In Urithiru, Dalinar and Navani examine a red garnet vein threading the tower’s stone. Navani notes records describing the tower as a living construct with a heart of emerald and ruby, but attempts to “wake” it have failed. A spanreed report from Thaylen allies describes a merchant ship lost near Marat and glowing attackers from shore, implying a growing enemy navy. Dalinar orders the coalition’s next meeting in Thaylen City to inspect and fortify defenses, then prepares to enter a highstorm vision to learn the enemy’s aims.

The vision places Dalinar in Nohadon’s palace, where Venli suddenly appears in the role of the king’s advisor. Dalinar identifies himself and presses for peace, offering labor, wealth, and even shared rule; Venli rejects any accommodation that denies singers Alethkar, condemning human slavery of her people. Their exchange ends as the sky fractures with blazing light—Odium is intruding.

As the vision unravels, walls, bodies, and even air disintegrate toward a ravenous rift. Dalinar glows and creates a stable zone on the balcony, reknitting stone and wood. Venli retreats toward his sanctuary, rescues the spren Timbre from the winds, then faces a second, lower rift that collapses the remaining city. She falls into a chasm; Dalinar leaps, armored in light, catches her hand, and she is thrown back to her body in Marat with Timbre safe.

Dalinar is then seized by pain and brought before Odium on a white expanse. Odium questions him, claims to be the only god who knows pain, and promises eventual peace—but after Dalinar destroys Roshar so Odium can rebuild it. Dalinar falters while suggesting a contest of champions; Odium calls him “my son.”

The vision ends. Back in Urithiru, Navani steadies a shaken Dalinar. Through the bond, the Stormfather weeps, having barely held Odium at bay and insisting their foe is too strong.