AFTERWORD

Chapter 132

117. Champion with Nine Shadows

Overview

In this climactic chapter, multiple battles converge across Thaylen City and its surroundings. Dalinar challenges Odium to a contest of champions to prevent the destruction of Roshar, but discovers Odium has already chosen his champion—Dalinar himself, whom Odium begins to possess through the Thrill. Meanwhile, Lift pursues a Fused carrying a stolen ruby, Kaladin and Shallan fight desperately at the Oathgate with limited Stormlight, Szeth grapples with choosing between codes and people, and Navani is captured by corrupted soldiers.

Summary

Dalinar arrives at Thaylen City's broken wall to face Odium's army alone. Lift, having returned despite leaving earlier, agrees to steal back an enormous ruby from a Fused. Odium appears with several Fused and a shadowy spren, dispatching subordinates to guard the prison and secure the Oathgate. At the Oathgate platform, Adolin and Shallan fight two Fused using illusions and a captured deadeye spren. Shallan discovers she can Soulcast the mysterious beads beneath the city, creating a stone wall that blocks one Fused. Adolin is severely wounded by a lance through his gut. Kaladin, exhausted of Stormlight, is pulled from the bead-sea by Syl and helps Shallan extract Adolin. With no Stormlight remaining and Fused approaching, Kaladin prepares to speak the Words of the next Ideal. Lift pursues the Fused with the ruby, displaying her Surge of Friction abilities. Szeth-son-Neturo stands with Nin observing below, wrestling with whether to follow law or a person as his next Ideal. A thunderclast crushes Lift's legs, but Szeth—now called "the Assassin in White" and glowing with Stormlight—manifests from an explosion of light, wielding a black Shardblade that consumes darkness. He agrees to help Lift complete her task. Navani reaches the chamber beneath the wall but is ambushed by corrupted soldiers guarding Fen and Kmakl, bound and gagged. She is captured. Ash, the Herald, methodically scratches out her likeness from a brazier—compelled by unknown magic—and enters a tent where she finds Taln, one of the ten Heralds. Renarin, bonded to the corrupted spren Glys, experiences visions in a temple showing Jasnah striking him down and Dalinar kneeling before Odium. Dalinar proposes a contest of champions to Odium, who agrees. Odium then reveals he has already chosen his champion: Dalinar himself. The Thrill—the red mist Dalinar has fought all his life—surges back, overwhelming him as Odium begins possessing him, saying "I'm afraid that this will hurt."

Characters

  • Dalinar KholinChallenges Odium to a contest of champions for Roshar's fate; is then revealed as Odium's chosen champion and begins to be possessed through the Thrill
  • LiftReturns to pursue the Fused carrying the stolen ruby; is crushed by a thunderclast but healed by Szeth's intervention
  • OdiumAccepts Dalinar's challenge and reveals he has been preparing Dalinar as his champion all along
  • Shallan DavarFights Fused at the Oathgate; discovers new Soulcasting ability with the mysterious beads; helps extract the wounded Adolin
  • Adolin KholinFights a Fused with a knife against a lance; is seriously wounded with a lance through his gut
  • Kaladin StormblessedStruggles in the bead-sea; is rescued by Syl; helps Shallan with Adolin; prepares to speak the next Ideal as Fused approach
  • SylPulls Kaladin from the bead-sea; encourages him to speak the Words
  • PatternManifests as a glass branch; helps interpret Shallan's new Soulcasting ability; hums nervously during combat
  • WyndleServes as Lift's companion spren; follows the Fused with the ruby; offers to become a weapon when Lift is crushed
  • Szeth-son-NeturoAppears as 'the Assassin in White' with glowing grey eyes and a black Shardblade; kills a thunderclast to save Lift and agrees to help retrieve the ruby
  • NinDiscusses the Skybreakers' future allegiance with Szeth; suggests choosing the Dawnsingers' law
  • GlysThe corrupted spren bonded to Renarin; trembles with fear and offers his sorrow
  • Renarin KholinKneels in a temple experiencing forbidden visions of the future, including Jasnah striking him down and his father before Odium
  • Navani KholinClimbs down from the wall seeking Dalinar; is captured by corrupted soldiers guarding Fen and Kmakl
  • FenAppears bound and gagged in the chamber beneath the wall
  • KmaklAppears bound and gagged in the chamber beneath the wall
  • A corrupted captainLeads the soldiers who capture Navani, mentions Sadeas and claims Amaram will reward him
  • Ash (Herald)Scratches out her likeness from a brazier while compelled by unknown magic; finds Taln in a tent
  • TalnFound alone in a tent by Ash; described as the Herald who never was supposed to bear the burden but bore it longest
  • Jasnah KholinMentioned in Renarin's visions as approaching with a raised sword
  • A Fused womanCarries the enormous ruby; displays superior Friction abilities; nearly kills Shallan at the Oathgate
  • Two FusedFight Adolin and Shallan at the Oathgate platform; one wounds Adolin gravely
  • AmaramMentioned as Odium's initial choice for champion, dismissed as unsuitable