At Azimir, Adolin joins the formal welcome for Emperor Yanagawn and inspects the city’s plan to defend the Oathgate platform. Commandant Kushkam proposes trapping attackers in the control building with Soulcast bronze, packed infantry, and fire, but Adolin argues that singers and Fused could bypass or survive much of that plan. Using the lingering effect of Dalinar’s Connection, Adolin suddenly understands and speaks Azish well enough to press for deeper defensive lines, archers, pikes, and barricades instead.

Adolin quickly realizes he has made a political mistake by contradicting Kushkam in front of the emperor and court. To avoid damaging morale and alienating the officer he must fight beside, Adolin publicly withdraws and praises Kushkam’s experience. In private, Yanagawn and Noura make clear they would have supported Adolin, but Adolin insists that preserving trust inside the defense matters more, while quietly asking them to keep scrap and furniture ready in case his preferred fallback position becomes necessary.

As they withdraw, Adolin bonds further with Yanagawn by promising to teach him towers after the war and by explaining that he came because others once stood up for him when they did not have to. Colot accompanies him and admits how much it still hurts to have nearly become a Windrunner, only to be rejected by the spren; Adolin sympathizes and values Colot as part of his own command. Adolin then meets May Aladar, who arrives with other women scribes to serve as his support staff while Shallan is away, and he reflects on their awkward past as well as on Maya’s amused, increasingly lively commentary.

Adolin next speaks with Highprince Aladar, who has assembled a volunteer force of former guardsmen and other experienced soldiers for Azimir’s defense. Aladar tells Adolin he is proud of what the Kholins have built, contrasting that purpose with his own older, smaller ambitions, and urges him to save the city. As the final Oathgate transfer begins and some civilians depart while many stay, Adolin recognizes that Azimir still has its heart and resolves to defend it, then goes to don his Plate because the battle is expected within the hour.