32. The One Who Hates

Kaladin awakens from a disturbing dream about the Stormfather warning of a coming threat. After Syl alerts him to danger during the highstorm, he convinces Dalinar to evacuate the king from the palace. They discover the Assassin in White—a Surgebinder—has infiltrated the corridors, killing guards and pursuing the king. Kaladin, Dalinar, and Adolin attempt to stop him, but the assassin defeats them, severing Kaladin's arm below the elbow with his Shardblade before pursuing Dalinar further into the palace.

Kaladin falls asleep during guard duty at the Pinnacle and dreams of being the storm itself, confronted by the Stormfather who warns him of a coming threat and accuses him of being a traitor who will betray and kill Syl. The Stormfather mentions another storm of red lightning approaching. Kaladin wakes abruptly in the conference chamber where Adolin and Renarin discuss an upcoming meeting with a Parshendi messenger. Kaladin senses something is wrong and steps onto the balcony into the dying highstorm, where Syl appears and confirms his fears: "the one who hates" is coming. Kaladin urgently orders an evacuation, and Dalinar immediately trusts his judgment, agreeing to leave despite the king's protests and Adolin's skepticism. As they flee through the palace corridors toward the kitchens, they discover the lights have been drained and encounter a body—one of their scouts. The Assassin in White emerges from a side corridor, revealed to be a Surgebinder bearing a Shardblade. Dalinar and Adolin charge him with Kaladin, but the assassin moves with superhuman speed, running on walls and ceilings. He defeats Adolin by throwing him into the ceiling, strikes Dalinar across the face, and overwhelms Kaladin despite his Windrunning abilities. In the climactic exchange, the assassin severs Kaladin's right arm below the elbow with his Shardblade, leaving it lifeless and grey. Syl reveals the assassin is not guided by a spren. Dalinar intercepts the assassin's next attack, catching the Shardblade in his hands, and Kaladin charges to help, pushing both the assassin and Dalinar through the cut opening in the corridor wall into open air.