Chapter 132

Rysn negotiates a patent treaty with Alethi scholars, showcasing her advanced hovering chair technology. The meeting is interrupted by a man disguised as Dalinar Kholin, who reveals himself as another Dawnshard bearer—one of only four in existence who should never meet. Their combined power nearly destroys them both before he forces a separation and leaves, forcing Rysn to go into hiding.

Rysn travels with Thaylen Patent Office officials Brakt and Ytredn to Urithiru to enforce a recently signed patent treaty with the Alethi. She brings her levitating chair, which she has significantly improved with lateral movement capabilities developed in partnership with Windrunner Huio, allowing speeds up to seventy-three knots. During the meeting, she demonstrates her chair's smooth maneuvering to skeptical Alethi ardents and threatens to withhold further technological advances unless they honor the patent agreement and pay royalties. The officials slowly persuade the bureaucrats to ratify the treaty and begin sharing her schematic designs. Dalinar Kholin then enters the room, but Rysn immediately senses through her Dawnshard powers that this is an impostor. Once everyone else leaves, the figure drops his illusion to reveal a shorter Shin man with white hair. Nikli emerges from an air duct, revealing that this man is another Dawnshard bearer who abandoned his duty centuries ago but has since taken it up again in secret. When the two Dawnshards recognize each other, their conflicting powers activate uncontrollably, pulling Rysn and the man toward each other with destructive force. The man uses some kind of temporal or reality-altering ability to forcefully separate them, preventing mutual annihilation. He restores his Dalinar illusion and leaves, instructing Rysn and her Sleepless companions that they must never meet again. Facing discovery and the danger posed by another Dawnshard bearer, Rysn realizes she must abandon her ship and crew to go into hiding, though she negotiates with her Sleepless guardians to allow the hiding to take a specific, unspecified form.