The Sunlit Man
by Brandon Sanderson
Contents
93
Overview
Nomad confronts Wit about the Night Brigade and past betrayals, forcing Wit to admit fault and offer a sincere apology. The exchange reframes Nomad’s struggle with questions, purpose, and his Torment. Resolute, Nomad seizes the Scadrian access disc and proposes teaming with Beacon to open a buried door and find power to leave.
Summary
On the storm-battered rim, Nomad rejects Wit’s intrusion, blaming him for the Night Brigade’s pursuit and past abandonment. Wit deflects, then speaks unusually candidly about Yolen, seeking the stars, and the futility and necessity of unanswered questions. Nomad counters that destinations matter after his oaths ended.
As Wit fades—his projection sustained by a brief burst of Connection—he admits fault for what he did to Nomad, calling it ruinous, and offers a sincere apology. The honesty unsettles Nomad but does not change his urgency to escape.
Galvanized, Nomad decides the planet’s best power source lies with the group who found a Scadrian-marked access disc. He returns to the council chamber, interrupts the meeting, and demonstrates fluency in their language. He identifies the disc as a key to a large buried metal door and proposes cooperation to reach it, aligning his need to leave with Beacon’s aims.
Who Appears
- NomadProtagonist; confronts Wit over past harms, rejects platitudes, then seizes a Scadrian key and proposes teaming with Beacon to access a buried door.
- WitAppears via fading projection; reflects on Yolen and unanswered questions, admits wrongdoing, and offers Nomad a sincere apology.
- AuxiliaryNomad’s spren; facilitates the brief Connection for Wit’s projection and quietly reacts as Nomad chooses a path forward.
- Beacon council membersLocal leaders holding the Scadrian access disc; startled as Nomad identifies it as a key and proposes cooperation.