86. Patterns of Light

Contains spoilers

Overview

Kaladin saves Dalinar, then pursues Szeth through colliding storms, ultimately killing him and claiming the fallen weapon. Meanwhile, Shallan identifies the Oathgate as a fabrial that requires a living spren Blade, and uses Pattern to relocate the entire plateau and the gathered armies to Urithiru. The evacuation averts annihilation and confirms the Radiants’ return, ending Szeth’s threat.

Summary

Kaladin arrives as Dalinar is lashed skyward, catches him, and sends him safely down. Bridge Four supply Stormlight amid casualties, and Kaladin launches at Szeth, determined to end the assassin’s killing. Above, Syl manifests instantly as whatever weapon Kaladin needs.

On the ground, Dalinar—injured but resolute—pushes the retreat toward a round plateau Shallan indicated. Sebarial has organized Roion’s faltering troops, and Aladar, proud of victory over the Parshendi, falls in line as the twin storms close. Dalinar orders everyone crammed onto the target plateau, hoping for a portal.

In the Oathgate chamber, Shallan recognizes the room as a giant fabrial powered by ten lamps. Needing more Light, she draws from soldiers’ gems and from Adolin, who staggers in. Adolin’s dead Shardblade fails to unlock the mechanism, so Shallan uses Pattern as a living Blade, rotates the inner wall to align with Urithiru, and the storm’s sound vanishes. Adolin cuts an exit to reveal the same plateau now ringed by mountains beneath the tower of Urithiru: the entire plateau has been transported.

Above, Kaladin and Szeth duel through the colliding Everstorm and highstorm. Kaladin gains confidence in the winds, wounds Szeth, and chases him as the assassin dives toward Dalinar. Szeth lands to find the army gone—moved by the Oathgate—and flees west with the highstorm, while windspren help Kaladin pierce the stormwall and keep pace.

Racing along the stormfront, Kaladin batters Szeth, who finally acknowledges the Radiants’ return and admits he was never truly Truthless. Calling him a coward for hiding behind orders, Kaladin finishes the fight; Szeth closes his eyes and Kaladin kills him, severing the spine. At Syl’s urging, Kaladin seizes the fallen Blade, then rises from the storm as she greets him, the armies now safe at Urithiru.

Who Appears

  • Kaladin Stormblessed
    Rescues Dalinar; duels Szeth through twin storms; kills him; claims dropped Blade; aided by Syl and windspren.
  • Szeth-son-son-Vallano
    Assassin in White; unstable, denies Radiant return; battles, flees, admits truth, yields, dies; Blade remains.
  • Shallan Davar
    Identifies Oathgate as fabrial; uses Pattern as living Blade to unlock and rotate portal to Urithiru.
  • Dalinar Kholin
    Recognizes Kaladin as Radiant; rallies coalitions; orders retreat to round plateau; reaches Urithiru.
  • Sylphrena (Syl)
    Alive again; shifts into any weapon; guides Kaladin; urges him to seize Szeth’s Blade.
  • Adolin Kholin
    Injured; aids Shallan pushing the mechanism; dead Shardblade fails; cuts exit to reveal Urithiru.
  • Highprince Aladar
    Boasts of victory, then helps pack troops onto Oathgate plateau for evacuation.
  • Highprince Sebarial
    Nonchalantly organizes Roion’s disordered army; quips with Palona amid chaos.
  • Navani Kholin
    Arrives near the Oathgate site at Urithiru with Dalinar after transport.
  • Renarin Kholin
    Anxious, muttering; present in the chamber; dismisses his Blade before activation.
  • Inadara
    Scholar-ardent witnessing Shallan’s Surgebinding and the Oathgate’s activation, overwhelmed.
  • Palona
    Sebarial’s mistress; calm, reading under a canopy; later present with evacuated armies.
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