61: RIGHT FOR WRONG

Following his vision of what he believes was the ancient king nohadon, dalinar meets with navani and renarin to discuss the visions' authenticity. After they debate whether to reveal the visions publicly and explore their possible origins, navani closes the door to his chamber and the two share an intimate kiss, acknowledging years of suppressed feelings for one another.

Hours after his vision ends, dalinar sits with navani and renarin, insisting the figure he saw was nohadon himself based on an aura of command and regality, though navani points out the man never spoke his name. They discuss the desolations and voidbringers as potential proof of the visions' reality. navani suggests revealing the visions to others, arguing the translated words from the vision would vindicate dalinar against whispers that he fears storms or suffers mental illness. dalinar expresses reluctance, fearing the visions may be manipulation from an unknown source or even the voidbringers themselves. When navani asks about his past encounter with the nightwatcher and the old magic, dalinar refuses to share details, though he and renarin conclude it is unlikely the old magic is the source. They discuss mythology surrounding the desolations and the knights radiant, finding no definitive answers. After renarin and navani prepare to leave, navani closes the door to be alone with dalinar. She expresses frustration that she is treated as merely a shadow of gavilar's legacy, ignored by the other women at court, and that she returned to the warcamps because she has no home. When dalinar resists, she becomes tearful and emotional. Unable to restrain himself, dalinar kisses her passionately. They embrace for some time before he breaks away, overwhelmed by guilt. navani then mentions alarming rumors: the king of jah keved was assassinated by a shin shardbearer, and stormwardens say highstorms are growing more powerful. She expresses fear about what her daughter is searching for and what may be coming. When dalinar tries to pull away completely, navani declares she will not be set aside and that she has waited years for this moment. She notes that gavilar is dead and the devotaries do not forbid their union, citing doctrine over tradition. dalinar eventually agrees not to abandon her, though he asks for time to think. navani leaves with the final word, claiming it was dalinar who initiated the kiss and seduced her into it.