In the aftermath of a bloody battle during the last Desolation, periodic cycles of cataclysm, the Herald Kalak hurries to meet his nine companions. His thoughts reveal that Heralds are doomed to eternal life. Whenever they die, they are sent to a place of “pain and fire” only to be reborn again (2). Kalak considers abandoning his task.

When Kalak reaches the meeting place, he finds only Jezrien there, as well as seven swords sticking out of the ground. Jezrien tells him that all but one Herald, Talenel, survived the battle, but the others decided to leave their swords behind and break their Oathpact. Talenel will be the only Herald left. In the meantime, the rest of them will attempt to break the cycle of Desolations in other ways. Kalak is surprised to hear this news as Jezrien was once a king, someone supposedly superior to other humans. Kalak realizes that all of the Heralds are too tired to continue saving humanity. Jezrien tries to reassure them both by claiming that people will still have the Knights Radiant. As the two begin walking in opposite directions, Kalak asks for forgiveness for abandoning Talenel.