Chapter summaries Wind and Truth Brandon Sanderson

Chapter 43 – Wind and Truth: Dalinar’s Vision of the First Arrival

⚠️ 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

Dalinar awakens in a warm, floating state after his perpendicularity anchor was severed in Urithiru. He glimpses painful memories—his childhood, his wedding night with Evi, the news of Elhokar’s death—and struggles to stay conscious. Using a stone given by Wit, he forces himself into a vision of the deep past. He appears among a group of singers on a mountain pass in ancient Shinovar. The singers call him “Moash” (an ancient name). Dalinar learns he has lost an entire day in the Physical Realm. He cannot open a perpendicularity to return home. Navani arrives by pulling on their bond, shifting the body of a singer into her own form. They explore the vision together. Dalinar directly asks the singers about Honor, prompting a debate: some follow Honor, while others revere the “Origin of Songs” (Adonalsium). A gentle storm arrives, and the “Wind” manifests as a shimmering force that speaks to them. The Wind identifies Dalinar and Navani as visitors, mentions that Szeth and Kaladin are also in Shinovar in another time, and confirms that Honor’s power is stubborn. Then a portal opens in the sky—a burning world. Humans are about to arrive on Roshar.

Key Events

  • Dalinar floats in a chaotic sea of past memories, nearly succumbing to the peace of unconsciousness.
  • He uses Wit’s stone to anchor himself and enters a vision of ancient Shinovar.
  • He appears among nine singers who see him as “Moash” (an ancient singer name).
  • He discovers he has lost an entire day in the Physical Realm and cannot create a perpendicularity to return.
  • Navani arrives by following their bond, taking over a singer’s form.
  • Dalinar bluntly asks the singers about Honor; they reveal a split between those who worship Honor and those who await the return of the “Origin of Songs” (Adonalsium).
  • A mild highstorm passes; the singers pray, and the “Wind” appears as a shimmering ripple.
  • The Wind speaks to Dalinar and Navani, confirming they are visitors and that Szeth and Kaladin are in Shinovar (in a different time).
  • The Wind says Honor’s power is stubborn and cannot be persuaded.
  • A portal opens to a world on fire—the arrival of humans.

Character Development

  • Dalinar: His resolve is tested. He resists the temptation to float in peace, using a physical anchor (the rock) to fulfill his purpose. He remains direct and impulsive (“chull in a glassware shop”), but his determination to learn the truth drives him forward.
  • Navani: She demonstrates resourcefulness by locking onto Dalinar’s bond to escape the chaos. Her scientific mind is evident: she analyzes the singers’ grammar and identifies the translation of “Origin of Songs.” Her sense of humor surfaces when she teases Dalinar about his blunt approach.
  • The Wind: Introduced as a non-corporal entity, caretaker of ancient Shinovar. It speaks in a chorus, knows the future (Szeth and Kaladin are mentioned), and shows familiarity with the Bondsmiths. It remains enigmatic but cooperative.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Memory and Identity: Dalinar experiences fractured versions of himself (child, drunkard, grieving father). The chapter asks whether continuity of self is an illusion.
  • Anchoring and Connection: The stone from Wit and Navani’s bond both serve as tethers. Physical objects and relationships prevent Dalinar from dissolving into the spiritual realm.
  • The Arrival of Change: The “Wind” laments losing its voice as new gods arrive. The burning portal symbolizes both destruction and transformation—the first humans coming to Roshar.
  • Bluntness vs. Subtlety: Dalinar’s direct questioning yields partial answers but also cuts off further conversation. Navani’s more diplomatic approach (asking “why”) encourages the singers to elaborate.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 43 is a pivot point for the novel’s historical revelations. It brings Dalinar and Navani directly into the moment of humanity’s arrival on Roshar, setting the stage for understanding the true history of the Oathpact, the Heralds, and Honor’s power. The introduction of the “Wind” provides a new source of information about the ancient world and confirms that Szeth and Kaladin are simultaneously in Shinovar. The chapter also deepens Dalinar’s internal struggle: his need to remain present despite the pull of oblivion. This vision is the key to unlocking the power of Honor—if Dalinar can survive it.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Dalinar struggle to keep his eyes open at the beginning of the chapter?
He is floating in the spiritual realm after his perpendicularity anchor snapped. The warmth and peace tempt him to surrender, but he forces himself to look at his past to avoid being lost forever.

2. What does the “Wind” reveal about Szeth and Kaladin?
The Wind says that the Bondsmiths (“the soldier and the assassin”) are where Dalinar and Navani stand, but in another time. This confirms that Szeth and Kaladin are in Shinovar during a different temporal layer of the vision.

3. How does the singers’ debate about Honor reflect on Rosharan religion?
The singers are split: some follow Honor as their god, while others worship the “Origin of Songs” (Adonalsium). This foreshadows the eventual conflict between Honor’s shard and the original divine force, and hints that the singers’ religion predates human arrival.

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