36. Hero

A flashback to twenty-four years before the main timeline shows Dalinar and his pregnant wife Evi at peace together in Kholinar during the Weeping. Their domestic moment is interrupted by Gavilar announcing a rebellion in Rathalas, forcing Dalinar to confront that he once spared the heir of the conquered region as a child—an act of mercy that now threatens the kingdom's stability.

The chapter opens during the Weeping as Dalinar fixes a smoking fireplace while Evi does needlework, pregnant with their child. They share an intimate moment discussing flamespren and philosophy, though Dalinar struggles with restlessness even in contentment. Evi gently chides him for only seeming alive during conflict, and when she mentions seeking the Old Magic and the Nightwatcher, Dalinar sharply rejects such pagan talk. Gavilar arrives with news that Rathalas is rebelling, claiming Tanalan's heir has returned and demanding Dalinar's Shardblade back, arguing it was never won in true contest. When pressed, Dalinar admits he found the heir as a child at the Rift a decade ago—a weeping boy holding a Shardblade—and chose to spare him rather than kill him, handing him to his mother instead. Evi is moved by this act of mercy and embraces him proudly. Gavilar refuses to send a military force, insisting political solutions will build a unified kingdom that can survive without constant shows of force, leaving Dalinar uncharacteristically unbothered by being denied the chance to fight.