87. The Riddens

Kaladin discovers that Szeth's sword is an Honorblade rather than a Shardblade, reunites with Bridge Four who have survived on the Shattered Plains, and learns that Rlain has been revealed as Parshendi and pardoned by Dalinar. The group uses an Oathgate to reach Urithiru, an ancient tower city in the mountains, where Shallan is confirmed as a nascent Knight Radiant. Meanwhile, the Lopen discovers he can absorb Stormlight and begins regenerating his lost arm, and Moash flees the warcamps with Graves, having been manipulated into attempting to assassinate the king.

Kaladin surveys the destruction wrought by the everstorm and encounters Syl, who explains that Szeth's sword is an Honorblade—one of the legendary weapons given by Honor to the original Heralds, not a dead spren like normal Shardblades. These weapons grant Windrunner powers without requiring a spren bond but consume enormous amounts of Stormlight. Kaladin crosses the Shattered Plains and reunites with Bridge Four, discovering that Rlain, who had been serving as a spy among them, has been revealed as Parshendi and pardoned by Brightlord Dalinar. The group brings Kaladin to a hidden structure containing an Oathgate, a fabrial that can transport people between distant locations. Bridge Four and others have already used it to evacuate to Urithiru, an ancient tower city built in the heart of the mountains. Kaladin joins them in ascending through the Oathgate. At Urithiru, Shallan stands before the massive tower city, learning from Pattern that she is nearly a full Knight Radiant of the Lightweavers order, requiring only to speak certain truths to complete her transformation. She has become the key to operating the Oathgates, making her indispensable for the trapped army. Dalinar reports that the king has vanished and Kholinar is in riot. Messages are sent warning that the everstorm will strike the eastern coast and potentially circle the world. When Kaladin arrives, he reveals that he hid King Elhokar in the Herdazian quarter of the warcamps, specifically with the Lopen's family. At the Lopen's hovel, Elhokar recovers under the stern care of the Lopen's mother. The Lopen practices absorbing Stormlight from spheres and finally succeeds, his skin glowing and his body beginning to regenerate the arm he lost years ago. Meanwhile, Moash travels by cart away from the warcamps with Graves, a mysterious figure who has posed as an assassin's handler. Graves reveals that Moash has been used to further objectives outlined in something called the Diagram, and that the plan to remove Elhokar was meant to make Dalinar an ally. Graves hints at knowledge of parshmen being Voidbringers and references Jasnah Kholin. Graves tells Moash that they have been instructed to pursue their own goals until "called up," and that bringing back a Shardbearer (Moash) is some compensation for the failed assassination. Graves speaks mysteriously of serving "the salvation of the entire world."