Here’s a focused summary of Szeth’s mission in The Way of Kings, and why he’s called an assassin:
🗡️ Szeth's Mission
- Szeth-son-son-Vallano is a Truthless exile from Shinovar, bound to obey whoever holds his Oathstone—a sacred object that gives that person control over him. Despite his beliefs and inner conflict, this compulsion forces him into acts he hates. 2. In the Prologue, Szeth is sent by the Parshendi to assassinate King Gavilar Kholin of Alethkar during a peace treaty feast. He dresses in white (per Parshendi custom) so the king can see him approaching—his orders aren’t to kill in secret but to create a spectacle. He kills Gavilar with a Shardblade and also takes a mysterious black sphere Gavilar delivers him, along with a dying message for Gavilar’s brother, Dalinar. 3. After this (through the Interludes), Szeth remains under the orders of various masters. One of them hands him a list of high-ranking leaders across Roshar to kill, with the goal of destabilizing nations and paving the way for chaos.
🕶 Why He’s Called an Assassin
- Szeth earns the moniker “Assassin in White” because during Gavilar’s assassination and likely other missions, he wears white—the color his Parshendi masters required to signal who sent him. Wearing white is part of the ritualistic visibility they demand. - He is a skilled killer with supernatural abilities (a Surgebinder and wielder of a Shardblade), used to eliminate major political figures. Coupled with his enforced situation—Truthless status and servitude—this positions him as an assassin rather than a voluntary warrior.
If you want, I can pull up how Szeth’s mission and status evolve in later books, including how he deals with the moral consequences of what's he’s done.
Sources:
- Coppermind summary of the Prologue and Interludes for The Way of Kings
- Wikipedia entry for The Way of Kings
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