Veil worries about exposing her “Swiftspren” persona yet commits to attending the cult’s Revel. She delivers stolen food with Vathah, is admitted at the Oathgate steps by a masked cultist, and climbs, planning to leap off and heal if discovered. Above, she meets Kharat, an ardent guide, and joins the revelers.

On the wall, Kaladin completes post-storm checks and attends a morale-boosting inspection by Highmarshal Azure. At dinner, he maneuvers to sit across from her, noting her casual treatment of her strange sword. The officers tense as Kaladin engages Azure directly.

Veil witnesses the outer ring’s bonfires, excess food, and entranced participants, while insistent whispers urge surrender. Pattern’s humming steadies her. She tricks Kharat with Lightweaving—leaving an illusory Veil and adopting the new face “Kishi”—then slips inward past the revel’s flow.

Kaladin confronts Azure about her hidden identity and the company’s pretense. Azure explains the “mystery” deflects Alethi pride and turns the focus from her gender to effectiveness. As she asks if Kaladin chased her here, war drums boom; both spring to arms for an imminent attack.

Deeper in, Veil finds a ring of crawling, maddened lighteyes amid rotting food. At the center, the Oathgate control building is smothered by a pulsing black mass with vein-like growths, beating an irregular rhythm. A wrong-way shadow with glowing eyes warns the heart is a trap. With drums sounding on the wall, Veil withdraws, rejoins the outer ring, then leaps from the platform to escape.