Endnote

Kaladin confronts Nale in a climactic battle at the monastery. Unable to win through combat or logic, Kaladin uses a flute and the story of Derethil to break through Nale's rigid adherence to law, ultimately helping the Herald recognize the humanity he has lost and accept aid from Kaladin and Szeth.

Kaladin faces Nale in the monastery chamber. The Wind aids Kaladin by returning his practiced flute melody to him. When Kaladin attempts to play the flute instead of fighting with weapons, Nale brutally attacks him, crushing his wooden flute and draining all nearby Stormlight to prevent Kaladin from using it. Kaladin creates a new flute from Radiant mist and continues playing as the Wind amplifies his music throughout the monastery. Using the layered echoes of his practice, Kaladin tells Nale the story of Derethil and the Wandersail—a tale of an island where brutal laws were enforced without question, culminating in a tower with nothing inside. As Kaladin tells this story in rhythm with the music, he also confronts Nale about his past: how centuries ago Nale realized his mind was deteriorating and turned to absolute law as an external anchor to control himself. The overwhelming tide of music and Kaladin's questions force Nale to finally confront the truth—that Honor (Jezrien) is dead, Ishar is incapacitated, and he has become a broken shell who can no longer see right. Nale collapses to his knees, weeping and admitting he became a Herald to protect the weak, not to enforce mindless rules. Szeth offers Nale his hand, and Kaladin affirms they will help him. Nale's spren appears as a rift in the sky before vanishing. Syl and another spren (12124) stand nearby as witnesses.