Difference between revisions of "Summary:Oathbringer"

Six days after arriving in [[Urithiru]], [[Dalinar]] revisits the very first vision he experienced. Having become a [[Knights Radiant|Knight Radiant]] by bonding the [[Stormfather]] himself, he can enter any of the visions at will and has enough control to not need to be tied down. He is on a cliff with the Almighty, viewing the ruins of [[Kholinar]] below. He asks him to transport him down to the rubble. He sees gouges on the stones as if made from claws. He concludes that Kholinar will not fall to the [[Everstorm]], but to something worse that will come after. The Stormfather agrees. Dalinar is frustrated that the monarchs of the world will not unite with him despite the threat. A final wave of destruction closes the vision, and Dalinar insists on staying to watch. He sees a golden light and a dark figure with nine shadows. Stormfather identifies the shadows as the [[Unmade]], the spren of [[Odium]]. He comes out of the vision with [[Navani]] standing nearby. He knows he must unite the world before their enemy destroys it. Navani pledges to help despite their current situation, which is already desperate. A messenger comes and reports that [[Sadeas]] had been murdered.

Dalinar rushes to the scene to prevent a fight between Sadeas's officers and the men of [[Bridge Four]], whom they accuse of murdering their highprince. Dalinar examines the body and notes that the blood is dried, so the murder took place some time ago. The soldiers claim that they have been looking for himSadeas and kept getting lost in the confusing corridors.

Dalinar's sons and some scribes arrive at the scene. His officer corps is severely depleted, so other [[Highprince|highprinces]] are there as well, including [[Sebarial]] and his mistress, [[Palona]]. She's the first to voice the opinion that Sadeas's death was actually beneficial since he was causing so much trouble. Dalinar leads the group outside and warns them of worse things to come and that they must lead the world against them. His ultimate goal is to unite the entire continent, something never done before. He appoints the highprinces that follow him to various positions in the kingdom. He orders [[Shallan]] and [[Renarin]] to practice their powers so they can lead the other Knights that will eventually come to them.

Dalinar marches toward the enemy army through a burning field. He emerges from the smoke with his elite guard and ferociously attacks, causing some of the enemy to flee in terror. He drives through the spearmen and laughs as he kills. He feels invigorated but does not yet feel the [[Thrill]], so he seeks out a greater challenge. He sees a brightlord on a horse surrounded by an honor guard and attacks. He makes his way through and orders [[Jenin]] to shoot the horse. As Dalinar engages the crown prince, a strap on his shield breaks. His enemy gains the advantage and is about to finish him off, but the Thrill comes, giving him more strength and dexterity. He stabs his foe in the chest. Nearly dead, the man asks Dalinar why he had come for them. He doesn't know; he just goes where his brother [[Gavilar]] sends him in order to consolidate his reign. As he orders his men to take hostages in the village, an arrow slams into his shoulder. They see the [[Teleb|assassin]] on a ridge above the town and ride up on horses, capturing him. Dalinar is amazed at his skill and recruits him into his own army, by promising not to pillage the town. They ride back to the town, where the local highprince's and his officers' heads are displayed on spears as a result of Sadeas's executions. Sadeas is disappointed that he can't loot the town.

The Everstorm returns two days after Sadeas is found dead. Dalinar learns from the Stormfather that this is a new phenomenon. He gazes into the storm and sees a vision of destruction. The Stormfather confirms that the enemy is with the storm and is watching him. Navani is there and touches his face with her bare safehand. They kiss, but Dalinar won't go further -- he insists on some sort of wedding, but none of the ardents will marry them because of the old taboo that they are related. Navani grows concerned that Dalinar thinks she is trying to replace his late wife, and he reveals that he doesn't even remember her because of the [[Old Magic]]. He does remember a feeling of hatred and having the Thrill on the day of her death. Dalinar suggests that the Stormfather marry them.

Dalinar and Navani's family gather on the roof of the tower along with some other officers and brightlords. Navani has managed to find traditional wedding garb. [[Elhokar]] gives only a cool blessing to the marriage, but does stay to watch. The Stormfather arrives and has them swear an oath of loyalty to each other, after which he abruptly leaves. The attendees, even Elhokar, cheerfully congratulate the newlyweds. They all leave except for Kadash, who is displeased with the wedding and Dalinar's assertion that Godthe Almighty is dead, with only a remnant spren remaining. Dalinar suddenly remembers the day when Kadash joined the ardentia after he was so disgusted at what he saw on the battlefield. Kadash warns that the ardentia is angry with Dalinar's blasphemies. Dalinar insists he is telling the truth, at least as he sees it. Kadash reminds Dalinar that he can make mistakes; after all, he was with him on 'that day'.

* [[Mara (Roshar)|Mara]] (mentioned only)

Kaladin enters and recognizes people from the town, but they don't recognize him, probably due to his ragged appearance. He has gone several days without shaving and his worn uniform appears as if it is a size too small. He starts to look for his parents, but the guard tries to order him to see Roshone. Kaladin shoves him away and gives him his best sergeant's glare, then continues his search of the manor. He hears the moans of wounded and follows the sound, hoping that his parents would be attending them. [[Lirin]] is indeed there working on someone, and it takes a moment for him to recognize his son. HeLirin calls [[Hesina]] in, but before Kaladin can truly reunite, he confesses that he didn'tfailed saveand could not prevent the death of [[Tien]]. TheyHis parents tell Kaladin that they were toldinformed that Kaladin was dead too. They have a tearful reunion, his parents with joy, Kaladin for his grief over Tien.

Kaladin sips some soup while Syl stares at Hesina, perplexed about something. The guard insists that Kaladin be taken into custody because he is branded as a deserter, but Lirin threatens to quit as the town's surgeon. Hesina explains to Kaladin that Roshone has softened, presumably from guilt. Syl tells Kaladin that she knew his family, even before she met him, because everyone is connected. She mentions another voice, "Pure, with a song like tapped crystal, distant yet demanding." Roshone appears, older and more feeble, but still with an imperious bearing. After some goading by Roshone, Kaladin punches him in the face, saying "that was for my friend [[Moash]]."

* [[Mara (Roshar)|Mara]] (mentioned only)

In the libaraylibrary, Kaladin finds out that the Parshmen transformed and then just left town. Kaladin wants to figure out where they went, so he asks for maps and a spanreed to communicate with Dalinar, giving Roshone several spheres for the "rental" of some horses since he's out of Stormlight. The soldiers go to the lady of the house ([[Laral]]) to ask for the maps. Kaladin warns Syl that he might need her again as a weapon, and she reassures him that it doesn't bother her. All of his weapons were "people" anyway. Kaladin brandishes his sword again for Roshone to emphasize that he's in charge. Despite Roshone's faults, he needs to help the people of [[Hearthstone]]. Roshone just slumps in his chair, but Laral arrives and pledges to lead the people. She looks quite different, more mature and practical. He says he wanted to come back to save her, but she says that she is happy with Roshone and resents Kaladin's judgment of him. She goes to set up the [[spanreed]] and wait for a reply, so Kaladin goes back to his parents. He starts helping his father tend the wounded. He is disappointed that Kaladin has become one of "them," a person who tries to solve problems with violence. He does acknowledge that the [[Voidbringers]] must be fought, but he wanted his son to be a surgeon, not a killer. Kaladin goes back to the library and notices that the spanreed is glowing with Stormlight; they collected some during the last unexpected [[highstorm]]. The spanreed starts writing words from Navani, much to the surprise of Laral. Dalinar asks for a status and Kaladin suggests he go looking for the Voidbringers because they just up and left without attacking. Dalinar agrees and tells him to take the spanreed with him to keep him up to date. He closes the conversation and goes to see his mother. She is holding a baby, Kaladin's new brother, [[Oroden]], which means ''child of peace''. Kaladin holds him and cries. Kaladin asks for any infused spheres and trades them two for one. HeKaladin tells Lirin that he wants to take themhis family away to safety, but hehis father refuses; he is the town surgeon and is needed there. The others in the house overhear the conversation about the [[Desolation]] being here, so Kaladin puts on a display with Stormlight and promises that the [[Knights Radiant]] have returned and will not fail them. He flies off to a nearby town to get more infused spheres.

Shallan tries to draw the towers of Urithiru, but is having trouble comprehending the massive city. [[Pattern]] tells her that he understands why she would hate him, but she only hates the sword, which leaves both of them confused. A [[Lyn|scout]] comes and reports that the highprince wants to see her. She marvels at the drawings despite Shallan's frustration with them. As they walk, she notices the notoriety she has as a Radiant. She pretends to be an [[Elsecaller]] to hide her ability creating illusions. The scout asks her about her sword but seems disappointed that Shallan doesn't intend to use it. She arrives at a meeting room with Navani and Dalinar and his sons. Dalinar is struggling with uniting the various rulers of the continent. He asks Shallan for information, but she has little knowledge of the political world. Dalinar fetches a cup of wine and passes by Shallan, and she is drawn by him to the map on the wall. She draws her remaining Stormlight and creates a three-dimensional projection of the continent in the room. Dalinar believes that the Stormfather helped create the vision since he sees everything in the highstorm, meaning that their powers have somehow merged to do something new. The projection helps him decide to focus on securing the [[Oathgate]]s in [[Azir]], [[Jah Keved]], and [[Thaylenah]]. Lyn, the scout who fetched Shallan, knocks on the door and reports that another murder has been discovered.

The murder victim is [[Vedekar Perel]], a member of Sebarial's army. Shallan can't keep up with the long strides of Dalinar, so she falls back. Adolin joins her, taking her arm. They arrive in a chamber with a depression in the middle of the room. The body lies in the depression. The murder appears to be an exact copy of how Sadeas was killed, including the location of the wound and the positionpositioning of the body. Adolin appears shocked and distracted. Dalinar assigns him to investigate the murder since so many other officers were killed in all the recent fighting. Adolin is taken aback and appears nervous. Shallan wonders at his strange behavior and observes Renarin studying him closely. Pattern starts to hum.

Adolin goes to visit [[Gallant]]. They mourn the death of [[Sureblood]] as Adolin gives him treats. Renarin appears; he has been looking for Adolin. He suggests having Shallan draw Sureblood. He also says that he must give back the shardblade because it hurts to hold. Renarin reluctantly admits that he has created his own blade now and shows Adolin, who admires it for its beauty. Renarin is not content though; he was starting to fit in with Bridge Four, but now he must pivot to being a Knight Radiant. He's afraid that he will make a mistake trying to use his new power. Adolin clasps his hand to give him confidence, and he feels a wash of Stormlight through his body. He sees of vision of himself, perfected and whole. Renarin is embarrassed and leaves, and Adolin realizesis surprised that his wounded wrist is now healed.

Dalinar impatiently awaits for the battle to begin, wearing his new shardplate. Gavilar and Sadeas are with him. Their efforts at quelling the other princedoms hashave only resulted in most of them uniting against Gavilar's rule. Sadeas discusses a political marriage with Dalinar, but he is not interested. The only woman he loves (Navani) is already married, with a daughter. The fog finally rises from the city, and they discuss the lord of the city, [[Tanalan's father|Tanalan]], who has a shardblade, but not plate. Gavilar gallops off and Dalinar eagerly follows, determined to win the blade. They are pelted with arrows, rocks and netting, but they quickly reach the fortifications, wreaking havoc on the defending soldiers. When Dalinar jumps back down to destroy the catapults he misjudges his plate's weight and falls down, bending his hammer's handle. He then vows to never make a greenvine mistake like this again. After getting a new hammer from Sadeas he continues his barrage, causing the soldiers to flee. He glories in his power and the Thrill. The catapults neutralized, the army moves through the city gates. Dalinar looks down at the city and feels that something is wrong. Suddenly, the entire precipice collapses and falls into the Rift. Dalinar crashes through many layers of buildings. His shardplate is damaged, but he survives, unlike the elites that fell with him. Next comes a hail of arrows at him. He runs across a bridge as two soldiers attempt to collapse it, which would send Dalinar another hundred feet down. He is saved by Teleb, who shoots the soldiers. He meets Tanalan, who questions why he should submit to the "king." Dalinar's reasoning is that the strongest military commander should win the throne, and attacks. He manages to get within the reach of his blade and wounds Tanalan. More archers shoot at Dalinar, but he collapses the platform, mortally wounding the brightlord. When the guards carry him away, Dalinar finds he has more wounds from his duel with Tanalan, but the Thrill pushes him along, driving away pain. He sees Tanalan taken through a secret door in the rock and follows. He finds him lying in his blood, a beautiful woman at his side, crying. Their son, only a small boy, challenges Dalinar with his father's shardblade.

Dalinar ponders the ancient Knights Radiant and asks the Stormfather what caused their betrayal. He refuses to answer, as some things are better left forgotten. The emperor of Azir has contacted him by spanreed, and Dalinar invites him to visit Urithiru via the Oathgate. They answer vaguely, so Navani suggests an offer of aid to get them to come. They again demur, slightly changing the subject to talk about the new enemy. The Voidbringers did not attack them either, and they are in negotiations with them, ostensibly in order to stall so they can build up their fortifications. Dalinar urges that they allow him to come there through the portal, but they report that it no longer works. Navani and [[Teshav]] believe they are lying. Next, the [[Fen Rnamdi|queen]] of [[Thaylenah]] makes contact. Dalinar uses formal language, but she is more blunt and sarcastic. There, the Voidbringers stole most of their ships, and the city itself is in shambles from the Everstorm. Dalinar informs her that he intends to convene a council of monarchs around the world, but she is skeptical of his intentions and is not interested in attending. Dalinar feels like her responses are a bit out of character, as Thaylens seek political opportunities. He offers troops to help with rebuilding the city, but she is reluctant. He then tells her how to find Radiants among her own people and offers to help train them. She replies that she will consider his offer and signs off. He talks to other lesser monarchs but doesn't make much headway; he needs the endorsement of Azir for other surrounding kingdoms to follow along. Dalinar begins to leave the room and finds Elhokar standing without at the doorway. He suggests that maybe the others won't cooperate because they are afraid he'll usurp their thrones. Then he admits that isn't doing well as king and begins to abdicate the throne to Dalinar. Instead, they agree to let Dalinar be the king of Urithiru and the Shattered Plains, forfeiting his Alethkar lands to his heir. Elhokar wants to restore [[Kholinar]], which is rioting, and Dalinar agrees to send him in with the Windrunner, Kaladin, so they can activate the Oathgate and let in troops from Urithiru. A new message comes in from [[Taravangian]], king of [[Jah Keved]] and [[Kharbranth]]. He fully agrees with Dalinar's plan and has a Radiant at hand to try their Oathgate.

Kaladin has found some Parshmen and creeps up to the camp, past a single guard, expecting monstrous Voidbringers. Instead, he finds them trying to play cards. Their eyes are not red and they have only limited carapace armor. Some are attempting to light a fire under a tarp. Some eat soggy, raw grain from the stolen sacks. Kaladin realizes that their pathetic state is the humans' fault. Suddenly, one calls the alarm as a yellow ribbon of light streaks by. They grab various primitive weapons but are obviously not trained to use them. Kaladin decides to simply surrender.

Shallan discusses the murder investigation with Adolin. Adolin says that he thinks there are two culprits since the two victims are totally disconnected. Shallan thinks that he is being foolish and shouldn't focus on one theory too much. They decide that there isn't anything more to get from the reports, so Adolin changes the subject to her Shardblade. He convinces her that even though she's a woman, she needs to learn how to use it, and he can train her. She agrees, and he goes to fetch the Blade guards. Shallan freaks out, as she is still not over the fact that she killed her mother with her Blade. Pattern believes that she hates him and offers to die so another spren can take his place. She creates an alternate identity -- someone confident and poised, like [[Jasnah]]. She names her Brightness Radiant. With that persona she is able to overcome the history of the blade. Adolin returns and teaches her the importance of a proper stance and breathing. Shallan dismisses her Blade and sketches the proper stance to help her get it right. They practice some simple strikes together. Shallan sees the passion that Adolin has for swordsmanship and realizes that it parallels her passion for art, feeling a bond with him, even allowing herself to become Shallan occasionally. They practice long into the evening.

Dalinar examines the Honorblade that Kaladin obtained from Szeth. He tentatively touches the blade, which feels warm to the touch but doesn't scream. Dalinar probes the Stormfather for information about Honor and Odium and learns that Odium must follow certain rules since he's basically a force of nature. Dalinar asks if Honor's suggestion of asking Odium to provide a champion will work. The Stormfather says that it might work, and if man wins, it will buy them precious time. Dalinar reinserts the blade into the sewer and returns to his rooms, where Bridge Thirteen, his guard for the day, awaits. One member, [[Rial]], strikes up a conversation with Dalinar, hinting that he shouldn't have wandered off alone. He goes down to a level where his soldiers are training and offers to spar with [[Kelerand]], one of the ardent swordmasters. He stiffly refuses (due to Dalinar's heresy), and all the ardents but one leave. While Dalinar waits for a sparring partner, he converses with [[Zahel]], the only ardent to remain. He explains that they are torn between loyalty to their highprince and to God. Dalinar seeks out an opponent himself, too impatient to wait for Kelerand to return, and finds [[Aratin]]. They begin to wrestle, and the younger man easily gains the upper hand. Dalinar considers accessing the [[Thrill]] and even Stormlight, but eventually gives up when Navani shows up. He drinks some water and chastises himself for pushing the match too far, trying to come to grips with his age. Navani informs him that the Iriali queen is ready to talk now, and he insists on conversing with her there while he spars with the sword. He tosses a sword to [[Kadash]] and they spar while he dictates to Navani. They argue about religion. The queen says they are considering making a treaty with the Voidbringers. She also holds a grudge for Dalinar's stolen Shardplate. Kadash urges Dalinar to recant his claim that the Almighty is dead, appealing to tradition. Dalinar counters that just because something is tradition doesn't make it right. Dalinar ends the duel and Navani reports that the queen demands the Shardplate, even though her claim is tenuous because she isn't related to [[Evi]]. Dalinar realizes that he can now hear his former wife's name. More memories flood his mind, causing him to collapse.

The Parshmen argue about what to do with Kaladin, who is tied up nearby to a tree nearby. Khen wants to kill him, but the others dissuade her. Kaladin dozes for a while until night falls. The Parshman playing cards unties him from the tree, and they start out. Kaladin converses with his captor, who has been joined by his young daughter. He realizes that they are essentially runaway slaves, and points out that he was a slave once too. The Parshman does not identify with him, however, because their minds were taken from them, not just their freedom. They march on, and Kaladin tries to talk to Syl, who is flitting around like a windspren. He thinks that there is trouble with the bond again, but she tells him that she's just pretending because the voidspren might be able to see her. She explains to him that the Parshmen have had their Identity restored by the [[Everstorm]]. Kaladin wants to help them, so he starts giving them advice. He cuts his bands with Syl and starts to teach them how to obtain and preserve food. They decide to return his possessions, and he builds a fire for them.

Shallan becomes Veil. She sneaks out of her room and heads toward the market. On the way, Pattern tells Shallan that he likes Adolin. He doesn't mind that he wields a corpse because that's just how things work in the [[Physical Realm]]; you must destroy to survive. She arrives at the market in the [[Breakaway]] and just sits around for a while, listening to conversation. She then finds a low-end tavern in which to practice. She ignorantly orders some very strong "wine" and almost throws up. She continues to drink the stuff, and a [[Jor|bouncer]] nearby starts flirting with her. She becomes intoxicated but manages to ask him where any stabbings have taken place. She tries to leave but collapses on the floor. She uses some Stormlight to ease the pain, and she's suddenly not drunk. She heads out to [[All's Alley]], site of a recent stabbing. She asks for the strongest stuff they have and ends up with some Horneater white. She downs a few drinks, healing herself as she goes. She probes the barkeep about any recent murders, and he directs her to a group of thugs in the corner. She sits down in the seat of a [[Ur|Horneater]] and starts asking a woman named Betha about the murderer. Ur comes back from the restroom and throws her out of the seat. She comes back and places her safehand on his hand and stabs them both with a knife, getting the seat back from him. Veil threatens to do worse unless she starts getting answers, and idly scrapes the symbol of the Ghostbloods on the table. Intimidated, Betha reveals that a man named Ned had strangled his wife, and then the next night he had come back and killed a barmaid the same exact way, although he vehemently denied the second murder.

Dalinar sits at a feast while [[Toh]] talks with Gavilar. He's bored by politics and wishes that instead he could go and eat with his men. Dalinar starts to eat and realizes that he doesn't have his knife with him. He wants to just dig in with his hands, but everyone is using utensils, so he leaves the dining hall in the middle of the highstorm to go find his knife. He finds the bunker where Teleb is and pounds on the door. When no one answers, he summons his Shardblade and cuts his way in. Teleb tells him that he returned his knife, so Dalinar heads back. He dodges a boulder on the way and sees some sort of monster on glowing legs. He forces his way back into the feast hall, and everyone stares at him incredulously. Toh is disturbed and excuses himself. Gavilar is actually glad because Dalinar just demonstrated that he could protect them. Navani walks in, so Dalinar orders more strong wine. She and Ialai join the king, and they discuss Toh and his wife, who is deemed to be dense, but honest. Toh is bargaining with Shardplate that he has stolen from his native land, [[Rira]]. They discuss the possibility of Dalinar marrying Evi and gaining the Shardplate. A servant brings Dalinar a knife, but it's too small; Dalinar bends it cutting his steak. He spots Evi across the room and admires her blonde hair. Then he finally spots a good knife: in the hands of an assassin taking Gavilar's plates. Dalinar knocks the man down to the floor and stabs him repeatedly, killing him. Then he washes the blood off the knife with his wine and starts eating with it. He agrees to marry Evi to help forge an alliance. Gavilar is sure they'll accept after seeing Dalinar in action.

Shallan comes to know the Unmade. It is fascinated by humans and drawn to violence. The spren begins to know Shallan and tries to bond to her in replace of Pattern. Shallan and Pattern hold tight to each other. She attacks, using Stormlight, but not sure what she is doing. Shallan realizes that the Unmade is afraid of being trapped again by a Lightweaver. She wavers because she knows the creature will find out her secrets, so she pretends to be committed. Re-Shephir flees, even more terrified. Shallan decides not to chase it, but orders guards to be posted just in case. Teft notes that that's a good idea since the pillar that Re-Shephir was surrounding is covered with thousands of huge cut gems.

[[Ellista]] tries to find some peace and quiet so she can concentrate on her book, but everywhere she goes in the monastery there are ardents arguing about the Everstorm. She decides to venture outside. She begins to read, completely enthralled in a romance novel. She doesn't notice when [[Urv]], another ardent, approaches. She tries to hide what she's reading. Urv wants to see her progress on translating the Dawnchant. She is better than anyone at translating and analyzing the ancient language better than anyone, which she attributes to others' undue concern about the Everstorm. Urv notices what she's reading and offers to lend her the sequel if she helps him with a particularly difficult passage of Dawnchant.

* [[Beautiful Song]]

* [[Red (Roshar)|Red]]

* [[Red (Roshar)|Red]]

Kaladin flies above the highstorm with Elhokar's team. Shallan uses Stormlight to keep warm, but the others are bundled up. Skar and Drehy are flying below the team in case anyone falls. They pass the [[Windrunner River]], so Kaladin knows they are close to Kholinar. He gives the team half lashings so they can slow down and talk. Kaladin drops down below the clouds to scout the city. He see Alethi flags but senses something wrong about the palace complex. He reports back to Elhokar that the city is intact, so he wants to go directly in. Kaladin advises caution due to the troubling feeling he and Syl have, and Adolin backs him up. They decide to sneak in instead using disguises courtesy of Shallan.

* [[Red (Roshar)|Red]]

Kaladin sits down in the barracks and immediately feels at home. The lieutenant who brought him in, [[Noromin|Noro]], asks him for his story as he's given a bowl of stew. Kaladin gives some information but holds back on the whole story. Noro continues his recruiting effort but doesn't press too hard. Kaladin notices that everyone in the room is a lighteyes, and it finally hits home that plenty of them are just regular people. The men tell him about Azure, how heAzure rallied the troops against the Cult of Moments. HeAzure used some sort of Shardblade and the men felt like they had sprenSpren helping them. Azure enters to make histhe normal rounds for the evening, and Kaladin sees that she is very obviously a female. She greets Kaladin and encourages him to join -- they always have food. HeKaladin is still reluctant, so sheAzure takes him out to look at the wall.

Azure leads himKaladin up onto the wall. As they walk, sheAzure guesses that heKaladin wound up in Sadeas's border army rather than on the Shattered Plains, so she doesn't blame him for deserting. SheAzure says she won't press himKaladin into the guard, but that at least with them, he'll have a chance at defending the city and turning back the Voidbringers. HeKaladin leaves them and goes back to the mansion to chat with the lighteyes there, but he doesn't find out anything. HisKaladin's brands are fully visible even though his sphere is still infused. Elhokar and Adolin join himKaladin (their illusions still intact), and heKaladin reports that he may have found another Radiant.

* [[Red (Roshar)|Red]]

Dalinar can't sleep, being consumed with the Thrill. He hardly even feels pain, or anything else besides a burning deep down. Messengers emerge from the city bearing a flag of truce. He orders that they be shot by the archers. Sadeas and Dalinar keep back messengers from the king so they can go forward with their plan and give the Gavilar plausible deniability. Sadeas assures Dalinar that he does not want to be king and questions why Dalinar thoughthought he had betrayed him. Dalinar admits that he once wanted to rule but realized that the man needed for this atrocity and the man to rule could not be the same person. They attack at night and secure a foothold on the wall. Dalinar orders the city to be burned. Teleb tries to convince him that innocents would die, but Sadeas retorts that this would eventually save lives in the future because there would be no more rebellion. Oil is dumped on the already flammable city and set ablaze. He leads Kadash to a saferoom on the outside of the city where he assumes Tanalan is hiding and sets it ablaze with barrels of oil. Walking away from the screaming within, he spots Tanalan trying to reach the palace instead. He pleads to Dalinar to let him save his family but Dalinar (still bothered by the screams earlier in the saferoom) admits he is an animal and he will not be so foolish as to allow survivors again. As the palace collapses, Tanalan's family dead, Dalinar decides it is enough and allows the remaining people to flee. As he moves to execute Tanalan he comments that at least Tanalan didn't hide in that hole but he had set afire the people who were there. Tanalan laughs. The messengers that Dalinar killed at the start of the day were to tell him they had imprisoned his wife in the safehouse, which was now a prison since everyone knew about it. Dalinar strangles him to death in a fury. Kadash vomits at the realization of what they've done. Dalinar orders soldiers back to the hole, but the heat is too much. They are forced back, and Dalinar goes limp.

Kaladin sees friends on both sides, fighting and killing each other. He loses the will to fight and yells at them to stop. He sinks to his knees, distraught, then remembers that he needs to get Elhokar out. HeKaladin sees himElhokar holding his son and the sketch of himElhokar that Shallan had done. HeElhokar haltingly starts to say the Words, but he is interrupted when Moash runs himElhokar through with a spear. HeMoash salutes Kaladin with the Bridge Four salute. The queen arrives surrounded by black smoke with strange crystal formations forming on her body. Drehy and Skar suddenly arrive and drive away the soldiers. Adolin pulls Kaladin away.

* [[Herdazian general]] General

Dalinar washes up and talks with the Stormfather. He reveals that Cultivation is still alive and in hiding, and that's why Odium didn't splinter him in the last vision, for fear of exposing himself to her. He mentions another god-spren -- a "third sibling" who is slumbering -- but refuses to say more. He heads to the meeting and runs into Navani and "Vargo" (TarabangianTaravangian) on the way, acting strangely. They go to the meeting.

Kaladin flies into the sky, watching Dalinar walk toward the red mist. Syl reassures Kaladin that he doesn't need more reasons to be criticize himself. Kaladin, still holding the Syl-spear lashes himself to the ground in front of Amaram, who is choking and gasping, seemingly having just swallowed something.

Adolin feels the part of his soft new flesh that was once his wound. He reflects on the feeling of being fragile, and being drawn through the Perpendicularity created by Dalinar. Shallan checks on Adolin's wound, and he tells her to go and save the city and to "be radiant." Shallan leaves Adolin, draws Pattern as a shardbladeShardblade and Lightweaves an army. Without a specific task, Adolin goes into city to find Jasnah standing amidst a previous battlefield. Adolin summons his shardbladeShardblade, and after it doesn't scream in his hands, apologizes and thanks it, then rushes to join a nearby battle.

Kaladin and a red-eyed Amaram meet each other, with Amaram drawing both Oathbringer and his second shardbladeShardblade (Helaran's blade that Kaladin had won and Amaram had stolen). Amaram's shardplateShardplate begins pulsing red and leaking black smoke, and he suddenly attacks.

Shallan pulls forth her army of drawings (including ones she had lost, such as Yalb), still holding Pattern as a shardbladeShardblade. She Lightweaves her brothers, her mother and father, and the illusions start to falter until she feels someone grab her left hand; Veil. She is startled, and then feels someone take her other hand; Radiant in her glowing shard plate. Shallan commands her illusions to attack.

Adolin leads a small group of troops through the city after some enemy troops converging on Jasnah's position. He is interrupted by several red-eyed soldiers falling through the air, seemingly thrown. He peaks around the corner to see Jasnah standing alone, surrounded by a fading, glowing silhouette of smoke geometric shapes that had been outlining her. With Jasnah not needing help, Adolin and his group rush to the aid of Thaylen soldiers fighting a larger group of enemies. Adolin attacks the rear of the enemy formation with his shardbladeShardblade, killing all of them. A voice from the crowd, Kdralk the son of Queen Fen from Thaylenah, asks for Adolin's help as his mother and father are trapped behind the wall.

Jasnah dismisses Ivory as a shardbladeShardblade, and the two have a conversation of the three realms. Jasnah can now see gloryspren in the way they appear in the cognitive realm, which she notes as one of the less unnerving things they'd seen that day. She feels an immense amount of stormlightStormlight inside of herself, and when soldiers break through Shallan's army of illusions, she finds it extremely simple to soulcastSoulcast them to smoke, something that would have taken an extreme amount of effort and concentration in the past. Ivory remarks that the three realms were slowly separating back to normal, and Jasnah states that they should take advantage of them while they can. She approaches a giant hole in the wall, and raises her hands.

Jasnah hears a murmur in the debris and soulcastsSoulcasts the rubble to reveal the corpse of a Thaylen shardbarrerShardbearer and his blade. Adolin orders Kdralk to take soldiers, retrieve the shardbladeShardblade and to rescue troops throughout the city. Adolin summons his blade, and goes to help take down the Thunderclast.

Amaram and Kaladin fight, as Amaram slowly continues to transform. Kaladin breaks off his attack to help defend Dalinar, and barely avoids arrows shot by Amaram from a shardbowShardbow.

Jasnah lingers between realms, and soulcastsSoulcasts air into steps to the top of the wall to meet Navani and Queen Fen. She notices that Shallan is nearly out of stormlightStormlight from crating her illusory army, and tells Navani that they need to rally a defense. Jasnah defends the group from two Fused nonchalantly, setting one on fire and bisecting the other. Jasnah commands that they must hold the wall by conventional means until Urithiru sends reinforcements.