AFTERWORD

Chapter 131

116. Alone

Overview

This chapter intercuts multiple simultaneous crises across the battlefield and Shadesmar. Kaladin fights four Fused in the sky to buy time for Shallan to activate the Oathgate, but discovers the portal is locked by its guardian spren. Dalinar confronts a thunderclast that destroys the Gemstone Reserve and steals a ruby artifact, then realizes the Alethi troops outside have betrayed Thaylen City. Venli accompanies Odium toward the city's interior. The chapter ends with Dalinar standing alone at the breach in the city wall to face the invading army.

Summary

The chapter opens with Kaladin drawing on his newfound purpose to protect Dalinar. He ascends into the sky of Shadesmar and engages six Fused, drawing four of them away while Adolin, with Shallan's illusory support, occupies the remaining two on the bridge. Shallan herself crosses the bead sea beneath the bridge to reach the Oathgate, where she encounters two enormous guardian spren who refuse her passage—they are bound by Honor's final command and cannot permit travel through the portal. She learns that the other Oathgate at Kholinar is similarly sealed and that the souls previously seen were called by the enemy along ancient paths.

Meanwhile, Dalinar battles through Thaylen City's devastation. A thunderclast breaches the city wall and systematically destroys the Gemstone Reserve, scattering Thaylen's wealth. Fused riding the creature's shoulders target a specific palanquin and steal a ruby artifact called the King's Drop. Dalinar pursues but cannot catch them. From the breach, he witnesses soldiers bearing Alethi uniforms and red eyes—Sadeas's old troops have turned traitor and now march with the enemy forces.

In Makabak, Emperor Yanagawn learns that Lift escaped her guards and left the ship. His advisors convince him that the Alethi betrayal confirms their decision to flee, despite his doubts about abandoning allies. Later reports confirm that the Alethi have indeed betrayed Thaylen City and aligned with the parshmen.

Szeth encounters his master Nin, who manipulates him with logic about rightful rulers of Roshar. Szeth's sword urges him to fight, but he appears to accept Nin's argument that the parshmen are the legitimate masters of the land. In Shadesmar, Kaladin's Stormlight runs out just as four Fused confront him. The chapter closes with Navani witnessing the catastrophe from the broken city wall: red-eyed soldiers pouring in, the Unmade's red mist, Amaram in Shardplate riding with the enemy, and finally, Dalinar walking alone through the breach to face the overwhelming army.

Characters

  • KaladinLashes himself into combat with six Fused in Shadesmar to draw them away and protect others; eventually faces four of them as his Stormlight depletes
  • SylKaladin's spren; accompanies him into battle in Shadesmar
  • Dalinar KholinNavigates Thaylen City during the attack; resists the Thrill; pursues Fused stealing the King's Drop; discovers Sadeas's troops have betrayed the city and finally confronts the invading army alone at the wall breach
  • AdolinDistracts two Fused on the bridge by mimicking Shallan's illusory soldiers to allow her time to reach the Oathgate
  • ShallanCreates illusions to support Adolin; crosses the bead sea and reaches the Oathgate platform but finds it locked by guardian spren
  • PatternShallan's spren; participates in the distraction on the bridge
  • JasnahDiscovers Renarin bonded to a corrupted spren of Odium rather than a true Truthwatcher spren; approaches him with her Shardblade in the temple
  • RenarinRevealed to be bonded to a corrupted spren of Odium, not a legitimate Radiant; appears distressed and confused
  • IvoryJasnah's spren; identifies that Renarin's spren is corrupted and an agent of Odium
  • NavaniShelters from the attack in a guard tower; witnesses the thunderclast destroy the tower next to hers and sees the betrayal of Amaram and the Alethi troops; observes Dalinar walking alone to face the enemy
  • FenThaylen queen; survives the guard tower collapse with her consort; leads survivors toward the stairwell
  • KmaklFen's consort; sustains a cut scalp during the collapse and is guided to safety
  • YanagawnEmperor of Makabak; questions his advisors' decision to flee but is ultimately convinced by reports that the Alethi have betrayed Thaylen City
  • NouraVizier of Makabak; defends the decision to flee and advises Yanagawn on the limits of imperial power
  • UnoquaScion of Makabak; opposes trust in the Lost Radiants and their dangerous powers
  • DalksiLeast senior vizier of Makabak; participates in discussions about the city's fate
  • VonoGuard assigned to watch Lift; reports that she escaped by kicking him and hiding him under a bed
  • LiftMentioned but not directly appearing; escaped her guards and presumably returned to aid Thaylen City
  • VenliStands with Odium on the battlefield; accepts his command to advance toward the city gap and possibly speak for him
  • OdiumThe primary enemy force; stands on the battlefield and directs Venli; reveals he sent Fused to steal the King's Drop as a precaution against a potential disaster
  • SzethHovers above the battlefield with Nin; questions his allegiance and appears to accept the logic that parshmen are the rightful rulers of Roshar
  • NinSzeth's master; manipulates Szeth with arguments about rightful jurisdiction and sovereignty over Roshar
  • Szeth's swordUrges Szeth to fight the parshmen despite Nin's logic; advocates for independent will
  • AmaramSadeas's former ally; appears in Shardplate riding a white stallion, having betrayed the Alethi and joined forces with the Voidbringers
  • The two guardian sprenEnormous sentinels at the Oathgate in Shadesmar; refuse to permit Shallan passage because they are bound by Honor's final command
  • The thunderclastEnormous stone monster that breaches the city wall and systematically destroys the Gemstone Reserve, carrying Fused on its shoulders
  • The UnmadeManifests as a boiling red mist along the coast; an ancient spren of Odium unleashed upon the battlefield