66. Strategist

Flashback to eleven years ago: Dalinar receives orders from King Gavilar to suppress the rebellion at the Rift, interrupting what he believed would be a period of peace. After explaining military strategy to his young son Adolin, Dalinar learns of the new assignment and has a bitter argument with his wife Evi about his endless pursuit of warfare, ending with him promising to spend a year in Kholinar after the campaign but ultimately prioritizing the coming battle.

The chapter opens with Dalinar showing twelve-year-old Adolin a defensive feature of a highland keep—a retractable stone ledge—that was designed to thwart Shardbearers. They discuss the recent treaty with Jah Keved, which has secured Alethkar's borders and won formal recognition of Gavilar's kingship. Dalinar explains to Adolin that legitimacy is the true prize of their military victories. Dalinar has been studying maps of the Rift for weeks, anticipating that Gavilar will eventually assign him to quell the rebellion there. When Evi, Dalinar's Horneater wife, enters the chamber, she notes the king's message has arrived. The letter commends Dalinar's strategic genius and expresses desire to meet in person after three years apart, but then reveals Gavilar must instead send Dalinar to crush the Rift rebellion, warning that one of the highprinces may be supporting the renegade leader Tanalan and that Shards may be involved. Evi becomes distraught, expressing exhaustion after seven years of life in wagons and waystops amid constant warfare and death. She laments that Alethi women compete with each other in conversation, and mentions considering visiting the Nightwatcher to gain intelligence. Dalinar dismisses this as blasphemy. Evi criticizes the superficiality of Alethi religion and expresses despair about ever returning to her homeland. When Dalinar suggests traveling to warm places or even her homeland after dealing with the rebellion, Evi points out that Herdaz would attack him and that he neglects their other son Renarin, who cannot become a soldier due to his condition. Dalinar, recognizing a battle he cannot win through argument, concedes and promises at least a year in Kholinar after the Rift campaign. As he leaves to plan the assault, shamespren fall around him, and he hears Evi weeping behind him.