Venli and her allies launch the planned assault on the human position at Narak atop three chasmfiends. The attack is meant to look catastrophic while actually allowing the humans to withdraw, so Venli directs Thundercloud to smash structures and terrify soldiers without killing the wrong people. Sigzil’s forces retreat across the bridge toward the Oathgate, Leshwi stages aerial fighting overhead, and the chasmfiends are given corpses to eat so the deception will look more convincing. During the chaos, Sigzil throws Venli a packet of papers connected to their plan.

Elsewhere, Shallan moves through possibility in the Spiritual Realm while Odium searches for her. Shallan uses effortless Lightweavings to confuse him and takes satisfaction in forcing even a god to struggle to identify her. After Odium’s attention shifts away, Shallan senses a strange invitation and is pulled into an off-color vision on a rocky island beach, where Shallan discovers that the huge shape nearby is not a rock formation but the carcass of an enormous marine greatshell. Sitting atop the shell is Mraize, waiting for Shallan.

On the battlefield, Sigzil oversees the final stages of the withdrawal. Dami, the Stormwall, questions the retreat, but Sigzil insists the decision is his and sends the Stonewards out first, keeping the Windrunners as the last rearguard. Sigzil reflects on leaving the Shattered Plains behind, but just as Sigzil turns to depart, a black-clad Moash uses a rare fabrial to strip away Sigzil’s powers and drop him from the sky. Sigzil crashes onto the stone, badly injured and unable to heal, while Moash explains that the Fused fear the fabrial’s power and declares that Sigzil is an obstacle to Odium’s new order.

Sigzil tries to defend himself, but Moash wounds Vienta with an anti-Stormlight knife and prepares to kill her. To save Vienta from being permanently destroyed, Sigzil renounces the Windrunner oaths with full intent. The bond breaks, Vienta vanishes before Moash’s killing blow lands, and Sigzil is left spiritually hollow. Sigzil grabs Vienta’s fallen Shardblade and briefly holds Moash off until Lopen arrives, steals the fabrial, and smashes it. Bridge Four then pours in behind Lopen and Huio, forcing Moash to flee. Back through the Oathgate, an Edgedancer heals Sigzil’s physical injuries, but the loss of the bond leaves Sigzil in unbearable inner pain.

After the retreat, Venli gathers the packet Sigzil sent and surveys the ruined, empty camp, worrying that the fake battle may look too staged. El arrives, accepts the victory report, and orders his forces to secure the plateau and the Oathgate, with Vyre locking the gate from their side. Venli keeps her chasmfiends in place by letting them sleep after feeding, and Venli and the other conspirators quietly hope their deception has truly succeeded. By the end of the chapter, Narak and the Shattered Plains appear to have fallen to Odium’s forces, but Venli’s group waits to see what the plan will achieve tomorrow.