Chapter 41

Lift witnesses Dalinar and Navani opening a perpendicularity and is nearly pulled into the rift herself; Wit saves her but Gavinor is swept into the Spiritual Realm along with Dalinar and Navani. With only eight days until Dalinar's contracted duel with Odium, his absence threatens catastrophic consequences. Meanwhile, Kaladin attempts to bond with Szeth in Shinovar and encounters the Herald Ishar, who is partially lucid but delusional, believing himself a god. Lopen investigates the explosion site in Shadesmar and concludes the missing parties have escaped into another realm.

Lift hides in air shafts near Dalinar and Navani as they open a perpendicularity, mesmerized by a vision of her mother. Gavinor sneaks in behind her seeking guidance on when to disobey authority. When the perpendicularity activates, both children are pulled toward the rift. Wit appears and saves Lift from being drawn in, but Gavinor vanishes into the light. Wit confirms Dalinar and Navani have entered the Spiritual Realm with their bodies, along with Gavinor. Using Design, Wit scans Shadesmar and finds only destruction and one corpse (Malwish). With eight days until Dalinar must face Odium in their contract, his failure to appear would constitute breaking his oath, liberating Odium entirely from the constraints binding him to the planet. Wit advises lying to prevent tower-wide panic.

In Shinovar, Kaladin struggles to cook stew for Szeth and practice the flute Wit taught him. After repeated failures, he confronts Szeth about accepting help, but Szeth insists his suffering is deserved punishment and refuses. Syl reminds Kaladin of his successes with Bridge Four. When Szeth unexpectedly praises the stew and gazes at the darkened landscape, he admits he loves his people despite his exile and fears they have vanished. Kaladin promises to help and suggests visiting Szeth's family homestead. Later, the Wind speaks to Kaladin through the flute music, warning that Odium has changed and that Honor's remnant must be preserved. Ishar suddenly appears on the hillside. The Herald is partially lucid following Navani's Bondsmiths revelation, now calling himself by his true name rather than Tezim. He views Kaladin as insignificant but notices his Connections to Dalinar and Szeth. Ishar claims to bear the collected darkness of all other Heralds through the Oathpact and calls himself a god. When Kaladin attempts to discuss Ishar's mental state, the Herald refuses to listen further, demanding Kaladin prove his worth by aiding Szeth's mysterious task before granting another audience.

Lopen and his team investigate the explosion site in Shadesmar, finding the chamber destroyed and one corpse that is not one of their companions. Lopen reasons they either escaped or entered another realm, and decides not to alert the tower given that reporting would serve no purpose. He notes Navani's unusual indifference to the disaster, suggesting she may have anticipated the outcome. Rua indicates the missing parties may have entered the divine realm where gods dwell.