Taravangian awakens in pain and mental fog, noticing an opened window he assumes Dalinar ordered. He retrieves a notebook and carefully copies instructions from his hidden drawer, emphasizing not to involve Dalinar and to speak to Szeth alone. Frustrated by his own forgetfulness, he bungles breakfast, then reflects bitterly on living with a fluctuating mind.

Renarin arrives with guards and hesitantly addresses Taravangian, saying something recently changed about him and that Dalinar is deeply hurt. Renarin describes seeing Taravangian’s future as darkness with a flickering point of light and insists no one is beyond returning. He awkwardly offers his hand, then withdraws and departs, promising to share any vision that might help Taravangian decide.

Left with a single, short guard, Taravangian recognizes the man’s accent and unblinking stare: Szeth in disguise. Szeth demands to know why Taravangian asked for an Oathstone and declares he won’t be manipulated again. Taravangian reaches for him, asking about the sword, then reads from his notes: the sword was never in the Diagram, Odium fears it, and it might harm Odium if used within one of Odium’s visions, where Odium’s sight seems limited.

Rejecting his more manipulative scripts, Taravangian pleads plainly for help. He urges that the sword be given to Dalinar, who is sometimes drawn into Odium’s visions, noting Odium believes the sword is at Urithiru and “can’t see it because of Renarin.” Szeth refuses to be bound or manipulated and leaves. Taravangian remains clutching his notebook, weeping.