There are seven days remaining until the contest of champions.

Adolin and his forces travel to Azimir via the Oathgate. Adolin surveys the large domed structure that surrounds the Oathgate on the Azish side; this will be the battlefield where he and the army will defend the city from the Parshendi forces that are attempting to emerge from the Oathgate.

Adolin meets Commandant Supreme Kushkam, a renowned military leader, who is skeptical of Adolin’s motives for coming to help.

Kaladin and Szeth visit Szeth’s childhood home.

This chapter continues the flashback to Szeth’s past.

The young Szeth and his family, along with other shepherding families in the area, seek refuge from a raiding party. Raids by “stonewalkers” (people from outside of Shinovar) are common.

Szeth encounters the Farmer, their community leader, and asks him for help in delineating the clear line between right and wrong. The Farmer tells Szeth that the difference between people and animals is that people have free will. This confuses and frustrates Szeth, who longs for the comfort of being told right from wrong and prefers the peace of simply following orders.

Molli—the nearly blind, elderly sheep whom Szeth loves—is missing. Szeth heads into the night alone to find Molli.