113. The Thing Men Do Best

Dalinar watches as the coalition of monarchs collapses in the wake of the revelation about humanity's true origin in Shinovar and his hidden visions. As various rulers depart—some joining Taravangian, others maintaining tentative support—Dalinar is left largely isolated, grappling with the Stormfather's commentary on mankind's tendency toward deception and his own guilt over past atrocities.

Dalinar stands alone in his rooms, consumed by self-recrimination over his deception regarding the visions and Elhokar's survival. He reflects on how skillfully he has been outmaneuvered: the enemy has provided perfect evidence of his hidden motives to Queen Fen, suggested to the Azish that the powers are dangerous, and to Taravangian that their moral foundation is false. The Stormfather reveals that the original Recreance occurred not merely because the Radiants discovered humankind's Shinovari origin, but because they feared men would destroy Roshar as previous humans destroyed their own world. Dalinar encounters Bridge Four leaving solemnly; when he questions them, Teft explains they intend to return to Urithiru to inform the other bridgemen and await Kaladin's decision on whether to continue fighting. Dalinar realizes he has been subtly rejected and left alone. As the monarchs depart, the Azish contingent under Vizier Noura announces they will avoid the Oathgates and use Taravangian's ships instead, with Noura noting that the truth itself has become Dalinar's enemy. Queen Fen stays longest, sardonically offering to keep Dalinar for his military value while admitting she wishes she had reason to distrust him. Taravangian finally appears on the steps to apologize and announce he can no longer fight beside Dalinar, citing political necessity despite acknowledging Dalinar's pragmatism. Left alone before the temple, Dalinar descends into despair as the Stormfather reminds him that men excel at living lies, and Dalinar is confronted with his own guilt over his past killings, unable to fight back against the weight of his failures.