1. Broken and Divided

Dalinar experiences a vision where he sees the ruins of Kholinar and glimpses Odium's champion with nine shadows and glowing red eyes, spurring him to unite the world's kingdoms against the coming Desolation. His resolve to accomplish this goal is immediately tested when a scout reports that Highprince Torol Sadeas has been murdered within Urithiru.

Dalinar enters a vision six days after arriving at Urithiru, seeking answers from the Almighty about the enemy he faces. He manipulates the vision with the Stormfather's help to descend into the ruins of Kholinar, examining claw marks and destruction that suggest the Voidbringers rather than the Everstorm caused the devastation. The Stormfather warns that the Voidbringers pose a greater threat than storms. As the vision ends with a wave of destruction, Dalinar witnesses a golden light and a dark figure in black Shardplate with nine shadows and red eyes—Odium's champion—which terrifies him more than anything before. Upon waking beside Navani in Urithiru, Dalinar determines he must unite the world's monarchs against the enemy before destruction overtakes them. Navani raises practical concerns about their current situation: the mountainside provides no food, Soulcasters will exhaust their gemstones, and their command structure is in disarray. Dalinar proposes using the Oathgates—ancient portals to Urithiru—to coordinate with other kingdoms, though each gate requires a Knight Radiant to unlock it from both sides. After embracing Navani and affirming their commitment to the task, a scout interrupts with urgent news: Highprince Torol Sadeas has been found murdered in the tower's corridors.