In Azimir, Adolin finally puts on his Shardplate again and feels restored by the familiar strength and confidence it gives him. While armorers finish suiting him up, May Aladar reports on defensive preparations. She explains that a hidden saferoom beneath buildings on the east side will serve as an emergency refuge for the emperor, so placing a hospital there will both protect the wounded and conceal the saferoom’s purpose. She also reveals that her ward Rahel is secretly a Truthwatcher able to use Regrowth, which gives the defenders a rare and valuable battlefield healer.

Adolin then shifts to command work, greeting veteran comrades Gerenor, Isalor, and Kappak and assigning each to lead a battalion, trusting them to act decisively if needed. His relaxed, personal style of leadership draws amused criticism from May, but it clearly works because his soldiers know and trust him. Seeing that the defenders need skilled archers, Adolin unexpectedly gives May command of the twenty best bowmen, partly to strengthen the defense and partly to give her practical battlefield experience as a future highprincess. He also arranges reliable subordinates under her, including Beamlin Dorset and Talig, and promotes Kaminah into aide-de-camp duties.

As Adolin issues wider instructions, he orders his battalionlords not to interfere with Azish command but to stay ready to move. He positions reserve companies outside the dome to rush in and form pike walls if necessary, organizes a Shardbearer support squad to protect his rear, and confirms contingency plans for his Plate and Blade if he falls. At the same time, Maya scouts from the Cognitive side of the battlefield. Because Adolin and Maya’s bond is unusual, Maya can remain aware in Shadesmar and report what she sees, including that the Oathgate spren have been fully corrupted and now serve the enemy.

While climbing to the inner balcony with his scribes and guards, Adolin reflects on how much the age of Radiants has diminished the old battlefield importance of a mere Shardbearer. He admits to himself that he wants to choose his own path rather than simply become what his father expects, and Maya challenges his insistence on doing everything alone. Once on the balcony, he studies the Azish defensive formation around the central command building and receives Maya’s estimates of the attacking force: roughly a hundred stormforms and a similar number of direforms, along with Fused controlling nearby beads in Shadesmar and breaking apart boats for materials.

Adolin observes the Azish attempt to fortify the command building by filling barriers with water so a Soulcaster can transform it into bronze. Soon, however, the enemy sends Voidspren scouts through a flash around the building, letting them inspect the terrain and human positions. Realizing the enemy will now know the defenders’ layout exactly, Adolin urges Commandant Kushkam to spread the troops into a wider ring, but Kushkam ignores the advice and keeps his forces packed tightly around the objective. As May arrives with the archers and Adolin braces himself for the killing to come, a third flash appears around the command building, signaling that the enemy assault has finally begun.