115. The Wrong Passion
Contains spoilersOverview
Under the Everstorm, the enemy lands at Thaylen City as thunderclasts awaken and Odium personally arrives. He weaponizes the Thrill, corrupting Amaram’s Alethi into attackers, while Urithiru is breached via the Kholinar Oathgate. Jasnah confronts Renarin’s corrupted spren, and in Shadesmar the enemy spren withdraw, offering Kaladin’s team a slim chance.
Summary
Dalinar watches the Everstorm halt over Thaylen Bay as enemy ships sail within its shadow and Fused launch into the sky. Recognizing how thoroughly the enemy has planned, he reflects on Cultivation’s pruning and asks himself the most important step a man can take before taking up The Way of Kings and heading into the city.
In Shadesmar near the Thaylen Oathgate, Kaladin, Shallan, Adolin, Syl, and Pattern find the platform guarded by six Fused and a host of uncanny spren. Low on Stormlight and options, they debate using distractions and illusions, though Shallan doubts the plan and Adolin worries they cannot return or find another route.
Jasnah, concluding Thaylen City is effectively lost, prioritizes saving Dalinar and organizing evacuations. She pursues a suspected traitor and discovers Renarin kneeling in a temple with a red, crystalline spren unlike a Truthwatcher’s; she summons Ivory as a Shardblade.
Venli disembarks with frightened, untrained singers and interprets for the Fused Turash, who urges vengeance and strength. Ghostly Fused spirits gather; Odium manifests an impression of himself, and thunderclasts awaken—stone colossi tearing free of the ground. On Thaylen’s wall, Navani and Queen Fen witness the first thunderclast rise amid Amaram’s forming lines.
Teft, hiding in shame at Urithiru, stumbles onto a balcony and sees marbled-skinned enemies flooding in through the Kholinar Oathgate, revealing the tower is under attack. Meanwhile, in Shadesmar, the largest red spren and many others vanish, prompting Kaladin to propose a risky distraction while Shallan rushes the Oathgate.
Odium tells Turash the singers are only here to watch; his true army is human. He draws forth the Thrill as a red mist, which drives Amaram’s Alethi into bloodlust and invites bonding by dark spren—turning eyes red and turning the army against Thaylen City, led by a Shardbearer in gleaming Plate.
Who Appears
- Odium
Manifests to oversee the battle, awakens thunderclasts, and weaponizes the Thrill to turn Amaram’s army.
- Venli
Interpreter among frightened singers; works with the Fused, senses Timbre, witnesses Odium and thunderclasts.
- Dalinar Kholin
Observes the enemy’s arrival, reflects on Cultivation’s pruning, resolves to act with The Way of Kings.
- Turash
A Fused who directs Venli to translate and reports singer weakness; addressed by Odium.
- Navani Kholin
Coordinates with Queen Fen on Thaylen’s wall; assesses tactics; sees a thunderclast rise.
- Amaram
Leads Sadeas’s Alethi; his troops succumb to the Thrill and turn against Thaylen City.
- The Thrill
A red, mistlike spren Odium unleashes to inflame bloodlust and enable corrupt spren bonds.
- Kaladin Stormblessed
In Shadesmar, scouts the guarded Oathgate; proposes a distraction when enemy spren withdraw.
- Shallan Davar
Exhausted in Shadesmar; doubts their options; may use illusions to reach the Oathgate.
- Adolin Kholin
Stands with Kaladin and Shallan; worries about the vanished spren army’s destination.
- Jasnah Kholin
Deems Thaylen lost, arranges evacuations, confronts Renarin’s strange spren, and summons Ivory.
- Renarin Kholin
Found kneeling in a temple with a red, crystalline spren unlike a Truthwatcher’s.
- Teft
Racked by shame in Urithiru; witnesses enemies pouring in through the Kholinar Oathgate.
- Queen Fen
Thaylen ruler on the wall; oversees defenses as the thunderclast emerges.
- Sylphrena
Advises Kaladin in Shadesmar, urging perseverance despite dwindling Stormlight.
- Pattern
Comforts Shallan and accompanies the team near the Thaylen Oathgate.
- Ivory
Jasnah’s spren; affirms a traitor exists and becomes a Shardblade.
- General Khal
Alethi officer in Thaylen City, calling for reinforcements from Urithiru.
- Kmakl
Queen Fen’s consort; supports Navani’s tactical assessment of the battle.