AFTERWORD

Chapter 6

5. Broken Spears

Overview

Shallan, operating as the persona Veil, is kidnapped by the Sons of Honor cult and taken to a chasm hideout for initiation. She successfully poses as a recruit and swears false oaths, but learns that the cult has an informant close to Dalinar—a revelation that forces Shallan to abandon her cover and reveal her true identity to prevent potential danger.

Summary

Shallan awakens in a sack being carried by a cultist, with Radiant assessing the danger while Veil's Lightweaving maintains their illusory face. She is brought to a dank chasm where robed members of the Sons of Honor conduct an initiation ceremony under diamond broam light. The cult claims responsibility for the return of the Radiants and the Everstorm, and demands Shallan (using the alias Chanasha Hasareh) swear oaths to restore the Heralds, serve the Sons of Honor, recognize Ialai Sadeas as queen, and reject the Radiant spren. Shallan lies seamlessly through the oaths, knowing her order permits such deception. A female cultist (likely Ulina) performs much of the initiation, and a tall, rough cultist replaces her hood. When Shallan attempts to negotiate for information about Ialai, a male figure reveals the cult has "a source far closer" to Dalinar than Shallan could provide. This revelation alarms Shallan—realizing the cult may have an informant in Dalinar's inner circle—and forces her to abandon the infiltration mission. She pushes aside the cultist's hands and declares, "I'm not who you think I am," abandoning her Veil persona and moving toward direct action with Shallan in control.

Characters

  • ShallanThe protagonist, who takes on three personas (Radiant, Veil, and Shallan) during this chapter; she infiltrates the Sons of Honor as the alias Chanasha Hasareh, successfully swears false oaths, but abandons her cover when learning of an informant near Dalinar
  • RadiantOne of Shallan's personas who assesses danger and maintains ethical standards; awakens first and monitors the situation while Shallan's Lightweaving keeps their illusory face intact
  • VeilShallan's deceptive persona who conducts the infiltration, lies convincingly during initiation, and attempts to extract information from the cultists
  • PatternShallan's spren, instructed to follow at a distance and fetch Adolin and soldiers if extraction becomes necessary
  • AdolinMentioned as waiting to extract Shallan if needed; also mentioned as needing attention from Shallan
  • UlinaA female cultist and member of Ialai's inner circle who participates in Shallan's initiation; formerly an unimportant lighteyed scribe now climbing social ranks
  • Ialai SadeasThe highprincess and suspected leader of the Sons of Honor cult; not present at the initiation but mentioned as the cult's chosen queen
  • DalinarMentioned as the target of the cult's opposition and as the figure whose inner circle may have been compromised by an unknown informant
  • MraizeMentioned as having explained the cult's origins and as secretly requesting that Shallan end the Sons of Honor
  • The tall cultistA notably rough male cultist who helps position Shallan during initiation; physically rough in his handling of her