Chapter 97
81. The Last Day
Overview
The Alethi army faces the Parshendi Voidbringers in a climactic battle on the Shattered Plains. Dalinar rallies his troops with speeches about preventing another Desolation, while Shallan works to find the Oathgate on a map of the center plateau, and Kaladin struggles with his lost powers and a moral dilemma in the camp. The Parshendi begin singing an unknown song and unleash red lightning as an unnatural storm builds.
Summary
Dalinar leads his assembled armies to the heart of the Shattered Plains, where they encounter thousands of Parshendi with glowing red eyes positioned on three surrounding plateaus. Despite his uncertainty, Dalinar delivers rousing speeches to his officers and soldiers, framing the battle as a defense against Voidbringers and a chance for greatness. He sends Shallan on a mission to find the Oathgate, possibly in the central plateau. When the Parshendi begin singing an unfamiliar, destructive song, Rlain warns that it must be stopped, and Dalinar orders an immediate attack across multiple fronts. Adolin charges onto the southern plateau and witnesses strange red lightning striking down soldiers and killing his horse Sureblood, but his Shardplate protects him from the bolts. Though the Parshendi lightning is unpredictable, Alethi forces begin pushing back. Meanwhile, Shallan continues drawing a comprehensive map of the Shattered Plains in the command tent, working with scholars and scouts. When a scout corrects one of her plateau drawings, she realizes the central plateau's unusual circular shape breaks the pattern she'd identified—possibly a clue to finding the Oathgate. Kaladin, in the rear camp, practices spear forms in a flooded training ground and confronts his loss of Stormlight powers, remembering his brother Tien's death and recognizing a parallel in the king's plight. As the battle intensifies, Dalinar coordinates reinforcements across multiple flanks and notes that the remaining Parshendi are not attacking, suggesting their singing is a greater priority. At the chapter's end, Dalinar hears a familiar voice—the Almighty—speak to him directly, saying 'I am sorry that you have to die this way.'
Characters
- DalinarSupreme commander orchestrating the battle; delivers speeches to rally troops and coordinates attacks across multiple fronts; hears the voice of the Almighty at the chapter's end
- NavaniAssists with fabrials and contraptions to aid in the battle; coordinates with Dalinar on strategy
- ShallanDraws a comprehensive map of the Shattered Plains while researching the location of the Oathgate; receives a scout's correction about the central plateau's circular shape
- AdolinLeads the charge onto the southern plateau; loses his horse Sureblood to red lightning but continues fighting and rallies troops to maintain their lines
- KaladinStruggles with the loss of his Stormlight powers in the rear camp; practices spear forms and grapples with a moral dilemma about the king
- RoionHighprince commanding troops on the northern flank; receives encouragement from Dalinar before the battle
- AladarHighprince whose army engages the Parshendi; initially questioned Dalinar's strategy but is convinced and fights on the eastern flank
- SebarialHighprince whose troops remain in reserve under Teleb's command; stays in the command tent rather than fighting
- RlainParshendi bridgeman who warns that the Parshendi song must be stopped at all costs
- RenarinWears Shardplate and is ordered to protect scholars on their mission to find the Oathgate
- ZahelArdent encountered by Kaladin; discusses the flooded training grounds and offers cryptic advice about moral choices
- General KhalCoordinates troop movements and reinforcements during the battle
- PatternShallan's spren; warns of danger and defends himself against accusations of being a Voidspren
- InadaraSevere scholar leading the expedition to find the Oathgate in the central plateau
- LynScout who reports on the center plateau and sketches its layout for Shallan
- Skar and DrehyBridgemen serving as Adolin's guards during the battle