Wind and Truth Chapter 116 – Interlude 15: A Dawnshard's Discovery
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Rysn, accompanied by Thaylen Patent Office officials Brakt and Ytredn, arrives in Urithiru to enforce a new patent agreement with the Alethi. She demonstrates a major breakthrough in fabrial technology: lateral movement for hovering devices, achieved through a clever gemstone-switching mechanism. During the negotiation, a man disguised as Dalinar enters. Rysn senses he carries a Dawnshard, just as she does. Their two forces violently attract, threatening to annihilate them. The man reveals himself as a Shin, uses a command to cancel the attraction, and leaves, vowing they will never meet. The Sleepless identify him as the Mythwalker, an ancient Dawnshard wielder who has taken up the power again. Forced to go into hiding to prevent future contact, Rysn decides to abandon her normal life and prepare for a secret expedition using her enhanced ship.
Key Events
- Rysn files patent demands at Urithiru, leveraging her new hovering chair technology.
- She demonstrates lateral movement, surprising the Alethi scholars.
- A Shin man disguised as Dalinar enters, and both Dawnshard bearers feel each other.
- Their powers violently resonate, nearly destroying the room and unraveling the Sleepless.
- The stranger cancels the effect with a gesture and leaves, promising separation.
- The Sleepless reveal his identity as the Mythwalker, an ancient bearer who took up a Dawnshard again.
- Rysn decides to go into hiding and proposes a specific expedition.
Character Development
- Rysn: shows growth in leadership and negotiation skills; her secret duty strains her personal life. She accepts the need for sacrifice.
- The Mythwalker: enigmatic and powerful; his reappearance with a Dawnshard threatens cosmic stability.
- Nikli & Alalhawithador: Sleepless guardians who respect Rysn’s decisions; they acknowledge her earned authority.
- Chiri-Chiri: the larkin is distressed by the event, reinforcing her bond with Rysn.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Forbidden Knowledge: The patent discussion mirrors the danger of certain powers (Dawnshards) that cannot coexist.
- Isolation of Power: Dawnshards must never meet; Rysn is forced into exile.
- Responsibility vs. Desire: Rysn must abandon her dreams of trade to protect the cosmere.
- Identity and Illusion: The Mythwalker’s disguise questions what is real; both he and Rysn hide their true natures.
Why This Chapter Matters
This interlude expands the cosmere’s stakes beyond Roshar. It introduces the Mythwalker, a key figure from ancient history. The violent reaction between Dawnshards confirms why they were separated. Rysn’s decision to go into hiding sets up a major plot thread for her character, potentially tying her to events in future books. The chapter also reveals that lateral movement fabrial technology has been weaponized, affecting the war’s technological landscape.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why do the Sleepless call the Shin man “the Mythwalker”?
He is an ancient Dawnshard wielder who was present when the powers were originally used. He walked away from his duty but later took up a Dawnshard again, hiding it for centuries. His long history makes him a mythic figure in cosmere lore. -
What does Rysn’s decision to abandon her ship and crew reveal about her character?
It shows her growth from a merchant focused on profit to a guardian willing to sacrifice everything for a greater good. She accepts the weight of responsibility, even when it costs her personal dreams. -
How does the technology of lateral movement connect to the larger conflict in Wind and Truth?
The technology, now weaponized as the Fourth Bridge, gives the coalition a strategic advantage. Rysn’s patent control, however, forces the Alethi to negotiate, highlighting how economic and scientific leverage shapes the war.