Taravangian, now Odium, decides to let each side of himself rule in turn and begins with intellect. In this state, he seriously considers Cultivation’s argument that ending the war early might be safer, especially because he is a new god and could attract dangerous outside attention if he overreaches. After testing the possibilities, however, Taravangian concludes that he cannot logically justify peace. He believes he is likely to win, and he realizes that Odium’s power itself resists any path that would truly end the fighting.

That resistance leads Taravangian to an important discovery about the Shard he now holds. Odium craves war, rage, and painful intensity, and Taravangian fears that if he denies it conflict, the power could shift its preference toward Ba-Ado-Mishram as it once shifted from Rayse to him. To keep the power satisfied, Taravangian feeds it visions of future conquest across many worlds. He also tests its nature and learns that it especially values loud emotions, particularly anger, while subtler feelings such as genuine love and contentment seem to belong more to other divine powers.

From these observations, Taravangian decides that war remains the correct path and that his larger goal should be a cosmere unified beneath one god. He believes he has arranged the coming confrontation with Dalinar so that he benefits no matter how it resolves, even if he remains trapped on Roshar. With that confidence, Taravangian turns to preparation and decides that he needs a command staff made of capable, long-lived people whose betrayals he can predict. He notes El as an early piece of that future structure, then travels invisibly to Kharbranth, where he pauses to admire the Palanaeum and the human achievement it represents.

Taravangian then appears in the office of Dova, who is revealed to be Battah the Herald. He teases her for ruling through the shadows while his daughter should be learning to reign, and Dova quickly recognizes that he is the new Odium. Their conversation is sharp and transactional, confirming both Dova’s corruption and her brilliance. Taravangian asks about her work with crystal spikes, particularly her ability to grant a kind of perception that can detect Investiture, and then makes clear that he wants to recruit her into his new organization. Though Dova remarks that working for Odium is disgraceful for a Herald of Honor, she accepts immediately when Taravangian offers extraordinary pay and even the promise of a planet one day.