Outside the shielded pillar chamber in Urithiru, Raboniel critiques Venli’s staff and notes that only the women read, contrasting human customs with singer expectations. Observing the chaotic hallway, Raboniel identifies Navani’s deliberate clutter as a stalling tactic and a bid to eavesdrop. Probing Venli’s loyalties, Raboniel asks why she serves after Odium destroyed the listeners; Venli deflects with a calculated answer. Raboniel remarks that Odium no longer elevates mortals to become Fused, then sends Venli to check on the Pursuer’s search.

Venli meets Dul on the winding stairwell, confirms no Voidspren are watching, and receives his report: supply caches from Kholinar have been quietly reorganized into grab-and-go packs. Venli outlines her plan to wait for inevitable upheaval—human revolt, an external attack, or Navani’s fabrial breakthrough—then flee through mountain routes she memorized, aiming to vanish a few dozen singers in the wilderness and fake their deaths to halt pursuit.

A problem emerges with Shumin, a new recruit who has been trying to spread talk of rebellion. To avoid exposure, Venli orders Dul to isolate her with menial tasks and forbid further recruiting. Discussing the recent stairwell battle, Dul asks if they should seek human aid, but recounts human cruelties that make trust difficult. Venli instead directs placing their people on crews tending the unconscious Knights Radiant to watch for future opportunity. She regrets being unable to test or train her powers without detection.

After parting from Dul, Venli worries that her promises might be false hope as Raboniel’s perceptiveness threatens their secrecy and survival. Confronted by her own history of failure and guilt over her people, she accepts Timbre’s silent urging and resolves to finally share the darker truth of her past, beginning with the humans’ second visit.