Taravangian tells Jasnah and Fen that he can take Thaylen City that very night, but offers Fen a chance to negotiate a peaceful surrender instead. He claims he has already secured contracts with former Azish protectorates and other cities across Roshar, giving him control of every major port except Thaylen City. Because Thaylenah depends on trade and sea access, he uses that claim to argue that Fen will be isolated and economically strangled if she stays with Dalinar’s coalition.

Taravangian continues by promising safety and influence. He says Fen could gain formal representation in his empire and negotiate better terms for her people than she could ever get by relying on Dalinar’s contest or Alethi leadership. Jasnah answers that Taravangian is still a tyrant and murderer, and that peace without freedom and self-determination is not a true good. When Taravangian shifts to practical advantage, Jasnah shifts to honor, arguing that Fen has made promises to the coalition. Fen agrees that the coalition has flaws, especially Alethi ones, but says those allies have proven themselves and improved, while Taravangian has already betrayed them.

When the debate is not moving Fen, Taravangian changes tactics and attacks Jasnah’s credibility instead of her logic. He forces the discussion onto Jasnah’s own utilitarian choices, revealing that Jasnah once deliberately baited criminals in Kharbranth so she could kill them as a lesson for Shallan. Then he produces a signed assassination contract targeting Aesudan, Elhokar’s widow, with Jasnah’s name on it. Jasnah realizes too late that Taravangian came prepared not merely to argue philosophy, but to show Fen that Jasnah herself has crossed moral lines when she believed the outcome justified it.

Elsewhere, Navani returns to Urithiru carrying the exhausted Gavinor, who falls asleep in her arms. As she rides upward, Navani cannot stop thinking about leaving Dalinar behind. She still believes her reasons were sound, including protecting Gavinor and ensuring that at least one Bondsmith escaped, and she concludes that if Dalinar cannot go to the contest of champions, she will go in his place. Even so, her stronger instinct is to find some way to save him. The Sibling helps arrange care for Gavinor, and the guards outside Navani’s room briefly mistake Navani for an impostor.

Inside, Navani discovers that the supposed impostor is actually Lift, awkwardly disguised as Navani and filling in to keep the tower from panicking. Wit admits the deception was partly practical and partly amusing, and explains that he also used illusions to maintain the appearance of stability. Once the absurdity passes, Navani finally breaks and tells Wit that she left Dalinar behind and now needs help rescuing him. Wit immediately asks whether Shallan, Gavinor, Rlain, or Renarin returned, then says he thinks he may have figured out what went wrong seven days earlier and might be able to help Dalinar.