113. Emotion

Dalinar receives news that Navani has bonded the Sibling spren and Urithiru is secure, but before he can fully process this, he is pulled into a vision with Odium. The god, sensing Dalinar's growing power and believing he has been working with Ishar, confronts him. After tense negotiations, Dalinar agrees to a contest of champions to take place on the tenth day of Palah—if his champion wins, Odium will return Alethkar and Herdaz and cease hostilities; if Odium's champion wins, Dalinar's soul will be forfeit and he will serve Odium immortally among the Fused.

Dalinar and the Windrunners return to the Emuli warcamp exhausted from their failed mission to Tukar. Minutes before a highstorm, messengers arrive with news that Navani has made contact with Urithiru and the Oathgates are functioning again—the Sibling has awakened and bonded with Navani. The Stormfather confirms the tower is now safe. As Dalinar enters his quarters to rest, he is pulled into a vision and confronted by Odium in a golden field. The god, angry and confused, accuses Dalinar of working with Ishar to learn how to bind the realms. Dalinar reveals that Ishar gave him a book containing secrets about his Connection to Odium and his limitations. He then produces terms for a contest of champions written on a single sheet—terms Odium realizes were written by Cephandrius (Wit), not Dalinar or Jasnah, which enrages the god. Odium initially cannot agree to the terms because the Everstorm has freed the Fused and Singers from his direct control. After Dalinar refuses Odium's counter-offer to simply release him from Roshar, they negotiate a new agreement: a single combat between champions on the tenth day of Palah at the tenth hour at the top of Urithiru. If Dalinar's champion wins, Odium returns Alethkar and Herdaz to him and ceases all hostilities while remaining bound to Roshar. If Odium's champion wins, Dalinar forfeits his soul and becomes immortal, serving Odium among the Fused and eventually serving his interests across the cosmere. Dalinar, believing traditional victory is impossible and seeing this as his only chance to free Alethkar, accepts the terms, sealing the contract.