AFTERWORD

Chapter 101

85. Swallowed by the Sky

Overview

Dalinar fights Szeth, the assassin who killed Gavilar, as an Everstorm collides with a highstorm on the battlefield. After Dalinar is thrown into the sky, Kaladin arrives with newfound powers as a Windrunner, catching Dalinar mid-fall and confronting Szeth directly.

Summary

As two storms converge on the plateau—a highstorm and an Everstorm—Dalinar receives word of military victories but must evacuate his forces. Szeth appears and defeats Adolin in combat, then faces Dalinar. Though initially matching the assassin's speed, Dalinar eventually falls to Szeth's superior skill and is struck with a Lashing that hurls him skyward. Adolin strips his damaged armor and rallies bridgemen and soldiers, including Roion, to attack Szeth in a coordinated rush. Despite their efforts, Roion is killed when thrown into the sky. The assassin wounds several soldiers and wounds Dalinar again, Lashing him upward a second time. As Adolin despairs, a figure descends in a blazing column of Stormlight—Kaladin, transformed as a Windrunner with his eyes glowing brilliantly. He catches Dalinar mid-fall and confronts Szeth, claiming mastery over the sky and winds. Renarin, meanwhile, has been in the round chamber attempting to open the Oathgate; he becomes distressed, claiming to see the future and writing zeros on the wall while muttering that "we're dead."

Characters

  • DalinarHighprince who fights Szeth and is twice Lashed into the sky; seeks to protect his forces and redeem his failure to save Gavilar
  • SzethThe Assassin in White who defeats Dalinar and Roion, and repeatedly uses Lashings as a weapon
  • AdolinDalinar's son, severely wounded in armor by Szeth early on; rallies soldiers and bridgemen to attack the assassin and witnesses his father's fate
  • NavaniAppears briefly receiving orders to assist Shallan before the chaos intensifies
  • RoionHighprince who attempts to fight Szeth with a side sword and soldiers; is Lashed into the sky and falls to his death
  • PeetBridgeman who delivers news of the two approaching storms
  • CaelCommander of field command who reports Aladar's victory and receives orders to evacuate forces
  • AparaCael's wife; was composing a message about Aladar's plateau victory
  • KaladinArrives as a Windrunner glowing with Stormlight; catches Dalinar falling from the sky and confronts Szeth
  • ShallanWorks in the round chamber attempting to open the Oathgate; receives message that Navani will assist her
  • RenarinFalls to his knees in the round chamber claiming to see the future; writes zeros on the wall while stating "we're dead"
  • InadaraArdent in the round chamber attempting to decipher Dawnchant inscriptions with Shallan
  • PatternAppears to Shallan offering cryptic advice about perspective
  • SkarBridgeman who helps Adolin remove his armor during the battle
  • DrehyBridgeman who helps Adolin remove his armor during the battle
  • General KhalMentioned as approaching with a large strike force, though does not arrive in time