Venli reflects on her first fateful choice—taking a secret gemstone out of jealousy—and on how fate inverted her expectations, leaving her bonded to Timbre and alive. At the sixth-floor scouting post, she hears of tower logistics: upper floors are empty, checkpoints are forming, and confinement must soon relax due to dwindling supplies. Raboniel’s policy spares surrendered Radiants but executes hidden ones and a family member; Venli suspects Raboniel wants Radiants for experiments.

A relayform Regal reports a human surgeon killed a singer during a sweep and escaped with an unconscious Windrunner. The description points to Kaladin Stormblessed, inexplicably still conscious. The Pursuer is hunting him and plans to interrogate—and exact revenge upon—the captured family of the fugitive surgeon. Timbre’s protests push Venli to act despite limited authority.

Venli reaches the atrium and informs Leshwi privately that Kaladin remains active and empowered. Leshwi is pleased yet worried the Pursuer will ignore her prior claim to duel Kaladin. Venli hesitates but then reveals the family’s peril, proposing they could be leveraged to find Kaladin before the Pursuer.

Leshwi departs, then returns after securing the family, using her rank to overrule the Pursuer. She hides them in a safe place and spreads a false rumor of their disposal to protect them and maintain advantage. She warns Venli not to display compassion toward humans. Venli leaves, bolstered by Timbre, admitting she feels a false Radiant but recognizing this as a step toward who she should be.