15. The Light and the Music

Venli attends a conclave of the Nine at the rebuilt palace in Kholinar, where a newly awakened Fused named Raboniel proposes an aggressive plan to seize Urithiru tower from the humans by corrupting the Sibling and suppressing Radiant powers. Leshwi tasks Venli with infiltrating the tower as Raboniel's servant while secretly reporting back to prevent catastrophe.

Venli arrives at the transformed palace in Kholinar for an emergency conclave of the Nine, the highest Fused leaders who are permanently entombed in stone pillars. Leshwi, her master, brings her to witness proceedings where the Fused debate a report from recent conflict in Alethkar. The Pursuer (Lezian), a legendary warrior obsessed with hunting those who kill him, reports being defeated by a Windrunner, though he claims suppression fabrials malfunctioned. Leshwi boldly challenges the Pursuer in front of the Nine, claiming prior right to hunt Stormblessed and goading the Pursuer into an angry outburst that demonstrates his declining mental state. The Nine grant Leshwi's claim, restricting the Pursuer's traditional hunting rights. However, the true shock comes when Raboniel, a former member of the Nine thought to be mad, enters the chamber. She proposes an immediate, decisive assault on Urithiru tower, claiming she can invert suppression fabrials to disable Radiant powers within the tower itself and corrupt the Sibling's heart. Raboniel claims this will finally end the endless war, though Leshwi fears her true intentions involve dangerous experimentation. The Nine approve the plan despite initial objections. Afterward, Leshwi intercepts Raboniel and offers her services and Venli as part of a staff for the infiltration. Raboniel accepts, and Leshwi privately instructs Venli to infiltrate as a spy, reporting back on Raboniel's actions to prevent disaster. Leshwi reveals her belief that the Fused will eventually fade and leave Roshar to the singers—a prospect that Venli and her spren Timbre doubt will occur. Venli departs to prepare her staff for deployment to the tower.