80. To Fight the Rain

Shallan leads a scouting party to confirm the existence of an ancient city buried beneath the Shattered Plains, while the Alethi army debates strategy against the Parshendi. Meanwhile, at the warcamps, Kaladin struggles with his injuries and loss of powers as King Elhokar visits him, seeking validation and confessing his insecurities about his leadership.

Shallan, wearing a stolen stormcoat, climbs to a high vantage point during the Weeping with Gaz and Vathah to observe the inner Shattered Plains. She spots the city Narak—an ancient settlement buried under centuries of accumulated crem—confirming what Jasnah had theorized. Dalinar has ordered a secure perimeter due to Parshendi patrols, and Bridge Four members urge Shallan to return. She rejoins the army and attends a war council where the highprinces debate whether to remain on their current defensible plateau or press deeper toward the city. Roion initially advocates for defensive positioning, but warns that the Parshendi could simply stall until highstorms return. Shallan argues they must advance to prevent being outwaited. Dalinar decides to press forward the next day, threatening the city to force engagement. He privately tells Shallan that she is his backup plan—if the army is overwhelmed, she must activate the Oathgate portal to allow retreat.

In a parallel scene, Kaladin limps through the near-empty warcamps during the Weeping, forcing himself to move despite his injuries and the loss of Syl. He reflects on Tien's death and refuses to surrender to despair. King Elhokar arrives unannounced at Bridge Four's barracks, visibly drinking but not drunk. The king dismisses his guards and confides in Kaladin about his inadequacy as a ruler, asking how Kaladin knows how to be a hero. When pressed, Kaladin bluntly states that Elhokar is a bad king and suggests he step down. The king reveals he has been seeing shadows in mirrors and that their presence ceased when Kaladin arrived, implying Kaladin possesses something unusual. Elhokar apologizes for his earlier hostility toward Kaladin, admits his jealousy and failures of leadership, and leaves, resigned to his own inadequacy.