Jezrien’s “old friend”

[+mdross81 he/him]

Didn’t want to put the name in the title since it’s arguably a mild spoiler.

But it seems pretty clear that Elodi, the singer Dalinar sees Jezrien speaking to in a vision — trying to avert conflict between the humans and singers — is none other than our old friend El.

I caught a couple of interesting little thematic bits that I thought I’d share. First, in chapter 55 of WaT:

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“You are making this place yours, Jezrien. There is so much room to expand.”

“Wasteland,” Jezrien said. “Barely anything can grow.”

“Your people are welcome in the east.”

“As servants,” Dalinar said. “Practically slaves.”

“How else will you learn our ways? Wise children sit at the feet of their fathers.”

I like the underlined passage because we know eventually El will come to be impressed by, and even protective of, humans. So it’s interesting to see what he thought of them early on - likening them to children.

The other line from that chapter that jumped out to me was this one:

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Elodi looked to the sky again. “And I listen to the old gods. The Wind, the Stone. They whisper for me to go east, to leave this pile of tinder before the bonfire begins.”

“In leaving,” Jezrien said, “you take with you every hint of common sense left to the singer nation. There will be war.”

“There’s already war, my friend,” Elodi said. “Stay on your side of the mountains.”

“I don’t think we can do that, Elodi,” Jezrien said. “Not if humans are dying.”

“Then pray that I do leave for the east, so we do not meet again,” Elodi said. “My people are listening to your god these days. I hope to drown out his voice with the Rhythm of Peace, but…”

Elodi gave them one last glance, then gathered his people and left. Hiking away.

Love the sly reference here to him trying to drown out (silence) Odium’s voice, given that later, as a Fused, he’ll earn the title of Vyre: He Who Quiets.

Sadly, Elodi and Jezrien’s friendship was destined for tragedy. From chapter 62:

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“It’s him,” a scout said. A dark-skinned man with a birthmark on his cheek. Storms, that was Nale. Dalinar had met him once. “Your friend, Jezrien. I’m sure of it.”

“El is dead,” Jezrien whispered. “I stabbed him myself.”

“And yet he lives,” Nale said.“ Jezrien, if El has joined the Fused … not only are our enemies being reborn, but they are recruiting the strongest and most talented singers to immortality. We have to counter it, or we will lose this war.”

Sad bookends. Jezrien is responsible for El’s first death, and El, in turn, delivers Jezrien’s final death.