78. Contradictions
Contains spoilersOverview
During the Weeping, Shallan reveals her Lightweaving to Dalinar, forcing him to accept the Radiants’ return and reconsider his role as gatherer rather than founder. She demands secrecy and refuses to be sent away. Parshendi scouts with red eyes and burned victims are discovered, prompting an alert. A transformed former bridgeman—Shen—returns to surrender, signaling deeper Parshendi changes.
Summary
In the soft rain of the Weeping, Shallan sketches Jasnah and muses with Pattern about contradictions, creationspren, and how human perception colors truth. Dalinar arrives, dismisses the scholars, and presses Shallan about Jasnah and the Knights Radiant. Shallan asserts Jasnah truly had power.
To prove it, Shallan Lightweaves an image of Jasnah, moving Dalinar to awe and confirming for him that the Radiants are returning. He briefly considers placing her in charge but she refuses, arguing her abilities work best in secrecy. When Dalinar suggests telling Navani and sending Shallan back to safety, Shallan asserts her independence and extracts his promise to keep her powers secret.
A messenger reports Parshendi nearby. Dalinar and Shallan investigate a recovered corpse: the body shows carapace ridges and wholly red eyes, and Bashin notes burned scouts despite the rain. Shallan identifies the red eyes as a sign of the Voidbringers, and Dalinar orders the army to full alert and the corpse discarded.
Highlord Teleb then reports a living Parshendi who approached the camp. Across a chasm, the figure recognizes Bridge Four names. Skar confirms the Parshendi is Shen, a former bridgeman who vanished; Shen now seeks to surrender to Dalinar, implying profound changes among the Parshendi.
Who Appears
- Shallan Davar
Reveals Lightweaving to Dalinar, insists on secrecy and independence, examines a red‑eyed Parshendi corpse, and accompanies him to meet surrendered Shen.
- Dalinar Kholin
Learns Radiants are returning, is moved, agrees to secrecy, readies the army, and confronts a surrendering Parshendi from Bridge Four’s past.
- Pattern
Shallan’s spren; debates creationspren and human perception, observing Shallan’s art and lies.
- Bashin
Portly scout leader; reports dead scouts, a changed Parshendi corpse, and strange burns despite the rain.
- Highlord Teleb
Shardbearer who warns Dalinar of a living Parshendi and leads him to the meeting.
- Vathah
Shallan’s guard captain; protective, wary, but follows her into the rainy night.
- Skar
Bridge Four scout who recognizes the Parshendi as Shen and informs Dalinar.
- Shen
Former parshman bridgeman; returns transformed and offers to surrender to Dalinar.