49. Born unto Light

A flashback to twenty-three years before the present events reveals a younger Dalinar struggling with his addiction to firemoss and his craving for violence, the Thrill of battle. When news arrives that his wife Evi has given birth to a son, Dalinar's priorities shift momentarily—but Gavilar quickly enlists him to suppress threats on Alethkar's borders, sending him away to fight rather than deal with the internal rebellion at the Rift.

The chapter opens with Dalinar in an underground fighting den, using firemoss to dull his restlessness and watching wrestling matches with friends Havar and Bashin. When a featured bout is cancelled due to illness, Dalinar impulsively challenges the wrestler Makh himself, but his highprince status causes the crowd to disperse and the match never happens, leaving him frustrated and unfulfilled. Havar and Bashin reluctantly reveal that in a recent tavern fight, Dalinar severely injured or permanently disabled several men, earning him a fearsome reputation. Toh arrives with urgent news: Evi has gone into early labor. Dalinar rushes to find his wife exhausted but victorious after childbirth. He is overwhelmed with joy upon meeting his newborn son and names him Adolin, seeing in the child a chance for a better future than his own violent life. However, Gavilar soon arrives and privately reveals to Dalinar that his diplomatic efforts have failed: Tanalan is openly preparing rebellion at the Rift, and the other highprinces are testing Alethkar's strength. Rather than send Dalinar against the Rift directly—which might unite the highprinces behind the rebels—Gavilar orders him to the borders to fight threats from Herdaz and Veden raiders, thereby reminding the kingdom of Alethkar's military power. Dalinar accepts the command, though he is torn between his newfound paternal joy and his compulsion to fight.