Chapter 76

Dalinar experiences a vision of the Heralds in their earliest era, discovering they lack written language and learning of Ishar's secret long-term plans. Meanwhile, Venli communes with the chasmfiends and uncovers mysterious power sources beneath the Shattered Plains, while Navani speaks with the Wind spren in the vision. Dalinar seizes a debt-marked stone from Jezrien to create a Connection to Nale, an ancient Herald.

Dalinar enters a dugout where Jezrien, Ishar, Vedel, and Chana debate their next move against threats to humanity. When Dalinar questions them about hidden plans, Ishar cryptically refuses to explain his ideas, citing timescales that only gods can manage. Vedel creates lattices of light that resemble Bondsmiths' work. Shalash arrives, frustrated at being treated like a child despite her sixty years of immortal life, and insists on joining them eastward. As the vision destabilizes, Dalinar realizes the Heralds have no writing system.

In a parallel sequence, Thude sings to the chasmfiends, revealing through their perspective how they initially treated humans as rivals in a dominance contest, only later realizing humans were harvesting their young. Eventually, a group of chasmfiends negotiates a truce with Venli's people, offering alliance. Venli questions why chasmfiends must pupate at the Shattered Plains and, probing a chasmfiend's mind, discovers the Plains are saturated with mysterious songs and power sources—connections to something far deeper than the Oathgate and abandoned Shardblades.

Navani speaks with the Wind spren while comforting her grandson Gav, learning that if Dalinar attempts to become Honor, it will cause him pain but might help his cause. The Wind reveals it seeks its own champion blessed by the storm.

As the vision collapses, Dalinar notices Jezrien holds a stone disc marked with a debt-glyph that Nale (an absent Herald) gave him. Dalinar snatches the disc despite Chana's attempt to stop him, sensing it contains a powerful Connection. He grabs Navani and Gav, using the stone as an anchor to escape the unraveling vision.