As he reaches the king's quarters, he is confronted by a Shardbearer as the King flees. When he reaches the area just outside the King's quarters, Szeth uses his abilities as a Surgebinder to fight his way past the guards. Szeth wears white under the orders of the Parshendi to follow their traditions so that King Gavilar could see him coming. He leaves the room, noting that his Parshendi masters will soon withdraw. As Kalak is leaving the ring of swords, he looks back and notices a single open spot, 'The place where the tenth sword should have gone.' Kalak feels deep sorrow and shame for Taln's exclusion, thinking to himself, 'Forgive us.' as he walks away.Ĥ500 years later, Szeth, a Truthless Shin assassin, waits quietly in a large room, watching the Alethi celebrate the signing of a peace treaty with the Parshendi. They depart in opposite directions along the barren landscape, vowing to go their own ways and to not seek one another or any of the other Heralds. There is a chance we might end the cycle of Desolations.' Jezrien points out that mankind also has the Radiants.įinally, both Jezrien and Kalak summon their Blades and slam them into the ground, along with the other seven. Their abandonment of mankind is somewhat diluted by the fact that Ishar, another Herald, believes that '.so long as there is one of us still bound to the Oathpact (Talenel), it may be enough. They plan to lie and tell the people that they finally won against the 'enemy', saying it might even turn out to be true. Kalak shows horror and disgust that both Jezrien and himself have been broken by the cycle of Desolations and that they are too weak to face their suffering. Jezrien then tells Kalak to relinquish his blade as well, for '.it is time for the Oathpact to end.' This effectively leaves Talenel (Taln), the only Herald who died in the battle, alone to uphold the Oathpact and the sole sufferer of the pain and torture in the waiting realm. Kalak then admits to Jezrien that he can't return to 'the place of nightmares', the waiting place of the Heralds between Desolations. Jezrien then informs Kalak that the other Heralds have departed, abandoning the Oathpact. However, he notices seven Honorblades driven point-first into the ground at the base of the spire. At first, Kalak assumes that the other eight must have died, for the battle was 'furious'. Upon arrival, he finds only their leader, Jezrien, waiting for him. He is traveling to the Heralds' preordained meeting place (a rocky spire) for those who survived the Desolation. Kalak, one of the ten Heralds, wanders through a torn landscape littered with dead humans, thunderclasts, and other beasts. 9.9 Chapter 60: That Which We Cannot Have.7.7 Chapter 35: A Light By Which to See.5.11 Chapter 22: Eyes, Hands, or Spheres.

4.3 Interlude I-3: The Glory of Ignorance.

The way of kings art