Kaladin

Kaladin is Hesina’s son. She advises him about his future, defends Lirin’s character, and encourages him to think carefully about the choices between surgery and soldiering.

Kaladin recalls his father teaching that it is impossible to protect people by killing. In his despair, Kaladin rejects that lesson and concludes that fighting may be necessary to protect the bridgemen.

Kaladin remembers Tarah as someone who once drew him away from a self-destructive fixation on becoming stronger. He regards their relationship as another personal failure, though the passage gives little detail about its nature.

Kaladin is fiercely protective of Tien. When Roshone conscripts Tien, Kaladin volunteers to serve alongside him so he will not face the army alone, promising to bring him home safely.

Kaladin forces the exhausted Adolin to withdraw and offers to go after Dalinar in his place. Their exchange is tense, but both act to save the other’s men and family.

Matal is appointed captain over Kaladin’s bridge crews. His administration assigns Bridge Four permanent chasm duty, increasing the danger and hardship facing Kaladin and his men.

Kaladin and his bridgemen save Dalinar’s life. Dalinar honors Kaladin’s leadership, trades his Shardblade to free the bridgemen, and promises them safety.

Drehy tells Sigzil to leave Kaladin alone, acknowledging that Kaladin at least makes an effort. He is one of the few bridgemen to defend Kaladin openly.

Kaladin treated Hobber’s wound with knobweed sap and saved him from infection. Hobber’s gratitude has become strong loyalty, and he joins Kaladin’s gathering.

Kaladin used knobweed sap to treat Leyten’s wound; the treatment drove off the rotspren and helped the infection retreat.

Maps is a member of Bridge Four whom Kaladin tries unsuccessfully to save after an arrow wound. His death intensifies Kaladin’s guilt and grief.

Moash begins as a skeptic of Kaladin’s plans but grows loyal to him, pledging to guard him with his life. Their bond is strengthened by shared danger and Kaladin’s leadership, though Moash remains more openly vengeful.

Kaladin leads Peet as a member of Bridge Four. Peet looks to him for direction when the crew faces its new and dangerous chasm-duty assignment.

Rock is one of Kaladin’s closest supporters in Bridge Four. He visits Kaladin while he is hanging before the storm, promises to preserve the crew’s new traditions, and rushes to get him down after discovering he survived.

No direct relationship is established between them in these chapters.

Sigzil is a thoughtful Bridge Four companion who discusses power, injustice, and Kaladin’s doubts with him. Kaladin trusts his perspective, though Sigzil’s past as a Worldsinger is a sensitive subject.

Skar takes a watch shift at Kaladin’s bedside and reports his worsening condition to Teft. Bridge Four members keep watch over Kaladin and protect him from possible interference.

Syl is Kaladin's close spren companion, encouraging him as he discovers his abilities and helping him locate Parshendi corpses and navigate the chasms. She warns him against reckless risks and says that his death would leave her mindless again.

Teft supports Kaladin and Bridge Four, visits him before the storm, gives him a sphere for luck, and helps organize the rescue afterward. Though skeptical and troubled by his own doubts, he remains invested in Kaladin’s survival.

Adis serves in Bridge Four under Kaladin’s leadership and dies in the arrow attack at the deathpoint.

Bisig is a member of Bridge Four who resisted Kaladin’s leadership before finally joining the crew’s training. Kaladin suspects the other men’s pressure helped bring him around.

Blunt is one of Tvlakv’s mercenaries and enforces control over Kaladin and the other slaves; Kaladin confronts him while trying to treat the sick man.

Kaladin pays to bring the young recruit Cenn into his squad and risks himself to save him in battle. Cenn dies during the Shardbearer’s attack.

Corl serves in Bridge Four under Kaladin’s leadership and dies in the arrow attack at the deathpoint.

Dabbid is a wounded member of Bridge Four who accompanies the crew and joins the effort to hold the bridge despite his condition.

Dalar directs the reserve squads in Kaladin’s first battle and tells him where Tien’s messenger-boy squad has been assigned.

Dallet was one of Kaladin’s former spear-crew companions. His death, alongside the deaths of Kaladin’s other friends, resurfaces as Kaladin faces another seemingly hopeless battle.

Dunny was one of Kaladin's first supporters and a valued member of Bridge Four; his death deeply affects Kaladin.

Kaladin leads Gadol in Bridge Four and tries to save him after he suffers a severe wound. Gadol dies despite Kaladin’s efforts.

Gare is Kaladin’s superior in the army. Kaladin bribes him to transfer the inexperienced recruit Cenn into his squad, and their exchange shows Kaladin’s influence and Gare’s self-interest.

Kaladin attempts to save Harl’s daughter, Miasal, but cannot prevent her death; Harl’s grief is directed at the loss, not presented as an ongoing feud.

Hoid meets Kaladin on the Plains, tells him the Wandersail story, gives him a flute, and prompts him to consider responsibility. Their exchange is warm and personally significant.

Kaladin spends time with Jam, who is two years older and is learning the quarterstaff from his father.

Khav is one of the local boys in the discussion about social rank and the possibility of darkeyes becoming lighteyes.

Lamaril oversees matters affecting Kaladin’s bridgemen and seeks to have Kaladin punished for keeping wounded men; Kaladin learns that Sadeas has instead imposed deprivation.

Kaladin used to visit and play with Laral, Brightlord Wistiow’s daughter. He still thinks about her and wonders whether his mother once hoped they might marry.

Laresh works in the duty tent and brings replacement prisoners to the bridge crews, including a group assigned to Bridge Four.

Lopen is a loyal Bridge Four companion who assists Kaladin's plans, gathers equipment, and agrees to retrieve the concealed armor. He follows Kaladin because he likes and trusts him.

Mesh commands a squad in Kaladin’s first battle. Kaladin briefly serves among his spearmen while trying to reach Tien, but leaves the line when he sees his brother exposed.

Kaladin tries to save the badly injured child, but she dies despite his efforts, leaving him devastated.

Murk serves in Bridge Four under Kaladin’s leadership and is killed by arrows during the assault.

Kaladin gives Nacomb a field commission to command the rear guard after its officers are killed, and Nacomb follows his orders to move the troops across the bridge.

Terith, the baker’s wife, spreads gossip accusing Lirin of stealing Wistiow’s spheres. Kaladin confronts her with a sharp look and resents the rumors.

Narm serves in Bridge Four and follows Kaladin’s instructions to build a fire for treating the wounded.

Natam is a member of Bridge Four who questions whether the crew wants to be rid of Kaladin. His words reveal that the bridgemen have begun to care about and trust their leader.

As a boy, Kaladin helps his father treat Sani and worries about her recovery.

Kaladin names the newly assigned parshman Shen and declares him a member of Bridge Four, insisting that the crew treat him as one of their own despite their distrust.

Ven is the chief surgeon in Amaram’s army. Kaladin pays him to ensure that his men receive medical attention first on the battlefield.

Amark is named among the men Kaladin has lost, part of the burden of grief he carries as Bridge Four’s leader.

Naget is one of the Hearthstone boys who asks Kaladin whether darkeyes can truly become lighteyes by winning a Shardblade.

Nalma is one of the dead Kaladin recalls while mourning Maps and reflecting on his inability to save everyone.

Tukks taught and advised Kaladin during his early military training. His counsel—that a soldier should care about those he fights for—shapes Kaladin’s understanding of combat and protection.

Varth once commanded a squad in the battle where Tien died. He knowingly placed inexperienced messenger boys at the front as a tactical expedient, an act Kaladin remembers as a betrayal of Tien.

Kaladin once serves Amaram and saves his life, believing him honorable. Amaram then has Kaladin’s surviving squad killed, steals the Shards Kaladin won, and brands Kaladin a slave to conceal the truth.

Gaz uses his authority as bridge sergeant to punish Kaladin’s crew with chasm duty and hopes they will be killed. Kaladin confronts him and makes clear to the men that Gaz is responsible for the unfair assignment.

Szeth refers to the slaughter he committed in Alethkar, an episode that nearly toppled the kingdom and is associated with Kaladin’s later conflict with him.

Sadeas’s command treats bridgemen as expendable, sending them on dangerous bridge runs without shields. Kaladin resents Sadeas and refuses to recognize personal allegiance to him, while continuing to serve and protect his crew.

Hashal, acting with her husband's authority, orders Kaladin's crew onto bridge duty every day, sharply increasing their likely deaths. Kaladin recognizes the order as a threat to his men.

Jost challenges Kaladin after Kaladin disputes the story about Jost’s father and a Shardblade. Jost defeats him, but Kaladin asks Jost to teach him quarterstaff fighting.

Kaladin regards the Parshendi as the enemy, a division he learned as a soldier to endure the war. He also studies their reverence for the dead as a possible tactical weakness.

Kaladin helps his father treat Roshone after a whitespine attack, despite believing Roshone’s death would benefit his family and town. The experience forces Kaladin to confront his capacity for violence.

Tvlakv is Kaladin’s slaver. He exposes Kaladin as a deserter and rebel, preventing him from being accepted as a bonded soldier.

Rillir belittles Kaladin and tries to order him around as a kitchen servant. Kaladin refuses to be bullied, and the encounter deepens his resolve to become a surgeon and learn to confront lighteyes.