gooseisamenace

Definitely not a new theory but I’ve been (re)relistening to the audio books and got to Fleet’s story in WOR and, uh, I’m wholly convinced it’s a complete parallel of Kaladin’s arc.

Fleet starts running in the East.

Kaladin’s main plot and Radiant journey starts in the Shattered Plains (WOK, WOR).

The storm “chewed [Fleet’s] heels” while in the mountains where Urithiru is located.

Kaladin experiences his darkest moments w depression during ROW at Urithiru.

“[Fleet] crossed the peak, his speed returned” once over the icy mountains.

Kal swears the next ideal and gains new strength mentally/physically after ROW.

“The end approached, the storm outdone. But slowly did our hero run… more mountains, Shinovar”.

Kaladin is headed to Shinovar in WAT…….what’s waiting/going to happen there?

The rest of Fleet’s journey recounts him crossing the Misty Mountains into Shinovar and, per Kaladin (who granted was pretty pissed in prison while Wit is telling him this story) states that Fleet died there.

Wit implies this is the true ending BUT adds:

“Upon that land of dirt and soil our hero fell and did not stir. His body spent his strength undone Fleet the hero was no more. The storm approached and found him there, it stilled and stopped upon its course. The rains they fell, the winds they blew, but forward they could not progress. For glory lit and light alive, for goals unreached and aims to strive. All men must try the wind did see, it is the test it is the dream. So in that land of dirt and soil, our hero stopped the storm itself. And while the rain came down like tears, our Fleet refused to end this race. His body dead but not his will, within those winds his soul did rise. It blew upon the days last song, to win the race and claim the dawn. Past the sea and past the waves, our Fleet no longer lost his breath. Forever strong forever fast, forever free to race the wind.”