Welcome to my liveblog of Rhythm of War! Index post here. Beware of spoilers.

Chapter 66 (Bearer of Agonies)
Icons: Why Jez and Ishar, not Taln? Isn’t the title one of Taln’s primary epithets?

Epigraph: Oh, lovely. Now we have an indication that the author of the main text and the undertext are probably the same person after all! Gah! Why is this so convoluted? I am really failing in my author sleuthing.

Why would Connection be the thing that Honor neutered about the Bondsmith abilities? They seem pretty potent even without that. Connection is a huge source of possibility, of course, but how was that the thing that doomed Ashyn?

Finally we’re talking to Taravangian. But you didn’t bring Renarin along to help blind Odium, so I don’t know how helpful he’s going to be.

This is a delightfully enlightening conversation, and I love the dynamic so much. I’m too caught up in it to comment along the way, though. The “imitation of an imitation” line is particularly good, with the triple meaning of the room, their role as humanity’s defenders, and finally Taravangian’s own feeling of inadequacy compared to the day he wrote the Diagram (not the the last is a conscious reference for him)

On the surface it looks like they are arguing over utilitarianism vs moral absolutes, but given the complexities of the situation I have no doubt this is going to turn interesting very soon.

Yes, of course Mr. T recognized his own assassin. I’m honestly shocked the pretense lasted this long. Glad Odium isn’t checking up on him often anymore.

I like that Taravangian called out “oaths define morality” as a very Honor-bound position, and that other systems of morality are possible while likely remaining incompatible. Not that Dalinar accepted that. On the other hand, good for you, Dalinar. I’m glad you are sticking to “means must match the ends” arguments.

I appreciate the “Old Friend” moniker that Dalinar sticks Taravangian with. It is a well-used title, and a trope that I’m particularly partial to (see my user profile).

Glad Szeth at least recognizes that there are further plots afoot. I’m curious to see when the next stage of this one will play out.

On reflection, I think the icons at the top are both meant to be Dalinar’s position. I don’t see one of them as representing Taravangian unless it’s Ishar’s fallen state–and we know too little about him to use that.