Summary

The Prologue, To Weep, follows Eshonai as she and her people, called the listeners, visit Kholinar to sign a treaty with the humans. As the only one who can speak the human language, Eshonai leaves her group and wanders the palace. She finds a room with King Gavilar who invites her in by name. He shows her a Fabrial powered by Stormlight, telling her that he wants to make more that can heat the entire room. Gavilar says others see Eshonai’s kind as savages, but he believes they are a window to the past. He says he can bring her gods back, but Eshonai says they abandoned them. Gavilar says they captured ancient spren and that gods brought them power. He shows her a map and says that people and parshman were once vibrant. He shows her the Shattered Plain and...