AFTERWORD

Chapter 13

12. Negotiations

Overview

Dalinar conducts diplomatic negotiations with multiple monarchs via spanreed from Urithiru's amphitheater, seeking military alliance against the Voidbringers and access to Oathgates. The negotiations prove frustrating—Azir dodges commitment and lies about their Oathgate's functionality, while Thaylen City's Queen Fen shows more candor but claims she cannot leave to attend a conference. Afterward, Elhokar surprises Dalinar by swearing a formal oath of vassalage, and the chapter ends with heartening news that King Taravangian of Jah Keved has located a Radiant and plans to join the alliance.

Summary

Dalinar stands in Urithiru's amphitheater with his advisors—Navani, Aladar, Teshav, and scribes—preparing to negotiate with world leaders via spanreed. He opens by inviting the young Emperor Yanagawn of Azir to visit Urithiru. The emperor's responses are evasive and heavily bureaucratic, deflecting with formal pleasantries. When Dalinar learns that Azir claims to be negotiating with the Voidbringers, he urgently presses for direct communication. Azir then claims their Oathgate is non-functional and provides a false affidavit; Navani and Teshav recognize this as a pretext. Frustrated but undeterred, Dalinar shifts to discussing Queen Fen of Thaylenah, who writes directly and speaks bluntly about her city's devastation from the Everstorm. The parshmen there transformed and stole the royal fleet by ship rather than attacking outright—a startling revelation suggesting the Voidbringers are more organized than anticipated. Fen refuses to attend a grand conference, claiming she must rebuild. Dalinar offers troops and shares knowledge of the Radiants to entice her participation. Discussions with minor Makabaki princes yield little. After the sessions end, Elhokar confronts Dalinar outside the chamber, expressing his belief that Dalinar is the better leader. Without warning, Elhokar kneels and swears a formal oath of vassalage, making Dalinar his king. Navani intervenes to ensure the oath's terms are clarified: Dalinar becomes Highking but cedes Alethkar to Elhokar's rule, commanding only in Urithiru and the Shattered Plains. Elhokar then volunteers to lead a small team to Kholinar to restore the palace Oathgate, requesting Kaladin as his companion. The chapter concludes with a spanreed message from King Taravangian of Jah Keved, announcing he has found a Radiant willing to test their Oathgate and pledging his forces to Dalinar's alliance.

Characters

  • Dalinar KholinAttempts to unite world monarchs against the Voidbringers through spanreed negotiations; becomes frustrated with evasive diplomatic responses but remains determined; accepts Elhokar's oath of vassalage.
  • NavaniAdvises Dalinar on diplomatic strategy, offers tactical suggestions to press reluctant leaders, and intervenes when Elhokar swears his oath to ensure clear terms.
  • Brightness KalamiScribe who operates the spanreed, reads incoming messages aloud, and records outgoing correspondence throughout the negotiations.
  • Teshav KhalPolitical advisor who provides cultural context on Azish communication patterns and identifies Azir's claims as deceptive.
  • AladarAdvisor who expresses skepticism about the Radiants' reliability and identifies the risk of sending Kaladin abroad to activate distant Oathgates.
  • MayAladar's daughter; attends the meeting to assist with research and information gathering.
  • Emperor Ch.V.D. Yanagawn the First of AzirYoung emperor who responds evasively to Dalinar's invitations and negotiations, falsely claiming his Oathgate is non-functional.
  • Queen Fen Rnamdi of ThaylenahDirect and blunt monarch who describes her city's devastation and the Voidbringers' theft of her fleet; resists attending a conference but eventually expresses interest in information about the Radiants.
  • Elhokar KholinKing of Alethkar who kneels and swears vassalage to Dalinar, then volunteers to lead a covert mission to restore the Oathgate in Kholinar with Kaladin's aid.
  • King Taravangian of Jah Keved and KharbranthSends final spanreed message expressing support for Dalinar's alliance; reports finding a Radiant and pledging his forces.
  • The StormfatherSpren who communicates with Dalinar in his mind, cautioning him not to idealize the ancient Radiants and offering cryptic warnings.