Chapter Text
Kaladin felt warm.
He lay curled on a soft surface. Rubbing his eyes, he sat up and looked around him at the dim room. Not his room, for both the warmth and softness were unfamiliar. He was wrapped in a thick blanket that dropped to his lap when he moved.
”Syl?” he called quietly.
When she failed to alight before him, he gingerly lowered his bare feet to the carpeted floor. He was in Adolin and Shallan’s quarters. The previous night came back to him all at once. The squire he couldn’t save, the funeral he missed, the darkness. Kaladin remembered Adolin dragging him here, the dinner they had with Shallan, the temporary lightness their distraction brought. He groaned in embarrassment. He must have fallen asleep. Storms, did they move him?
He had slept in his uniform, which had doubtlessly creased. His belt dug into his waist, and there was a dull ache in his back, but he felt oddly well rested. That made him feel ashamed. He was probably late. What would Dalinar think when Kaladin showed up late, after his failure the day before, looking like he spent the night drinking?
His uniform coat was draped over a chair. He felt in its pockets — all his spheres were dun. Sloppy. He shoved his arms into the coat’s sleeves and crouched to pull on his boots, which he found on the floor nearby, his socks balled inside them. He cursed at himself. His foot didn’t fit.
“You’re putting your left boot on your right foot, dummy.”
Syl sat primly in the air, looking down at him like a queen from her throne.
“It’s too dark in here,” Kaladin said, letting out a breath. “What time is it?”
“A little after eighth bell.”
“Storms!” Dalinar wouldn’t have time to be disappointed in Kaladin, because Kaladin just missed the morning strategy meeting. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“You were sleeping so soundly.”
Kaladin opened his mouth to argue, but the words died on his lips. He didn’t have time to complain. Besides, his irresponsible behavior wasn’t Syl’s fault.
“We have to go,” he said instead.
“About that…”
He looked up at Syl. She had her mischievous smile on. “What did you do?”
“I just talked to Sigzil. He is taking over your duties for the day.”
”He… What?”
”I asked him to step in so you could rest.”
“You can’t just ask him to do that, Syl.” Kaladin pressed his palm into his forehead, feeling a headache forming there. “Sigzil has his own work to do.”
He would have to apologize to Sigzil. Coming from Syl, he would think Kaladin was the one who made the request.
“He seemed pretty happy to help. In fact, his exact words were…” Syl spun in the air, turning into a glowing blue replication of Sigzil’s head. “ Finally! By Yaezir, I thought this day would never come!”
“Why would he be happy about taking on more work?”
”He’s happy that you finally agreed to take a day off. They all are. They’re all worried about you, you know. Sigzil was so glad he agreed to let you wait until tomorrow to authorize the shift replacement forms. Whatever that means.”
“I didn’t agree to this.”
“Yeah.” Syl twirled in the air again, then zipped out of sight. “Luckily, you have me for that.”
Kaladin sat down on the sofa, staring at the vague shapes of his discarded boots in the dark. They’re all worried about you, you know.
Kaladin didn’t want them to worry. He was fine. He just needed to clear his head.
He started buttoning up his coat. Even if he wasn’t going to work that day, he didn’t want to appear slovenly. What would he even do with a day off?
His thoughts were cut off by a yelp and a crash.
”Storm it, Syl!” That was Shallan’s voice, followed by a gleeful buzzing sound. A moment later, a door cracked open and Adolin’s head peeked through it, his artfully tossed hair rimmed by light from the other room. “Oh, hey, Kal.”
Syl drifted in front of Adolin, grinning.
“Syl,” Kaladin said, exasperated.
“She just surprised us. Hang on while Shallan’s getting ready. Then you can wash up.”
“It’s okay, Adolin. I’ll just go back to my quarters.”
“Wait a minute.” Adolin withdrew, then stepped out into the parlor, tying on a robe. He walked up to Kaladin, casually uncovering a sphere lamp on a side table. So they did have Stormlight nearby last night. Kaladin was just too exhausted to notice.
Adolin looked him up and down. “No offense, Kal, but you need a bath and some fresh clothes.”
Kaladin grunted. He wore this uniform to battle, then slept in it. His appearance was hardly inspiring. He stood up. “Like I said.“
“Suit yourself,” Adolin said. “You’ll probably only pass a hundred people or so on your way. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the state of your hair.”
Kaladin froze.
“You might want to protect them from your smell.” Shallan emerged from the other room, running a brush through her damp red hair. Pattern rode on the skirt of her green havah. He was easy to spot, if you knew what to look for.
Kaladin glanced down. “I don’t have a change of clothes here.”
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll get you something.” Adolin took him by the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll show you the bathroom.”
They passed through Adolin and Shallan’s bedchamber. Kaladin tried not to look around too much.
“There you go.” Adolin opened another door. “The servants aren’t in yet, so you have the place to yourself.”
“Thank you.” Kaladin hesitated, then turned to face his friend. “And I’m sorry, Adolin. I didn’t intend to crash here.”
Adolin’s expression turned serious. “Any time, Kal. You’re always welcome here.”
Kaladin nodded, touched.
“Take as long as you need, okay? I’m going to say goodbye to Shallan before she leaves. I think she’s still a little nervous.”
Nervous?
Right. Her meeting with Jasnah is today. Kaladin felt stupid for forgetting.
“Tell her good luck for me.”
“I will.” Adolin smiled. “Maybe we can all go celebrate when she comes back.”
Adolin thumped Kaladin on the shoulder and left, closing the bathroom door behind him.
Kaladin didn’t know much about these wardships, but he was fairly certain Shallan would return with good news. If leading an entire order of Knights Radiant wasn’t enough to convince Jasnah she was ready, he doubted anything would be. Still, he worried. He didn’t feel like celebrating anything. Did he have to be here to spoil their good mood?
Syl settled on his shoulder. “You’re frowning again.”
Kaladin grunted and pushed his hair out of his eyes. He would make himself presentable as quickly as possible, then thank Shallan and Adolin for their hospitality and leave them to their happiness.