Prologue: To Pretend
Contains spoilersOverview
Navani juggles preparations for a lavish treaty feast while Gavilar secretly meets mysterious “ambassadors” and displays spheres glowing with violet-dark light. Their confrontation exposes Gavilar’s obsession with legacy and control. After the feast, the Parshendi withdraw and an assassin kills Gavilar. Navani stabilizes the court, chooses to protect his legacy, and discovers his strange spheres are missing.
Summary
Seven years earlier, Navani manages a chaotic palace as Gavilar expands the guest list, invites foreign dignitaries, and promises Parshendi drums. She smooths logistics, borrows wine, and works the reception, noting Aesudan’s political posturing, Dalinar’s looming presence, and Elhokar’s delight. Spotting renowned artifabrian Rushur Kris, Navani is pulled away before she can learn about a fabrial.
Suspecting Gavilar is hiding, Navani tracks him to her study and overhears a meeting with two enigmatic “ambassadors.” On the table are spheres radiating a violet-dark light. Confronted, Gavilar withholds answers, pockets the spheres, and belittles Navani’s worth. He orders Jasnah to marry Amaram, dismissing her defiance, and asserts his greatness and eternal legacy.
Shaken, Navani channels fury into art, crafting a meticulous glyphward—“Death. Gift. Death.”—and burns it, then reasserts her public composure. At the feast, she and Gavilar perform their roles until he slips away early.
News breaks that the Parshendi have withdrawn and their minion has assassinated Gavilar. Navani views his shattered body and the fallen balcony; witnesses confirm Jasnah saw the fall. Sadeas explains the Parshendi leaders stayed only to mask their flight. Shock gives way to regret and pity as Navani confronts their final argument and the end of reconciliation.
Navani resolves to preserve Gavilar’s legacy for the kingdom’s stability. Searching his body, she finds the pouch for the strange spheres but it is empty; she stages a respectful scene returning ordinary spheres to his hand. She then composes herself and organizes the chaos as Kholinar reels from the king’s death.
Who Appears
- Navani Kholin
Queen managing the feast, confronts Gavilar’s secrets, burns a glyphward, then stabilizes the palace after his assassination.
- Gavilar Kholin
King meeting secret visitors with strange spheres; belittles Navani; later assassinated following Parshendi withdrawal.
- Nale
Makabaki “ambassador” who rebuffs Gavilar, skeptical of his project and its implications.
- Unidentified Vorin ambassador
Anxious companion to Nale, eager to learn more and “get out,” warns of another present.
- Sadeas
Highprince who sorrowfully explains the Parshendi withdrawal and his role after the assassination.
- Jasnah Kholin
Daughter who opposes marrying Amaram; witnesses Gavilar’s fatal fall and is shaken.
- Aesudan Kholin
Elhokar’s wife, socially ambitious; avoids ardents and inserts herself among powerful lighteyes.
- Elhokar Kholin
Crown prince enjoying presiding at the pre-feast in Gavilar’s absence.
- Dalinar Kholin
Commanding presence at the feast; implied to have drained wine stores.
- Meridas Amaram
Brightlord who supplied grain; candidate Gavilar insists Jasnah must marry.
- Maratham
Palace organizer coordinating the dual feasts and Parshendi drums with Navani.
- Gereh
Aged palace steward who delivers the news of Gavilar’s death to Navani.
- Rushur Kris
Renowned artifabrian visiting the palace; briefly encounters Navani before she’s pulled away.
- Parshendi leaders
Treaty partners whose people withdraw; they remain to cover the escape before the assassination.