Wind and Truth Chapter 137: Confrontations and a New Oath
⚠️ 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
The chapter interweaves three climaxes. In the caverns, Shallan faces Mraize, who reveals his grief over Iyatil’s death but also his relief at freedom. He tries to control Shallan through threats, then attempts to kill her. Shallan uses a Lightweaving illusion to swap places with her Cryptic, then swaps a drained knife for Mraize’s anti-Stormlight blade. When Mraize stabs her with the drained knife and she stabs him with the real one, he breathes in Stormlight in desperation and is consumed by fire. Meanwhile, on the plains, Venli watches El call off his guards from the Oathgate, confirming the contest has begun. She presents a treaty signed by Queen Jasnah that cedes the Shattered Plains to the listeners in exchange for trade rights. El reads it, executes a dissenting Fused with a Shardblade, and accepts the terms, withdrawing his forces. Atop Urithiru, Dalinar faces Taravangian and Gavinor. He wrestles with the choice of killing Gav to free Alethkar or joining Odium. Feeling the lives and struggles of all people, Dalinar gains a deeper understanding of Honor’s pain at constant broken oaths. In that moment, he speaks the Words of the Bondsmith.
Key Events
- Mraize confronts Shallan, revealing his complex emotions about Iyatil and his desire to control or eliminate Shallan.
- Shallan’s Cryptic spren distracts Mraize while she swaps places with it using a Lightweaving illusion.
- Shallan switches her drained knife for Mraize’s anti-Stormlight blade, then stabs him in the stomach when he attacks.
- Mraize instinctively breathes in Stormlight, triggering an explosion of anti-Stormlight fire that kills him.
- Venli observes El calling his Fused forces away from the Oathgate, confirming the contest deadline has passed.
- Venli and the Five present the treaty to El, who reads it carefully, kills a Magnified One who objects, and accepts the agreement.
- The listeners secure control of the Shattered Plains with a formal treaty signed by Jasnah Kholin.
- Dalinar, atop Urithiru with Taravangian and Gavinor, refuses both options—killing Gav or joining Odium.
- Dalinar feels the Connected lives of everyone in the tower and beyond, recognizing that all people face difficult choices.
- He acknowledges the power of Honor, understands its pain from repeated oaths broken, and speaks the Words: “I know the Words.”
Character Development
Shallan Davar proves her growth from victim to victor. She orchestrates a multi-layered deception—illusion, spren swap, and knife switch—to defeat Mraize. Her final words to him show she refuses to be abused any longer, marking a definitive break from her past trauma. She demonstrates both cunning and moral clarity.
Mraize reveals unexpected depth: sorrow over Iyatil, respect for Shallan’s skills, and a twisted philosophy that equates control with care. His death comes from underestimating Shallan’s growth and from his own inexperience with Stormlight.
Venli steps fully into leadership. She has secretly negotiated a treaty, coordinated with the Five, and waited for the precise moment. Her willingness to trust Timbre and take risks pays off, and she earns respect even from El.
El evolves from antagonist to pragmatic strategist. He accepts the treaty without hesitation, kills a subordinate to enforce order, and shows intelligence in recognizing the treaty’s “different opportunities.” He is ruthless but not irrational.
Dalinar Kholin reaches a spiritual breakthrough. Rejecting Taravangian’s false dichotomy, he gains empathy for all people’s burdens and directly communes with the power of Honor itself. His admission that he “knows the Words” signifies acceptance of the Bondsmith ideal and a new step in his journey.
Taravangian remains the calculating tempter. He frames his evil as inevitable necessity, trying to corrupt Dalinar through moral paralysis. His “reasonable” tone makes him dangerously relatable.
Gavinor appears as a pawn—a child manipulated for decades, now forced into a horrific role. Dalinar refuses to blame him, showing Dalinar’s growth in compassion.
The Stormfather appears as a friend to Dalinar, admitting he has no answer to the dilemma. His presence underscores Dalinar’s isolation.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Sacrifice Versus Corruption: Dalinar rejects Taravangian’s claim that killing one innocent justifies a greater good, instead recognizing that the choice can be refused.
- Illusion and Truth: Shallan’s victory hinges on layered lies, but her final truth—refusing abuse—turns deception into liberation.
- The Pain of Honor: The power of Honor itself is portrayed as wounded by countless broken oaths, echoing the recurring theme that idealistic oaths are difficult to keep.
- Leadership and Statecraft: Venli’s diplomatic victory contrasts with Mraize’s and Taravangian’s methods of control, suggesting that negotiation and respect can succeed where force fails.
- Choice and Consequence: Every character faces a critical choice: Mraize chooses to fight, Shallan chooses to stand, Venli chooses to trust her plan, Dalinar chooses to speak the Words.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 137 delivers multiple turning points. Shallan’s defeat of Mraize ends a long-running antagonist and symbolizes her liberation from Ghostblood manipulation. The listeners’ treaty fundamentally reshapes Rosharan politics, granting independence to the singers who were once enslaved. Most importantly, Dalinar’s utterance of the Words signals his full bonding with the Stormfather and his readiness to ascend to a new role as Bondsmith. This moment directly impacts the climax of the book and the future of the Cosmere.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Shallan’s trick with the knives reflect her character growth?
Shallan has transitioned from a girl who used lies to survive into a woman who uses calculated deceptions to win. She admits she is not good enough to pickpocket Mraize, but she is an expert liar. This shows she embraces her strengths rather than pretending to be something she is not.
2. What does El’s reaction to the treaty reveal about his character?
El is pragmatic and ruthless. He reads the treaty carefully, kills a Fused who objects, and accepts the loss of territory because it offers future advantages. He values long-term strategy over short-term pride, making him a more dangerous opponent than a simple warmonger.
3. Why is Dalinar’s realization that “all people” have difficult choices significant?
Dalinar rejects the elite exceptionalism that Taravangian embodies. By feeling the struggles of farmers, soldiers, and children, he understands that moral weight is not reserved for kings. This empathy allows him to see beyond the false binary of kill-or-join and open himself to a third path: speaking the Words of Honor.