7. The Rarest Vintage

This chapter intercuts three major scenes: Shallan's personas arrive at Ialai Sadeas's location with assassination in mind; Kaladin duels the ancient Fused Leshwi while maintaining the honor code of one-on-one combat; and Navani oversees refugee evacuation aboard the Fourth Bridge before spotting Moash, her son's killer, on the battlefield. The chapter ends with Kaladin breaking off his duel to defend civilians being attacked by a different Fused.

Shallan, operating through her personas Radiant and Veil, is captured by cultists working with Ialai Sadeas and transported through a secret tunnel from the chasms to an old Sadeas warcamp building. Though blindfolded during transport, Shallan's exceptional directional sense allows her to map their route. Once inside the fortress-like manor, Veil removes her hood and observes that Ialai—who eliminated Highprince Thanadal and co-opted the Sons of Honor—has become the true power in the warcamps, controlling an army and extorting trade caravans. Veil determines that unlike Radiant's plan to gather evidence, she intends to assassinate Ialai to eliminate this threat to Dalinar and Jasnah's larger mission.

Kaladin wages an intense aerial duel with Leshwi, the ancient Fused spirit of a dead singer. Committed to maintaining the mutual honor code of single combat—which prevents broader slaughter—Kaladin allows Sigzil to be stabbed and healed rather than intervene. When Leshwi pierces Sigzil's chest and begins draining his Stormlight, Kaladin nearly breaks his discipline but stops himself; Leshwi mercifully withdraws before Sigzil's Light depletes completely. Kaladin then pursues Leshwi across the familiar terrain of his childhood homeland. Using his intimate knowledge of the land—hiding near a cavern door and triggering lurgs to distract her—he gains temporary advantage in close combat. The duel escalates with both combatants trading near-fatal strikes, each draining the other's Stormlight. A draw is reached when both recognize the wrongness of a separate Fused attacking civilians at the burning manor below.

Navani manages the evacuation of townspeople aboard the Fourth Bridge, reassuring the worried Ardent Falilar while observing Renarin use his Voidspren-granted light powers to comfort frightened children. She sketches observations as Dalinar reopens the perpendicularity to Shadesmar, noting a mysterious tone and discussing with Rushu the possibility of a place beyond Shadesmar that powers both the tower and potentially future airships. While reviewing the battle, Rushu points out an oddly idle Windrunner on a distant hill. Navani recognizes him as Moash, the man who killed her son Elhokar, standing apart in a black uniform without insignia. When Moash meets her gaze, he bursts alight with Stormlight and vanishes behind a hill. Navani screams an alarm to warn the others. As Kaladin withdraws from his duel with Leshwi, he discovers the citylord's manor burning and civilians being brutalized by the red-and-black carapaced Fused and his soldiers. Both Kaladin and Leshwi, appalled by this violation of their combat code, agree to end their duel. Leshwi gestures for Kaladin to intervene while she holds back, and Kaladin races toward the manor to defend the terrified townspeople.