AFTERWORD

Chapter 135

120. The Spear That Would Not Break

Overview

Kaladin clashes with Amaram—who has been corrupted by Odium into a hybrid creature—while Dalinar walks into the red mist of the Thrill to confront and ultimately subdue it. Across the city, the Knights Radiant fight desperately: Shallan maintains massive illusions to distract the enemy, Jasnah uses her newfound Soulcasting power to seal breaches and eliminate threats, Adolin battles a thunderclast with help from Renarin, and reinforcements arrive through the Oathgate. Lift enters the red mist to deliver a ruby to Dalinar, enabling him to trap the Thrill within it. As the Unmade is sealed, Odium's control over the enemy army collapses, and the Everstorm withdraws.

Summary

The chapter opens with Kaladin rising into the sky with Stormlight to protect Dalinar, who walks toward the red mist of the Thrill. Kaladin crashes down to confront Amaram, now a twisted hybrid being with violet crystals growing from his body and superhuman powers. Meanwhile, Shallan creates an enormous army of illusions by drawing on her sketched memories, manifesting Veil and Radiant as separate entities. Jasnah, operating partially in the Cognitive Realm, Soulcasts the broken wall section into bronze, sealing the gap, then uses fire and other Soulcasting to eliminate Fused and protect Shallan. Adolin fights through the city streets and encounters a massive thunderclast that destroys buildings as it climbs through the wards. He pursues it alone until Renarin arrives and, with the help of a Thaylen Shardbearer named Hrdalm, disables the creature by cutting off its limbs. Renarin then rushes toward the Oathgate, where twelve Fused await. A fit grants Renarin visions of stained glass showing victory, and as he approaches the platform, the Oathgate activates, bringing through an entire division of Alethi troops led by the Knight Radiant Teft. Szeth pursues the Fused carrying the ruby, performs a feint with Lift, and eventually delivers the gemstone to Kaladin's location near Dalinar. Lift enters the red mist and places the ruby in Dalinar's hands. Inside the mist, Dalinar confronts the Thrill—not as a malevolent enemy but as a primal spren driven by the urge to fight. He accepts his past as the Blackthorn, embraces the strength the Thrill gave him, and thanks it before capturing it within the ruby. As the Thrill is sealed, all red light drains from the enemy soldiers' eyes, and Odium's control collapses. The Everstorm fades to an impotent overcast and drifts away. Amaram, barely alive with only a gemstone heart, staggers toward the prone Kaladin but is killed by Rock, who shoots him with Amaram's own massive Shardbow. Kaladin watches as Dalinar kneels on the battlefield, clutching the ruby and weeping with joy.

Characters

  • KaladinKnight Radiant protecting Dalinar; engages Amaram in a prolonged aerial and ground battle, using the Sylspear and changing its form; struggles against multiple Fused while buying time for Dalinar to complete his task
  • Dalinar KholinWalks into the red mist of the Thrill; confronts and ultimately embraces the Thrill as a primal spren; accepts his past and captures the Thrill within the ruby, ending Odium's influence over the city
  • Shallan DavarCreates an massive army of illusions drawn from her memories; works alongside Veil and Radiant personalities; maintains the illusions despite exhaustion to distract the enemy forces
  • Jasnah KholinOperates partially in the Cognitive Realm; uses powerful Soulcasting to seal the city wall with bronze, eliminate Fused, create barriers of fire and stone, and protect Shallan; instructs Shallan on Soulcasting technique
  • Adolin KholinFights through city streets and pursues the thunderclast; wields his Shardblade Maya to cut the monster's limbs and ankles; coordinates with other defenders and eventually confronts the creature alone before Renarin arrives
  • Renarin KholinExperiences a fit that grants him visions of stained glass showing victory; defeats the thunderclast by making it fear his light; charges the Oathgate platform despite fear; smiles mysteriously as reinforcements arrive
  • AmaramA corrupted hybrid being with violet crystals growing from his body; wields two Shardblades (including Oathbringer) and a massive Shardbow; fights Kaladin with supernatural speed and power; confronts Kaladin after his gemstone heart flickers back to life and is killed by Rock
  • SylKaladin's spren companion; shifts between forms (spear, blade, shield, halberd) to aid Kaladin in combat; warns him of approaching threats
  • LiftPursues the Fused carrying the ruby; works with Szeth on a plan to trick the Fused; enters the red mist and delivers the ruby to Dalinar
  • Szeth of the SkybreakersPursues the Fused carrying the ruby with Lift; executes a feint to recover the real gemstone from the Fused; brings Lift to the edge of the mist before withdrawing from it himself
  • RockArrives with reinforcements through the Oathgate; kills Amaram by shooting him twice with Amaram's own massive Shardbow; serves as a beacon of light on the battlefield
  • TeftArrives as a Knight Radiant leading the division of Alethi troops through the Oathgate; rises above the troops with a silver Shardspear
  • Shallan's personasVeil and Radiant manifest as separate entities holding Shallan's hands; assist in maintaining the illusory army
  • PatternShallan's spren companion; appears as a Shardblade with latticework; hums concern and support
  • IvoryJasnah's spren; appears beside her and transforms into a Shardblade to aid her in combat
  • GlysRenarin's spren; grants him a Shardblade and encourages him to use light to drive away the thunderclast
  • HrdalmA Thaylen Shardbearer who fights the thunderclast alongside Adolin and Renarin; helps cut the creature's legs; receives Adolin's Shardblade Maya to continue the fight
  • NavaniAppears on the city wall; grieves Elhokar's death; consults with Jasnah and Queen Fen on defensive strategy
  • Queen FenCoordinates city defense from the wall; discusses troop placement and the remaining Shardblades with her commanders
  • General KhalLeads the Alethi division arriving through the Oathgate; brings three additional Shardbearers
  • LopenArrives with Kaladin's Stormlight supplies; relays orders to Bridge Four; identifies Rock as the archer who killed Amaram
  • LynArrives at the Oathgate with Rock; helps carry him down to the portal; offers to fight despite minimal spear training
  • VenliWanders the battlefield in the darkness; attunes the Rhythm of the Lost while struggling with identity; a Voidspren is captured within her by Timbre; she drinks in Stormlight and speaks Words of the Windrunners
  • TimbreVenli's spren companion; keeps a Voidspren captive within Venli's gemheart; pulses to rhythms of Resolve, Victory, and Joy
  • Brightness TeshavCommands a scribe station in the Royal Ward; receives messages via spanreed about attacks at Urithiru; welcomes Renarin and coordinates with General Khal
  • KdralkQueen Fen's son; bloodied and injured when Adolin encounters him; receives orders from Adolin to rescue more troops and claim a Shardblade