Adolin suppresses his grief at Elhokar's death and leads the retreat along the Sunwalk with Skar and Drehy guarding the rear. They reach the Oathgate platform, where Azure's soldiers and surgeons stabilize the defense as civilians crowd the steps. Seeing Fused gathering and parshmen flooding the city, Adolin concludes Kholinar is lost and orders the platform held for evacuation to Urithiru, giving a short deadline and prioritizing getting civilians onto the top.

Adolin moves to the control building, where Azure stands guard with a pack of gemstones to power the transfer. He informs Azure that the king is dead and the queen has turned, pressing the retreat despite her concern for her wall troops. Inside, Kaladin collapses against a wall, dazed and unresponsive, while Shallan kneels before a mirror she alone can use to see a spren.

Shallan explains that the black heart retreat was deliberate; Sja-anat, the Taker of Secrets, is speaking through the mirror and claims the Oathgate is trapped. Adolin, weighing the risk and the collapsing city, insists they use it regardless to save as many as possible and directs Shallan to transfer the entire platform, not just the control room.

Shallan consults Pattern, who cannot discern the truth. As threats mass outside, she summons Pattern as a Blade to engage the mechanism. Sja-anat promises to try not to kill them, but offers no certainty. Accepting the risk, Shallan activates the Oathgate while Kaladin sits shattered and Azure’s forces hold the platform for the desperate civilians.