Walking Elhokar’s palace grounds, Navani challenges Dalinar about his mixed signals in their youth and his decades of coldness. Dalinar admits he stepped aside for Gavilar and reveals he is a man of extremes who binds himself with the Codes and Nohadon to avoid sliding back into who he was. They weigh rumors, Elhokar’s likely reaction, and their uncertain “cause,” when horns sound: the Tower plateau hosts a chasmfiend. Dalinar departs to arm, noting that he and Navani are, at last, acting together.

In the lumberyard, chaos turns to awe as Bridge Four arrives in full Parshendi carapace armor, shields laced with bones, their tactics refined. Kaladin leads, keeping infused spheres as the Parshendi archers key on him, while decoys and shield-bearers protect the crew. After six runs without a fatality, other bridgemen cheer them as champions, and Bridge Four trots out at the fore.

Meanwhile, Adolin dons Shardplate, newly relieved by Navani’s revelation that Dalinar’s visions are genuine. He resolves to trust his father and rides out to join Dalinar, who is conferring with officers as troops mass along the Plains.

Highprince Sadeas arrives in red Plate, excited that the Tower can trap a large Parshendi force: two sides are sheer, and the enemy reliably commits heavily there. He estimates the Parshendi will send ten thousand and urges a combined march, fielding his seven thousand with Dalinar’s eight thousand, promising to attack first and reduce bridgeman risk—casualties now “almost nothing.” Seeing a chance to break the war’s stalemate, Dalinar agrees and orders Adolin to mobilize the Fourth through Eighth Divisions.