8. Knives in the Back • Soldiers on the Field

Dalinar attends a plateau run where Highprince Aladar battles the Parshendi, refusing to fight himself but instead observing and advising. Though Dalinar's tactical counsel proves invaluable and wins the day, Aladar remains unmoved by Dalinar's vision of unified Alethi forces, fearing the other highprinces cannot be trusted. Upon returning to his bunker, Dalinar receives a mysterious letter from an old friend who may offer solutions to his kingdom's challenges.

Dalinar rides to a plateau run commanded by Aladar, having decided to let his son Adolin lead battlefield operations while he focuses on persuasion and change rather than direct combat. He notes the waste of the plateau runs—soldiers treated as expendable resources to feed greed for gemhearts rather than serve any genuine military purpose. When Aladar challenges Dalinar's authority and dismisses his vision of unity, citing Gavilar's violent methods, Dalinar realizes he lacks his brother's gift for words and persuasion. During the battle, Dalinar correctly predicts the Parshendi's tactical withdrawal and advises Aladar accordingly, leading to a decisive victory. However, Dalinar observes a Parshendi Shardbearer watching from a distance without engaging—a troubling sign that suggests enemy tactics are more sophisticated than he understood. Though Aladar grudgingly thanks Dalinar for the tactical advice, he refuses to commit to Dalinar's vision of kingdom unity, fearing betrayal by the other highprinces. Returning to his bunker, Dalinar reflects on the strange glyphs that foretold sixty-two days remaining before some unknown crisis. A letter arrives from an old friend, promising potential solutions to Dalinar's pressing problems.