incon'enience. e city ot

alon %ust fine &itout Siri??in fact" it tended to do a little better &en se &asn#t around.

nim$ortance. o anoter" it mit a'e been offensi'e. o Siri" o&e'er" it &as a

blessin.

Se smiled" &alkin into te city $ro$er. Se dre& te ine'itable stares. Wile Be'alis

&as tecnically te ca$ital of Idris" it &asn#t tat bi" and e'eryone kne& er by sit. +udin


20/889


by te stories Siri ad eard from $assin ramblemen" er ome &as ardly e'en a 'illae

com$ared to te massi'e metro$olises in oter nations.

Se liked it te &ay it &as" e'en &it te muddy streets" te tatced cottaes" and te

borin??yet sturdy??stone &alls. Women casin runa&ay eese" men $ullin donkeys laden

&it s$rin seed" and cildren leadin see$ on teir &ay to $asture. A rand city in Paka"

:udres" or e'en terrible :allandren mit a'e e>otic sits" but it &ould be cro&ded &it

faceless soutin" %ostlin cro&ds" and auty noblemen. ,ot Siri#s $referenceC se enerally

found e'en Be'alis to be a bit busy for er.

Still" se tout" lookin do&n at er utilitarian rey dress" I#ll bet tose cities a'e

more colors. at#s sometin I mit like to see.

:er air &ouldn#t stand out so muc tere. As usual" te lon locks ad one blonde

&it %oy &ile se#d been out in te fields. Se concentrated" tryin to rein tem in" but se &as

only able to brin te color to a dull bro&n. As soon as se sto$$ed focusin" er air %ust &ent

back to te &ay it ad been. Se#d ne'er been 'ery ood at controllin it. ,ot like i'enna.

As se continued trou te to&n" a rou$ of small fiures bean trailin er. Se

smiled" $retendin to inore te cildren until one of tem &as bra'e enou to run for&ard and

tu on er dress. en se turned" smilin. ey rearded er &it solemn faces. Idris cildren

&ere trained e'en at tis ae to a'oid sameful outbursts of emotion. Austrin teacins said

tere &as notin &ron &it feelins" but dra&in attention to yourself &it tem &as &ron.

Siri ad ne'er been 'ery de'out. It &asn#t er fault" se reasoned" if Austre ad made er

&it a distinct inability to obey. e cildren &aited $atiently until Siri reaced into er a$ron

and $ulled out a cou$le of britly colored flo&ers. e cildren#s eyes o$ened &ide" a3in at

te 'ibrant colors. ree of te flo&ers &ere blue" one yello&.


21/889


e flo&ers stood out starkly aainst te to&n#s determined drabness. ter tan &at

one could find in te skin and eyes of te $eo$le" tere &asn#t a dro$ of color in sit. Stones

ad been &ite&ased" clotin bleaced rey or tan. All to kee$ te color a&ay.

or &itout color" tere could be no A&akeners.

e irl &o ad tued Siri#s skirt finally took te flo&ers in one and and dased a&ay

&it tem" te oter cildren follo&in beind. Siri caut a look of dis$ro'al in te eyes of

se'eral $assin 'illaers. ,one of tem confronted er" tou. Bein a $rincess??e'en an

unim$ortant one??did a'e its $erks.

Se continued on to&ard te $alace. It &as a lo&" sinle?story buildin &it a lare"

$acked?eart courtyard. Siri a'oided te cro&ds of alin $eo$le at te front" roundin to te

back and oin in te kitcen entrance. Mab" te kitcen mistress" sto$$ed sinin as te door

o$ened" ten eyed Siri.

L4our fater#s been lookin for you" cild" Mab said" turnin a&ay and ummin as se

attacked a $ile of onions.

LI sus$ect tat e as. Siri &alked o'er and sniffed at a $ot" &ic bore te calm scent of

boilin $otatoes.

LWent to te ills aain" didn#t you@ Ski$$ed your tutorial sessions" I#ll bet.

Siri smiled" ten $ulled out anoter of te brit yello& flo&ers" s$innin it bet&een t&o

finers.

Mab rolled er eyes. LAnd been corru$tin te city yout aain" I sus$ect. :onestly"

irl" you sould be beyond tese tins at your ae. 4our fater &ill a'e &ords &it you about

sirkin your res$onsibilities.


22/889


23/889


Siri felt er air &iten slitly &it an>iety. Sto$ tat! se tout. e air seemed to

a'e a mind of its o&n" res$ondin to ut feelins.

Lat sacrificin maidens $art is only a story" Siri said. Ley don#t really do tat.

LStories come from some&ere.

L4es" tey come from old &omen sittin by te eart in te &inter. Eiter &ay" I don#t

tink &e need to be so fritened. e :allandrens &ill do &at tey &ant" &ic is fine by me"

as lon as tey lea'e us alone.

Mab co$$ed tubers" not lookin u$.

LWe#'e ot te treaty" Mab" Siri said. Later and i'enna &ill make sure &e#re safe"

and tat &ill make te :allandren lea'e us alone.

LAnd if tey don#t@

Ley &ill. 4ou don#t need to &orry.

Ley a'e better armies" Mab said" co$$in" not lookin u$" Lbetter steel" more food"

and tose. . .tose tins. It makes $eo$le &orry. Maybe not you" but sensible folk.

e cook#s &ords &ere ard to dismiss out of and. Mab ad a sense" a &isdom beyond

er instinct for s$ices and brots. :o&e'er" se also tended to fret. L4ou#re &orryin about

notin" Mab. 4ou#ll see.

LI#m %ust sayin tat tis is a bad time for a royal $rincess to be runnin around &it

flo&ers" standin# out and in'itin Austre#s dislike.

Siri sied. Line" ten" se said" tossin er last flo&er into te ste& $ot. L,o& &e

can all stand out toeter.

Mab fro3e" ten rolled er eyes" co$$in a root. LI assume tat &as a 'ana'el flo&er@


24/889


Lf course" Siri said" sniffin at te steamin $ot. LI kno& better tan to ruin a ood

ste&. And I still say you#re o'erreactin.

Mab sniffed. L:ere" se said" $ullin out anoter knife. LMake yourself useful. ere#s

roots tat need co$$in.

LSouldn#t I re$ort to my fater@ Siri said" rabbin a narled 'ana'el root and

beinnin to co$.

L:e#ll %ust send you back ere and make you &ork in te kitcens as a $unisment" Mab

said" banin te $ot &it er knife aain. Se firmly belie'ed tat se could %ude &en a dis

&as done by te &ay te $ot ran.

LAustre el$ me if fater e'er disco'ers I like it do&n ere.

L4ou %ust like bein close to te food" Mab said" fisin Siri#s flo&er out of te ste&

ten tossin it aside. LEiter &ay" you can#t re$ort to im. :e#s in conference &it 4arda.

Siri a'e no reaction??se sim$ly continued to co$. :er air" o&e'er" re& blonde

&it e>citement. ater#s conferences &it 4arda usually last ours" se tout. ,ot muc

$oint in sim$ly sittin around" &aitin for im to et done. . . .

Mab turned to et sometin off te table" and by te time se looked back" Siri ad

bolted out te door and &as on er &ay to&ard te royal stables. Bare minutes later" se

allo$ed a&ay from te $alace" &earin er fa'orite bro&n cloak" feelin an e>ilarated trill

tat sent er air into a dee$ blonde. A nice 0uick ride &ould be a ood &ay to round out te

day.

After all" er $unisment &as likely to be te same eiter &ay.

Q


25/889


5edelin" kin of Idris" set te letter do&n on is desk. :e ad stared at it lon enou. It

&as time to decide &eter or not to send is eldest dauter to er deat.

5es$ite te ad'ent of s$rin" is camber &as cold. Warmt &as a rare tin in te Idris

:ilandsC it &as co'eted and en%oyed" for it linered only briefly eac summer. e cambers

&ere also stark. ere &as a beauty in sim$licity. E'en a kin ad no rit to dis$lay arroance

by ostentation.

5edelin stood u$" lookin out is &indo& and into te courtyard. e $alace &as small

by te &orld#s standards??only a sinle story i" &it a $eaked &ooden roof and s0uat stone

&alls. But it &as lare by Idris standards" and it bordered on flamboyant. is could be

fori'en" for te $alace &as also a meetin all and center of o$erations for is entire kindom.

e kin could see 9eneral 4arda out of te corner of is eye. e burly man stood

&aitin" is ands clas$ed beind is back" is tick beard tied in tree $laces. :e &as te only

oter $erson in te room.

5edelin lanced back at te letter. e $a$er &as a brit $ink" and te aris color

stood out on is desk like a dro$ of blood in te sno&. )ink &as a color one &ould ne'er see in

Idris. In :allandren" o&e'er??center of te &orld#s dye industry??suc tasteless ues &ere

common$lace.

LWell" old friend@ 5edelin asked. L5o you a'e any ad'ice for me@

9eneral 4arda sook is ead. LWar is comin" your ma%esty. I feel it in te &inds and

read it in te re$orts of our s$ies. :allandren still considers us rebels" and our $asses to te nort

are too tem$tin. ey &ill attack.

Len I souldn#t send er" 5edelin said" lookin back out is &indo&. e courtyard

bustled &it $eo$le in furs and cloaks comin to market.


26/889


LWe can#t sto$ te &ar" your ma%esty" 4arda said. LBut. . .&e can slo& it.

5edelin turned back.

4arda ste$$ed for&ard" s$eakin softly. Lis is not a ood time. ur troo$s still

a'en#t reco'ered from tose endis raids last fall" and &it te fires in te ranary tis

&inter. . . . 4arda sook is ead. LWe cannot afford to et into a defensi'e &ar in te summer.

ur best ally aainst te :allandren are te sno&s. We can#t let tis conflict occur on teir

terms. If &e do" &e are dead.

e &ords all made sense.

L4our ma%esty" 4arda said" Ltey are &aitin for us to break te treaty as an e>cuse to

attack. If &e mo'e first" tey &ill strike.

LIf &e kee$ te treaty" tey &ill still strike" 5edelin said.

LBut later. )era$s monts later. 4ou kno& o& slo& :allandren $olitics are. If &e

kee$ te treaty" tere &ill be debates and aruments. If tose last until te sno&s" ten &e &ill

a'e ained te time &e need so badly.

It all made sense. Brutal" onest sense. All tese years" 5edelin ad stalled and &atced

as te :allandren court re& more and more aressi'e" more and more aitated. E'ery year"

'oices called for an assault on te ORebel Idrians# li'in u$ in te ilands. E'ery year" tose

'oices re& louder and more $lentiful. E'ery year" 5edelin#s $lacatin and $olitics ke$t te

armies a&ay. :e ad o$ed" $era$s" tat te rebel leader ar and is )an Kal dissidents

&ould dra& attention a&ay from Idris" but ar ad been ca$tured" is so?called army dis$ersed.

:is actions ad only ser'ed to make :allandren more focused on its enemies.

e $eace &ould not last. ,ot &it Idris ri$e" not &it te trade routes &ort so muc.

,ot &it te current cro$ of :allandren 9ods" &o seemed so muc more erratic tan teir


27/889


$redecessors. :e kne& all of tat. But e also kne& tat breakin te treaty &ould be foolis.

Wen you &ere cast into te den of a beast" you did not $ro'oke it to aner.

4arda %oined im beside te &indo&" lookin out" leanin one elbo& aainst te side of

te frame. :e &as a ars man born of ars &inters. But e &as also as ood a man as 5edelin

ad e'er kno&n??a $art of te kin loned to marry i'enna to te eneral#s o&n son.

at &as foolisness. 5edelin ad al&ays kno&n tis day &ould come. :e#d crafted te

treaty imself" and it demanded e send is dauter to marry te 9od Kin. e :allandren

needed a dauter of te royal blood to reintroduce te traditional bloodline into teir monarcy.

It &as sometin te de$ra'ed and 'ainlorious $eo$le of te lo&lands ad lon co'eted" and

only tat s$ecific clause in te treaty ad sa'ed Idris tese t&enty years.

at treaty ad been te first official act of 5edelin#s rein" neotiated furiously follo&in

is fater#s assassination. 5edelin#s ritted is teet. :o& 0uickly e#d bo&ed before te

&ims of is enemies. 4et e &ould do it aainC an Idris monarc &ould do anytin for is

$eo$le. at &as one bi difference bet&een Idris and :allandren.

LIf &e send er" 4arda" 5edelin said" L&e send er to er deat. L

LMaybe tey &on#t arm er" 4arda finally said.

L4ou kno& better tan tat. e first tin tey#ll do &en &ar comes is use er aainst

me. is is :allandren. ey in'ite A&akeners into teir $alaces" for Austre#s sake!

4arda fell silent. inally" e sook is ead. L*atest re$orts say teir army as ro&n to

include some forty tousand *ifeless.

*ord 9od of (olors" 5edelin tout" lancin at te letter aain. Its lanuae &as

sim$le. i'enna#s t&enty?second birtday ad come" and te terms of te treaty sti$ulated tat

5edelin could &ait no loner.


28/889


LSendin i'enna is a $oor $lan" but it#s our only $lan" 4arda said. LWit more time" I

kno& I can brin te edradel to our cause??tey#'e ated :allandren since te Many&ar. And

$era$s I can make find a &ay to rile ar#s broken rebel faction in :allandren itself. At te

'ery least" &e can build" ater su$$lies" li'e anoter year. 4arda turned to im. LIf &e don#t

send te :allandren teir $rincess" te &ar &ill be seen as our fault. Wo &ill su$$ort us@ ey

&ill demand to kno& &y &e refused to follo& te treaty our o&n kin &rote!

LAnd if &e do send tem i'enna" it &ill introduce te royal blood into teir monarcy"

and tat &ill a'e an e'en more leitimate claim on te ilands!

L)era$s" 4arda said. LBut if &e bot kno& tey#re oin to attack any&ay" ten &at

do &e care about teir claim@ At least tis &ay" $era$s tey &ill &ait until an eir is born

before te assault comes.

More time. e eneral al&ays asked for more time. But &at about &en tat time

came at te cost of 5edelin#s o&n cild@

4arda &ouldn#t esitate to send one soldier to die if it &ould mean time enou to et te

rest of is troo$s into better $osition to attack" 5edelin tout. We are Idris. :o& can I ask

anytin less of my dauter tan I#d demand of one of my troo$s@

It &as %ust tat tinkin of i'enna in te 9od Kin#s arms" bein forced to bear tat

creature#s cild. . .it nearly made is air bleac &it concern. at cild &ould become a

stillborn monster &o &ould become te ne>t Returned 9od of te :allandren.

ere is anoter &ay" a $art of is mind &is$ered. 4ou don#t a'e to send i'enna. . . .

A knock came at is door. Bot e and 4arda turned" and 5edelin called for te 'isitor to

enter. :e sould a'e been able to uess &om it &ould be.


29/889


i'enna stood in a 0uiet rey dress" lookin so youn to im still. 4et" se &as te

$erfect imae of an Idris &oman??air ke$t in a modest knot" no makeu$ to dra& attention to te

face. Se &as not timid or soft" like some noble&oman from te nortern kindoms. Se &as

%ust com$osed. (om$osed" sim$le" ard" and ca$able. Idrian.

L4ou a'e been in ere for se'eral ours" fater" i'enna said" bo&in er ead

res$ectfully to 4arda. Le ser'ants s$eak of a colorful en'elo$e carried by te eneral &en e

entered. I belie'e I kno& &at it contained.

5edelin met er eyes" ten &a'ed for er to seat erself. Se softly closed te door" ten

took one of te &ooden cairs from te side of te room. 4arda remained standin" after te

masculine fasion. i'enna eyed te letter sittin on te desk. Se &as calm" er air controlled

and ke$t a res$ectful black. Se &as t&ice as de'out as 5edelin" and??unlike er younest

sister??se ne'er dre& attention to erself &it fits of emotion.

LI assume tat I sould $re$are myself for de$arture" ten" i'enna said" ands in er

la$.

5edelin o$ened is mout" but could find no ob%ection. :e lanced at 4arda" &o %ust

sook is ead" resined.

LI a'e $re$ared my entire life for tis" fater" i'enna said. LI am ready. Siri"

o&e'er" &ill not take tis &ell. Se left on a ride an our ao. I sould de$art te city before

se ets back. at &ill a'oid any $otential scene se mit make.

Loo late" 4arda said" rimacin and noddin to&ard te &indo&. +ust outside" $eo$le

scattered in te courtyard as a fiure allo$ed trou te ates. Se &ore a dee$ bro&n cloak

tat bordered on bein too colorful" and??of course??se ad er air do&n.

e air &as yello&.


30/889

Sanderson/Warbreaker/D7

5edelin felt is rae and frustration ro&in. nly Siri could make im lose control"

and??as if in ironic counter$oint to te source of is aner??e felt is air cane. o tose

&atcin" a fe& locks of air on is ead &ould a'e bled from black to red. It &as te

identifyin mark of te royal family" &o ad fled to te Idris :ilands at te clima> of te

Many&ar. ters could ide teir emotions. e royals" o&e'er" manifest &at tey felt in te

'ery air on teir eads.

i'enna &atced im" $ristine as al&ays" and er $oise a'e im strent as e forced

is air to turn black aain. It took more &ill$o&er tan any common man could understand to

control te treasonous royal locks. 5edelin &asn#t sure o& i'enna manaed it so &ell.

)oor irl ne'er e'en ad a cildood" e tout. rom birt" i'enna#s life ad been

$ointed to&ard tis sinle e'ent. :is firstborn cild" te irl &o ad al&ays seemed like a $art

of imself. e irl &o ad al&ays made im $roudC te &oman &o ad already earned te

lo'e and res$ect of er $eo$le. In is mind#s eye e sa& te 0ueen se could become" stroner

e'en tan e. Someone &o could uide tem trou te dark days aead.

But only if se sur'i'ed tat lon.

LI &ill $re$are myself for te tri$" i'enna said" risin.

L,o" 5edelin said.

4arda and i'enna bot turned.

Later" i'enna said. LIf &e break tis treaty" it &ill mean &ar. I am $re$ared to

sacrifice for our $eo$le. 4ou taut me tat.

L4ou &ill not o" 5edelin said firmly" turnin back to&ard te &indo&. utside" Siri

&as lauin &it one of te stablemen. 5edelin could ear er outburst e'en from a distanceC

er air ad turned a flame?colored red.


31/889


*ord 9od of (olors" fori'e me" e tout. Wat a terrible coice for a fater to make.

e treaty is s$ecific- I must send te :allandren my dauter &en i'enna reaces er t&enty?

first birtday. But it doesn#t actually say &ic dauter I am re0uired do send.

If e didn#t send :allandren one of is dauters" tey &ould attack immediately. If e

sent te &ron one" tey mit be anered" but e kne& tey &ouldn#t attack. ey &ould &ait

until tey ad an eir. at &ould ain Idris at least nine monts.

And. . . e tout If tey &ere to try to use i'enna aainst me" I kno& tat I &ouldn#t

be able to sto$ myself from i'in in. It &as sameful to admit tat fact" but in te end" it &as

&at made te decision for im.

5edelin turned back to&ard te room. Li'enna" you &ill not o to &ed te tyrant od of

our enemies. I#m sendin Siri in your $lace.


32/889


(a$ter &o

Siri sat" stunned" in a rattlin carriae" er omeland ro&in more and more distant &it

eac bum$ and sake.

&o days ad $assed" and se still didn#t understand. is &as su$$osed to be i'enna#s

task. E'erybody understood tat. Idris ad tro&n a celebration on te day of i'enna#s birt.

e kin ad started er classes from te day se could &alk" trainin er in te &ays of court

life and $olitics. afen" te second dauter" ad also taken te lessons in case i'enna died

before te day of te &eddin. But not Siri. Se#d been redundant. nim$ortant.

,o more.

Se lanced out te &indo&. :er fater ad sent te kindom#s nicest carriae??alon

&it an onor uard of t&enty soldiers??to bear er sout&ard. at" combined &it a ste&ard

and se'eral ser'in boys" made for a $rocession as rand as Siri ad e'er seen. It bordered on

ostentation" &ic mit a'e trilled er" ad it not been bearin er a&ay from Idris.

is isn#t te &ay it#s su$$osed to be" se tout. is isn#t te &ay any of it is

su$$osed to a$$en!

And yet it ad.

,otin made sense. e carriae bum$ed" but se %ust sat" numb. At te 'ery least" se

tout" tey could a'e let me ride orseback" rater tan forcin me to sit in tis carriae. But

tat" unfortunately" &ouldn#t a'e been an a$$ro$riate &ay to enter :allandren.


33/889

Sanderson/Warbreaker/DD

:allandren.

Se felt er air bleac &ite &it fear. Se &as bein sent to :allandren" a kindom er

$eo$le cursed &it e'ery second breat. Se &ouldn#t see er fater aain for a lon &ile" if

e'er. Se &ouldn#t s$eak &it i'enna" or listen to te tutors" or be cided by Mab" or ride te

royal orses" or o lookin for flo&ers in te &ilderness" or &ork in te kitcens. Se#d. . . .

Marry te 9od Kin. e terror of :allandren" te monster tat ad ne'er dra&n a li'in

breat. In :allandren" is $o&er &as absolute. :e could order an e>ecution on a &im.

I#ll be safe" tou" &on#t I@ se tout. I#ll be is &ife.

Wife. I#m ettin married.

Austre" 9od of (olors. . . . Se tout" feelin sick. Se curled u$ &it er les

aainst er cest??er air ro&in so &ite tat it seemed to sine??and lay do&n on te seat of

te carriae" not sure if te sakin se felt &as er o&n tremblin or te carriae continuin its

ine>orable $at sout&ard.

Q

LI tink tat you sould reconsider your decision" ater" i'enna said calmly" sittin

decorously??as se#d been trained??&it ands in er la$.

LI#'e considered and reconsidered" i'enna" Kin 5edelin said" &a'in is and. LMy

mind is made u$.

LSiri is not suited to tis task.

LSe#ll do fine" er fater said" lookin trou some $a$ers on is desk. LAll se

really needs to do is a'e a baby. I#m certain se#s Osuited# to tat task.

Wat ten of my trainin@ i'enna tout. &enty?t&o years of $re$aration@ Wat

&as tat" if te only $oint in bein sent &as to $ro'ide a con'enient &omb@


34/889


Se ke$t er air black" er 'oice solemn" er face calm. LSiri must be distraut" se

said. LI don#t tink se#s emotionally ca$able of dealin &it tis.

:er fater looked u$" is air fadin a bit red??te black bleedin a&ay like $aint runnin

off a can'as. It so&ed is annoyance.

:e#s more u$set by er de$arture tan e#s &illin to admit.

Lis is for te best for our $eo$le" i'enna" e said" &orkin??&it ob'ious effort??to

turn is air black aain. LIf &ar comes" Idris &ill need you ere.

LIf &ar comes" &at of Siri@

:er fater fell silent. L)era$s it &on#t come" e finally said.

Austre. . . . i'enna tout &it sock. :e doesn#t belie'e tat. :e tinks e#s sent er

to er deat.

LI kno& &at you are tinkin" er fater said" dra&in er attention back to is eyes.

So solemn. L:o& could I coose one o'er te oter@ :o& could I send Siri to die and lea'e you

ere to li'e@ I didn#t do it based on $ersonal $reference" no matter &at $eo$le may tink. I did

&at &ill be best for Idris &en tis &ar comes.

Wen tis &ar comes. i'enna looked u$" meetin is eyes. LI &as oin to sto$ te

&ar" ater. I &as to be te 9od Kin#s bride! I &as oin to s$eak &it im" $ersuade im.

I#'e been trained &it te $olitical kno&lede" te understandin of customs" te??

LSto$ te &ar@ er fater asked" cuttin in. nly ten did i'enna reali3e o& bras

se must a'e sounded. Se looked a&ay.

Li'enna" cild" er fater said. Lere is no sto$$in tis &ar. nly te $romise of a

dauter of te royal line ke$t tem a&ay tis lon" and sendin Siri may buy us time. And. .

.$era$s I#'e sent er to safety" e'en &en &ar flares. )era$s tey &ill 'alue er bloodline to


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Sanderson/Warbreaker/DJ

te $oint tat tey lea'e er ali'e??a back u$ sould te eir se bears $ass a&ay. :e re&

distant. L4es" e continued" L$era$s it is not Siri &e sould be fearin for" but. . . .

But oursel'es" i'enna finised in er mind. Se &as not $ri'y to all of er fater#s &ar

$lannin" but se kne& enou. War &ould not fa'or Idris. In a conflict &it :allandren" tere

&as little cance tey &ould &in. It &ould be de'astatin for teir $eo$le and teir &ay of life.

Later" I??

L)lease" i'enna" e said 0uietly. LI cannot s$eak of tis furter. 9o no&. We &ill

con'erse later.

*ater. After Siri ad tra'eled e'en furter a&ay" after it &ould be muc more difficult to

brin er back &itout lookin foolis. 4et i'enna rose. Se &as obedientC it &as te &ay se

ad been trained. at &as one of te tins tat ad al&ays se$arated er from er sister.

Se left er fater#s study" closin te door beind er" ten &alked trou te &ooden

$alace all&ays" $retendin tat se didn#t see te stares or ear te &is$ers. Se made er

&ay to er room??&ic &as small and unadorned??and sat do&n on er bed" ands in er la$.

Se didn#t aree at all &it er fater#s assessment. Se could a'e done sometin.

Se &as to a'e been te 9od Kin#s bride. at &ould a'e i'en er influence in te court.

E'eryone kne& tat te 9od Kin imself &as distant &en it came to te $olitics of is nation"

but surely is &ife could a'e $layed a role in defendin te interests of er $eo$le.

And er fater ad tro&n tat a&ay@

:e really must belie'e tat tere is notin tat can be done to sto$ te in'asion. at

turned sendin Siri into sim$ly anoter $olitical maneu'er to buy time. +ust like Idris ad been

doin for decades. Eiter &ay" if te sacrifice of a royal dauter to te :allandren &as tat


36/889

Sanderson/Warbreaker/D

im$ortant" ten it still sould a'e been i'enna#s $lace to o. It ad al&ays been er duty to

$re$are for marriae to te 9od Kin. ,ot Siri#s" not afen#s. i'enna#s.

In bein sa'ed" se didn#t feel rateful. ,or did se feel tat se &ould better ser'e Idris

by stayin in Be'alis. If er fater died" 4arda &ould be far better suited to rule durin &artime

tan i'enna. Besides" Rider??i'enna#s youner broter??ad been roomed as eir for years.

Se ad been $reser'ed for no reason. It seemed a $unisment" in some &ays. Se#d

listened" $re$ared" learned" and $racticed. E'eryone said tat se &as $erfect. Wy" ten" &asn#t

se ood enou to ser'e as intended@

Se ad no ood ans&er for erself. Se could only sit and fret" ands in er la$" and

face te a&ful trut. :er $ur$ose in life ad been stolen and i'en to anoter. Se &as

redundant no&. seless.

nim$ortant.

Q

LWat &as e tinkin! Siri sna$$ed" anin alf out te &indo& of er carriae as it

bounced alon te earten road. A youn soldier marced beside te 'eicle" lookin

uncomfortable in te afternoon lit.

LI mean really" Siri said. LSendin me to marry te :allandren kin. at#s silly" isn#t

it@ Surely you#'e eard about te kinds of tins I do. Wanderin off &en nobody#s lookin.

Inorin my lessons. I tro& anry fits" for (olor#s sake!!

e uard lanced at er out of te corner of is eye" but oter&ise a'e no reaction. Siri

didn#t really care. Se &asn#t yellin at im so muc as %ust yellin. Se un $recariously

from te &indo&" feelin te &ind $lay &it er air??lon" red" strait??and stokin er aner.

ury ke$t er from &ee$in.


37/889


e reen s$rin ills of te Idris :ilands ad slo&ly faded a&ay as te days ad

$assed. In fact" tey &ere $robably in :allandren already??te border bet&een te t&o kindoms

&as 'aue" &ic &asn#t sur$risin" considerin tat tey#d been one nation u$ until te

Many&ar.

Se eyed te $oor uard??&ose only &ay of dealin &it a ra'in $rincess &as inorin

er. en se finally slum$ed back into te carriae. Se souldn#t a'e treated im so" but"

&ell" se#d %ust been sold off like some unk of mutton??doomed by a document tat ad been

&ritten years before se#d e'en been born. If anyone ad a rit to a tantrum" it &as Siri.

Maybe tat#s te reason for all of tis" se tout" crossin er arms on te &indo&sill.

Maybe fater &as tired of my tantrums" and %ust &anted to et rid of me.

at seemed a little far?fetced. ere &ere easier &ays to deal &it Siri??&ays tat

didn#t include sendin er to re$resent Idris in a forein court. Wy" ten@ 5id e really tink

se#d do a ood %ob@ at a'e er $ause. en se considered o& ridiculous it &as. :er

fater &ouldn#t a'e assumed tat se#d do a better %ob tan i'enna. ,obody did anytin

better tan i'enna.

Siri sied" feelin er air turn a $ensi'e bro&n. At least te landsca$e &as interestin"

and in order to kee$ erself from feelin any more frustrated" se let it distract er for te

moment. :allandren &as in te lo&lands" a $lace of tro$ical forests and strane" colorful

animals. Siri ad eard te descri$tions from ramblemen" and e'en confirmed teir accounts in

te occasional book se#d been forced to read. Se#d tout se kne& &at to e>$ect. 4et as

te ills a'e &ay to dee$ rasslands and ten te trees finally bean to cro&d te road" Siri

bean to reali3e tat tere &as sometin no tome or tale could ade0uately describe.

(olors.


38/889


39/889

Sanderson/Warbreaker/D;

ceck. If afen noticed o& $o$ular se &as" se#d ne'er so&n it. Se#d made te decision to

become a monk before er tent birtday" and er fater ad &oleeartedly a$$ro'ed. E'ery

noble or ric family &as traditionally obliated to $ro'ide one $erson to te monasteries. It &as

aainst te i'e isions to be selfis" e'en &it one#s o&n blood.

e t&o sisters atered berries &ic afen &ould later distribute to tose in need. e

monk#s finers &ere dyed slitly $ur$le by te &ork. i'enna &ore lo'es. at muc color

on er ands &ould be unseemly.

L4es" afen said" LI do tink you#re takin tis all &ron. Wy" you act as if you &ant

to o do&n and be married to tat *ifeless monster.

L:e#s not *ifeless" i'enna said. LSusebron is Returned" and tere is a lare

difference.

L4es" but e#s a false od. Besides" e'eryone kno&s &at a terrible creature e is.

LBut it &as my $lace to o and marry im. at is &o I am" afen. Witout it" I am

notin.

L,onsense" afen said. L4ou#ll inerit no&" instead of Rider.

ereby unsettlin te order of tins e'en furter" i'enna tout. Wat rit do I

a'e to take is $lace from im@

Se allo&ed tis as$ect of te con'ersation to la$se" o&e'er. Se#d been aruin te

$oint for se'eral minutes no&" and it &ouldn#t be $ro$er to continue. )ro$er. Rarely before ad

i'enna felt so frustrated at a'in to be $ro$er. :er emotions &ere ro&in rater. .

.incon'enient.

LWat of Siri@ se found erself sayin. L4ou#re a$$y tat tis a$$ened to er@


40/889


afen looked u$" ten fro&ned a little to erself. Se ad a tendency to a'oid tinkin

tins trou unless se &as confronted &it tem directly. i'enna felt a little asamed for

makin suc a blunt comment" but &it afen" tere often &asn#t any oter &ay.

L4ou do a'e a $oint" afen said. LI don#t see &y anyone ad to be sent.

Le treaty" i'enna said. LIt $rotects our $eo$le.

LAustre $rotects our $eo$le" afen said" mo'in on to anoter bus.

Will e $rotect Siri@ i'enna tou. )oor" innocent" ca$ricious Siri. Se#d ne'er

learned to control erselfC se#d be eaten ali'e in te :allandren (ourt of 9ods. Siri &ouldn#t

understand te $olitics" te backstabbin" te false faces and lies. Se &ould also be forced to

bear te ne>t 9od Kin of :allandren. )erformin tat duty &as not sometin i'enna ad

looked for&ard to. It &ould a'e been a sacrifice" yet it &ould a'e been er sacrifice" i'en

&illinly for te safety of er $eo$le.

Suc touts continued to $ester i'enna as se and afen finised &it te berry

$ickin" ten mo'ed do&n te illside back to&ard te 'illae. afen" like all monks" dedicated

all of er &ork to te ood of te $eo$le. Se &atced flocks" ar'ested food" and cleaned

ouses for tose &o could not do it temsel'es.

Witout a duty of er o&n" i'enna ad little $ur$ose. And yet" as se considered it"

tere &as someone &o still needed er. Someone &o ad left a &eek before" teary?eyed and

fritened" lookin to er bi sister &it des$eration.

i'enna &asn#t needed in Idris" &ate'er er fater said. Se &as useless ere. But se

did kno& te $eo$le" cultures" and society of :allandren. And??as se follo&ed afen onto te

'illae road??an idea bean to form in i'enna#s ead.

ne tat &as not" by any stretc of te imaination" $ro$er.


41/889


(a$ter ree

*itson didn#t remember dyin.

:is $riests" o&e'er" assured im tat is deat ad been e>tremely ins$irin. ,oble.

9rand. :eroic. ne did not Return unless one died in a &ay tat e>em$lified te reat 'irtues

of uman e>istence. at &as &y te Iridescent ones sent te Returned backC tey acted as

e>am$les" and ods" to te $eo$le &o still li'ed.

Eac od re$resented sometin. An ideal related to te eroic &ay in &ic tey ad

died. *itson imself ad died dis$layin e>treme bra'ery. r" at least" tat &as &at is

$riests told im. *itson couldn#t remember te e'ent" %ust as e couldn#t remember anytin

of is life before e became a od.

:e roaned softly" unable to slee$ any loner. :e rolled o'er" feelin &eak as e sat u$

in is ma%estic bed. isions and memories $estered is mind" and e sook is ead" tryin to

clear a&ay te fo of slee$.

Ser'ants entered" res$ondin &ordlessly to teir od#s needs. :e &as one of te youner

di'inities" for e#d Returned only fi'e years before. ere &ere some t&o do3en deities in te

(ourt of 9ods" and many &ere far more im$ortant??and far more $olitically sa''y??tan

*itson. And abo'e tem all reined Susebron" te 9od Kin of :allandren.


42/889


4oun tou e &as" e merited an enormous $alace. :e sle$t in a room dra$ed &it

silks" dyed &it brit reds and yello&s. :is $alace eld do3ens of different cambers" all

decorated and furnised accordin to is &ims. :undreds of ser'ants and $riests sa& to is

needs??&eter e &anted tem seen to or not.

All of tis" e tout as e stood" because I couldn#t fiure out o& to die. Standin

made im %ust a bit di33y. It &as is feastday. :e &ould lack strent until e ate.

Ser'ants a$$roaced carryin brilliant red and old robes. As tey entered is aura" eac

ser'ant??skin" air" clotin" and arments??burst &it e>aerated color. e saturated ues

&ere far more res$lendent tan any dye or $aint could $roduce. at &as an effect of

*itson#s innate Bio(roma- e ad enou Breat to fill tousands of $eo$le. :e sa& little

'alue in it. :e couldn#t use it animate ob%ects or cor$sesC e &as a od" not an A&akener. :e

couldn#t i'e??or e'en loan??is deific Breat a&ay.

Well" e>ce$t once. at &ould" o&e'er" kill im.

e ser'ants continued teir ministrations" dra$in im &it oreous clot. *itson

&as a ood ead and a alf taller tan anyone else in te room. :e &as also broad of soulders"

&it a muscular $ysi0ue tat e didn#t deser'e" considerin te amount of time e s$ent idle.

L5id you slee$ &ell" your race@ a 'oice asked.

*itson turned. *larimar" is i $riest" &as a tall" $ortly man &it s$ectacles and a

calm demeanor. :is ands &ere nearly idden by te dee$ slee'es of is old and red robe" and

e carried a tick tome. Bot robes and tome burst &it color as tey entered *itson#s aura.

LI sle$t fantastically" Scoot" *itson said" ya&nin. LA nit full of nitmares and

obscure dreams" as al&ays. erribly restful.

e $riest raised an eyebro&. LScoot@


43/889


L4es" *itson said. LI#'e decided to i'e you a ne& nickname. Scoot. Seems to fit

you" te &ay you#re al&ays scootin around" $okin into tins.

LI am onored" your race" *larimar said" seatin imself on a cair.

(olors" *itson tout. 5oesn#t e e'er et annoyed@

*larimar o$ened is tome. LSall &e bein@

LIf &e must" *itson said. e ser'ants finised tyin ribbons" doin u$ clas$s" and

dra$in silks. Eac bo&ed and retreated to te sides of te room.

*larimar $icked u$ is 0uill. LWat" ten" do you remember of your dreams@

L" you kno&" *itson flo$$ed back onto one of is couces" lounin. L,otin

really im$ortant.

*larimar $ursed is li$s in dis$leasure. ter ser'ants bean to file in" bearin 'arious

dises of food. Mundane" uman food. As a Returned" *itson didn#t really need to eat suc

tins??tey &ould not i'e im strent or banis is fatiue. ey &ere %ust an indulence. In

a sort time" e &ould dine on sometin far more. . .di'ine. It &ould i'e im strent enou

to li'e for anoter &eek.

L)lease try to remember te dreams" your race" *larimar said in is $olite" yet firm"

&ay. L,o matter o& unremarkable tey may seem.

*itson sied" lookin u$ at te ceilin. It &as $ainted &it a mural" of course. is

one de$icted tree fields enclosed by stone $astures. It &as a 'ision one of is $redecessors ad

seen" or so e &as told. *itson closed is eyes" tryin to focus. LI. . .&as &alkin alon a

beac" e said. LAnd a si$ &as lea'in &itout me. I don#t kno& &ere it &as oin.

*larimar#s $en bean to scratc 0uickly. :e &as $robably findin all kinds of symbolism

in te memory. LWere tere any colors@ te $riest asked.


44/889


Le si$ ad a red sail" *itson said. Le sand &as bro&n" of course" and te trees

reen. or some reason" I tink te ocean &ater &as red" like te si$.

*larimar scribbled furiously??e al&ays ot e>cited &en *itson remembered colors.

*itson o$ened is eyes and stared u$ at te ceilin and its britly colored fields. :e reaced

o'er idly" $luckin some cerries off a ser'ant#s $late.

Wy sould e berude te $eo$le is dreams@ E'en if e found di'ination foolis" e

ad no rit to com$lain. :e &as remarkably fortunate. :e ad a deific Bio(romatic aura" a

$ysi0ue tat any man &ould en'y" and enou lu>ury for ten kins. f all te $eo$le in te

&orld" e ad te least rit to be difficult.

It &as %ust tat. . .&ell" e &as $robably te &orld#s only od &o didn#t belie'e in is

o&n reliion.

LWas tere anytin else to te dream" your race@ *larimar asked" lookin u$ from is

book.

L4ou &ere tere" Scoot.

*larimar $aused" $alin %ust slitly. LI. . .&as@

*itson nodded. L4ou a$oloi3ed for boterin me all te time and kee$in me from

my debaucery. en you brout me a bi bottle of &ine and did a dance. It &as really 0uite

remarkable.

*larimar rearded im &it a flat stare.

*itson sied. L,o" tere &as notin else. +ust te boat. E'en tat is fadin.

*larimar nodded" risin and sooin back te ser'ants??tou" of course" tey remained

in te room" o'erin &it teir $lates of nuts" &ine" and fruit" sould any of it be &anted.

LSall &e et on &it it ten" your race@ *larimar asked.


45/889


*itson sied" ten rose" e>austed. A ser'ant scuttled for&ard to redo one of te

clas$s on is robe" &ic ad come undone as e sat.

*itson fell into ste$ beside *larimar" to&erin at least a foot o'er te $riest. e

furniture and door&ays" o&e'er" &ere built to fit *itson#s increased si3e" so it &as te

ser'ants and $riests &o seemed out of $lace. ey $assed from room to room" usin no

all&ays. :all&ays &ere for ser'ants" and tey ran in a s0uare around te outside of te

buildin. *itson &alked on $lus rus from te nortern nations" $assin te finest $ottery

from across te inner sea. Eac room &as un &it $aintins and racefully callira$ed

$oems" created by :allandren#s finest artists.

At te center of te $alace &as a small" s0uare room tat de'iated from te standard reds

and olds of *itson#s motif. is one &as brit &it ribbons of darker colors??dee$ blues"

reens" and blood reds. Eac &as a true color" directly on ue" as only a $erson &o ad attained

te ird :eitenin could distinuis.

As *itson ste$$ed into te room" te colors bla3ed to life. ey became briter"

more intense" yet someo& remained dark. e maroon became a more true maroon" te na'y a

more $o&erful na'y. 5ark yet brit" a contrast only Breat could ins$ire.

In te center of te room &as a cild.

Wy does it al&ays a'e to be a cild@ *itson tout.

*larimar and te ser'ants &aited. *itson ste$$ed for&ard" and te little irl lanced

to te side" &ere a cou$le of $riests stood in red and old robes. ey nodded encourainly.

e irl looked back to&ard *itson" ob'iously ner'ous.

L:ere no&" *itson said" tryin to sound encourain. Lere#s notin to fear.

And yet" te irl trembled.


46/889


*ecture after lecture??deli'ered by *larimar" &o ad claimed tat tey &ere not lectures"

for one did not lecture ods??drifted trou *itson#s ead. ere &as notin to fear from

te Returned 9ods of te :allandren. e ods &ere a blessin. ey $ro'ided 'isions of te

future" as &ell as leadersi$ and &isdom. All tey needed to subsist &as one tin.

Breat.

*itson esitated" but is &eakness &as comin to a ead. :e felt di33y. (ursin

imself 0uietly" e knelt do&n on one knee" takin te irl#s face in is o'ersi3ed ands. Se

bean to cry" but se said te &ords" clear and distinct as se ad been taut. LMy life to yours.

My Breat become yours.

:er Breat flo&ed out" $uffin in te air. It tra'eled alon *itson#s arm??te touc

&as necessary??and e dre& it in. :is &eakness 'anised" te di33iness e'a$orated. Bot &ere

re$laced &it cris$ clarity. :e felt in'iorated" re'itali3ed" ali'e.

e irl re& dull. e color of er li$s and eyes faded slitly. :er bro&n air lost

some of its lusterC er ceeks became more bland.

It#s notin" e tout. Most $eo$le say tey can#t e'en tell tat teir Breat is one.

Se#ll li'e a full life. :a$$y. :er family &ill be &ell $aid for er sacrifice.

And *itson &ould li'e for anoter &eek. :is aura didn#t ro& stroner from Breat

u$on &ic e fedC tat &as anoter difference bet&een a Returned and an A&akener. e latter

&ere sometimes rearded as inferior" man?made a$$ro>imations of te Returned.

Witout a ne& Breat eac &eek" *itson &ould die. Many Returned outside of

:allandren li'ed only eit days. 4et &it a donated Breat a &eek" a Returned could continue

to li'e" ne'er ain" seein 'isions at nit &ic &ould su$$osedly $ro'ide di'inations of te


47/889


future. :ence te (ourt of te 9ods" filled &it its $alaces" &ere ods could be nurtured"

$rotected" and??most im$ortantly??fed.

)riests ustled for&ard to lead te irl out of te room. It is notin to er" *itson

told imself aain. ,otin at all. . . .

:er eyes met is as se left" and e could see tat te t&inkle &as one from tem. Se

ad become a 5rab. A 5ull" or a aded ne. A $erson &itout Breat. It &ould ne'er ro&

back. e $riests took er a&ay.

*itson turned to *larimar" feelin uilty at is sudden enery. LAll rit" e said.

L*et#s see te fferins.

*larimar raised an eyebro& o'er is bes$ectacled eyes. L4ou#re accommodatin all of a

sudden.

I need to i'e sometin back" *itson tout. E'en if it#s sometin useless.

ey $assed trou se'eral more rooms of red and old" most of &ic &ere $erfectly

s0uare &it doors on all four sides. ,ear te eastern side of te $alace" tey entered a lon" tin

room. It &as com$letely &ite" sometin 'ery unusual in :allandren. e &alls &ere lined

&it $aintins and $oems. e ser'ants stayed outsideC only *larimar %oined *itson as e

ste$$ed u$ to te first $aintin.

LWell@ *larimar asked.

It &as a $astoral $aintin of te %unle" &it droo$in $alms and colorful flo&ers. ere

&ere some of tese $lants in te ardens around te (ourt of 9ods" &ic &as &y *itson

reconi3ed tem. :e#d ne'er actually been to te %unle??at least" not durin tis incarnation of

is life.


48/889


Le $aintin is all rit" *itson said. L,ot my fa'orite. Makes me tink of te

outside. I &is I could 'isit.

*larimar looked at im 0ui33ically.

LWat@ *itson said. Le (ourt ets old sometimes.

Lere isn#t muc &ine in te forest" your race.

LI could make some. erment. . .sometin.

LI#m sure" *larimar said" noddin to one of is aides outside te room. e lesser $riest

scribbled do&n &at *itson ad said about te $aintin. Some&ere" tere &as a city $atron

&o sout a blessin from *itson. It $robably ad to do &it bra'ery??$era$s te $atron

&as $lannin to $ro$ose marriae" or maybe e &as a mercant about to sin a risky business

deal. e $riests &ould inter$ret *itson#s o$inion of te $aintin" ten i'e te $erson an

auury??eiter for ood or for ill??alon &it te e>act &ords *itson ad said. Eiter &ay"

te act of sendin a $aintin to te od &ould ain te $atron some measure of ood fortune.

Su$$osedly.

*itson mo'ed a&ay from te $aintin. A lesser $riest rused for&ard" remo'in it.

Most likely" te $atron adn#t $ainted it imself" but ad instead commissioned it. e better a

$aintin &as" te better a reaction it tended to et from te ods. ne#s future" it seemed" could

be influenced by o& muc one could $ay one#s artist.

I souldn#t be so cynical" *itson tout. Witout tis system" I#d a'e died fi'e

years ao.

i'e years ao e ad died" e'en if e still didn#t kno& &at ad killed im. :ad it really

been a eroic deat@ )era$s te reason nobody &as allo&ed to talk about is former life &as


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because tey didn#t &ant anyone to kno& tat *itson te Bra'e ad actually died from a

stomac cram$.

o te side" te lesser $riest disa$$eared &it te %unle $aintin. It &ould be burned.

Suc offerins &ere made s$ecifically for te intended od" and only e??besides a fe& of is

$riests??&as allo&ed to see tem. *itson mo'ed alon to te ne>t &ork of art on te &all. It

&as actually a $oem" &ritten in te artisan#s scri$t. e dots of color britened as *itson

a$$roaced. e :allandren artisan#s scri$t &as a s$eciali3ed system of &ritin tat &asn#t

based on form" but on color. Eac colored dot re$resented a different sound in :allandren#s

lanuae. (ombined &it some double dots??one of eac color??it created an al$abet &ic

&as a nitmare for te colorblind.

e& $eo$le in :allandren &ould admit to a'in tat $articular ailment. At least" tat

&as &at *itson ad eard. :e &ondered if te $riests kne& %ust o& muc teir 9ods

ossi$ed about te outside &orld.

e $oem &asn#t a 'ery ood one" ob'iously com$osed by a $easant &o ad ten $aid

someone else to translate it to te artisan#s scri$t. e sim$le dots &ere a sin of tis. rue

$oets used more elaborate symbols" continuous lines tat caned color or colorful ly$s tat

formed $ictures. A lot could be done &it symbols tat could cane sa$e &itout losin teir

meanin.

9ettin te colors rit &as a delicate art" one tat re0uired te ird :eitenin or

better to $erfect. at &as te le'el of Breat at &ic a $erson ained te ability to sense

$erfect ues of color" %ust as te Second :eitenin a'e someone $erfect $itc. Returned &ere

of te Eit :eitenin. *itson didn#t kno& &at it &as like to li'e &itout te ability to


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instantly reconi3e e>act sades of color and sound. :e could tell an ideal red from one tat ad

been mi>ed &it e'en one dro$ of &ite $aint.

:e a'e te $easant#s $oem as ood a re'ie& as e could" tou e enerally felt an

im$ulse to be onest &en e looked at fferins. It seemed is duty" and for some reason it

&as one of te fe& tins e took seriously.

ey continued do&n te line" *itson i'in re'ie&s of te 'arious $aintins and

$oems. e &all &as remarkably full tis day. Was tere a feast or celebration e adn#t eard

about@ By te time tey neared te end of te line" *itson &as tired of lookin at art" tou

is body??fueled by te cild#s Breat??continued to feel stron and e>ilarated.

:e sto$$ed before te final $aintin. It &as an abstract &ork" a style tat &as ro&in

more and more $o$ular lately??$articularly in $aintins sent to im" since e#d i'en fa'orable

re'ie&s to oters in te $ast. :e almost a'e tis one a $oor rade sim$ly because of tat. It

&as ood to kee$ te $riests uessin at &at &ould $lease im" or so some of te ods said.

*itson sensed tat many of tem &ere far more calculatin in te &ay tat tey a'e teir

re'ie&s" intentionally addin cry$tic meanins.

*itson didn#t a'e te $atience for suc tricks" es$ecially since all anyone e'er really

seemed to &ant from im &as onesty. :e a'e tis last $aintin te time it deser'ed. e

can'as &as tick &it $aint" e'ery inc colored &it lare" fat strokes of te brus. e

$redominant ue &as a dee$ red" almost a crimson" tat *itson immediately kne& &as a red?

blue mi>ture &it a int of black in it.

e lines of color o'erla$$ed" one ato$ anoter" almost in a $roression. Kind of

like. . .&a'es. *itson fro&ned. If e looked at it rit" it looked like a sea. And" could tat

be a si$ in te center@


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aue im$ressions from is dream returned to im. A red sea. e si$" lea'in.

I#m imainin tins" e told imself. L9ood color" e said. L,ice $atterns. It $uts me

at $eace" yet as a tension to it as &ell. I a$$ro'e.

*larimar seemed to like tis res$onse. :e nodded as te lesser $riest??&o stood a

distance a&ay??recorded *itson#s &ords.

LSo" *itson said. Lat#s it" I assume@

L4es" your race.

ne duty left" e tout. ,o& tat fferins &ere done" it &ould be time to mo'e on to

te final??and least a$$ealin??of is daily tasks. )etitions. :e ad to et trou tem before

e could et to more im$ortant acti'ities" like takin a na$.

*larimar didn#t lead te &ay to&ard te $etition all" o&e'er. :e sim$ly &a'ed a lesser

$riest o'er" ten bean to fli$ trou some $aes on a cli$board.

LWell@ *itson asked.

LWell &at" your race@

L)etitions.

*larimar sook is ead. L4ou aren#t earin )etitions today" your race. Remember@

L,o. I a'e you to remember tins like tat for me.

LWell" ten" *larimar said" fli$$in a $ae o'er" Lconsider it officially remembered tat

you a'e no )etitions today. 4our $riests &ill be oter&ise em$loyed.

Ley &ill@ *itson demanded. L5oin &at@

LKneelin re'erently in te courtyard" your race. ur ne& 0ueen arri'es today.

*itson fro3e. I really need to $ay more attention to $olitics. Loday@

LIndeed" your race. ur lord te 9od Kin &ill be married.


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LSo soon@

LAs soon as se arri'es" your race.

Interestin" *itson tout. Susebron ettin a &ife. e 9od Kin &as te only one

of te Returned &o could marry. Returned couldn#t $roduce cildren??sa'e" of course" for te

kin" &o ad ne'er dra&n a breat as a li'in man. *itson ad al&ays found te distinction

odd.

L4our race" *larimar said. LWe &ill need a *ifeless (ommand in order to arrane our

troo$s on te field outside te city to &elcome te 0ueen.

*itson raised an eyebro&. LWe $lan to attack er@

*larimar a'e im a stern look.

*itson cuckled. Lledlin fruit" e said" i'in u$ one of te (ommand $rases

tat &ould let oters control te city#s *ifeless. It &asn#t te core (ommand" of course. e

$rase e#d i'en to *larimar &ould only allo& a $erson to control te *ifeless in non?combat

situations" and it &ould e>$ire one day after its first use. *itson often tout tat te

con'oluted system of (ommands used to control te *ifeless &as needlessly com$le>. :o&e'er"

bein one of te four 9ods to old *ifeless (ommands did make im rater im$ortant at times.

e $riests bean to cat 0uietly about $re$arations and te ne& 0ueen. *itson

&aited" still tinkin about Susebron and te im$endin &eddin. :e folded is arms and rested

aainst te side of te door&ay.

LScoot@ e asked.

L4es" your race@

L5id I a'e a &ife@ Before I died" I mean.


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*larimar esitated. L4ou kno& I cannot s$eak of your life before your Return"

*itson. Kno&lede of your $ast &on#t do anyone any ood.

*itson leaned is ead back" restin it aainst te &all" lookin u$ at te &ite

ceilin. LI. . .remember a face" sometimes" e said softly. LA beautiful" youtful face. I tink it

mit a'e been er.

e $riests used.

LIn'itin bro&n air" *itson said. LRed li$s" tree sades sy of $ure" but &it a

dee$ beauty of teir o&n. 5ark tan skin.

A $riest scuttled for&ard &it te red tome" and *larimar started &ritin furiously. :e

didn#t $rom$t *itson for more information" but sim$ly took do&n te od#s &ords as tey

came.

*itson fell silent" turnin a&ay from te men and teir scribblin $ens. Wat does it

matter@ e tout. at life is one. Instead" I et to be a od. Reardless of my belief in te

reliion itself" te $erks are nice.

:e &alked a&ay" lea'in *larimar" tou e &as trailed by a retinue of ser'ants and

lesser $riests &o &ould see to is needs. fferins done" dreams recorded" and $etitions

canceled" *itson &as free to $ursue is o&n acti'ities.

:e didn#t return to is main cambers. Instead" e made is &ay out onto is $atio deck

and &a'ed for a $a'ilion to be set u$ for im.

If a ne& 0ueen &as oin to arri'e today" e &anted to et a ood look at er.


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(a$ter our

Siri#s carriae rolled to a sto$ outside of #elir" ca$ital of :allandren. Se stared out te

&indo& and reali3ed sometin 'ery" 'ery intimidatin- er $eo$le ad no idea &at it meant to

be ostentatious. lo&ers &eren#t ostentatious. en soldiers $rotectin a carriae &as not

ostentatious. ro&in a tantrum in $ublic &asn#t ostentatious.

e field of forty tousand soldiers" dressed in brilliant blue and old" standin in $erfect

ro&s" s$ears raised i &it blue tassels fla$$in in te &ind. . .tat &as ostentatious. e t&in

line of ca'alrymen ato$ enormous" tick?oofed orses" bot men and beasts dra$ed &it olden

clot tat simmered in te sun. at &as ostentatious. e massi'e city" so lare it made er

mind numb to consider it" domes and s$ires and $ainted &alls all com$etin to dra& er

attention. at &as ostentatious.

Se#d tout tat se &as $re$ared. e carriae ad $assed trou cities as tey#d

made teir &ay to #elir. Se#d seen te $ainted ouses" te brit colors and $atterns. Se#d

stayed at inns &it $lus beds. Se#d eaten foods mi>ed &it s$ices tat made er snee3e.

Se adn#t been $re$ared for er rece$tion at #elir. ,ot at all.

Blessed *ord of (olors. . . . se tout.

:er soldiers $ulled in tit around te carriae" as if &isin tey could climb inside and

ide from te o'er&elmin sit. #elir &as built u$ aainst te sore of te Brit Sea" a


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of color and te stiff e>$ressions on teir faces. at" and te fact tat tey stood unnaturally

motionless. ,o sufflin" no breatin" no 0ui'ers of muscle or limb. E'en teir eyes &ere still.

ey seemed like statues" $articularly considerin teir rey skin.

And. . .I#m oin to marry one of tese tins@ Siri tout. But no" Returned &ere

different from *ifeless" and bot &ere different from 5rabs" &ic &ere $eo$le &o ad lost

teir Breat. Se could 'auely remember a time &en someone back in er 'illae ad

Returned. It ad been nearly ten years back" and er fater adn#t let er 'isit te man. Se did

recall tat e#d been able to s$eak and interact &it is family" e'en if e adn#t been able to

remember tem.

:e#d died aain a &eek later.

E'entually" er carriae $assed trou te ranks of *ifeless. e city &alls &ere ne>tC

tey &ere immense and dauntin" yet tey almost looked more artistic tan functional. e

&all#s to$ &as cur'ed in massi'e alf?circles" like rollin ills" and te rim &as $lated &it a

olden metal. e ates temsel'es &ere in te form of t&o t&istin" lite sea creatures &o

cur'ed u$ in a massi'e arc&ay. Siri $assed trou tem" and te uard of :allandren

ca'alrymen??&o a$$eared to be li'in men??accom$anied er.

Se ad al&ays tout of :allandren as a $lace of deat. :er im$ressions &ere based

on stories told by $assin ramblemen or by old &omen at te &inter eart. ey s$oke of city

&alls built from skulls" ten $ainted &it slo$$y" uly streaks of color. Se#d imained te

buildins inside s$lattered &it different clasin ues. bscene.

Se#d been &ron. rue" tere &as an a

Warbreaker Full 6.1

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Transcript of Warbreaker Full 6.1