Shallan steps out from Ba-Ado-Mishram’s prison chamber and finds Mraize waiting in his own body. Radiant offers to take over, but Shallan insists on facing him herself, armed with the anti-Stormlight dagger she stole earlier. As Mraize smugly claims his job was only to keep her distracted and says Iyatil is watching Dalinar, Shallan realizes something is wrong: Dalinar was never searching for Mishram, so Mraize’s confidence means the real danger is elsewhere. Acting on instinct, Shallan spins and drives the anti-Stormlight knife at Formless, recognizing that Formless—not Mraize—is the immediate threat.

Elsewhere, Kaladin stands with Ishar and Syl while Szeth endures Ishar’s brutal test at the hands of the Honorbearers, refusing to fight back. Trying to reach Ishar through conversation and story, Kaladin asks about the distant past. Ishar confirms that humans came from another world called Alaswha and says he wants to save Roshar from suffering the same fate. He also claims he wrote down the tale of the Wandersail from Derethil’s account, dismisses Kaladin’s stories as children’s rhymes, and bitterly accuses Midius, or Wit, of helping lead humanity to Odium in the first place.

In Mishram’s prison chamber, Renarin and Rlain examine the dried corpse of the dead Bondsmith Melishi and the cracked gemstone containing Ba-Ado-Mishram. Mishram’s hatred spills into their minds as Glys reacts with fear, and Renarin argues that Melishi’s crimes do not need exaggeration even if he wronged Mishram terribly. Rlain studies the room’s old markings, Glys haltingly interprets the glyphs as a blessing for a sick child, and Renarin concludes this may have been Melishi’s childhood room. With Shallan still outside confronting danger, Renarin and Rlain look to the gemstone and realize they must make a decision soon.

Dalinar then learns the truth about Odium’s champion. What first appears to be Elhokar is actually Gavinor, aged into adulthood after Taravangian secretly stole him during Navani’s escape and subjected him to decades in the Spiritual Realm. Taravangian explains that Gavinor was trained to hate Dalinar, and the Stormfather confirms that the man is truly Dalinar’s grandson. Gavinor accuses Dalinar of taking Elhokar’s throne, abusing him, and destroying his family, then declares he will claim Alethkar through Odium’s promise. Dalinar refuses to fight Gavinor, but Taravangian calmly forces the real shape of the contest into view: to stop Odium and save Alethkar, Dalinar may have to kill an innocent grandson who has been turned into a willing weapon.