78. Contradictions

Shallan sketches during the Weeping and reflects on capturing contradictions in her art. Dalinar discovers her Radiant powers when she demonstrates Soulcasting, and she extracts his promise of secrecy. A scout reports Parshendi activity; when Dalinar investigates a corpse, Shallan identifies it as a Voidbringer by its red eyes, confirming ancient legends. A second living Parshendi is found sitting peacefully on a rock—and the soldiers recognize him as Shen, a bridgeman who vanished months ago, now seeking to surrender.

Shallan sits in her pavilion during the Weeping, sketching a memory of Jasnah that captures her contradictions. Pattern observes that creationspren serve no purpose, only observation. Shallan reflects on how human perception is colored by personal experience, making objective truth elusive. Dalinar enters and questions Shallan about her claim that Jasnah discovered Knights Radiant secrets. Troubled that he may have been arrogant in naming Amaram to refound the order, Dalinar wonders if his actual task was to gather existing Radiants rather than create new ones. Shallan, feeling the weight of secret knowledge, decides Dalinar is trustworthy enough to reveal the truth. She drains a sphere and exhales Stormlight, forming an illusion of Jasnah above her palm. Dalinar is deeply moved, tears forming as he realizes the Knights Radiant are truly returning. He moves to put her in charge of them, but Shallan refuses, arguing her abilities are more useful in secret. A wet messenger interrupts with news of Parshendi scouting parties. Dalinar and Shallan rush into the rain with guards; Shallan reveals she likely survived the chasm fall and rescued Kaladin through her Radiant abilities. Dalinar orders her sent back to the warcamps, but Shallan asserts she answers to no authority but her own and will continue seeking Urithiru. Dalinar relents, promising secrecy about her powers. They reach the body of a dead Parshendi—distinctly different from previously encountered types, with carapace ridges, slick hair, and burn marks on the body. When Shallan examines the creature's eye, she finds it entirely red, shocking her into screaming. She identifies it as a Voidbringer, confirming references from Jasnah's notebooks. Before Dalinar can respond fully, Teleb reports another Parshendi found alive, sitting calmly on a rock. The group crosses a bridge to investigate. The Parshendi stands and calls out names—Skar and Leyten—recognizable to nearby bridgemen. Skar rushes forward and confirms with shock that the Parshendi is Shen, a bridgeman who vanished months ago, now apparently seeking to surrender.