AFTERWORD

Chapter 90

83. Crimson to Break

Overview

Adolin prepares for the assault on Kholinar Palace with his forces. The city is under attack by Voidbringers and a massive stone creature, forcing an immediate march. Adolin, Elhokar, Azure, and their troops breach the palace, fight through the entry hall and corridor to reach the eastern gallery and Sunwalk, while Kaladin secures the gallery from the Fused. Adolin then leads a team across the Sunwalk toward the control building to help Shallan confront the Unmade.

Summary

Adolin begins the chapter in the tailor's shop, reflecting on his Shardblade and its nature as a potentially sentient being, apologizing to it before the battle. He dons his Kholin uniform and joins Elhokar, who has rallied some hundred men-at-arms from highlords revealed the previous night. The group studies the palace map and confirms their strategy: storm the palace, seize the Sunwalk, reach the Oathgate platform, and have Shallan drive away the Unmade while they defend her. Azure reports the Voidbringer army is at full strength and will attack immediately. Drums signal the city is under attack, and a massive stone creature begins breaching the walls near the palace. Kaladin and the Windrunners distract the Fused and seize the Sunwalk while Adolin, Elhokar, and Azure lead the assault on the palace doors. After fierce fighting in the entry hall, they push the Palace Guard back toward the eastern gallery. Adolin discovers locked Palace Guard soldiers imprisoned by Queen Aesudan, including Captain Sidin, who resisted her orders. The assault continues down the corridor as a grueling meat-grinder of combat. Kaladin appears glowing with Stormlight, confirming the gallery is secure; the flying Fused were deceived by Shallan's illusions of fallen bridgemen. Elhokar takes a force up to the royal chambers with Kaladin to find Aesudan, while Adolin takes Skar, Drehy, and Azure's soldiers across the Sunwalk. They secure the monastery and reach the control building, which is grotesquely overgrown with the Midnight Mother, the Unmade. Shallan prepares to confront it as Adolin and the soldiers guard her position.

Characters

  • Adolin KholinLeads the assault on the palace alongside Elhokar; cuts through doors with his Shardblade, fights through the entry hall and corridor, discovers imprisoned Palace Guard soldiers, and accompanies Shallan toward the control building to support her against the Unmade
  • Elhokar KholinKing who rallies highlords and marches on his own palace; leads a force to the royal chambers to find Queen Aesudan and secure the heir
  • Kaladin StormblessedWindrunner who deflects a thrown boulder from the stone creature, secures the eastern gallery and Sunwalk by deceiving the Fused with illusions, and accompanies Elhokar toward the royal chambers
  • Shallan DavarPrepares the assault strategy, creates illusions of fallen bridgemen to deceive the Fused, and advances toward the control building to confront the Midnight Mother
  • Highmarshal AzureCommands the assault on the palace corridors, organizes soldiers through the entry hall and down the hallway, and secures the monastery with her forces
  • SkarWindrunner who helps secure the eastern gallery and Sunwalk; accompanies Adolin toward the control building and assists in breaking enemy lines
  • DrehyWindrunner who helps secure the eastern gallery and Sunwalk; accompanies Adolin toward the control building and participates in combat against the Palace Guard
  • Queen AesudanMentioned as having killed an ardent and executed Brightlord Kaves; imprisoned loyal Palace Guard soldiers; her whereabouts are unknown and Elhokar seeks her
  • Captain SidinPalace Guard officer imprisoned by Aesudan for refusing her orders; released by Adolin and given reserve duties with his men
  • YokskaTailor who sheltered Adolin's group; receives warning about potential evacuation to the Shattered Plains
  • Highlord UrimilProvides soldiers for the assault on the palace
  • Highlord ShadayQuestions whether enemy forces might turn against each other
  • Ardent with spanreedReceives orders from Elhokar to contact Urithiru and warn them to prepare forces for transfer via the Oathgate
  • The Midnight MotherThe Unmade infesting the control building, manifested as a dark pulsing mass with dark veins spreading like roots