Words of Radiance: Chapter 53

Progression of the Chapter:
Adolin duels Elit using a new technique, very precise and calculated; Elit’s Plate completely seizes up for lack of Stormlight to repair it, Adolin is pronounced the victor, and the crowd is annoyed, all of which pleases Adolin tremendously; Shallan comes to congratulate him, and Navani promptly leaves; Shallan and Adolin begin to make dinner plans, but are interrupted by the arrival of Relis in a foul temper; Adolin had expected this and finally goads Relis into a duel by offering all his family's Shards against those of Relis and whoever he brings with him; it promises to be spectacular.
Quote of the Chapter:
Commentary:
Yet another fighting style from Adolin. The first duel was a beat-down, then in the second one he carefully kept very close, and in this one he deliberately wore down Elit’s Plate until it seized up. He's definitely not lost his edge and he's doing it all on purpose. However, all others see is that he’s being inconsistent, except that he's winning everything.
Adolin maintained incredible self-control in this duel. Despite the emotional backdrop, he is absolutely controlled - and controlling - as he executes exactly the duel he had planned.
Adolin is frustrated, angry, disgusted, and generally cranky about both the Parshendi and the Highprinces who oppose Dalinar, but instead of being controlled or driven by his emotions, he is calm, careful, serene, precise, quiet. He planned exactly how he wanted it to go, and it went exactly as he planned. Because he’s just that good. And all that in spite of the fact that Elit was clearly trying to wound or kill him ... quite against the principles of dueling.
Adolin’s gambit pays off, since Relis comes storming in with his fellow lighteyes, all threats and bristles, and finally allows himself to be goaded into a duel. Why does Brightness Istow come with him? Even though she assures Relis that Adolin didn’t break any rules, judges are supposed to be impartial!
Did Relis catch on right away about the loophole left when Adolin didn’t specify a number? Likely, Istow noticed it. Did the others realize it as well, or did she give them the idea?
Stormwatch:
This is the day after Kaladin's and Shallan’s respective level-ups in Surgebinding. There are thirty days left in the countdown.
Heraldic Symbolism:
Battar presides alone over this chapter. Patron Herald of the Elsecallers, she represents the attributes of Wise/Careful, which I assume is the reason she’s here. She is represented positively by Adolin’s careful, precise, perfect execution of the duel… and negatively by his failure to think carefully through the wording he used in his challenge to Relis:
Words of Radiants:
It seems that both Transportation and Transformation give a reasonable affinity to Shadesmar, so a Willshaper would be able to access it roughly as well as Shallan does; the combination of the two Surges, unique to the Elsecallers, grants true mastery, after a certain amount of practice. Historically, the Elsecallers were known to graciously transport others - Knights Radiant only, or others as well? - to Shadesmar with them. Why?
- Paraphrased from Alice Arneson