Rhythm of War

Shallan’s persona Radiant observes her troop of Lightweavers practicing swordplay as she considers whether to bring those she suspects as spies on the mission to Shadesmar. Shallan and Radiant want to take only those they trust, but Shallan’s other persona, Veil, takes over to force the decision—Shallan will take the possible spies on the mission. In her rooms, Shallan finds a communication box from Mraize for speaking across realms and decides to take it with her to Shadesmar.

Adolin agonizes over an outfit for the day of their departure as he considers his father’s disapproval of many of his choices. Before leaving, he checks in on Kaladin, who is doing better mentally in his role as a surgeon.

Before the envoys’ departure, Dalinar lectures Adolin about honorable behavior and becoming the man he can be, once more oppressing Adolin with his suffocating fatherly and kingly expectations.

The envoys reach Shadesmar, the dimension of the spren. In this Cognitive Realm, the spren can take actual forms rather than existing as spirits in the Physical Realm. Maya, the deadeye spren of Adolin’s Shardblade, awaits them in Shadesmar. Like other deadeye spren, Maya can ostensibly only exist only as Adolin’s magical weapon. However, Adolin firmly believes in Maya’s ability to communicate (and her ability to do basic tasks like brushing his horse), which confuses the spren who populate Shadesmar.