#just give me an entire book of the kholin brothers being unconditionally loving and supportive of each other

[nightblink]

Blink Reads Oathbringer - Chapters Eight, Nine, and Ten

Chapter Eight - A Powerful Lie

Now I’m thinking that these prologues are possibly Jasnah’s? It’d fit with the whole ‘heretic’ thing.

Oh, Pattern, that… that is not helping. Just let her work with the one healthy coping mechanism that she has.

You say “full” Knight Radiant, but that’s not what you – any­ of you are yet, Shallan – you still have Ideals left to say.

Can’t sketch it? Artist’s block is one thing, but that feels… foreboding.

Brightlord Brooding-Eyes aaaahahahahahahaha

Mmm, keeping up yet another layer of deception by pretending to the people at large that you’re even a kind of Radiant that you’re not? Smart, but goddamn.

Ohhhh, Shallan, that wasn’t… that’s not actually a ‘lady’ scout, no matter what she may have looked like to you; I’d lay broams on it.

Using the lines of strata like a map! Shallan, I love your eye for detail that gave us this.

That is a fantastic image of Renarin bundled up with tea, talking diplomacy, and I want to draw it.

Dalinar is treating Shallan as if he expects her to have the same amount of experience in these matters as his sons, and that’s not- Dal, she’d barely even left her own family’s manor.

Shallan is, of course, having none of this, but I’m amazed that she got in so smooth a rebuke! Not long ago, back before and even with Jasnah, she’d have quailed under a Look from Dalinar.

Adolin has a point. You did win a staredown with the personification of storms.

!!!! Is Dalinar unconsciously using his Surges? Like Kaladin used to do with attraction-Gravitation?

Now that visual, with the map… damn, that’s amazing. A full hologram! But what was that where the stormlight was “passing between her and Dalinar”? Joint Surge usage? Some kind of combination power? Holy shit, if that’s the case, imagine the possibilities-!

It was. [SCREECHES]

Stormfather-radar. That’s fantastically useful – every time a Highstorm passes over the continent they can get an updated map. Of everywhere.

RENARIN HAVE YOU SEEN THIS TOO

Comfort through contact, ahhh, I’m glad to see you two progressing.

….another murder.

What.

Chapter Nine – The Threads of a Screw

So the murdered soldier was from Sebarial's army, there's… not really any connection there between this guy and Sadreas…?

'Storming Alethi long legs'. Shallan you're going to have to get used to it your betrothed is a foot or more taller than you are. Give into the fact that you'll at least never have to stretch for the top shelf again. Speaking of which, awww, Adolin waiting for her!

ADOLIN YOU'RE TERRIBLE AT TRYING TO BE INNOCENT

not that this was one he did, but still

REACHING FOR TACTILE CONTACT, YESSSS, INDULGE AND REINFORCE MY HEADCANONS

oh shit oh shit oh shit it's exactly the same, exactly, either they're going to pick up on how suspicious that is, or Adolin might eventually be shouldering the blame for more that just the one he's responsible for

Knowing that Alethela was once the 'war nation', essentailly, it makes sense that even when the Alethi don't allow women fighters they still allow them to assist in battle in some ways, where the Vedens don't.

[winces] Adolin, you are far too obvious. Too honest for your own good, and it shows. Shallan is definitely going to pick up on your guilt if you keep this up.

THEY'RE CALLING B4 'THE WINDRUNNERS' I'M SCREAMING

sneaky Renarin – but is he just quiet, or was there something augmenting him, I wonder?

WELL THAT'S IRONIC

It makes sense from Dalinar's point of view, but storms

yeeep, Shallan's already suspicious. But it looks like Renarin might already know

“deceitful as a newborn” ACCURATE

if nothing else, he's going to be intensely focused on finding whomever's committing these other murders, since even if it doesn't exonerate him in the end, it won't be any more people dying like he killed Sadeas

Ten emeralds says that Renarin knows

Chapter Ten – Distractions

Yep, I am definitely thinking at this point that these intros are probably Jasnah's

KALADIN SMILE ALERT

She's not trying to mother you, Kal, she's just being a friend. A friend who fills in the cracks in your soul, at that.

Akanny region – we're getting more detail on Kaladin's homeland and Alethkar in general, yesssss

speaking of worldbuilding, new critters! Gumfrems, I'll have to remember that one. Likely smaller than chulls, even if they resemble them, since there was no mention of them being used as beasts of burden.

Baby spren, now there's an idea! Not possible in the way of humans, but a cute idea nonetheless. Still unsure of spren have anything resembling “family” bonds, though Syl did mention an 'aunt', and calls the Stormfather 'Father' – it's probably just one more thing they picked up from humans.

“Lord Radiant!” well, at least that title doesn't hold all the negative connotations for Kaladin that “Brightlord” has picked up over his time of abuse and slavery

he's actually calling her a Sylblade

!!! There was actually an attack on this town! Finally, perhaps some answers as to why the other villages were left alone!

Looting, interesting, and in Warform. Taking food for travel? And not so much an attack as just taking the grain – nobody died when they did so, even if the guards were injured.

Warform Parshendi, but not red-eyed? Not under Odium's influence? But how?

Syl. Syl, everyone thinks Kaladin's pretty. If even a concussed Dalinar had the presence of mind to note slave!Kaladin's rich curls, he's a looker. The majority of the bridge crews probably still harbor crushes on him.

SYL. LEAVE YOUR DEMIACE HUMAN ALONE ON THIS ONE.

Kaladin likes that way that Shallan is apparently coping, Syl, because he has such a tendency to view people in black and white. He doesn't realize how unhealthily she's actually managing herself.

He's got a point, Syl. Not everyone's into voyeurism. Kaladin is definitely one of those, it turns out.

Straight toward Kholinar, ohhhhh no, I'm getting a Bad Feeling about this…

Oh no, Adolin's visiting the stables. And Sureblood isn't there. Won't be there, ever again.

I'm not crying, you're crying.

You used to visit Sureblood like this all the time, didn't you? Not just for rides, to get out into the wind and revel in the speed and the pounding of hooves, but for the companionship. He chose you not for your blood or rank or skill, but for you.

You really feel the closeness of the brothers with Adolin understanding and interpreting Renarin with the words he's saying along with the words he doesn't say, weaving them together into a whole. And then seeing right through him! 'Rin, you already have enough Ideals sworn to make a Blade? AAAAAHHHHHH

The love and support between these brothers, I swear- This whole scene is gold. Renarin's power, the way Adolin tries to ease his uncertainty, the returned affection with that pulse of perfection

Renarin healed his wrist

Adolin doesn't see himself as whole