Nahel Bond

Lore & Background

The source details specific instances where characters forge or deepen these bonds. Navani Kholin, after being captured by Raboniel, discovers how to manipulate Stormlight and Voidlight to create anti-light capable of killing Fused and spren permanently. Her journey culminates in bonding with the Sibling, the spren of Urithiru, making her a Bondsmith. This occurs while she grows closer to the truth that Honor, Cultivation, and Odium each possess associated Lights. In the past, Eshonai briefly became a Radiant before her death; she was able to ride storms with the Stormfather to see the whole world, fulfilling her dream of seeing the horizon. Meanwhile, Adolin Kholin's connection is tested in Lasting Integrity. The honorspren bring Maya, his catatonic Shardblade spren, as a witness. Maya speaks for the first time, revealing that spren and Radiants chose to give up their powers together, meaning there was never a betrayal. This revelation allows many honorspren to bond with humans again.

In Their Own Story

In the present timeline of *Rhythm of War*, Navani's research leads her to a moment of profound connection with the Sibling. As Urithiru falls to Fused and singers, she bonds with the tower's spren, becoming a Bondsmith. Later, overwhelmed by an outpouring of light, she permanently blinds Moash when he attempts to kill her and Kaladin. Venli's story reveals how she ushered in the Fused and Regal forms alongside Eshonai. In the present, she works secretly with allies like Leshwi to overthrow the Fused. She eventually swears the Second Ideal of a Willshaper, reuniting with Rlain as they find listeners who survived the first Everstorm. Kaladin's journey is equally intense; after Teft is killed by Moash using anti-stormlight, Kaladin nearly ends his own life. However, consoled by Dalinar through a vision of Tien, he understands that Tien chose the front lines to make others feel braver. This realization allows Kaladin to swear the Fourth Ideal, healing his father who had been thrown off the tower.

Reader's Guide

The bond requires specific oaths that reflect a genuine shift in the character's worldview. Navani's progression involves discovering unique mixtures of light from Honor, Cultivation, and Odium, leading her to create anti-light. Her bond with the Sibling allows her to wield this power against the Fused. For Willshapers like Venli, the path leads to reuniting with lost communities and fighting alongside former enemies like Leshwi. Breaking an oath or failing a cause has severe consequences; Lezrian, a new type of Fused who stalked victims in Hearthstone, is killed by Odium for his failure after Kaladin rallies the resistance. Similarly, Moash kills Teft's spren with anti-stormlight before taking Teft's life, severing that specific connection permanently. The bond also manifests physically: Dalinar gains the ability to ride with the Stormfather on highstorms and slow time to speak to connected individuals.

Did You Know?

• Navani Kholin bonds with the Sibling, the spren of Urithiru, becoming a Bondsmith alongside Dalinar.
• Eshonai was briefly a Radiant before her death and could ride storms with the Stormfather to see the whole world.
• Maya, Adolin's catatonic Shardblade spren, speaks for the first time in the book to reveal there was never a betrayal between spren and Radiants.
• Kaladin swears his Fourth Ideal after learning that his brother Tien chose to be on the front lines so others would feel braver.
• Venli swears the Second Ideal of a Willshaper while reuniting with Rlain and listeners who survived the first Everstorm.