Sigzil leads five squires beneath a storm-dark sky to intercept Heavenly Ones carrying boulders toward Narak’s defenders. The fighting is far harsher than earlier clashes, with the Fused attacking in groups and killing more freely. Sigzil protects Rowalan, fights three enemies at once, and kills one Heavenly One by striking through the gemheart. During the skirmish, Sigzil stays alert for anti-spren weapons, but none appear yet.

After the remaining Heavenly Ones retreat, Sigzil confirms through Vienta’s calculations that they are truly withdrawing. His squires praise his skill, but Sigzil pushes back against their habit of mythologizing Bridge Four. Leyten then reports that Sigzil’s strategy is working: enemy forces have been diverted toward Narak Four, an intentional weak point. However, Leyten also confirms that no new Stormlight shipment has come from Urithiru, and Sigzil realizes that Dalinar’s absence and the reduced number of Windrunners may make the position impossible to hold for long.

On the platform at Narak, Sigzil takes reports, manages troop movements, and worries about the burden of command. He notes that stormform singers nearly burned one of the gates, considers but questions blocking the Oathgate with stone, and orders alternative evacuation plans in case the bridges fail. He also warns everyone about the coming highstorm and the danger of the Everstorm’s lingering presence. When he reflects that dead Fused may now return much faster than before, the battle’s attrition looks even worse. Soon another attack, this time centered on Narak Four, begins to form, and Sigzil prepares to meet it.

Elsewhere, Venli, Jaxlim, and Thude approach Leshwi and the five Heavenly Ones who have sheltered near the listener settlement. Leshwi’s powers have begun to run out, which should not happen for a Heavenly One unless something has changed in her connection to Odium. Venli and the others bring Leshwi into the settlement so she can see the listeners’ peaceful life, then explain their belief that by rejecting Odium and Ba-Ado-Mishram, the listeners broke those powers’ direct hold over them. They tell Leshwi that if she truly wants to join them, she may need to give up the sky and abandon the old conflict.

Leshwi admits that the choice is far harder for a Fused, because Odium remains bound to her and could punish her after death. Even so, Venli sees signs of change when Leshwi slips into one of the old rhythms rather than Odium’s corrupt ones. Jaxlim and Venli decide that the choice must remain Leshwi’s, and that respecting it matters more than forcing an answer. After Leshwi leaves, Thude finally agrees to explain how the listeners made peace with the chasmfiends, offering to share the "Song of the Beasts" he composed himself.