The Stormfather announces his storm has reached Thaylen City and draws Queen Fen into a vision. Dalinar briefly visits a featureless “no place,” where the Stormfather muses that all things die twice, then enters the familiar scene: flying beside a Windrunner to a village besieged by Midnight Essence. Lacking radiant Plate, Dalinar confirms these recreations offer limited answers.

Landing, Dalinar finds Taffa dead and notes Seeli’s absence, then confronts the monsters, healing a bite with Stormlight and pinning a creature with Lashing-like adhesion. Nearby, townsfolk rally around a bonfire of furniture, stabbing the creatures open. The Windrunner finishes the fight and rebukes Dalinar for hesitating.

Dalinar approaches Fen, asks the Stormfather to slow the vision, and explains the visions’ purpose. Fen admits she sacrificed Taffa while saving Seeli and demands why Dalinar trapped her here. They argue: Fen rejects claims of divine mandate and suspects Dalinar might be colluding with the enemy, citing spanreed rumors of his erratic behavior. Dalinar abandons diplomacy, speaks bluntly, and challenges her to weigh risks—possible Alethi conquest versus certain defeat alone.

Fen responds to his honesty, saying his letters sounded like a committee, and asks to see the vision’s end. Time resumes. The Windrunner praises “her” leadership and invites her to learn true command in Alethela. Through Seeli, Honor’s recorded message urges unity and honor. Dalinar presses the Stormfather about bringing more people into visions; the spren resists being ordered.

Though still distrustful, Fen now listens and, in Dalinar’s judgment, will consider traveling to Urithiru. Dalinar concludes that sincerity—not polished diplomacy—is the key to winning Thaylenah’s support.