106. A Hundred Discordant Rhythms

Kaladin defeats the Pursuer in combat, breaking the creature's legendary reputation and inspiring the watching humans. However, Moash arrives and kills Teft, devastating Kaladin into despair. Moash then sabotages the tower's final defense node and kidnaps Kaladin's father as leverage, before departing to kill the queen. Navani seizes the opportunity to confront Raboniel at the crystal pillar, and after a tense negotiation, lures the Fused into a trap she has prepared.

Kaladin confronts the Pursuer in the atrium before hundreds of observers. Using Navani's device as a weapon, he batters the creature until it flees in panic, its legendary invincibility shattered. The watching humans chant his name as gloryspren burst around him. Kaladin moves toward the infirmary to check on the other Radiants, but Moash drops Teft's corpse in front of him, killing the man who had always supported Kaladin. The blow sends Kaladin into profound despair. Moash reveals his plan to Command: he will keep Kaladin broken and useless. After destroying the miniature fabrial representing the tower's final node in the infirmary, Moash kidnaps Kaladin's father Lirin and gives him to the Pursuer as insurance, instructing the creature to kill Lirin if Kaladin attempts to fight back. He forbids the Pursuer from touching Kaladin directly, intending instead to push the Windrunner toward suicide. With the final node destroyed, Navani learns her guard has abandoned her post. She retrieves a magnet from her ruined desk and races to the crystal pillar chamber, where Raboniel stands finishing the corruption of the Sibling. Navani arms a painrial trap in the hallway using the magnet. When Raboniel notices her presence, the Fused offers her an escape route—revealing that if Navani leaves of her own accord, Raboniel has not violated her covenant with Moash. Navani refuses to abandon the Sibling. Rather than fight directly, Navani offers Raboniel a compromise: she gives up her dagger, and they will wait together to see the outcome of Kaladin's battle. If Moash prevails, Navani will submit; if not, Raboniel will leave the Sibling alone. Raboniel accepts and begins walking back down the hallway with Navani. As the Fused speaks of their shared scholarly nature, Raboniel steps directly into Navani's concealed painrial trap.