At a coalition meeting of monarchs and advisers, Wit reveals that Odium is no longer Rayse. Navani hears both the Sibling and the Stormfather confirm the change, which means their enemy is now a new Vessel. Wit explains why this is dangerous: the formal contest agreement still binds Odium, but Rayse’s personal promise not to exploit loopholes does not bind the new holder of the power. That is why Odium can now pursue a legal strategy to seize entire kingdoms by taking their capitals before the contest.

Navani presses for practical options, but Wit says breaking the contract would be catastrophic because Odium could retaliate directly. He also says clever alternatives such as changing a capital would violate the agreement under Alethi law. The council therefore returns to the central problem: enemy forces are advancing on Azir, Thaylenah, and the Shattered Plains, and the coalition must hold all three for eight days. Dalinar calls for a map, and the leaders begin reviewing troop positions.

Using Stargyle’s illusion map, the Mink lays out the military situation. A large coalition army is still several days from Azimir, while only a few thousand defenders currently hold the city. Thaylenah faces a fleet capable of landing forty thousand soldiers, and the Shattered Plains face a smaller but far more dangerous force composed mostly of Fused. As the debate continues, the Sibling publicly states that Urithiru itself is safe because enemy singers and Fused cannot function there, allowing the coalition to move many of Urithiru’s troops elsewhere.

Dalinar, Jasnah, the Mink, and the others conclude that they cannot overcommit to Azir, even though Yanagawn fears being abandoned. They decide Azir needs a smaller elite force to help its defenders survive until reinforcements arrive, while the bulk of conventional troops should go to Thaylenah and Radiants should support the Shattered Plains. Adolin volunteers to lead two thousand of the best soldiers to Azir, Jasnah agrees to command the defense of Thaylen City, and Dalinar appoints Sigzil to command at the Shattered Plains with Windrunner support.

After the meeting breaks, Navani watches Dalinar and Adolin struggle through their strained relationship. Adolin then delivers Shallan’s message: she has uncovered foreign, offworld-connected spies in Urithiru and needs authorization and a Radiant strike force to act against them. Dalinar agrees to support Shallan’s operation, then gives Adolin a temporary Bondsmith enhancement so Adolin can understand the Azish language while in Azir. When Adolin leaves, Dalinar admits his uncertainty about repairing their bond, then tells Navani that on his way to the meeting he encountered a god and will need her counsel.