AFTERWORD

Chapter 27

Chapter 31

Overview

This chapter alternates between two critical scenes: Shallan and her team execute an infiltration of a Ghostblood safehouse by capturing and impersonating a guard, while Navani manages the administrative chaos of Urithiru and learns that Dalinar is contemplating ascending to become a Shard. Both storylines involve high stakes and difficult decisions about power and leadership.

Summary

Shallan, Radiant, and their team position themselves outside the Ghostblood hideout in the military camp during rainfall. When guards order them to leave, they devise a new plan: Shallan will impersonate the masked guard to infiltrate the base. She attacks the guard and uses her Radiant powers to freeze her in armor, then neutralizes her through suffocation with Gaz's help. After stripping and binding the unconscious woman, Shallan dons the guard's clothing and mask, copying her stance and bearing. When Aika and Jezinor arrive, Shallan successfully impersonates the guard by checking them with her hands and the black sand detection jar, then slips into the safehouse undetected.

Meanwhile, Navani addresses numerous administrative crises in Urithiru—housing, food distribution, supply chains, and the unrest among lighteyes over Jasnah's emancipation of slaves. The Sibling warns her that an uncontrolled Shard power is dangerous, hinting at Dalinar's ambitions. Navani meets with scholars including Rushu, who has made progress on a fabrial experiment involving domesticated flamespren trained to enter and exit devices willingly. The Sibling initially objects to this as enslavement but eventually agrees it represents a compassionate compromise. Rushu gains direct contact with the Sibling, asking personal questions about its nature. Navani realizes her conversation with Dalinar about becoming a Shard is ending, portending significant consequences ahead.

Characters

  • RadiantShallan's warrior persona who leads the initial team infiltration and engages in physical combat with the guard
  • ShallanPrimary protagonist who impersonates the masked guard and infiltrates the Ghostblood safehouse; switches between her various personas (Radiant, Veil, Shallan)
  • RedTeam member who helps Shallan set up the pavilion disguise and assists in capturing and undressing the guard
  • GazTeam member who performs as foreman, helps move the captive into the cart, and executes the choke hold on the guard
  • ShadeGhostblood sergeant with Horneater blood who orders the team away from the hideout
  • Masked guardGhostblood operative at the safehouse who is captured and impersonated by Shallan
  • AikaThaylen trader and Ghostblood member who arrives at the safehouse meeting
  • JezinorThaylen trader and Ghostblood member who arrives at the safehouse meeting
  • DarciraTeam member who helps position the strike team and reports to Shallan
  • PatternShallan's spren companion who translates the guard's conversation and waits behind during infiltration
  • NavaniQueen managing administrative crises in Urithiru; learns of Dalinar's plans to ascend to become a Shard
  • DalinarMentioned as meeting with the Stormfather to discuss becoming a Shard/ascending to Honor
  • StormfatherSpren entity meeting with Dalinar; Navani aware of the conversation
  • SiblingTower spren communicating with Navani about Dalinar's aspirations and the spren fabrial experiment
  • SebarialHighprince of Commerce who meets with Navani about supply logistics and funding challenges
  • PalonaSebarial's companion who presents ledgers and discusses provisioning issues
  • Highprince AladarLighteyed leader expressing concerns about Jasnah's emancipation policies and societal upheaval
  • RushuArdent scholar who presents progress on domesticated flamespren fabrials and converses with the Sibling
  • BippyIndividual flamespren being domesticated for use in fabrials; responds to names and compliments