26. Stillness
Contains spoilersOverview
Shaken by readings from The Way of Kings and failed alliances, Dalinar nevertheless leads a plateau assault for a chasmfiend gemheart. Sadeas joins under his investigative writ, needling Dalinar throughout. Dalinar and Adolin secure victory, but Dalinar’s Thrill curdles into revulsion. He authorizes a test bridge crew and later spots a Parshendi Shardbearer observing.
Summary
Litima reads The Way of Kings to Dalinar, whose comfort in the text falters as he questions his visions and recent failures to ally with Aladar and Roion. Renarin bluntly raises Adolin’s fears about Sadeas. Horns announce a chasmfiend; Dalinar chooses to march, pushing aside doubts.
In the war room, Teleb briefs the route while Kalami records. Dalinar arms in Shardplate, agrees to let Teleb recruit a single man-carried bridge crew as a test, and reconciles with Adolin. A messenger brings Sadeas, who invokes the king’s writ to accompany them. The army sets out with chull-drawn siege bridges.
Progress slows at chasms. Sadeas interviews soldiers, then rides beside Dalinar, prodding about loyalty, the Thrill, and the Radiants; Dalinar defends restraint but loses his temper and pulls away to focus on the coming fight. The column reaches the contested plateau.
After ten heartbeats, Dalinar and Adolin summon Shardblades, leap the chasm under arrow fire, and carve into the Parshendi line. Dalinar taunts by kicking corpses, drawing attackers, until a sudden wave of revulsion breaks the Thrill; Adolin covers him while he regains control. Bridges drop, cavalry charges, and Dalinar remounts to finish the rout.
They win. Adolin harvests the gemheart as surgeons tend the wounded. Dalinar, exhausted and unsettled by his moment of horror, surveys the field. On a nearby plateau, a Parshendi force—with a Shardbearer in glittering Plate—arrives only to observe before retreating, leaving Dalinar with renewed questions about his path and enemies.
Who Appears
- Dalinar Kholin
Highprince; doubts his visions, leads a plateau run, authorizes a test bridge crew, wins the gemheart, experiences revulsion at the Thrill.
- Adolin Kholin
Reconciles with Dalinar, fights brilliantly beside him, protects during Dalinar’s lapse, and expertly harvests the gemheart.
- Torol Sadeas
Highprince of Information; joins under his writ, interviews soldiers, taunts Dalinar, disparages Radiants, observes battle from safety.
- Teleb
Highofficer; briefs routes, urges portable bridges, receives permission to recruit and train one bridge crew.
- Unnamed Parshendi Shardbearer
Armored Parshendi commander who appears after the battle to observe the field, then withdraws.
- Ilamar
Cavalrylord; leads the mounted charge across the bridges during the assault.
- Renarin Kholin
Dalinar’s younger son; quietly raises concerns about Sadeas and accompanies preparations.
- Havarah
Bridgelord; reports First Bridge Squad readiness for the march.
- Perethom
Infantrylord; organizes battalions and staging for the march.
- Litima
Scribe; reads The Way of Kings passage that frames Dalinar’s doubts.
- Kalami
Historian; records the war meeting and preparations for her chronicle.
- Moratel
Junior lighteyes who formally escorts Sadeas into the warcamp.
- Malasha
Adolin’s courting partner; briefly appears, denied permission to accompany the assault.