#vienta

The Fourth Ideal of the Windrunners is diabolical. And I firmly believe Kaladin would never have been able to swear it unless he got a situation like at the end of the Rhythm of War, when the person in question, Teft, has already died. Kaladin, even after swearing the Ideal, would not be able to accept someone he loves dying in front of him and him unable to protect them.

- chapter 118, Wind and Truth

That was a gut-punch. A good one. Because … oof.

(SPOILERS for The Sunlit Man included.)

So, I still don’t know how Sigzil’s story ends in The Stormlight Archive, but it’s been interesting to watch, having read The Sunlit Man. I don’t remember too many details from it, but I remembered his spren’s name was Auxilary, and how they referred to Nomad as their “squire.”

I had a different impression of them than of Vienta, but I figured some kind of character growth for her, perhaps—Sig and his companion clearly went through a lot before Sunlit Man. And I haven’t entirely ruled out the possibility either—maybe Vienta does see Sigzil as a squire in her mind, but felt no need to voice it until she needed to communicate more than her abilities would allow, as Aux had been partly eaten by a Dawnshard.

I had noticed that the highspren—12124, at least—refers to themselves as a “knight” and their Radiant as a “squire.” And the Skybreakers are the other Order that grants flight.

I still don’t know if I’m chasing a red herring or what, because Maya and Testament prove that “deadeye” is not “dead.” And then the death rattle of Sig’s death.

… AND THEN THIS HAPPENED.

Fuuuuuuck, what a choice to make. And he couldn’t talk it over with her beforehand. And he doesn’t know any of the details about Maya and Testament. We know they’re not truly dead, and they can still live … but Sig didn’t know that.

And yet, it was the only way he knew that would prevent her from dying for good.

I’d say she suffered the worse damage than him, but I won’t discount that there was self-sacrifice on his part.

I keep thinking of “WE! CHOSE!” from Rhythm of War. And while it was the Radiant instead of the spren, he’s going to feel that choice.

Do you realize he would eventually realize that maybe Vienta would have preferred to die rather than become a deadeyes but he didn't get the chance to ask her and he never got a chance to meet her again because Wit made him leave Roshar and he would spend all his life with that guilt?

10. The Stormfather shows Eshonai the whole world

9. Kaladin lies holding Tien's body long after the battle ends

8. Navani tells Raboniel they'll meet again when she's reborn but Raboniel insists Navani end her existence instead

7. Kaladin and Moash go different ways forever after Kaladin swears the Third Ideal to save Elhokar

6. Shallan scrambles to sell anything she can to save Jushu

5. Kaladin sees Syl, in physical form, crying and accepts the journey to save the spren, the wind, and above all her

4. Rock says he made the choice of killing Amaram because Kaladin is worth the sacrifice, and leaves to meet his fate

3. Adolin screams in the Battle of Azimir that he can't die yet, not till he sees his father again and Dalinar sends him apologies when he dies

2. Kaladin recognizes Teft's bearded face which had smiled at him countless times and cursed at him an equal number but always been there when everything went dark after noticing the burnt eyes

1. Sigzil does the only thing he can think of to save Vienta and renounces his oaths

It's sad that we don't get to cheer at Lopen's coolest moment, when he slams into a super-enhanced spiked warrior in a zone of anti-Stormlight, and manages to grab and shatter the fabrial before Vyre realizes.

It's sad that he doesn't get to boast at that moment either.

It's sad that he delivers his best line coldly, with a dark expression. Afterwards, it's heartbreaking that he treats Sigzil so gently, softly, instead of teasingly.

It's damningly sad that one of Bridge Four's best moments happens to be gut-wrenching because Sigzil did "maybe the bravest thing we've ever seen a man do."