Eshonai reviews a gemstone holding a stormspren with her warpair, Thude and Bila. Bila only cares whether it will help kill humans, while Eshonai fears the ancient powers are tied to the listeners’ forbidden gods. Eshonai reflects on capturing spren to control transformations, and the dwindling listener population pressed into warform.

In Narak, Eshonai encounters listeners who voluntarily take dullform to avoid human violence, deepening her concern. She visits her mother, whose memory drifts, and seeks wisdom. Her mother sings the story of the Last Legion abandoning forms of power—and memory—for freedom, reminding Eshonai of their people’s origins and the risk of inviting the gods’ return.

Finding her old exploration maps stirs Eshonai’s longing for discovery, but she proceeds to meet the Five atop Narak’s tower. With each known form represented, they debate stormform. Eshonai warns that ancient powers herald darkness, while others argue the listeners are fading, humans may have Surgebinders, and they must act. Venli pleads to test at the next highstorm.

Eshonai yields to the test but demands to take stormform herself, protecting Venli’s irreplaceable knowledge and allowing an experienced soldier to judge the form. The Five agree. Venli bristles, accusing Eshonai of seizing glory, but consents to prepare her for the transformation. Eshonai plans the training and contemplates seeking peace with Dalinar as an alternative before committing to stormform.