29. No Backing Down
Contains spoilersOverview
Veil’s surveillance finally springs a lead as a new murder imitates a public hanging, revealing a predator in Urithiru. Chasing it, Shallan discovers a hidden shaft and summons Adolin and Bridge Four. They descend past ruined Radiant-era libraries and confront Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother. Using Lightweaving, Shallan forces a path and ultimately touches the Unmade’s core.
Summary
Veil patrols the bustling Breakaway market, convinced the unseen predator will strike. When a fresh killing imitates a recent execution—victim hanged from a high outcropping—she chases a shadowy figure into little-used tunnels. Pattern detects wrong shadows, and the quarry squeezes through a hole into a hidden chamber dominated by a spiraling pit. Shallan restrains herself, sends Pattern for Adolin, and switches personas back to Shallan.
Adolin arrives in Shardplate with Bridge Four, including Renarin and scout Lyn. They descend the pit into ancient corridors lined with Herald and spren mosaics. Two sealed rooms are forced open, revealing long-ruined libraries—Jasnah’s hoped-for trove turned to dust. Renarin senses an ancient wrongness deeper ahead; a glistening darkness approaches.
From the black mass, midnight figures split off, imitating the living—Bridge Four, lighteyes, even Shardbearers—then attack with bladed teeth. Teft forms lines and orders a controlled retreat while Adolin and Renarin hold the front. Shallan realizes the enemy is learning through imitation and pushes forward; her Lightwoven cohort of people from the tower intimidates the creatures enough to open a path.
At a bowl-like chamber, the darkness coils around a central pillar. Renarin names the foe: Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother, one of the Unmade. Adolin cites the need to know the enemy and fight without backing down. Shallan sends illusions to probe while Bridge Four carves a corridor toward the pillar. As the monsters shed human semblance for bestial forms, Renarin heals and guards Adolin’s back.
Shallan multiplies herself in Light—versions young and old, confident and afraid—then focuses on the true aim. With Bridge Four holding a narrow path, she steps to the heaving, face-studded mass coating the pillar, drops her glove, and presses her safehand to Re-Shephir.
Who Appears
- Shallan Davar
As Veil hunts a mimic killer, discovers a hidden shaft, leads descent, wields Lightweaving, and presses her safehand to Re‑Shephir.
- Adolin Kholin
Arrives in Shardplate with Bridge Four, sets tactics and retreat plan, fights midnight spawn, clears a path for Shallan.
- Renarin Kholin
Senses ancient wrongness, names Re‑Shephir, heals wounded bridgemen with Stormlight, guards Adolin’s back in the melee.
- Pattern
Warns of wrong shadows, retrieves Adolin, identifies the danger as ancient and of the enemy, delights in Shallan’s illusions.
- Teft
Bridge Four sergeant; forms defensive lines, manages disciplined retreat, coordinates spears, commands Renarin back to formation.
- Lyn
Kholin scout; notes prior scouting routes, helps map the descent, treats wounded, spots the advancing darkness.
- Drehy
Bridgeman spear-fighter; helps breach doors, fights on the line, first to skewer a midnight figure near Shallan.
- Lopen
Bridgeman; quips, aids bandaging, fights in formation, optimistic about Surgebinding returning with Kaladin.
- Rock (Numuhukumakiaki'aialunamor)
Bridgeman; fights beside comrades, banters about weirdness during the descent and battle.
- Skar
Bridgeman; trades jibes with Eth, stands in the spear line against the midnight creatures.
- Eth
Bridgeman; jokes with Skar, helps hold the formation against the tar-born copies.
- Vathah
Leads Shallan’s watchers; reports the hanging murder and helps initiate the pursuit into the tunnels.
- Glurv
Vathah’s man; tails the killer, directs Veil toward the eastern tunnels during the chase.
- Gaz
On tavern surveillance; reports no incidents before the hanging triggers the chase.
- Red
On surveillance with Gaz; flirts with Veil, watches identified lookalikes of the earlier victim.
- Re-Shephir, the Midnight Mother
An Unmade; a living darkness spawning imitative ‘midnight’ figures, coiled around a pillar Shallan ultimately touches.