Difference between revisions of "Summary:Oathbringer"

* [[StormfatherHonor]]

Six days after arriving in [[Urithiru]], [[Dalinar Kholin]] 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 Kholin]] 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 [[Torol Sadeas]] had been murdered.

* [[Torol Sadeas|Torol Sadeas's corpse]]

* [[KaladinSadees]] (mentioned only)

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 [[Turinad 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 Kholin]] 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 Kholin]] 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' executions. Sadeas is disappointed that he can't loot the town.

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[Turinad Sebarial]]

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 Kholin]] 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 the 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'.

* [[SylSylphrena]]

[[Kaladin]] walks toward [[Hearthstone]], having run out of [[Stormlight]] three days prior. The Everstorm had arrived there theearlier daythat beforeday. He begins to find debris along the way. [[Syl]] cheerily chats with Kaladin as he gloomily approaches the town, afraid of what he'll find.

* [[Aric|a guard]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[GawxShallan's mother]] (mentioned only)

* The [[Stormfather]] (mentioned only)

* [[Dalinar Kholin]]

* [[Jasnah Kholin]] (mentioned only)

* The [[Stormfather]] (mentioned only)

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 shardbladeShardblade 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 a vision of himself, perfected and whole. Renarin is embarrassed and leaves, and Adolin is 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 have 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 shardbladeShardblade, 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 shardplateShardplate 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 shardbladeShardblade.

Hours later, Dalinar rests with his new shardbladeShardblade, [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]], sipping wine to help with the pain and shame he feels. Gavilar sits down beside him and wonders what the consequences of the day will be. The remaining people will rebel because Dalinar had killed their highlord and heir. Dalinar suggests he makes soldiers out of them. Gavilar knows they need to act differently, to have an actual functioning government rather than destroying and pillaging for control. Dalinar leans back to rest and remembers the sound of a brave boy crying.

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[GawxYanagawn]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[KadashSadees]] (mentioned only)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Turinad Sebarial]] (mentioned only)

* [[Lorador Vamah]] (mentioned only)

* [[GawxFen Rnamdi]] (mentioned only)

* [[FenIshar]] (mentioned only)

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

* [[Turinad Sebarial]] (mentioned only)

* [[Relis Ruthar|Ruthar's son]] (mentioned only)

Dalinar prepares for battle, in prayer with his betrothed, Evi. She encourages him to not kill in anger, to "be a man and not a beast." He leaves to fight in what should be a decisive battle for the kingdom. Gavilar notes that Sebarial hasn't shown up, ostensibly due to supply line problems, but Dalinar believes he's just waiting to join the winning side. A small number of Ryshadium gallop by, musicspren trailing behind. Gavilar tells Dalinar to kill [[Kalanor]], the Shardbearer highprince, to finally quell all resistance to the kingdom. The battle begins, and Dalinar seeks out a section of Kholin troops doing poorly, then attacks. He gets so enthralled he doesn't realize how many he is killing. Kadash finally snaps him out of it, and Dalinar has realized that he's killed some of his own troops. His slaughter has drawn out Kalanor. Dalinar seeks him out, regretting that he can only kill one man instead of hundreds. He finds Kalanor on a Ryshadium. Dalinar fights him and the two end up on a high ledge. After trading blows, Kalanor stumbles back, losing his blade, holding on for dear life, begging mercy from Dalinar. He runs him through the face with his shardbladeShardblade, but feels oddly dissatisfied. The Thrill fills him with strength and arrogance -- all others are weak, and he deserves to rule. He dashes to Gavilar, intending to kill him, but realizes that he is about to murder his brother and stops. He gives up his newly acquired shardplateShardplate and blade to Gavilar for his heir. Dalinar vows to never be king.

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

* [[Dalinar Kholin]] (point of view)

* [[IalaiNavani SadeasKholin]]

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

* [[AdolinGlurv]]

* [[TeftPattern]]

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

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 towith her in replaceplace 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.

* [[VaiSylphrena]]

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

* [[SebarialRe-Shephir]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Re-ShephirNavani Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Eshonai]] (corpse)

* [[Shallan Davar]] (point of view)

* [[Jasnah Kholin]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]] (mentioned only)

* [[NavaniPalona]] (mentioned only)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[QueenStarfalls FenStoneward]]

* [[RockLunamor]]

* [[Teft]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RockLunamor]] (point of view)

* [[Renarin Kholin]]

* [[Skar]]Rock (Mentioned Onlyjunior)|Rock]]

Lunamor (Rock) is cooking stew and surprised at how he finds the barren Shattered Plains beautiful. Kaladin is training crews on how to use Stormlight. He first has them swear the first oath, and Lunamor quietly recites it to himself as he cooks. He instructs Lopen, Sigzil, and Peet to start teaching. Dabbid takes over stirring. Lunamor goes to find Hobber and finds Kaladin kneeling beside him. He tenderly encourages Hobber to try breathing in Stormlight. Rock is skeptical he can do it, but Kaladin insists all of Bridge Four will, and maybe others. He cautions Kaladin that they are going to war and some may die. Several of the bridgemen are glowing; Lopen has stuck his face to the ground. Elhokar appears and asks Kaladin to come with him to Kholinar and reclaim their home. Kaladin agrees and is given twenty days to prepare the rest of the men. Renarin meanwhile comes straight from his daily duty at the Oathgate to be with Bridge Four. Rock invites him over to help cook and notes he can see all spren, but never Renarin's. Renarin wonders if he belongs to Bridge Four since he is not a Windrunner, but Rock insists that he does. He is conflicted over what is expected of him -- to be a warrior, or what he is good at, scholarly work. He feels the odd one out, but Rock points out [[Rlain]]; Renarin goes to sit by him. The men come over for a drink break. Skar is struggling at drawing in Stormlight, but he manages to teach Lunamor how to draw some in. Skar, instead of being jealous, is pleased, being a teacher at heart. Rock suddenly notices a large group of spren gathered to watch Bridge Four practicing. Sylphrena says they wouldn't talk to her because she sought out Kaladin and they hate to admit they were wrong. Rock makes an offering of Stormlight-infused spheres. The human-sized spren draws it in before flying away. Hobber breathes in a bit of Stormlight and calls the bridgemen over. Kaladin tells them to give him all their spheres so his legs can heal. He tentatively stands up, and Lopen gives him the ''two''-armed Bridge Four salute, which Hobber proudly returns. Rock looks to the west and sees a plume of smoke.

* [[Dalinar Kholin]] (point of view)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[Jasnah Kholin]]

Dalinar enters the vision fighting with a spear among poorly equipped men. He charges forward toward a company of savage men, but his untrained allies fail to support him; his arm is cut off. Dalinar merely wraps it and continues fighting, thinking that it's "cheating" to heal with Stormlight. A Voidbringer joins the enemy. A Radiant (Stoneward) appears and creates handholds down the cliff so they can escape. The Stormfather says that though Dalinar shares one of the two Surges of the Stonewards, it is not the one that he sees. Dalinar realizes that humans were fighting with the Voidbringers. The Stormfather then brings in Jasnah and Navani into the vision at Dalinar's request. They see a Radiant using a device to stimulate Regrowth and Navani rushes off to watch. Jasnah marvels that the civilization is more primitive than that of a previous vision. She worries about how Dalinar will react to being accused as a heretic. She tells him not to let others define who he is. They decide to split up and see as much of the vision as possible. Navani returns, dictating her observations to Teshav who is in the same room outside the vision. She hasn't figured out how the healing fabrial works. They run up a hill to see thousands of bodies and other terrible signs of the Desolation. Dalinar is startled to find that the boulder at the top of the hill was actually a slain creature made of stone. They continue on past the corpses to a place with nine Honorblades rammed into stone. They recognize the one that killed Gavilar, the Honorblade that Szeth carried. The Stormfather explains that the Voidbringers were given power by Odium, and when they were killed, they were simply reborn into the bodies of parshmen. Humans could never defeat them if they kept reincarnating, so Honor created the Oathpact with five men and five women. After each Desolation they would return to Damnation to hold back the spirits of the dead until a Herald, under torture, broke their oath. The Desolations came more often because it would take a shorter time for one to break. In this "last" Desolation, when nine of them survived, they hoped that the only Herald to never break, Talenelat, would be enough. He lasted 4,500 years of torture until finally breaking. Dalinar realizes that the "madman" in Kholinar is really Talenelat, though the blade he had when he arrived at the Shattered Plains was not his Honorblade. He asks the Stormfather if the breaking of the Oathpact caused the Recreance, but he refuses to reveal that deeper secret, assuming that it would cause Dalinar to break his oath as well.

Shallan attends a meeting with Dalinar, Jasnah, Navani, Kaladin, and Renarin in the tower basements. Shallan is again perturbed by Jasnah's treatment of her when the latter announces that Shallan will scribe notes for the meeting. They discuss the new information regarding the sacrifices of the Heralds and their role in keeping the Desolations and Fused at bay in the past. Kaladin and Jasnah swap insults regarding their opposing views on how to deal with the ordinary parshmen; Kaladin seeks to spare the innocent while Jasnah sees them as surplus vessels for the immortal Fused to inhabit. Dalinar agrees to attempt negotiations, much to Jasnah's chagrin. Jasnah shocks them all when she suggests they concentrate on finding the Heralds and killing them in order to reseal the Fused. Since spanreeds have become unreliable, Jasnah convinces Kaladin to at least use his windrunners to monitor the movement of Voidbringer troops. She glances at Shallan's notes and sees that she is drawing a picture of Kaladin, so she calls for a short break. She confronts Shallan's passive-aggressive rebelliousness (and reminding her she is betrothed to her cousin) and Shallan asserts that her wardship is complete. Jasnah offers Shallan high compliments and respect for what she has accomplished on her own, but states that she will remain her ward until she demonstrates minimum requirements for a scholar. Pattern indicates to Shallan that the room they are in has memories, prompting Shallan to tell Jasnah that there may be something in Shadesmar. Jasnah reviews Shallan's notes and commands her to write them out in long hand before submitting them to her brother and mother. She goes back to her room so she can change to Veil and notices a letter pinned to her coat.

* [[MraizeGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RockLunamor]]

Teft wakes up in an alleyway after a night of indulging in [[firemoss]]. He stumbles to a well for water and contemplates suicide. He sees the reflection of a spren in the water and angrily tells it to find someone who cares. He wanders away from the well and realizes it's morning. He can't bring himself to return to the barracks. The spren appears again, but he just turns aside into the firemoss den from the night before, indulging in three more bowls. He no longer uses for euphoria -- just to be able to function. He wakes up with his head on the table in a puddle of drool. Kaladin and Rock have found him. Kaladin asks him where his coat is, and Teft admits that he has sold it.

* [[Yanagawn]]

* [[FiaGraves]]

Moash sits by a fire eating some stew that doesn't compare at all to Rock's. [[Graves]] and [[Febrth]] are arguing about what direction they should be heading. Graves tells Moash to get rid of the patch on his coat, so he cuts it off, but he doesn't throw it away. He wonders what Bridge Four is doing. He imagines Kaladin telling them what he had done. His regret and shame lead to thoughts of suicide. The camp is suddenly attacked by four Fused, and they quickly kill his companions. Moash manages to avoid the initial attack and squares off with a Fused that moves like ana EdgedancerWindrunner. He dismisses his Shardblade and instead fights using his training from Kaladin. He manages to kill one, later revealed to be Leshwi, and faces off with the other three. They are so impressed with him that they give him the chance to join them and live. He summons his Shardblade again and breaks the bond. He is carried off.

=== Chapter 44: The Bright Side ===

* [[JasnahNavani Kholin]]

* [[NavaniJanala Lustow]]

* [[Renarin Kholin]]

* [[JanalaInadara]]

* [[DalinarKalami]]

* [[LopenLunamor]]

* [[ShallanTalenel]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[Gavilar Kholin]]

* [[AdolinTanalan]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

We also instruct that you should not return to [[Obrodai]]. We have claimed that world, and a new avatar of our being is beginning to manifest there.

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[ElhokarSah]]

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Renarin Kholin]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Gavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NavaniTeleb]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Dalinar returns to his camp exhausted. He has spent the last four years on campaign, first crushing the Herdazians and now fighting the Vedens at Alethkar's western border. Kadash enters and reports on the battle. Dalinar thinks on battlefield tactics and logistics and senses the Thrill still within him. He realizes that he is glad the fighting has gone on for so long so he can continue feeling the Thrill. As he finally drifts off to sleep, he hearsis woken by Evi's voice. She has been living in Kholinar for the past few years. At first he's angry that she's therehere, but she wants to be like the other Alethi wives and accompany her husband. She chides him for not visiting her more often; Renarin hasn't even met his father yet. Her healing touch calms him, and he goes to see his sons. Adolin is thrilled to see his father again and weit seeis clear how much Adolin already looks up to Dalinar. Renarin is a toddler and merely looks at his father and plays with blades of grass. The Thrill finally leaves Dalinar. He promises Evi that they will discuss her role there later, and she leads him to a bed in her wagon to sleep.

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[Meridas Amaram]]

* [[RenarinNanKhet]] (mentioned only)

* [[NanKhetNatata Ved]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Jasnah ponders her recent readings about the history of Jah Keved. She is disturbed by the account of an ancient king slaughtering his entire family and court after many assassination attempts. She peeks into the library, now full of scholars. The hallway in which the Unmade had fled had been discovered to lead to an alternate exit into the mountains. Renarin is there, watching the scholars in his Bridge Four uniform. Jasnah worries about rebellion within the family, like the story about the king who ruled for only three months. She sees her spanreed light up, and she speaks to some fellow colleagues, inJochi and Ethid, via Tashikk. They report that they suspect that the Herald Nale has been seen. They relate the tale of Lift and Nale in the palace. Jasnah notices Navani talking to Shallan and goes over to them. Renarin looks strange. Suddenly, Amaram shows up in the doorway. He asks Jasnah to speak in private, but she declines, taking the opportunity to insult him. He was apparently Gavilar's choice for Jasnah's husband, and he tries to "rekindle" the relationship, which Jasnah insists never existed. She further insults him and his mother, implying she was a whore, and he starts to summon his blade. She smiles and dares him to continue, showing Stormlight leaking from her hand. He storms off and Shallan giddily congratulates her on being so clever. She then asks for permission to leave, saying that Elhokar needs her in case they have to sneak into the city. Jasnah wants to speak to Elhokar about that, then she suddenly notices that Renarin has opened a drawer with a strange gemstone inside. Shallan notices that it seems to buzz with a musical language. Renarin pushes Stormlight into the wall and hundreds of drawers open. The contents of the [[Urithiru_gem_archive|library]] have been preserved in the gems.

* [[Sah]]

* [[YakeTeft]]

* [[RockLunamor]]

* [[Skar]]

* [[LeytenGift]]

* [[LopenCord]]

* [[TeftDabbid]] (mentioned only)

* [[RenarinPeet]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DabbidLyn]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[LynColot]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[Jasnah Kholin]]

* The [[OdiumStormfather]]

* [[LiftHonor]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Honor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Cultivation]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[StormfatherElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Dalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Renarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[AdolinRial]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Queen Fen Rnamdi]]

* [[ShalashTeshav]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[SigzilSzeth]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[FusedVathah]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Azure]]Red (Mentioned OnlyRoshar)|Red]]

* [[GazIshnah]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[ElhokarAdolin Kholin]]

* [[PatternElhokar Kholin]]

* [[JasnahPai]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Aesudan Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AzureJasnah Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Shallan tries to draw out some painspren by punching herself, but she can't bring herself to do it hard enough. The others are sitting in the showroom, [[Yokska]] updating the king on the erratic behavior of his wife. Shallan spies some scissors and stabs herself, bringing the painspren. They are twisted, monster-like, and green instead of orange. Elhokar blames his wife's behavior on the "dark spren" that came after the Everstorm. Shallan continues to sketch as she listens. She draws a hungerspren she'd seen earlier, but it had looked normal. The tailor tells them that the queen had ordered the execution of the parshmen, but the order was blocked by important lighteyes in the city. They were eventually exiled outside the city by the Wall Guard. Meanwhile, Shallan tries to think of something really embarrassing, and she unbuttons her safehand sleeve. During a pause in the conversation, she trips and sprawls out on the floor, showing her legs ANDand exposed safehand!. Shamespren appear, also altered from their normal form. She scurries off to draw them. Yokska continues: a new highmarshal of the Wall Guard arrived and restored order, but they mostly just guard the wall, leaving the [[Cult of Moments]] to rule the city. Use of any type of fabrial attracts screaming yellow spren, which draw some Fused who then confiscate the fabrial. Kaladin presses her for more information, but Shallan perceives that she is overwhelmed, so she is dismissed to rest. Elhokar is determined to stay and do something to save the city and his family. They decide to stay and at least scout out the city. Elhokar will send a message to his wife at the palace via Shallan, disguised as a message girl. Kaladin is to accompany her in case of emergency. Shallan goes to her room to change into Veil. Since she obviously wasn't with them, Shallan is forced to reveal the truth to themher guards.

* [[AesudanLyn]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[RockLunamor]]

* [[Queen FenSigzil]]

* [[NavaniFen Rnamdi]]

* [[JasnahNavani Kholin]]

* [[IsharSzeth]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[EviJasnah Kholin]]

* [[Navani Kholin]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[JasnahYanagawn]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TezimFen Rnamdi]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SunmakerSadees]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NightwatcherTaravangian]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[TelebGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[GavilarRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Torol Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Tanalan]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[HerdazNightwatcher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Toh]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[AesudanYokska]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[JasnahAesudan Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[YokskaGavinor Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[VelalantAzure]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Pattern]]

* [[ElhokarTorol Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[AzureSah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[AdolinDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DrehyMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SkarLyn]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AmaramJasnah Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SahShallan Davar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[Tanalan]]

* [[GavilarAdolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinTorol Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NoroBeard]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[AzureDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarSja-anat]]

* [[IshnahJasnah Kholin]] (mentioned only)

* [[JasnahWit]] (mentioned only)

Veil makes her usual rounds, giving food to Grund and Muri. She is gaining a reputation as a "Swiftspren," a spren robbing the rich and giving the food to the poor. She enhances this reputation by sending Ishnah and Vathah, wearing illusions, to look like Veil. She notices a Cult of Moments procession and joins them, creating an illusion shaped like the one she saw on the ''Wind's Pleasure''. She gets caught up in the chanting but is jarred by a voice in her mind saying "Shallan, I'm not your enemy." She breaks free and, continuing under the illusion of a spren, tells the cultists to stop worshiping spren and go home. Shaken, she realizes that she wants to be a hero too much and it stops her from being logical like Jasnah. She hears genuine laughter and goes toward it, finding Wit leading people in song. She heads back to the tailor's shop.

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[TanalanSadees]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Gavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SunmakerTanalan]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Meridas Amaram]]

* [[Evi Kholin]]

* [[Gavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[ElhokarMeleran Khal]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AzureElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Sja-anatAzure]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AshertmarnSzeth]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Kaladin rushes to a stormshelter for rich folk before the Everstorm hits. He meets with Shallan and Adolin to share information. Adolin shares that Elhokar is doing better than expected at convincing lighteyes to join him. Kaladin states that he thinks Captain Azure might have an honorblade. They definitely have a soulcaster and seized emerald stones in the city. Judging the state of Kaladin's issued sword, Adolin is impressed by her. Shallan has found information on the Unmade and believes there are two in the city: Sja-anat, the Taker of Secrets, and Ashertmarn, the Heart of Revel. The former corrupting spren and the latter leading people to indulge in excess. Shallan plans to infiltrate the palace that night. They all realize their dire situation as the city's fall is inevitable without the Oathgate open. Kaladin notices an odd cremling with a strange tan pattern on its back, suggestive of the Sleepless.

* [[KharatVathah]]

* [[SylLhan]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[NoroVed (Stormlight)|Ved]]

* [[VardinarVaceslv]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[VedElhokar (Stormlight)|VedKholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Vathah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Ishnah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Ithi]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[IthiNoromin]]'s sister (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NoroDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[ElhokarShallan Davar]]

* [[SkarDod]]

* [[PatternRe-Shephir]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Aesudan Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinElhokar Kholin]]

* [[AesudanSylphrena]]

* [[GavinorBeard]]

* [[PatternGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Ved (Stormlight)|VedOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AlawardMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

The queen acts normally at first and says that Gavinor is off playing with friends. Syl tells Kaladin where he really is, in the room, and he heads that way. Elhokar tries to get the queen to come away with him from the evil influence in the palace, but she just calls him a fool. Meanwhile, Kaladin finds Gav huddling in a corner being attacked by strange red spren. He summons Syl and stabs one of them, seemingly killing it. Syl is amazedconfused that they may have killed a spren. The queen boasts of her "Radiants" in the palace and that she has bonded with ancient spren, something Gavilar hadn't discovered. Her eyes start glowing red. Elhokar gathers up his son and they flee the queen. She calls for her soldiers to attack.

* [[DrehyOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[TeshavAladar]]

* [[Evi Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[EshonaiOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Ulim]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedEshonai]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

[[Mem]] expertly launders some clothes for her employer, Mraize. She has to work particularly hard on an odd stain of something plus blood. She finishes her work and goes to check on her beautiful washgirl, [[Shalash|Pom]]. She marvels that no one has married her yet. They gather the wash and go to Mraize's residence, entering through the front door. Mem admires Mraize's collection of artifacts and paintings. "Pom" starts destroying one of the paintings of the Heralds with a knife. Mraize returns and offers Pom a drink, calling her "Ancient One." She starts to leave, but stops when Mraize claims to know where Talenelat is. He gives Mem a bonus for getting the [[aether]] stain out and dismisses her, advising her to find a new washgirl.

* [[Eshonai]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* A [[Dieno|Herdazian general]]

* [[Meridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Ulim]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Rine]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedEshonai]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[EshonaiDemid]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinGavilar Kholin]]

* [[AhuAdolin Kholin]]

* [[GavilarJezrien]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]]

* [[Torol Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RenarinEvi Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[EviRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Tenathar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AzureSylphrena]]

* [[DrehyAzure]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Nightblood|Sword-nimi]]

* [[VasherNale]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NinVasher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[PatternMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[StormfatherTien]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TienPattern]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[AmaramStormfather]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimi]]

* [[NinNale]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[VivennaKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ShasharaVivenna]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[VasherShashara]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[DalinarTorol Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[Renarin Kholin]]

* [[Evi Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Gavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[StormfatherDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DalinarElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[ElhokarStormfather]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Kaladin marches as quickly as possible; the spren still pursue. Pattern tells the humans to quell their emotions. Angerspren follow, and everyone claims to not be angry except for Kaladin. He feels like they are abandoning Kholinar, even though he knows it's not rational to try to go back. He keeps the anger more as an antidote to the darkness, the depression he feels when he fails. He tries to forget by examining the landscape as they walk. While doing so, he notices mostly black fernlike plants. The angerspren retreat.

* [[Dalinar Kholin]]

* [[RenarinVexil]]

* [[Queen FenMraize]]

* [[SebarialLift]]

* [[VexilLunamor]]

* [[PalonaElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[LiftAdolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdrotagiaTeft]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AmaramJezrien]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinIshar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylAdolin Kholin]]

* [[DalinarWit]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Maya|Adolin's SprenHonor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Nightblood|Sword-nimi]]

* [[NinNale]]

* [[Vasher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Ico|Captain Ico]]

* [[Shallan Davar]]

* [[AdolinAzure]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[AzureElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarMoash]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[MoashDrehy]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Skar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DrehyAdolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DalinarTarah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[LaralNavani Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TarahBavamar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* The [[EviNightwatcher]] (mentioned only)

* [[Ico|Captain Ico]]

* [[Mayalaran|Adolin'sShallan sprenDavar]]

* [[SylMayalaran]]

* [[ShallanIco's father]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]] (mentioned only)

* [[SylAdolin Kholin]]

* [[AzureSylphrena]]

* [[FusedKyril]]

* [[NenefraCultivation]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[GavilarEvi Kholin]] (mentioned only)

{{epigraph|Ashertmarn, the Heart of the Revel, is the final of the three great mindless Unmade. His gift to men is not prophecy or battle focus, but a lust for indulgence. Indeed, the great debauchery recorded from the court of Bayala in 480 -- which led to dynastic collapse -- might be attributable to the influence of AsertmarnAshertmarn.}}

* [[JasnahTurinad Sebarial]]

* [[RenarinJasnah Kholin]]

* [[ElhokarGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinDalinar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DalinarElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[IalaiAdolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AmaramIalai Sadeas]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ThanadalMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[KaladinThanadal]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TeftHuio]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[HuioKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarNavani Kholin]]

* [[NinNale]]

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimiKi]]

* [[Ishar]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Szeth flies southward with the Skybreakers and Nin for three days, stopping several times to recover hidden stockpiles that had been left alone for centuries. They reach Marat on their fourth day. Nin dismisses Ki and the others but keeps Szeth with him. They fly to another small town and enter the ruins of a courthouse. Nin admits to Szeth that he has failed in preventing the next Desolation. Ishar had warned him that Surgebinders of other orders might upset the balance and cause another Desolation. Nin looks at his hand; a simple but elegant honorblade appears. Nightblood tries to get Szeth to draw him, commenting that he thinks Nin might be evil, but Szeth refuses. Nin desires to be merciful, but feels it is too chaotic. The purpose of the law is to bring order and prevent sentimentality from interfering with the judgement process. He tells Szeth that he will have to swear his Third Ideal soon, but what he actually swears is up to him. Szeth points out that Nin's tendency to selectively hunt Surgebinders while ignoring other lawbreakers is biased. Nin does not deny it. He holds out his other hand, and a shardbladeShardblade appears. He tells Szeth that he is a Skybreaker of the Fifth Ideal, probably the only herald to join his own order's Radiants. He tells Szeth that he must know what happened on the day known as Aharietiam.

* [[Queen FenMintez]]

* [[NavaniIalai Sadeas]]

* [[Jasnah Kholin]]

* [[GravesGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[SebarialNightwatcher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[HathamNohadon]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RutharAdolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[MintezElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[GavilarKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NohadonYanagawn]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Dalinar wakes up and bathes, ready to come out of seclusion, at least for now. He meets Taravangian on the way to the latest meeting. He has been excluded, but Dalinar brings him along. As they walk, Dalinar asks if there has been any news, but Taravangian reports that there has been none. The Stormfather says he sensed Kaladin in the last highstorm, but he still can't find them. They arrive at the meeting, run by Aladar, and Dalinar asks to be updated. Fen doesn't allow his disappearance to be dismissed so easily, and Dalinar apologizes for hiding away. They discuss tactics for defending Jah Keved. The plan looks good, but Dalinar feels like they are missing something. He realizes that the enemy wants to gain another Oathgate, in a place hardest hit by the everstormEverstorm: Thaylen City. They have Alethi troops already there (Sadeas's army helping in the clean-up), and they plan to send more. Fen's son points out that they need a navy to fight the stolen ships or they will just move on to another target. They scrape together more ships from Kharbranth and Azir. Dalinar leaves the meeting and seeks out Kadash. He apologizes to him for Rathalas and offers to turn the ardentia over to Taravangian. Kadash wants to remain part of the Alethi so he can help them through these trying times. He asks Dalinar to issue a statement asking his people to continue supporting and seeking out the ardents even though he has lost his faith. Dalinar asks the Stormfather who the leader (other than Odium) of the enemy is. He responds that he doesn't really know, but that he is watching someone in particular. Dalinar plans on bringing her into a vision in the next highstorm.

* [[Notum|Captain Notum]]

* [[Adolin KholinIco]] (point ofmentioned viewonly)

* [[SylSylphrena]] (mentioned only)

* [[PatternWit]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[DalinarCultivation]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TorolDalinar SadeasKholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[HonorNightblood]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedZahel]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Shallan spends the days on the ship studying various beads. Veil occasionally takes over, almost randomly. She sees the first mate returning Azure's shardbladeShardblade. Azure intends to trade information once they reach their destination; the honorspren may have information on her bounty: a sword that bleeds black smoke and the man who brought it here. Kaladin calls her a traitor, but she points out that she has no obligation toward them, and besides, her quest is also very important. Shallan retreats back to her bucket. Adolin comes over and hugs her as she talks about her struggles. He confesses to her that he killed Sadeas.

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[OdiumTimbre]]

* [[TimbreRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Notum|Captain Notum]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Maya|Adolin's SprenZahel]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Meridas Amaram]]

* The [[JasnahStormfather]]

* [[QueenGeneral FenKhal]]

* [[NouraKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[KaladinCultivation]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[LiftNightwatcher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[CultivationHonor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NightwatcherOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[HonorTalenel]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[OdiumZetah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Elhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AdolinGol]]

* [[Shallan Davar]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[Pattern]] (Mentioned Only)

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[Queen Fen Rnamdi]]

* [[Elhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Adolin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Gavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Kaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Honor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Odium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[FusedOdium]] (mentioned only)

Rysn enters her combination to the first door, then they pass two more doors that are opened by guards, one of whom is unfamiliar to her. Rysn is taken through to an alcove that Fladm is waiting in, and she's transferred to a palanquin that Tlik and another guard carry her in, to her embarrassment. Chiri-Chiri follows her into the main vault. The vault is full of gemstones, but it is dark; they are traded on ledgers, backed by the confidence that the reserve is safe and intact. Rysn gives Vstim a key, and he unlocks Vault Thirteen, the queen's own vault. This closet-sized vault is full of light, much of it coming from a giant ruby, the [[King's Drop]]. VsitmVstim covers it with a cloth to reduce the glare, and the audit begins. Suddenly, the unfamiliar guard stabs Tlik and grabs the ruby, wounding Vstim and locking him in vault 13. Other guards attack, but the thief is able to heal. As more guards arrive to the fight, Rysn grabs the King's Drop, ties it to her leg, and pulls herself down the corridor. Chiri-Chiri feeds from the ruby. Rysn reaches Fladm's corpse and yells for help, taking his crossbow. Chiri-Chiri harrasses the thief, feeding from his [[Voidlight]]. The traitor is revealed to be one of the [[Fused]] that can lightweave. Rysn shoots him in the chin right as he looms over her. His Voidlight gone, he drops to the floor and is still.

* [[LopenMalata]]

* [[BisigLaran]]

* [[MalataKaladin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RockRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[EviElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[GavilarEvi Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Dalinar awakes in the cabin of a stormwagon, not remembering what happened earlier due to his heavy drinking. Felt informs him that the caravan they were traveling with will be departing early, despite the rain. Dalinar tells Felt to pay the caravan master extra to buy his silence. The men continue traveling on their own. Along the way, Felt gives some advice for visiting the Nightwatcher, telling him to go in alone after sunset and warning him that the curse could be bad. They arrive at the Valley in an otherwise barren landscape, but here, plant life almost frantically grows. Felt tells Dalinar that there are paths through the thick foliage if he looks hard enough. After the sun sets, Dalinar decides to go in a day early and pushes his way into the forest. As he trudges forward, Dalinar begins to doubt himself, but then hears noises, the sound of people pleading for their lives and weeping. Dalinar summons his Shardblade, Oathbringer, and starts slashing at the undergrowth, trying to clear a path for himself. Suddenly, he sees himself smiling and killing parshmen in the Unclaimed Hills, then strangling Elhokar and taking the throne for himself, followed by conquering other kingdoms and building an empire over half the continent. Then he sees a thousand villages being burned like the Rift for resisting. Dalinar realizes that this could be his future. Just then, the Nightwatcher shows up, asking him what he wants for his boon. Dalinar asks for forgiveness, but the Nightwatcher does not understand the concept very well and becomes agitated, offering things like material possessions, including [[Nightblood]], and enhanced skills. She is interrupted by a [[Cultivation|strange woman]] who appears in the grove, who she addresses as "Mother." She speaks with Dalinar, and he realizes that she is Cultivation. Cultivation offers him a "pruning" to let him grow by blocking his memories of Evi. Dalinar accepts the offer and has those memories removed. The next morning, he crawls out of the woods, feeling very tired. Dalinar realizes that he is now unable to remember anything about his wife, including her name, other than the fact that he had a wife who was assassinated. He orders his men to prepare to travel to the Shattered Plains for the war and asks for the sailors to get a copy of ''The Way of Kings'' while in port.

* The [[Stormfather]]

* [[AdolinGeneral Khal]]

* [[SylAdolin Kholin]]

* [[Renarin Kholin]]

* [[AmaramOdium]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[EthKmakl]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[RockYushah]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[LopenHonor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SigzilCultivation]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Jasnah watches troops head to the oathgate, but she knows Thaylen City is lost. There is something else she must do first. She finds Renarin in a temple, kneeling alone. With him is a spren, its form different than the spren of a Truthwatcher. She summons her shardbladeShardblade.

* The [[SylStormfather]]

* [[FusedRysn]]

* [[StormfatherVstim]]

* [[RenarinAdolin Kholin]]

* [[LiftNale]]

* [[NinFen Rnamdi]]

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimiKmakl]]

* [[Queen FenNergaoul]]

* [[Maya|Adolin's SprenGaz]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AmaramAzure]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NergaoulLift]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[LiftNergaoul]]

* [[FusedVenli]]

* [[Maya|Adolin's SprenNale]]

* [[NinNightblood]]

* [[SylSylphrena]]

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimiFen Rnamdi]]

* [[ShalashKmakl]]

* [[KmaklMeridas Amaram]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ZahelYushah]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[AmaramKai-garnis]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[MraizeNotum]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TalnZahel]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Adolin and Pattern continue their charade, blending in with the illusions. One of the Fused cuts her hand with a knife and sprays the blood toward them. The blood passes through the illusions but hits Adolin. Now they know who is real, and the Fused attack Adolin, disarming him of his harpoon. He draws his only weapon left, his knife, and tries to apply his training with Zahel -- knife vs. spear. He successfully dodges the attack, but the Fused can fly, negating his skill. He runs Adolin through with his lance. He draws a sword to finish him off, andbut hisAdolin's deadeye savagely attacks the Fused. HeAdolin struggles over toward Shallan, bleeding heavily.

* [[TalnTalenel]]

* [[Queen FenWyndle]]

* [[TimbreFen Rnamdi]]

* [[EviAbaray]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[GavilarEvi Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarTeleb]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Dalinar seems to literally relive the moment he sets Rathalas afire, hearing Evi's screams and crying. Odium banishes the Stormfather, leaving Dalinar utterly alone. Odium pleads with Dalinar to give him his pain. Dalinar realizes he has been a fraud.

Jasnah raises her shardbladeShardblade to strike, and Renarin looks at her, nodding. She dismisses her blade and embraces her cousin. Ivory agrees with Jasnah's decision even though it doesn't make sense to him. Renarin realizes that since the vision about Jasnah didn't come true, other visions are not predestined either, like his vision about Dalinar.

Dalinar rejects Odium's offer to take his pain. He needs to take the ''next'' step, the most important step a man can take: the ''next one''.

* [[FusedMeridas Amaram]]

* The [[AmaramStormfather]]

* [[StormfatherJasnah Kholin]]

* [[JasnahSylphrena]]

* [[SylVenli]]

* [[TalnEvi Kholin]]

* [[Queen Fen Rnamdi]]

Dalinar reaches his left hand into the Cognitive Realm and his right into the Spiritual Realm as his enemies stumble backward -- all but Venli, who asks what he is in a whisper. He hears Evi's voice; she forgives him. The pain of his role in her death begins to fade. Dalinar turns his head to Venli and states "I am unity." He combinesslams thehis Realmshand together, combining the three Realms.

Taln asks Ash how long it has been since the last Desolation. He's overjoyed to hear that it's been four thousand years. Humans have a chance this time because they were able to advance. He goes to meet "himDalinar, feeling that he is waiting for them though he does not know who Dalinar is," pulling Ash along.

Jasnah and Renarin reach the possessed troops. She uses soulcasting and her shardbladeShardblade to sweep them away. Renarin feels a surge of Stormlight and sees the column of light, stretching into the clouds.

Navani isleans overcomeover the top of the city, laughing with joy as gloryspren stream around her, as they are flying towards Dalinar. All of the gemstones scattered on the ground light up, taking in the Stormlight from Dalinar.

Odium orders his minions to attack Dalinar. Amaram steps up, and Dalinar tries to persuade him to follow his lead. But Amaram cannot forgive himself, and he attacks with Oathbringer. Kaladin parries with a shard-spearShardspear and emerges from the column. Shallan and Adolin follow.

Dalinar realizes that Elhokar has not emerged from the column with the others, and knows that this means Elhokar has been killed. The power fades, the gloryspren disperse, and Dalinar is left feeling exhausted. The Stormfather is unsure what has happened. Dalinar says they have a [[Connection]] different from what was possible when Honor was alive. The Knights Radiant gather around Dalinar. The Stormfather recognizes Taln and Ash as they arrive. Kaladin asks for orders. They are still impossibly outnumbered by Amaram's troops, who are recovering their composure and are still consumed with the Thrill. He orders Renarin to secure the Oathgate, Shallan to conjure up an army, Jasnah to defend the hole in the wall, and Kaladin to engage Amaram. He reiterates his previous order to Lift and Szeth. He walks toward the water for his own task.

* [[SylNergaoul]]

* [[LiftSylphrena]]

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimiMeridas Amaram]]

* [[FusedNale]]

* [[Navani Kholin]]

* [[Queen Fen Rnamdi]]

* [[Teshav Khal]]

* [[RockLunamor]]

* [[KhalVasher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[VasherTien]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[KalanorAesudan Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Torol SadeasKalanor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NinYalb]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[ElhokarGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[OdiumElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[EviEstnatil]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly,)

* [[TaravangianTshadr]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[YalbOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Szeth and Lift come up with a plan to get the Ruby back, while Nightblood reflects on both Lift's morality and compares Szeth to hisits former masters, including Vasher.

Shallan pulls forth her army of drawings (including ones she had lost, such as Yalb), still holding Pattern as a Shardblade. 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 plateShardplate. Shallan commands her illusions to attack.

Adolin and his men join Navani beyond the wall, where Adolin informs Navani of ElokharElhokar's death. Navani and Adolin join Queen Fen on the wall. As Adolin begins to formulate a defense, Jasnah interrupts by mending the walls around them and repairs the giant hole.

Renarin makes his way to the Oathgate, where he observes a dozen Fused hovering above it. Renarin greets survivors (including Brightness Teshav) who inform him about Urithiru. Renarin replenishes his Stormlight and goes to open the portal, shocked that no one told him to stop. Renarin and Glys as a Shardblade confront Fused at the gate, when he is suddenly struck with one of his fits, showing him a vision, leaving him smiling. Just then, the Oathgate erupts with light, and a Kholin Alethi division marches forth, led by a bearded man holding a large, silver shard spearShardspear, bathed in white;: Teft.

* [[Jasnah Kholin]]

* [[AdolinFen Rnamdi]]

* [[Nightblood|sword-nimi]]

* [[NinNale]]

* [[TeshavSylphrena]]

* [[RockLyn]]

* [[TalnPeet]]

* [[OdiumDru]] (Mentioned Only)

* [[IsharElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[Battar|Battah'ElinOdium]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[LynGavilar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[MidiusRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[SylSkar]]

* [[AdrotagiaSylphrena]]

* [[SzethAdolin Kholin]]

* [[SebarialTeshav Khal]]

* [[GravesElhokar Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[NightwatcherGvori]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RenarinKaravaniga]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[JasnahRuli]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[MraizeGraves]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[Sja-anatNightwatcher]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[RialRenarin Kholin]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* [[TeftHonor]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

* The [[KadashStormfather]] (Mentionedmentioned Onlyonly)

Taravangian finishes his day's puzzles, revealing he is stupid on this day, as his assistants, Mrall, Adrotagia, and Dukar, debate over the recent accuracy of the Diagram. A voice constantly asks Taravangian to open a window, which he does, and Odium enters the room. Odium sarcastically compliments the Diagram before showing Taravangian the absolute eternity within his plans. Taravangian strikesattempts ato dealbargain with Odium for the protection of everyone Taravangian rules, but Odium has seen through his plans to rule all Roshar to include all humanity under the protection. Taravangian instead strikes the best deal Odium will agree to: his service, in exchange for the protection of everyone born in Kharbranth and their spouses.

* [[WitHoid]] (point of view)

* [[FusedDesign|A spren]]

Wit leaves and heads towards the palace, acting like a crazy beggar. He passes Vatwha, a Fused sentry who he once danced with thousands of years before, but she doesn't notice him. He approaches a section of the fallen palace that the Fused and singers are working particularly hard at clearing the rubble in, wondering if anyone else found it strange that they focused so much on that section. Wit encounters a pair of common singers, and bows several times and tries to sell them trinkets from his pocket, continuing his act. The guards try to shove him away, but Wit pretends to panic and runs deeper into the worksite. He gets shouted at to leave, and continues faking fright, then purposely trips himself against a wall that is still standing. He addresses an unseen entity, telling them that they don't have a lot of options, that he believes he is in the city to find the entity, and promises to give them juicy truths if they come out. A moving pattern slips out of the cracks and onto his hand, which he hides in his rags. The singer guards catch up to him and toss him into the gardens. After they leave, Wit addresses the frightened-seeming Cryptic on his hand with "Life before death, little one".

| United, new beginnings sing: "Defying truth, love. Truth defy!" Sing beginnings, new unity.

| [[Ketek]] written by [[Jasnah Kholin]] on the occasion of her ward [[Shallan Davar]]'s wedding celebration.

{{summaries|done}}

[[Category: Stormlight Archive|+23]]