At Narak, Sigzil meets with the generals and challenges their assumption that the enemy will target Narak Two and the Oathgate next. Because Odium’s forces have only three days left to take Narak Prime, Sigzil argues they cannot afford to trap the humans into a desperate last stand; instead, they will want a strike that appears demoralizing and efficient. He proposes a feint at Narak Three, using Lightweaver illusions to make it seem like the humans’ Stormlight reserves are stored there, hoping to lure the enemy into wasting strength on the wrong objective. Sigzil leaves the meeting knowing the trap is dangerous because the illusion hides a partial truth: their actual Stormlight reserves are running critically low.

After the meeting, Sigzil walks the camp, encouraging soldiers by habit, then speaks privately with Vienta and learns they are unlikely to hold out for the full three days if current losses continue. On the wall, Leyten confesses that he feels unworthy as a Windrunner and blames himself for the deaths of two squires. Sigzil reassures him by turning the logic back on Kaladin: if Leyten blames himself, he would also have to blame Kaladin for every loss under his command, which Leyten refuses to do. The argument restores Leyten’s confidence, and the exchange strengthens Sigzil as well, helping him accept that he has grown into a real leader rather than merely filling a role temporarily.

Elsewhere, Venli leads listeners and allied chasmfiends through the flooded chasms of the Shattered Plains, following a strange tone that grows clearer as they move inward. Though the route is dark, foul, and lined with ancient remains, Venli feels unexpectedly at home there. When the group reaches a damlike obstruction, the chasmfiends carry the singers over it, showing both their intelligence and their growing alliance with Venli’s group.

Beyond the obstruction, Venli speaks with Leshwi, who admits that life without divine status and powers leaves her uncertain of her purpose. Venli urges Leshwi to see that rejecting Odium was the hardest and most important step, and promises that among the listeners she can become something better than a god: free. Soon after, Thundercloud helps Venli inspect another blockage high in the chasm, which turns out to be an old human bridge overgrown with plant life and scarred from past battles. The discovery underscores how deeply history is embedded in the Plains as the group presses on toward the source of the discordant song.

In Thaylen City, Jasnah receives a Windrunner reconnaissance report confirming her theory that the enemy fleet is a decoy: the ships’ holds are filled with stone rather than soldiers, and many visible troops appear to be untrained laborers in warform. Jasnah concludes that Odium has judged Thaylen City too difficult to take before the deadline and is using the false invasion to pin down defenders while concentrating on the Shattered Plains and Azimir. Queen Fen remains afraid that acting on this intelligence could expose her city to a hidden attack, but Jasnah insists that they must act on the evidence they do have. Guided by her principle of doing the most good possible, Jasnah begins issuing orders to send Radiants from Thaylen City to reinforce the Shattered Plains.