Chapter summaries Wind and Truth Brandon Sanderson

Wind and Truth Chapter 163 (Chapter 143) Summary & Analysis

⚠️ 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

Szeth kills his sister and the Truthwatcher, then confronts his father Neturo. Neturo admits he knew of the new God and trained to become Bondsmith but was consumed by the thing. Szeth stabs him with Nightblood, granting mercy. Szeth nearly lets Nightblood consume him but chooses to live, casting the sword away. Kaladin, though in agony, speaks to Nightblood, convincing it that it is not a thing and can choose. Nightblood stops killing. The spren cry as the world’s soul tears. Shallan wakes in Shadesmar; Ba‑Ado‑Mishram has escaped. She meets Sja‑anat, then Renarin and Rlain vanish as the sky erupts. Dalinar renounces his oaths, breaking the contract between Honor and Odium. The Stormfather is vaporized by Taravangian. Honor’s power seeks a host; Taravangian takes it, Ascending to Retribution. Dalinar sends love, apologies, pride, and courage to his family, then uses the Sunmaker’s Gambit to make the other cosmere gods recognize Taravangian as their enemy.

Key Events

  • Szeth kills his sister, then the Truthwatcher, then his father Neturo with mercy.
  • Neturo reveals he knew of the new God and trained but was trapped by the thing.
  • Szeth throws Nightblood away and chooses to live.
  • Kaladin tells Nightblood it is not a thing and can choose; Nightblood stops attacking.
  • The spren cry and the soul of the world tears.
  • Shallan wakes in Shadesmar; Ba‑Ado‑Mishram has escaped.
  • Sja‑anat speaks with Shallan about freeing Mishram.
  • Renarin and Rlain vanish from the Oathgate platform.
  • Dalinar renounces his oaths, breaking the Honor‑Odium contract.
  • Taravangian vaporizes the Stormfather.
  • Taravangian takes up Honor’s power and becomes Retribution.
  • Dalinar sends emotional farewells to his family and executes the Sunmaker’s Gambit.
  • The cosmere’s gods fixate on Retribution as a new threat.

Character Development

  • Szeth: Completes his arc of mercy by granting his father a clean death. He chooses to live despite the temptation to let Nightblood take him, honoring Kaladin’s teachings about self‑determination.
  • Kaladin: Even in intense pain, he reaches out to his friend and teaches Nightblood the same lesson of choice he taught Szeth. Kaladin’s influence extends to the sentient sword.
  • Nightblood: Demonstrates agency for the first time, deciding not to kill its friends. The sword evolves from a simple destroyer to a being capable of choice.
  • Dalinar: Gives up the power of Honor, breaks his oaths, and trusts others to fight the war. He uses his final moments to send love and apologies, showing growth from conqueror to selfless leader.
  • Taravangian: Succumbs to his thirst for power despite claiming otherwise. He becomes Retribution, proving Dalinar’s lesson about the emptiness of power without purpose.

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

  • Choice vs. Destiny: Szeth chooses to live; Nightblood chooses to stop killing; Dalinar chooses to break oaths. The chapter emphasizes that agency matters more than fate.
  • The Weight of Oaths: Dalinar’s renunciation challenges the idea that keeping an oath is always right. True honor lies in the ideals behind the oath.
  • Redemption and Mercy: Szeth offers mercy to his sister, the Truthwatcher, and his father. He himself is granted a chance at redemption by Kaladin’s teaching.
  • Power and Corruption: Taravangian claims not to care about power but eagerly seizes Honor’s divinity, becoming a god of vengeance. The theme echoes throughout the Cosmere.
  • The Sunmaker’s Gambit: A strategic move that sacrifices one player to force the entire game board to pay attention. Dalinar makes himself a target to unite the shards against Retribution.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 143 is the emotional and narrative climax of Szeth’s and Kaladin’s arcs in Shinovar, and the turning point of the entire Cosmere conflict. Szeth’s choice to live and Nightblood’s awakening to choice demonstrate that the war is ultimately about free will. Dalinar’s gamble—breaking the contract, allowing Taravangian to become Retribution—reshapes the power structure of the Cosmere, drawing the attention of all the shards. This chapter sets up the final confrontation not just on Roshar, but across the entire universe.

Study Questions

  1. Why does Dalinar break his oaths instead of honoring the contract with Odium?
    Answer: Dalinar realises that keeping an oath is only as good as the ideals it serves. He knows he cannot win, so he chooses to break the contract to free Odium and force the other shards to see Taravangian as a threat. This buys the Rosharan forces time.

  2. How does Kaladin’s teaching of personal choice affect both Szeth and Nightblood?
    Answer: Szeth chooses to live because he has learned he can decide his own fate. Nightblood, hearing Kaladin repeat “You are not a thing,” chooses not to kill its friends, showing that Kaladin’s lessons apply even to a sentient sword.

  3. What is the significance of the “Sunmaker’s Gambit” at the end of the chapter?
    Answer: The gambit is a sacrifice play: Dalinar intentionally loses to Taravangian, allowing him to Ascend to Retribution. This makes Taravangian the biggest threat in the Cosmere since the Shattering, forcing all other shards to oppose him. Dalinar trusts his family and allies to handle the rest.

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