Dalinar arrives at the Azimir Oathgate, unarmed, and faces wary soldiers and viziers. At the Stormfather’s prompting, he uses Spiritual Adhesion by touching a young guard, forming a Connection that lets him speak Azish. He presents Queen Fen’s economic essay advocating Oathgate trade, followed by Navani’s invitation and shared fabrial research—including half-shard schematics—and then Jasnah’s concise rhetorical masterpiece, “Verdict.”

Escorted through a deliberately confusing, fortified market, Dalinar observes Azimir’s stability, Emul’s devastation, and protests over parshmen losses as citizens resist being sent to farms. At the palace he’s sequestered, wrestles with mistrust of “rule by pens,” and meets Lift, who raids his lunch, jokes about Edgedancer abilities, mentions a relic finger from an ancient Prime, and notes she has met the Nightwatcher. Lift predicts denial, but offers no help convincing the viziers.

Noura returns with a reversal: the emperor and council accept a visit to Urithiru. She outlines expected attendees—Emul’s Prime and Sage, Tashikk’s ambassador, and possibly Yezier’s princess—while other Azish states may follow. Noura privately admits she was overruled and distrusts Radiants; Dalinar promises to prove them trustworthy. He cautions her about the true scale of Oathgate transport as Jasnah arrives to return him.

As they part, Noura says she expected an “animal,” and Dalinar acknowledges he once was. Back in Urithiru with Navani waiting, a sudden flood of memory strikes him. Overcome with nausea, he collapses as he finally recalls Evi and the atrocity at the Rift, a revelation that promises to upend his self-image and relationships.