42. Consequences

Dalinar deliberately pulls Emperor Yanagawn into a vision of Aharietiam, the Day of Glory when the Desolation ended, to show him the necessity of unity against catastrophe. The boy encounters the Herald Jezerezeh'Elin and confronts Dalinar about his fears of Alethi conquest, but their conversation is interrupted when Lift mysteriously appears in the vision, bewildering both the Stormfather and Dalinar.

Dalinar experiences the vision of Aharietiam for the third time, positioning himself on rocks with a bow to protect the young Emperor Yanagawn while the boy witnesses the battle against the Voidbringers. After the fighting ends and a glowing Radiant rallies the soldiers, Yanagawn encounters Dalinar, who reveals his identity and explains these are genuine visions. They proceed to the main battlefield where Jezerezeh'Elin, Herald of Kings, announces victory to the assembled peoples. Dalinar identifies the Herald to Yanagawn and reveals he deliberately brought the emperor into this vision. Suspicious, Yanagawn questions Dalinar's motives and expresses Azir's historical fears of Alethi conquest, referencing the Sunmaker's brutality that killed ten percent of Azir's population. Dalinar argues he differs from his ancestor by understanding the consequences of his actions. As Dalinar makes this point, the girl Lift unexpectedly appears on a boulder, much to the Stormfather's distress, who insists he did not bring her into the vision. Lift greets Yanagawn warmly and jokes about Dalinar's physique before leading the emperor away and vanishing. The Stormfather expresses frustration that Lift, tainted by the Nightwatcher, defies his will, then refuses to speak further to Dalinar, leaving him alone with his thoughts on the battlefield until the vision ends.