AFTERWORD

Chapter 136

121. Ideals

Overview

The chapter concludes the major battle and captures the aftermath across multiple perspectives: Moash murders Jezrien, the final Herald, with a mysterious golden knife; Shallan reconciles her fractured identities and commits to Adolin; Kaladin confronts the moral complexity of the parshmen's claim to Roshar; Lopen achieves his full Fourth Ideal; and Ash experiences the death of her father Jezrien as a rupture in her soul, losing connection to him forever.

Summary

Following the victory at Thaylen City, the narrative shifts across numerous characters processing the battle's consequences. Moash, now serving the Fused, kills the Herald Jezrien in the refugee gardens of Kholimar palace with a golden knife imbued with dark power—an act that causes Ash to feel a devastating rupture of connection to her father's soul, rendering her unconscious. In Thaylen City, Shallan deliberately consolidates her fractured identities (Veil, Radiant, and her core self) and chooses Adolin over Kaladin, actively silencing her other personas' influence. Adolin initially attempts to step aside, believing Shallan should be with Kaladin, but Shallan passionately rejects this, asserting her autonomy and her genuine choice of him. Kaladin, observing them from a rooftop, accepts her decision without bitterness, though he grapples with deeper existential questions about the parshmen's rightful claim to Roshar and whether his role defending humans makes him complicit in ancient wrongs—suspecting the ancient Recreance occurred similarly, as Knights Radiant lost confidence in their oaths. Lopen achieves his Fourth Ideal of the Windrunners with the Stormfather's approval, becoming the second full Knight Radiant after Kaladin, though his excitement is undercut when Kaladin immediately departs on an urgent errand from Dalinar. Dalinar rests in a Thaylen villa and privately questions his past actions with the Herald statues. Taravangian reveals to Dalinar that he strategically abandoned the coalition, positioning himself to seize control should Dalinar fall—a calculated political move informed by a Herald named Dova who warned of the Desolation. Venli, aboard a fleeing parshman ship, begins recounting the history of the listeners to confused parshmen sailors, finding purpose in preserving their identity despite her role in their return to Odium's service. Szeth swears a new oath to follow Dalinar Kholin as the Herald Nin approves, granting him access to the Surge of Division. Finally, Ash flees Thaylen City with Taln, who has descended into madness, and collapses as she senses Jezrien's permanent death—a loss unlike their cyclical resurrections, suggesting an unknown power has destroyed a Herald's soul.

Characters

  • MoashExecutes Jezrien with a golden knife, serving as an instrument of Odium's will against the Herald
  • Lady LeshwiVisits Moash at the palace ruins, relays orders from Hnanan, represents the Fused hierarchy
  • HnananAncient Singer and highprince-equivalent Fused who commands Moash to murder Jezrien
  • NavaniEmbraces Dalinar after the battle, receives a mysterious dark ruby he claims contains an Unmade, agrees to study it and teach him to read
  • Dalinar KholinRecovers from battle exhausted, reveals his memories returned and provides Navani with a trapped Unmade gemstone, later meets with Taravangian
  • Kaladin StormblessedObserves Shallan's choice of Adolin from a rooftop, grapples with moral questions about parshmen claims to Roshar and the ancient Recreance, departs urgently on Dalinar's orders
  • Shallan DavarConsolidates her fractured identities, chooses Adolin over Kaladin, asserts her autonomy and commitment to becoming singular
  • Adolin KholinAttempts to selflessly step aside for Kaladin, but Shallan passionately rejects this and chooses him, they reconcile romantically
  • SylKaladin's spren companion, discusses the parshmen's claims and the nature of the Recreance with him
  • RockSits alone on temple steps with Shardbow, believing he broke an oath by killing to save Kaladin
  • TeftActivated the Oathgate to save Kaladin, now struggles with his moss addiction as a new Fourth Ideal Windrunner
  • LopenAchieves his full Fourth Ideal and becomes a Knight Radiant, but is immediately sent on an errand by Kaladin
  • RuaLopen's spren, learns gestures and plays games with him
  • TaravangianReveals to Dalinar that he strategically abandoned the coalition to position himself for control, admits to being informed by the Herald Dova
  • VenliAboard a fleeing parshman ship, begins teaching confused parshmen sailors about the history of the listeners
  • TimbreVenli's spren, pulses encouragement and guides her toward teaching the parshmen their history
  • SzethSwears a new Fourth Ideal oath to follow Dalinar Kholin's will, receives approval from the Herald Nin
  • NinThe Herald appears to Szeth, approves his oath to Dalinar, explains his torture and loss of compassion, grants access to the Surge of Division
  • AshFlees Thaylen City with the broken Herald Taln, senses the permanent death of Jezrien and loses consciousness from the spiritual rupture
  • TalnHerald who has descended into madness, whimpers and follows Ash passively during the refugee exodus
  • JezrienHerald murdered by Moash with a golden knife, his soul permanently destroyed in an unprecedented manner
  • JasnahChecks on Shallan after battle, expresses concern for her wellbeing and leaves to ensure the enemy is not returning
  • LynBriefly mentioned as having joined Bridge Four as a potential Knight Radiant recruit
  • DovaHerald operating in Kharbranth who warned Taravangian of the approaching Desolation
  • Queen FenReceives Dalinar's bow after the battle, helps plan response messages to the Azish