I-12. Vulnerable

Taravangian struggles with his rapidly declining mind and inability to act, yet discovers a potential strategy involving Nightblood and Szeth. In a shocking encounter, the Unmade Sja-anat appears to him and reveals that Odium is vulnerable despite his power, offering to help him lure the god into a trap.

Taravangian sits in his house, frustrated by his deteriorating mental state and the loss of his once-brilliant mind. He recognizes that his intelligence continues to decline overall, making each supposedly smart day merely average compared to his earlier peak. He has failed to recruit Szeth and fears writing to Dalinar, unwilling to risk Kharbranth. He shuffles through his extensive notebook searching for answers, reflecting on how stupidity does not make one less human or capable of planning—merely slower and less able to remember quickly. He reassures himself that he knows his capabilities intimately, having lived both at the heights and depths of intelligence. While reviewing his notes in his bathroom by ruby-sphere light, Taravangian studies what he knows of Nightblood from agent reports: the sword feeds on Stormlight and, lacking it, on one's own soul. He also catalogs Odium's nature—vastly intelligent and omnipresent through power, yet capable of being tricked because he feels emotion and possesses a central self. Taravangian realizes that he may not need to control Szeth, only position the unstable assassin to encounter Odium. However, timing remains his unsolved problem. In the mirror's reflection, a shadowy female figure with white eyes appears—Sja-anat, one of the Unmade. Terrified, Taravangian admits his condition stems from the Nightwatcher. Sja-anat questions whether the Old Magic was truly the Nightwatcher's work or a cover for the Nightwatcher's true agenda across centuries. She demands to know what Taravangian requested. He confesses he asked for the capacity to stop what was coming. Sja-anat probes whether he can succeed and offers cryptic wisdom: Odium's power is immense, but his mind and power seek different goals, leaving him vulnerable. She notes his fear that Odium watches all he writes, but corrects him—Odium's power is everywhere, but he himself is not, limited by something that makes Voidspren eyes fear approaching a Bondsmith. Taravangian glimpses a possibility in the Diagram and risks asking for help. Sja-anat agrees to provide him gemstones containing two of her children, knowing Odium searches for them and watches her for any mistake that might reveal her true intentions. She warns him he has no protection from Odium due to his own prior deals, then vanishes. Taravangian continues writing, trembling.