Adolin leads a strike to support Roion’s embattled troops on a uniquely tiered plateau. With Jakamav, he makes a risky cliff ascent, using his Shardblade as a step and Shardplate for leverage, then smashes into the Parshendi line atop the upper tier.

At the peak, the chrysalis is already opened and the gemheart gone. A towering Parshendi Shardbearer in ridged Plate holds the prize while soldiers leap the central chasm to withdraw. When Adolin challenges, the Shardbearer—revealed as female—speaks accented Alethi, asks to contact Dalinar, promises to send a messenger, then dismisses her Blade and escapes with a prodigious jump. Adolin suppresses the Thrill, choosing potential parley over a reckless duel.

Afterward, the Alethi control the field but gain nothing. Adolin checks on Renarin, who had tried to help during a bridge scuffle but froze after summoning his Blade; he sits withdrawn, later insisting it wasn’t a medical fit but fear and inexperience.

Adolin pays respects to Highprinces Roion and Ruthar, who offer little thanks—Ruthar even blames Adolin’s climb for the loss. Under a pavilion, Jakamav shares that Sadeas is pressuring Shardbearers to refuse Adolin’s challenges but suggests Eranniv might accept; he also declines a public outing with Adolin, wary of the Kholins’ unpopularity. Adolin broods on isolation and a delayed betrothal ship, noting even Navani worries that Jasnah should have sent word.

Riding back, Adolin reassures Renarin and urges training under Zahel. Renarin insists he must be ready, citing fresh scratched numbers outside Dalinar’s rooms—forty-nine days, “A new storm comes”—intensifying the sense of urgency.