Shallan brings a five-person team through the Oathgate to Narak by hiding among transferred soldiers, then uses false orders and Lightwoven disguises to move into position near a suspected Ghostblood hideout. Narak has been heavily fortified since the Everstorm’s arrival, and Shallan is reminded how extensive and dangerous the Ghostblood network has become. While posing as crem scrapers, Shallan, Gaz, Red, Darcira, Jayn, Jeneh, and their hidden spren watch members arrive, including an Alethi man from Wit’s sketches and an Azish vizier. A masked female guard checks entrants with touch and black sand, confirming that anti-Lightweaving precautions are in place.

Because the black sand can reveal both Cryptics and Lightweavings, Shallan realizes the most dangerous part of the mission must be done without her usual powers. Her team openly debates whether to continue, with Gaz warning that the Ghostbloods are more dangerous than the Sons of Honor and Jayn worrying that Shallan will be alone inside. Shallan argues that with Dalinar’s contest only eight days away, they cannot keep reacting to Mraize and Iyatil from the dark; they need information about the Ghostbloods’ larger plans, including their interest in Ba-Ado-Mishram and their surveillance of Dalinar. Reassured that the next Oathgate wave will delay some important attendees, the team commits to phase two of the infiltration.

Elsewhere, Sigzil sits through coalition strategy discussions and struggles with feeling like an impostor now that he must lead in Kaladin’s absence. Encouraged by his honorspren, Vienta, Sigzil forces himself to speak with confidence alongside Ka and Kmakl about Windrunner deployments, enemy troop strength, and the risks of Oathgate use. He helps plan for Thaylenah’s defense, notes that Narak will be a difficult battlefield full of Fused, and begins acting like the commander he has been made. By the end of the exchange, Sigzil stops deferring inwardly and starts offering his own ideas for Narak’s defense.

In a smaller chamber transformed by the awakened tower into a living room for the Nightwatcher, Jasnah, Dalinar, Navani, and Fen meet privately. The Sibling explains confusing details about the origins of the Stormfather and the Nightwatcher, then Dalinar admits that he does not feel ready to face Odium. Wit warns that the new Vessel of Odium is especially dangerous because they outplayed him without boasting, and Dalinar reveals that Cultivation told him to seek deeper understanding through the Spiritual Realm and the visions. The conversation escalates when Dalinar asks about Honor’s power and concludes that defeating Odium may require more than winning the contest; he may need to locate Honor’s core power in the Spiritual Realm and somehow ascend. Jasnah strongly resists the idea, briefly suggests renegotiating with Odium instead, and remains deeply uneasy with the thought of any ordinary person becoming a god.

Lift and the Mink, who have been hiding nearby and listening through the vents, reveal themselves after Wit flushes them out. The Mink points out a loophole in Dalinar’s contract: if Alethkar or Herdaz were reclaimed before the deadline, they would remain theirs regardless of the contest’s outcome. Alethkar is too distant and too fortified, but the Mink presses Dalinar to honor his promise to Herdaz and provide support for a rapid strike. Despite Jasnah’s logistical objections, Dalinar chooses oathkeeping over efficiency and commits fifty Windrunners to help the Mink attempt to retake Herdaz. As Lift jokes about Dalinar becoming a god, Dalinar suddenly senses that the Stormfather has heard everything and is angry.