At the Oathgates, Venli’s group waits to rotate to Kholinar, only to learn the human operator, Vyre, has vanished. With the highstorm imminent, Venli orders everyone inside and wrestles with Timbre’s steady belief in her. She decides to use Raboniel’s writ to smuggle Kaladin’s family—and possibly Kaladin—out, entrusting the writ and map to Mazish if she fails. Her allies surprisingly endorse the plan, believing a Windrunner could aid their escape, and they agree to wait through the storm while Venli goes to make the offer.

In her ruined office, Navani spirals after Raboniel recreates the anti‑Voidlight tone and weapon. Left unfed and unattended, she prays, questioning her worth as a scholar and begging for guidance. She’s interrupted by Moash confronting Raboniel: he refuses to kill Kaladin, insisting no enemy can, but vows to ruin him instead. Raboniel accepts his covenant and tasks him with breaking the last node; she gives him a spren‑killing dagger and spren‑revealing sand.

Moash coldly rebukes Navani—blaming lighteyed politics for Tien’s death—then departs using Stormlight. Shaken, Navani requests a candle, burns prayers, and finally notices the second dagger Raboniel used on her daughter, discarded amid debris. Its gemstone still holds a faint charge of anti‑Voidlight, offering Navani a potential lifeline.

Meanwhile, Kaladin walks openly toward the atrium, accepting the Pursuer’s challenge. Humans with shash marks fall in behind him, their faith bolstering his resolve to become Stormblessed “one last time.” He reunites with Syl, who returns weak and cold but ready. Kaladin readies Navani’s flying gauntlet on his belt, aware of its limitations but prepared to use it tactically.

As the highstorm nears, Kaladin enters the atrium and spots the Pursuer blocking the way to the infirmary. Heavenly Ones hover above, the hall clears, and the Pursuer launches himself to kill Kaladin, beginning the confrontation.