Chapter 67: Essai – Summary and Analysis

Spoiler Notice

This page contains major spoilers for Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. Read on only if you have finished Chapter 67 or don’t mind knowing its events in advance.

Summary

Venli discovers Rlain alive in a cell in Urithiru. The direform jailer calls him an essai – “hairy,” a human-lover – because he befriended the Radiants instead of acting as a spy. Rlain is wary, but Venli convinces him she is truly herself. She admits the rest of the listeners are dead, Odium having destroyed them, though she hides her own guilt. Rlain urges her to free him and take him to Hesina; he wants to ally with the humans against Odium. Venli hesitates but eventually accepts.

Meanwhile, Raboniel and numerous Fused are cataloguing the Blackthorn’s belongings, suggesting someone high in the singer hierarchy is obsessed with Dalinar. A scarred human with a strange bird-like creature on his shoulder – later revealed to be Mraize – arrives and bribes Raboniel with a pouch of mysterious substance, then presents a caged Edgedancer who runs on Lifelight rather than Stormlight: Lift. Venli, suppressing her fear, demands Rlain’s release from Raboniel as compensation. Raboniel agrees. In private, Venli attempts to speak her next Immortal Words: I will seek freedom for those in bondage. The oath is rejected because her motivation remains selfish; she ignored the caged child. A distant voice tells her the words are not accepted, forcing Venli to confront that she must genuinely think of others before she can advance.

Key Events

Venli visits the prison and learns Rlain is alive; the jailer brands him an essai.
She speaks with Rlain in the listener language; he shares his history as a bridge man and his desire to oppose Odium.
Rlain insists she free him so he can reach Hesina and offer something useful.
Mraize appears in Raboniel’s presence inside the Blackthorn’s former chambers, delivering a “gift” that includes a pouch of a rare material and a caged Lift, an Edgedancer who uses Lifelight.
Venli negotiates for Rlain’s release, using the Rhythm of Conceit to persuade Raboniel.
Alone, Venli speaks an oath of freedom but it is rejected; she realizes her selfish focus on Rlain blinded her to the suffering of the imprisoned child.

Character Development

Venli: She moves from shock and relief to a fragile determination. Her attempt at a Radiant oath fails because she acts out of loneliness rather than genuine altruism. The rejection forces her to acknowledge she has been selfish even in her “good” deeds.
Rlain: He confronts Venli’s selfishness directly, calling her out for avoiding risk. His loyalty to his human friends is unwavering, and he embodies the choice to stand with the ancient spren (the highstorm) rather than Odium.
Raboniel: Her amusement at the node’s destruction and her calculated response to Mraize underscore her long-term scheming. She is not simply a rage-driven Fused but a tactician who values leverage.
Mraize: His theatrical entrance and the gift of Lift mark a significant escalation of the Ghostbloods’ involvement. He wields information as currency, offering Raboniel something unique – a Radiant who functions despite the suppressor.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Freedom and Bondage: The chapter threads physical imprisonment (Rlain, Lift) with emotional and spiritual bondage. Venli’s rejected oath makes it clear that real freedom for others requires selfless intent.
Selfishness vs. Selflessness: Venli’s arc hinges on moving beyond her own survival. Rlain’s rebuke – “Stop being so insufferably selfish!” – and the rejected oath crystallize this struggle.
Rhythms and Identity: Venli’s use of rhythms (Peace, Conceit, the Lost) continues to mirror her emotional state. Timbre’s pain when using a corrupted rhythm hints at the cost of acting under Odium’s influence.
The Pure Tone: Venli briefly hears a distant pure tone, a recurring symbol of Roshar’s deeper truth and the Connection she seeks as a Radiant.

Why This Chapter Matters

“Essai” is a turning point for Venli. Her rejected oath demonstrates that Radiant progression is not merely about words but about authentic transformation. The chapter deepens the stakes in occupied Urithiru: Rlain’s presence ties Venli back to the listeners, while Mraize’s delivery of Lift introduces a wildcard capable of using Lifelight, raising new possibilities for defying the tower’s corruption. The image of Fused meticulously cataloguing Dalinar’s socks hints that Odium’s interest in the Blackthorn is obsessive and strategic, foreshadowing future confrontations. This chapter underlines that true change requires Venli to put others before her own fear and desire for companionship.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why is Venli’s oath, “I will seek freedom for those in bondage,” not accepted?
Venli speaks the words with the primary intention of freeing Rlain because she craves a fellow listener’s company and validation. She has just ignored the caged Edgedancer, a child in clear need. The oath requires a genuine heart-deep commitment to freeing all who are unjustly held, not merely those she personally cares about. The distant voice’s rejection confirms that the spren bond recognizes intent.

2. What does Rlain mean when he says he would rather walk through the highstorm than serve Odium?
He compares the human-allied spren and the old listener ways to the highstorm – powerful but once theirs – while Odium represents a destructive Everstorm. Choosing the highstorm means siding with the humans, recognizing that despite past wrongs, they are the lesser evil and the path to eventual freedom for his people.

3. Who is the caged girl and why is she significant?
She is an Edgedancer who runs on Lifelight rather than Stormlight, making her immune to the tower’s suppression of Radiant powers. The man who delivers her (Mraize) suggests that if Odium ever finds Cultivation, he should ask her why such a Radiant exists. This hints at a direct connection to Cultivation and a possible means to restore Surgebinding in Urithiru, making her an invaluable asset – and a dangerous bargaining chip – for both Raboniel and the Ghostbloods.