105. Spirit, Mind, and Body

A flashback to six years before the main narrative: Dalinar attends Gavilar's state funeral in the royal catacombs, where his brother's body is transformed into stone by a Soulcaster. Struggling with grief, guilt, and his drinking, Dalinar discovers an ancient text that inspires him to seek redemption through a journey, ultimately deciding to sail south and secretly visit the Old Magic.

The chapter opens at Gavilar's funeral in Kholinar's royal catacombs. An ardent named Jevena conducts the ceremony, describing death as the separation of spirit, mind, and body. Dalinar, grieving and furious, struggles with the realization that he failed to be present when Gavilar died. He observes Navani's participation and Jasnah's emotional withdrawal. A mysterious Soulcaster transforms Gavilar's corpse into a stone statue, preserving him in an eternal pose. Young King Elhokar demands a vengeance pact against the Parshendi assassins, which the highprinces swear to. Overwhelmed, Dalinar flees the catacombs seeking alcohol, tormented by memories of Evi's warnings about his drinking and his past cruelties. He finds Jasnah in the royal reading room with an ancient tome associated with the Lost Radiants—the source of Gavilar's final written words. Jasnah reads the entire text aloud to him over eight hours. The book's stories about a king's pilgrimage and the freedom of choosing one's path deeply move Dalinar. This experience catalyzes his decision to change. He tells Adolin he will lead an advance force to the Shattered Plains but reveals his true intention: to sail south toward the Old Magic, which Evi once said could transform a man into something great. He plans to delay deliberately, taking a detour of several months in secret.