Dalinar walks the Emul battlefield, reading the story of the fighting from the fallen. Mixed human and singer blood stains the stone an unwholesome shade, and the burned dead recall his greatest shame. As charnel crews work, he hears Taravangian’s cold logic that surrender can preserve a people, yet Dalinar distrusts Odium and recoils from the violence he once embraced after conquering the Thrill.

Among celebrating troops, Dalinar maintains a commander’s facade despite his distaste. The Mink joins him and explains the enemy’s resource calculus: Emul is effectively won unless the foe commits wasteful reinforcements, since they must hold Jah Keved. Dalinar reaffirms priorities—Urithiru first—then promises Alethkar next and Herdaz after, aligning with the Mink’s goals.

In the command tent, the sight of rubies and the memory of smoke weigh on Dalinar as he worries about Navani and the need to retake Urithiru to pressure Odium. Sigzil arrives with two Windrunners and the Lightweaver Stargyle. Using paint-like Lightweaving, Stargyle projects a moving aerial illusion of a Tukari shoreline camp: numerous veteran soldiers, a central pavilion with ringed patterns, and outside it an older Shin man in blue robes—identified as Ishar.

Ishar spreads his hands, frost tracing a glyph of mystery in the stone, seemingly directed at Dalinar. Szeth reacts with shock at seeing a Shin Herald. With the reconnaissance complete, Dalinar concludes Ishar is awaiting him. He orders further scouting, intends to consult Jasnah, and prepares to seek a meeting with Ishar to extract what knowledge the Herald can provide.