Chapter 242

Nale and Ishar learn that the Stormfather is dead and Retribution—a new entity formed from Honor and Odium combined—now threatens to consume and remake all spren. The Stormfather's Wind suggests reforging the Oathpact with the ten Heralds to bind Retribution's power and protect the spren. Kaladin, recovering from his confrontation with Retribution, volunteers to become the tenth Herald, replacing the deceased Jezrien, and speaks Words that complete the circle.

Nale discovers Ishar staring at the sky in horror as both sense the Stormfather's death and the emergence of Retribution, a Shard that will consume and remake all spren unless stopped. The Stormfather's Wind proposes a solution: a ring of ten Heralds bearing Honor's power could bind Retribution through an Oathpact, similar to how the original Heralds once bound Odium. Ishar, despite his centuries of fog and confusion, suddenly sees clearly and realizes this is their only option. The Wind suggests a way to protect their minds from torture between Returns by placing them in visions similar to those the Stormfather created. As a terrible storm rises in the east—the Night of Sorrows and True Desolation—Kaladin pushes himself up from near death, his hand severely damaged. He learns that Dalinar is dead, the Stormfather is gone, and Cultivation has fled. Kaladin recognizes that the people need hope and volunteers to replace Jezrien as the tenth Herald despite Nale's warnings about centuries of potential torture and separation from everyone he loves. Kaladin refuses because Szeth, who is unconscious and cannot speak the necessary Words, needs peace rather than war. Kaladin retrieves his deep blue cloak from his pack and walks to the ring of nine Honorblades. He speaks Words of his own—"I accept this journey"—which Syl confirms rather than the traditional Herald oath. Together, Kaladin and Syl create a silvery spear of pure Honor that fills the empty tenth slot in the ring. The other eight Heralds—Taln, Ash, Kakak, and five others whose names Kaladin does not know—materialize and take their places, reforging the Oathpact. Kaladin becomes enveloped in light and gloryspren, his eyes returning to their natural dark brown color. Ishar announces that he must now make Kaladin immortal and that they must leave the world.