75. True Glory

Kaladin miraculously returns from the chasms with Shallan and a chasmfiend gemheart, just as Dalinar prepares to lead an expedition to find the Parshendi. Dalinar insists on taking Shallan with him to map the Shattered Plains, despite Navani's objections, and Shallan reveals that Jasnah believed the parshmen are dangerous and should be left behind.

Dalinar inspects supply preparations for his expedition while Amaram urges him to reconcile with Sadeas. When a chrysalis alert arrives, Dalinar cancels the plateau run, knowing it will interfere with his plans. Amaram warns that Dalinar's refusal to compromise with Sadeas and his apparent madness in planning to wander the Plains searching for the Parshendi undermines his authority. Before Dalinar can respond, a messenger announces that Kaladin has emerged from the chasms. Dalinar rushes to find Kaladin exhausted but alive, along with Shallan, both claiming they sheltered in a dead chasmfiend during the highstorm and recovered its gemheart. Though Shallan's account seems more plausible than Kaladin's hesitant explanation, Dalinar accepts the gemheart. Kaladin tells Dalinar that Shallan discovered something important he must know before setting out. Navani immediately takes Shallan under her care, bathing and clothing her. While alone, Shallan learns from Pattern that all Cryptics bonded to Knights Radiant were killed during the Recreance, leaving Pattern's kind severely diminished and convinced they will inevitably be betrayed again. Shallan realizes she must progress further to become a true Radiant capable of opening an Oathgate. Adolin arrives and embraces Shallan passionately, but when he offers to protect her and ensure she is never hurt, she recoils, insisting she will not be locked away again. In his study, Dalinar requests that Shallan expand her map of the chasms to cover the entire Shattered Plains. Shallan agrees and requests passage on the expedition, claiming Jasnah had discovered ancient ruins there. When Dalinar hesitates, she makes an additional request: that he leave all parshmen behind, citing Jasnah's belief that they are dangerous on the Plains. Dalinar agrees to both terms and orders the expedition to depart within the hour without parshmen.