There are now eight days remaining until the contest of champions. Dalinar Kholin, his wife Navani Kholin, and Navani’s daughter Jasna Kholin are the monarchs of Urithiru and Alethkar. They are awakened in the night to receive the news that there is an army approaching Azimir.

Queen Fen of Thaylenah hears that an enemy force is also approaching her capital city.

Wit (also known as Hoid: a wanderer who appears frequently on the periphery of stories about the cosmere) realizes that Rayse, the former avatar of Odium, is dead and that a new avatar has taken his place. Wit worries that this new avatar will exploit loopholes in the agreement with Dalinar. He is correct; the new avatar, Taravangian, is extremely logical and wily.

Shallan and Adolin enjoy the luxury of their rooms in the Tower of Urithiru.

There are enemy armies approaching on three fronts: toward Azimir, approaching through Shadesmar; toward Thaylen City, approaching by boat; and marching on the Shattered Plains. Dalinar calls a meeting with the leaders of his coalition. On his way to the meeting, he is approached by Cultivation.