On the barren field, Kaladin is the only one who forces himself to stand against the crushing darkness emanating from Ishar. Everyone else, including Szeth and Syl, is down and trembling, connected to Ishar by cords of white light. Kaladin realizes that his purpose in coming here was not simply to fight Ishar, but to stand in front of that despair and shield others from it. He steps between Ishar and Szeth, then tells Ishar that he recognizes the pain because he has felt the same kind of darkness himself.

Kaladin refuses to promise Ishar that life will become easy, but he does promise that warmth can return and that shared suffering matters because it means Ishar is not alone. Even while nearly overwhelmed, Kaladin understands that the Heralds live with a version of the worst despair he has ever known. His act of standing has an effect: Szeth manages to look up, and Syl begins to stir. When Ishar demands to know what Kaladin is, Kaladin answers with humor and compassion rather than fear, insisting that he is there to help.

Ishar suddenly grabs Kaladin by the throat and threatens to crush him, insisting that Kaladin cannot protect anyone and should be terrified. Kaladin admits that he is afraid, but he no longer yields to the darkness trying to show him failure. Instead, new Words come to him, combining the lessons of soldier and surgeon. Kaladin places a hand on Ishar's shoulder and speaks an oath: "I will protect myself, so that I may continue to protect others."

Elsewhere, Dalinar feels the power of Honor gathering around him while Odium's presence diminishes to a distant buzz. By viewing past events from the power's perspective, Dalinar understands that Honor has been wounded by betrayal and by Tanavast's failures to honor oaths. Lines of light appear from Dalinar's chest, and Honor recognizes him as the uniter. Dalinar sees that the power does not care most about his personal growth; it cares whether he can truly be trusted to keep his word.

Dalinar reflects on the promises he has made and the technicalities he has used, realizing Honor's judgment is both exacting and strangely immature. Then Cultivation tells him that the time has come to speak the Words. Accepting that this journey is about Connection and identity rather than arrival, Dalinar opens a perpendicularity and addresses Honor with the deepest truth he can offer: "I understand you."