Chapter 67: That Storming Book

⚠️ Spoiler Notice

This page contains spoilers for The Way of Kings through Chapter 67. If you have not read this far, proceed with caution.

Summary

The chapter opens with Dalinar fully immersed in battle, the Thrill pulsing through him as he swings Oathbringer from atop Gallant. He fights at the front of his army, inspiring his troops while avoiding harming them. Amid the carnage, he notices that some of the beardless Parshendi have subtly feminine facial features and builds, leading him to suspect they may be women—a revelation that challenges years of unchecked assumptions about the enemy.

Before he can pursue the thought, scouts report a second Parshendi army crossing the chasm to the north. The new force surges directly toward Sadeas’s position. Realizing conventional reinforcements are too slow, Dalinar leaves Adolin in command and rides Gallant alone across the battlefield. He charges through enemy lines, using both Oathbringer and his armored fists to punch a trail to Sadeas.

He finds Sadeas down, Plate shattered, surrounded by Parshendi. Dalinar grabs Sadeas’s fallen hammer to clear a space, then stands over him, wielding Oathbringer to hold off the horde. His own Plate takes heavy damage and begins to fail, but he fights on in a frenzy. Just as he is nearly overwhelmed, Adolin arrives with the Cobalt Guard and pushes the Parshendi back.

In the aftermath, Sadeas is battered but alive. Dalinar, however, is sickened by the hundreds of corpses he alone created. The Thrill evaporates, leaving only revulsion. Sadeas, bemused but grateful, credits Dalinar’s honor—rooted in that “storming book,” The Way of Kings. Dalinar reflects that he is still struggling to understand himself.

Key Events

  • Dalinar observes that many beardless Parshendi may be women, realizing the Alethi have never studied their enemy’s culture.
  • A second Parshendi army crosses onto the plateau, ambushing Sadeas’s forces.
  • Dalinar hands command to Adolin and gallops solo to rescue Sadeas, fighting through the Parshendi ranks.
  • Using his Shardblade and Sadeas’s hammer, Dalinar clears a defensive circle and protects the fallen highprince.
  • Adolin and reinforcements break through, securing the area and saving both Shardbearers.
  • After the battle, Dalinar experiences a wave of nausea and disgust at the slaughter he committed, contrasting sharply with the earlier battle-lust.
  • Sadeas, intrigued, asks about The Way of Kings, and Dalinar sees a glimmer of understanding between them.

Character Development

Dalinar: This chapter deepens his inner conflict. The Thrill still tempts him, but his post-battle revulsion signals a profound change. His willingness to risk everything for an ally—even a rival like Sadeas—demonstrates his commitment to the Codes, but the sheer scale of death forces him to question the man he used to be. His observation about Parshendi women shows a nascent empathy that sets him apart from other Alethi.

Adolin: Competent and decisive, Adolin takes command without hesitation. His rescue of his father underscores his growth as a leader and his devotion to family. His earlier chastening over misjudging Sadeas seems to have made him more reflective.

Sadeas: Though saved, he remains bemused by Dalinar’s philosophy. His near-death experience opens a crack of curiosity, yet his character still hints at the betrayal to come.

The Parshendi: Presented as brave, strategic, and increasingly human. The gender revelation adds a layer of complexity to a war that has been fought without understanding.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • The Thrill: A dual-edged force—providing superhuman battle prowess but also numbing moral sensibility. Dalinar’s post-battle reaction suggests its hold is weakening.
  • Honor and the Codes: Dalinar’s decision to save Sadeas is a direct application of the Alethi Code of War, which demands you never abandon an ally. The Way of Kings reinforces this ideal.
  • Dehumanization vs. Recognition: Noticing the Parshendi women challenges the Alethi tendency to see their foes as faceless monsters, planting a seed of empathy.
  • The Cost of Violence: The line of corpses Dalinar leaves behind serves as a visual indictment of war’s brutality, even in victory.
  • Stormlight and Shardplate: The leaking Stormlight from damaged Plate symbolizes fragility beneath the armored exterior, both physical and psychological.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point before Sadeas’s infamous betrayal at the Tower. It establishes Dalinar’s absolute trustworthiness and his willingness to die for an ally, making Sadeas’s later treachery cut deeper. It also marks a crucial step in Dalinar’s evolution from the bloodthirsty Blackthorn to a man seeking a more honorable path. His post-battle nausea is a harbinger of his eventual rejection of the Thrill. The Parshendi gender discovery foreshadows the deeper cultural exploration that will become vital to the series’ overarching conflict. Finally, the cementing of the combined-army strategy lulls both characters and readers into a sense of security that will soon be shattered.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does Dalinar risk his life to save Sadeas, despite their history of conflict?
    Dalinar adheres to the Alethi Codes of War, particularly the tenet that one must never abandon an ally on the battlefield. This principle is reinforced by Nohadon’s The Way of Kings, which emphasizes that the manner of one’s life—and death—matters more than victory itself.

  2. What does Dalinar learn about the Parshendi during this battle, and why is it significant?
    He realizes that the beardless Parshendi may be women, fighting alongside their husbands or partners. This discovery challenges the Alethi assumption that all Parshendi warriors are male and strips away some of the dehumanization of the enemy, foreshadowing later revelations about Parshendi society.

  3. How does Dalinar’s relationship with the Thrill change in this chapter?
    At the start, he eagerly embraces the Thrill as a source of strength and joy. By the end, after seeing the mountain of corpses he alone created, he feels profound revulsion and nausea. This internal conflict signals his growing awareness that the bloodlust is morally corrosive, even as it remains an undeniable part of him.

Navigation