AFTERWORD

Chapter 41

37. Silence from the Dead

Overview

After a skirmish with Tukari attackers, Adolin's group discovers their communication cube has been tampered with, leading Shallan to suspect Pattern of being a Ghostblood spy. Meanwhile, they reach Lasting Integrity only to be rejected by the honorspren; Adolin challenges them to judge him for past human transgressions, and the honorspren accept, taking him, Shallan (as Veil), Pattern, and Maya into their fortress in chains.

Summary

The chapter opens with Adolin's party tending to their wounded after defeating a Tukari caravan that attacked the honorspren Notum. While soldiers search the dead bodies for clues and Godeke insists on remembering the fallen despite their hostility, Adolin tends to his gut wound. Shallan checks Mraize's communication cube hidden in her trunk and discovers the powder coating has been disturbed, suggesting someone opened it during their absence. When confronted subtly, Pattern claims he saw nothing while left to guard camp, but Shallan realizes he is lying—he knew details about the cube's orientation that she had mentioned to him before. This revelation devastates Shallan, as Pattern has been her spren since childhood and may have been feeding information to the Ghostbloods all along. Veil takes control to maintain function while Shallan retreats emotionally. As they march toward Lasting Integrity, they spot the fortress—a large blue stone structure on an obsidian outcrop. Upon arrival, the lead honorspren, a woman with high rank, refuses them entry and tears up the letters Dalinar sent, calling all humans murderers and traitors. Adolin, prompted by desperation and anger, challenges the honorspren to judge him formally rather than reject him outright, appealing to their sense of honor and justice. The honorspren, unable to refuse a demand for judgment, agrees and permits Adolin to enter with two companions and Maya. Adolin brings Shallan (appearing as Veil), Pattern, and Maya on horseback into the fortress. As they cross the threshold, honorspren guards immediately chain Adolin's wrists, and the gates close behind them.

Characters

  • Adolin KholinPrince and leader of the party; wounded in combat; challenges the honorspren to judge him formally to gain entry to Lasting Integrity; taken into chains inside the fortress
  • Shallan DavarAppears primarily as Veil; discovers Pattern may be a Ghostblood spy; accompanies Adolin into the fortress with her spren and possessions
  • PatternShallan's spren; guards the camp while the group fights; reveals he is lying about whether he accessed the communication cube, deeply disturbing Shallan's trust
  • NotumHonorspren warrior who was attacked and rescued by Adolin's group; wounded and unable to enter the fortress due to his exile; travels with the party
  • MayaDeadeye Blade bonded to Adolin; fights during the battle; permitted to enter the fortress as evidence of Adolin's treatment of deadeyes
  • GodekeMember of Adolin's group; treats Adolin's wound; insists on remembering the fallen Tukari despite the circumstances
  • VathahAgent of Shallan; helps search dead bodies for clues; pockets spheres from the corpses
  • IshnahAgent of Shallan; searches bodies and looks for inscriptions on jewelry; helps identify Tukari clan markers
  • BerylAgent of Shallan; sickened by the sight of corpses; examined for whether she might be the Ghostblood spy
  • The honorspren leaderWoman with high rank who rejects Adolin's delegation, tears up Dalinar's letters, and challenges Adolin to formal judgment; leads him into the fortress
  • ArshqqamCryptic spren; acknowledges the group's arrival and begins heading back to camp
  • ZuRadiating concern about the plan to split the group; expresses doubts about Adolin's strategy
  • The StumpAppears with her spren; her spren translates information for the group