Kaladin, Szeth, and Nale approach the Dustbringer monastery through the highlands on Shinovar’s border. Nale argues that Shin laws deserve obedience because they are ancient and tied to a sacred heritage, but Kaladin rejects the idea that age makes a law just. Realizing direct argument will not move Nale, Kaladin changes tactics and asks about Nale’s early days as a Herald, hoping to reconnect him to the compassionate protector he once was.

Nale briefly opens up. He recalls the earliest Desolations, the war between humans and singers, and the singers whom Odium killed for refusing to slaughter humans. Nale remembers standing against that darkness and feeling both pain and glory, and he even admits he once spoke of this lost self to Lift. When Kaladin tries to press further, Nale abruptly shuts the conversation down, but Kaladin takes the exchange as evidence that Nale might still be reachable if reminded of who he used to be.

Soon after, Szeth insists that the past does not matter and that he must focus on the mission ahead. Nale reinforces that view by declaring that an Unmade in Shinovar has no jurisdiction and by naming Szeth “Truthed,” a bearer of Shin tradition and of the unanchored Honorblades. When the group reaches a walled town, Kaladin immediately senses corruption and realizes an Unmade has influenced the Honorbearer there. Even so, Kaladin recommits himself to the principle that Szeth must be free to stop fighting if he chooses, because protecting that choice is part of what Kaladin believes his own duty means.

Elsewhere, Venli and the listeners reach the central plateaus of the Shattered Plains while a battle rages above them. Venli hears a powerful call drawing her toward Narak and fears it could be another trap like the one that once helped Odium destroy her people. The Five debate whether to continue, Leshwi appears and admits she still cannot fully resist Odium’s offered power, and the group unanimously votes to press on. Guided by the tone and by the stones themselves, Venli discovers the signal is coming from beneath the ground, uses her Surgebinding to open a tunnel, and leads a smaller party underground while others remain behind to watch.

In Thaylen City, Jasnah reaches a compromise with Queen Fen: Radiants will go through the Oathgate to reinforce the failing forces on the Shattered Plains, but most ordinary troops will stay to defend the city. Jasnah worries that the coalition is fracturing, that Azimir was left too weak, and that losing the Shattered Plains would endanger Urithiru’s supply lines and political future. While reviewing strategy alone in the temple, she is confronted by Odium, who appears first as a dark mist and then as Taravangian. He reveals that his ships were a deception, says Jasnah was right to send her Radiants away, and warns that Thaylen City will fall by the next evening through his personal intervention rather than open military assault.