Chapter 31: 27. Banners – Summary and Analysis
Spoiler Notice
This page contains full spoilers for Chapter 31 of Rhythm of War. If you haven’t read it yet, proceed with caution.
Summary
Navani stands on Urithiru’s outer platform as war banners crack in the wind. She muses on their dual nature: they organize troops but also mark targets. Dalinar joins her, and they discuss Taravangian’s imminent transfer to Azir. Navani warns Dalinar to be wary; Taravangian’s honor guard is Alethi, and extra soldiers will separate his troops from the front. Szeth, disguised by a Lightweaver, secretly guards Dalinar. Young Gav arrives, eager to accompany his grandfather. Dalinar reassures him they will handle strategy, not fighting. Navani feels conflicted but accepts it.
After Dalinar leaves, Navani bids farewell to Jasnah, who arrives by palanquin. Their hug is painfully awkward, but they share a rare moment of open affection. Jasnah promises to watch over Gav. Navani then encounters Highprince Sebarial, who will remain to administer Urithiru and later oversee the warcamps. They banter about trust, corruption, and his relationship with Palona; Navani advises him to show sincerity.
Once back in the tower, Navani diverts to the eastern atrium, where a hidden room has been freshly opened. Inside stands an intricate, fifteen-foot-tall cross-section model of Urithiru. The room had no original door, suggesting a forgotten mechanism. While examining the model, Isabi rushes in with the mysterious spanreed—the one from the unknown, fabrial-hating correspondent—blinking for the first time in weeks. Navani sets aside sanitation reports to investigate.
Key Events
- Navani reflects on war banners as symbols of both organization and vulnerability.
- Dalinar departs for Azir with Taravangian’s honor guard effectively holding the king hostage; Szeth is hidden nearby as a secret bodyguard.
- Gav joins Dalinar on campaign, eager to prove himself.
- Jasnah and Navani share a strained but genuine moment; Jasnah promises to protect Gav.
- Sebarial accepts the task of restoring order to the warcamps, and Navani advises him on showing sincerity to win Palona.
- A hidden chamber in the atrium is opened, revealing a detailed model of the tower with no visible original entrance.
- The mysterious spanreed activates, pulling Navani away from her duties.
Character Development
- Navani: Her interiority deepens as she questions her own ambitions. She recognizes she has become a kingdom-runner again, and wonders if wanting “something more” is selfish. Her practical wisdom surfaces in her dealings with Sebarial, and her curiosity is piqued by the hidden room and the spanreed.
- Dalinar: Shows both strategic caution toward Taravangian and tenderness toward Gav and Navani. His decision to bring Gav reflects his regret over failing Adolin and Renarin.
- Jasnah: Deliberately crafts a regal image but reveals vulnerability. The awkward hug highlights her difficulty with familial intimacy, yet she values Navani’s constancy.
- Sebarial: His cynical humor masks a desire to be useful and to earn Palona’s respect. Navani’s blunt advice hints at possible growth.
- Taravangian: Remains an enigmatic threat. Even his seeming weakness—walking while Jasnah rides—may be a calculated display.
- Gav: Though a minor presence, his eagerness to join the campaign introduces a future narrative thread.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
- Banners as dual symbols: The chapter opening establishes banners as both proud markers of identity and deadly targets—a metaphor for reputation, leadership, and the burden of visibility.
- Reputation as a crafted banner: Jasnah, Dalinar, and even Taravangian deliberately project images. Navani’s internal question—”what banner did she want to fly?”—extends the motif to personal identity.
- Hidden and revealed truths: The secret room and the spanreed mirror the larger mystery of Urithiru and the unknown fabrial critic. Secrecy also surrounds Szeth’s presence and Taravangian’s intentions.
- Order and chaos: Navani’s logistical mind (water distribution, traffic flow) contrasts with the disorder of war, hidden rooms, and the unpredictable spanreed.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 31 serves as a transitional piece that solidifies the strategic positions before the Azir campaign. It advances multiple subplots: Dalinar’s march to war, the tension with Taravangian, the hidden architectural secrets of Urithiru, and the reemergence of the mysterious spanreed contact. Navani’s character arc gains momentum as she balances political administration with her growing curiosity about fabrials and ancient technology. The chapter also deepens the motif of appearances versus reality, a theme central to many characters’ journeys in Rhythm of War.
Study Questions and Answers
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Question: Why does Navani find war banners both useful and troubling?
Answer: She sees them as essential for organizing troops on the battlefield, but also as “enormous arrows” that reveal the location of key commanders, making them targets. This duality mirrors the risk leaders take when they make their authority visible. -
Question: What does the hidden room and its model of Urithiru suggest about the ancient Radiants’ knowledge of the tower?
Answer: The room was originally sealed without a door, and a gemstone was embedded in the wall, implying the Radiants used some lost mechanism to open and close chambers. The precise model indicates they had a deep understanding of the tower’s layout, and its existence may help Navani uncover more secrets about the structure. -
Question: How does Navani’s advice to Sebarial about sincerity connect to her own internal struggle in this chapter?
Answer: She warns Sebarial that his habitual flippancy might make Palona doubt his true feelings, urging him to show sincerity. Navani herself grapples with the banner she wants to fly—she feels defined by her role as a kingdom-manager and wonders if seeking something more is self-indulgent. Both characters confront the gap between the personas they project and their deeper selves.