38. The Silent Storm
Contains spoilersOverview
Shallan confirms Jasnah’s death to Dalinar and Navani, then deftly inserts herself into Alethi politics. Before the assembled highprinces, she rejects Dalinar’s oversight by publicly aligning with Sebarial. Dalinar announces a decisive shift: pursue Parshendi peace—or march directly to their hidden camp—after a new peace overture coincides with another assassination. Shallan also secures royal pardons for her deserters.
Summary
Shallan delivers Jasnah’s effects to Dalinar and Navani and recounts the assassination aboard the ship, omitting her Surgebinding and claiming she set the vessel ablaze to sow chaos. Navani, grieving, lashes out at Shallan for condemning Jasnah to the sea, but Dalinar steadies her and thanks Shallan for the truth.
Shallan reports the deserter soldiers who saved her caravan and requests clemency. Dalinar agrees to seek pardons. Adolin greets Shallan; Dalinar privately questions her motives. Shallan frankly admits her family’s poverty, cites Jasnah’s endorsement, and Dalinar maintains the causal while offering her a lesser clerk position—charity that Shallan recognizes would be constraining.
The warcamp council reconvenes. Factions crystallize: Dalinar and Elhokar; Sadeas with Ruthar and Aladar; and a mediating bloc led by Hatham, while Sebarial heckles from the margins. Discussion of the Assassin in White and royal restrictions shifts when Ialai notices Shallan. Playing the room, Shallan announces she has already accepted a post with Sebarial—boldly naming a generous stipend—forcing him to publicly adopt her and rebuff prying invitations.
Dalinar then delivers a parable of stacked stones to signal a new strategy: if the assassin cannot be stopped, remove his cause. He reveals a Parshendi messenger offered peace before the latest highstorm, and the assassin struck again that night. Suspecting manipulation yet preparing for the worst, he vows either to secure peace on Alethi terms or to train, scout, appoint new Shardbearers, and march directly to the Parshendi camp. He pointedly claims Adolin will win needed Shards.
As the meeting breaks, Sebarial accepts Shallan and departs with her. Shallan informs King Elhokar of Jasnah’s death, then obtains a provisional royal pardon for Vathah and his men and delivers it, instructing them to maintain good conduct as they move to Sebarial’s warcamp.
Who Appears
- Shallan Davar
Jasnah’s ward; confirms Jasnah’s death, outmaneuvers the court by choosing Sebarial, and secures pardons for her deserters.
- Dalinar Kholin
Highprince; calms Navani, offers Shallan a clerkship, and vows peace or a direct campaign against the Parshendi.
- Highprince Sebarial
Irreverent highprince; publicly accepts Shallan after her bluff, trades barbs, and shows interest in her promised insights.
- Navani Kholin
Jasnah’s mother; grieves fiercely, blames Shallan for the fire, then apologizes.
- Adolin Kholin
Dalinar’s son; meets Shallan amiably, supports his father during barbed exchanges, remains central to planned Shard duels.
- Torol Sadeas
Dalinar’s rival; aligned with Ruthar and Aladar, snidely undermines Dalinar’s proposed campaign.
- Hatham
Mediator highprince; urges unity, questions Shallan politely, weighs alignment between factions.
- Aladar
Risk-taking highprince and duelist; challenges Crown policies, reacts to Dalinar’s shift in strategy.
- Ruthar
Aggressive highprince; attacks royal restrictions and presses Shallan for information; his wife Jayla participates.
- Roion
Cautious highprince; frets about the assassin and openly invites Shallan to share intelligence.
- Elhokar Kholin
Alethi king; presides as Dalinar leads, receives Jasnah’s death news with dignity.
- Ialai Sadeas
Shrewd consort; spots Shallan and probes her about Jah Keved and the assassin.
- Pattern
Shallan’s spren; hides on her skirt, silent during the political proceedings.
- Vathah
Leader of Shallan’s deserters; receives a provisional royal pardon.
- Gaz
Nervously waits with Vathah; accompanies Shallan under the new arrangement.