Eshonai climbs Narak’s central spire in stormform, reveling in new rhythms and intrusive, unsettling sensations. Meeting the other members of the Five—while Venli, also in stormform, attends—she proposes that all listeners transform to maximize their chance to summon a highstorm and destroy the Alethi caught on the plateaus during the lull.

The Five hesitate, citing uncertainty and unease about stormform’s changes; Zuln outright refuses. Frustrated, Eshonai bypasses them, addressing the gathered populace and demonstrating a miniature tempest between her hands. She declares that in two days any who wish may take the new form, framing it as a right and duty.

Eshonai then leverages her command of the army to survey the city, separate the unwilling, and prepare mass transformation. She intends to wait until more soldiers wear stormform before dealing with dissenters. Abronai objects publicly and is detained with the others. Eshonai confides to Thude that drastic action is needed to save their people, but he remains troubled.

As thousands gather for her speech, Eshonai learns the dissenters—guarded by Thude and including her own mother—have escaped by cutting a bridge and descending into the chasms. Eshonai dismisses the loss, expecting the coming highstorm to kill them. Venli confronts her, but Eshonai asserts control and proceeds to address the city, while Venli continues organizing spren for the planned mass transformation.