Chapter 78: A Sign of Humanity
Spoiler Warning: This summary contains spoilers for Oathbringer. If you haven't read through Chapter 78, proceed with caution. For a complete overview, visit the Oathbringer Hub.
Summary
Eleven years ago, Dalinar Kholin's army nears Rathalas. He is troubled by his wife Evi's silent sorrow and the scent of incense from her carriage. After receiving a scouting report, he halts the column and climbs inside to speak with her. Evi, rather than pleading for herself, asks him to spare the rebels, calling his bloodlust a "monster" and begging him not to kill that day. Moved, Dalinar rides out alone to the Rift's walls and waits until Brightlord Tanalan emerges. During their tense walk, Dalinar threatens to destroy the city but then offers a way out: they can pretend the rebellion was a ruse hatched with Gavilar to expose disloyal highprinces. Tanalan seizes the idea and reveals that Sadeas's men—carrying supplies and accompanied by a Shardbearer—were there only an hour before. Dalinar accepts the fabricated accord, orders his army to occupy the fortifications peacefully, and prepares a company to pursue the traitor's caravan. He sends Evi to inform Gavilar of a possible betrayal and rides east, leaving a fragile truce behind.
Key Events
- Dalinar feels guilt over Evi's sadness and interrupts the march to console her.
- Evi asks him to show mercy to the rebels, not for her marriage but for lives.
- Dalinar parleys alone with Tanalan, creating an improbable battlefield meeting.
- Tanalan refuses a duel but suggests that his rebellion could be explained as a fake.
- Dalinar instantly agrees to the conspiracy, framing Tanalan as a double agent.
- Tanalan names Sadeas as the traitor and describes a recent supply caravan with a Shardbearer.
- Dalinar leaves Teleb in command to occupy Rathalas under the false peace.
- Dalinar gathers a company of elites to chase the traitors east toward the Unclaimed Hills.
Character Development
- Dalinar: He wrestles with the Thrill and his affection for Evi, acknowledging her unhappiness "crushed his soul." His decision to broker a bloodless solution shows a rare flicker of restraint, even if wrapped in deception.
- Evi: Portrayed as genuinely devout and heartbroken, she sees a "terrifying nothingness" in Dalinar's eyes but still believes in his goodness. Her moral clarity pushes him toward an uncharacteristic mercy.
- Tanalan: Cunning and vengeful yet pragmatic; he pivots from despair to offer the false-collusion scheme, saving his city and turning a potential massacre into a political victory.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Mercy vs. Destruction: Evi’s plea to "hold back the monster" clashes with Dalinar’s identity as the Blackthorn. The chapter becomes a momentary truce between conscience and carnage.
- The Thrill as an External Monster: Dalinar personifies his bloodlust as a companion; Evi describes it as a hollow hunger in his eyes. His effort to resist it tonight is a deliberate choice.
- Deception and Masks: The fake rebellion allows both sides to save face—Dalinar as a cunning strategist, Tanalan as a loyal ally. The truth remains buried beneath political convenience.
- Incense and Prayer: Evi’s continual burning of glyphwards symbolizes her desperate hope for peace and subtly frames the day’s negotiations as a divine petition.
Why This Chapter Matters
This flashback marks the last time Dalinar chose mercy at Rathalas. The elaborate ruse proves that peace was possible, making the later catastrophe all the more tragic. It also plants the seed of Sadeas’s early betrayal—setting in motion events that will shatter the truce and haunt Dalinar for decades. Evi’s influence temporarily stills the Blackthorn’s hand, underscoring the profound loss that will follow when the truth of the caravan unravels everything.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Dalinar agree to talk to Evi in the carriage despite being eager for battle?
He is unnerved by her genuine sorrow, which he cannot dismiss as manipulation. Her tears force him to realize that her admiration matters more to him than the praise of armies. -
What makes Tanalan propose the false-collusion story, and how does Dalinar react?
Tanalan suggests it to save his city without appearing weak; a fabricated double-agent role lets him maintain honor. Dalinar immediately sees its tactical value—it avoids bloodshed and exposes traitors—and he eagerly embraces the ploy. -
How does this chapter hint at the deeper betrayal that will lead to tragedy?
Tanalan reveals Sadeas’s covert supply caravan, possibly with a Shardbearer. This evidence of a trusted highprince working against Dalinar turns the fragile peace into a hunt for a traitor, and the pursuit will fatally unravel Evi’s hope.