86. That Others May Stand

Dalinar struggles with the sudden return of traumatic memories of his past atrocities while awaiting news from Kholinar. After hours of anxious waiting, a spanreed message arrives bearing catastrophic news: Voidbringer forces have seized the capital, the rescue mission has failed, and the status of the king and Radiants is unknown.

Dalinar stands alone on his balcony at Urithiru, tormented by recently restored memories of the massacre at the Rift and the deaths of children and his wife Evi. He struggles with the contradiction between his reputation as an honorable commander and the reality of his brutal past. When Navani urges him inside, he refuses, maintaining rigid composure as a soldier would. The Kholin, Aladar, and Roion armies wait on an Oathgate platform, prepared to reinforce Kholimar in response to an assault on the palace there, but hours pass with no word and the Oathgate remains inactive. Dalinar questions the Stormfather about why it bonded him despite his moral failings, and the Stormfather acknowledges it can now perceive human suffering through their connection. Dalinar returns to the common room where Navani, Taravangian, Teshav, May Aladar, and General Khal wait by the spanreed. Sitting beside Taravangian, Dalinar confesses his crisis of identity and discusses the burden leaders must bear for making impossible moral choices. Taravangian offers a grim perspective: someone must be sacrificed and dragged down by responsibility so others may stand clean. The spanreed suddenly activates with a message from Kholimar. The news is catastrophic: Voidbringer forces have seized the palace, the rescue team has failed, the Wall Guard has been captured, and communication cuts off abruptly—the ardent who sent the message apparently discovered. No word is given on the status of the king, Prince Adolin, or the Radiants.