84. The One You Can Save
Contains spoilersOverview
Kaladin and Elhokar reach the royal chambers, rescue Gavinor from tormenting spren, and confront Aesudan, who reveals a bond with Yelig-nar and orders an assault. In the ensuing melee, Kaladin freezes and Moash murders Elhokar as he begins the First Ideal. Meanwhile, Shallan dissolves Ashertmarn’s heart at the Oathgate and is warned by Sja-anat that the device is trapped and corrupted.
Summary
Kaladin leads soldiers up Kholinar Palace while Elhokar charges ahead. They reach the royal chambers to find Aesudan seemingly composed, humming. Syl scouts nearby troops and points Kaladin to a hidden alcove where Gavinor cowers, beset by red, horrorlike spren. Kaladin uses the Sylblade to destroy one, rescuing the child, while Aesudan boasts of ancient spren bonds and glowing red eyes.
Aesudan claims mastery over Yelig-nar and dismisses Ashertmarn as a harnessed force. Kaladin urges Elhokar to save the one he can—Gavinor—and they withdraw as Aesudan orders her soldiers to attack. The retreat drives them into a chaotic melee in the palace galleries as parshmen break in from the rear and Azure’s forces press from the Sunwalk.
Kaladin confronts parshmen he knows—Sah, Khen, and others—and his will to kill collapses. As battle lines disintegrate, he freezes, unable to strike either side. Casualties mount: Beard is slain, Sah dies to Noro, and Khen kills Noro. Elhokar, wounded but clutching Gavinor, begins speaking the First Ideal, starting to glow.
Moash emerges, spears Elhokar through the chest and eye, and ensures the nascent glow fades. The king dies and his Shardblade drops. Aesudan descends wreathed in black smoke, transformed by Yelig-nar with crystalline growths and a glowing chest gemstone. Drehy and Skar burst in with Stormlight, driving back enemies as Adolin drags a shattered Kaladin to safety; Gavinor is taken by a Queen’s Guardsman amid the chaos.
Concurrently, Shallan confronts the pulsing heart of Ashertmarn at the Oathgate. She withstands a storm of identities and, recalling Wit’s counsel, asserts herself; the heart collapses. Inside the control building, a shadowed figure appears in a mirror—Sja-anat—claiming not to be an enemy and warning the Oathgate spren have been touched, turning the device into a trap.
Who Appears
- Kaladin Stormblessed
Leads assault to the queen, rescues Gavinor, freezes in battle, and witnesses Moash kill Elhokar.
- Elhokar Kholin
Finds his son, begins the First Ideal, and is murdered by Moash during the melee.
- Aesudan Kholin
Reveals bond with Yelig-nar, orders the attack, and transforms with carapace-like crystal and a glowing heart.
- Shallan Davar
Disperses Ashertmarn’s heart at the Oathgate and meets Sja-anat, who warns of a corrupted trap.
- Moash
Arrives in battle and kills Elhokar, preventing the completion of the First Ideal.
- Sylphrena (Syl)
Scouts floors, becomes Kaladin’s Blade, and recoils after killing a red spren.
- Adolin Kholin
Urges haste at the Oathgate; later extracts Kaladin from the broken battle.
- Azure
Commands Wall Guard at Oathgate and palace; plans transfers and fights retreat as battle collapses.
- Sja-anat
Appears in a mirror, claims not to be an enemy, warns the Oathgate spren are corrupted.
- Pattern
Serves as Shallan’s Blade and key for the Oathgate control.
- Sah
Parshman friend recognized by Kaladin; fights and is slain by Noro.
- Noro
Lieutenant in Kaladin’s squad; kills Jali and then dies to Khen.
- Beard
Kaladin’s guardsman; is run through and dies during the chaotic melee.
- Khen
Parshwoman ally of Sah; kills Noro amid the chaos.
- Gavinor Kholin
Young prince found terrified; later carried off by a Queen’s Guardsman.
- Drehy
Arrives glowing with Skar, drives back foes to cover the retreat.
- Skar
Arrives with Drehy as a Radiant, sweeping enemies aside with Lashings.
- Yelig-nar
The ancient spren Aesudan claims and hosts, empowering her transformation.
- Ashertmarn
The Heart of the Revel; its growth over the Oathgate is dispersed by Shallan.