An opening note warns someone not to return to Obrodai, claiming a new, hostile avatar is manifesting there. The narrative then follows Dalinar flying with Kaladin, Navani, Elhokar, Kadash, Rushu, and Windrunner squires to the Shattered Plains, testing group transport that will be needed for the Kholinar mission. They land near the warcamps and are escorted inside, where Brightness Jasalai receives them.

Touring the largely intact camp, Dalinar weighs logistics: whether to found a new base on the Plains or rely on Alethkar’s crops if Kholinar is reclaimed. Over a meal, Navani and Rushu discuss an engineering concept resembling a vessel with a sail beneath it. A spanreed from Queen Fen writes a single word—“Yes”—signaling her willingness to visit Urithiru, and Dalinar plans to send a Radiant escort.

Dalinar slips to the monastery, reflecting on Vorinism’s comfortable arrangements for lighteyes and ardents. He finds Kadash packing, spanreeds blinking from multiple Vorin centers. Kadash provides the former room of the madman who claimed to be a Herald (Shash building, room thirty-seven), and he and Dalinar debate the implications of the Almighty’s death and the basis of rule. Kadash has been awaiting Dawnchant translations from the Palanaeum, seeking hard proof regarding Dalinar’s visions.

Dalinar goes to the cell. The door is bolted; he habitually tries to summon a Shardblade and fails, and the Stormfather reminds him of his Bondsmith limits. Circling outside, he finds a Shardblade-cut hole through the wall, suggesting an external extraction. Inside, the madman is gone, but Dalinar discovers a small green dart with yellow twine.

Kaladin identifies blackbane-derived poison on the dart’s tip. Dalinar gives Navani the monastery records and the dart for safekeeping. Resolving to capitalize on Queen Fen’s reply, Dalinar instructs Kaladin to attempt a stormflight to Thaylen City—bringing or testing a passenger if needed—to secure Fen and activate the Oathgate.