82. Knife

This chapter is a flashback to seven years before the main narrative, split between two timelines: first showing Eshonai and her companions in warform shortly after returning from Kholinar, confronting the arrival of Alethi forces and the consequences of Eshonai's decision to have King Gavilar killed; then shifting to Venli recruiting trusted friends to bond with voidspren in secret, positioning herself as the savior of their people against Eshonai's leadership.

The chapter opens seven years in the past with Eshonai, Thude, and Rlain in warform, exhilarated by the physical capabilities the form grants them as they traverse the Shattered Plains. Eshonai reflects on her recent trip to Kholinar and the wonders she witnessed among humans. However, this joy is interrupted when Thude confronts her about the death of King Gavilar. Eshonai had orchestrated his assassination because she heard him say he would bring back the listeners' ancient gods—a prospect she feared. As tens of thousands of Alethi soldiers and dozens of Shardbearers camp at the Plains' edge, Thude expresses despair, believing the listeners will be destroyed. Eshonai insists they can use the terrain to their advantage and must defend their freedom, declaring the listeners will not submit to slavery. The scene then shifts to Venli, who has gathered trusted friends in a section of Narak that she controls. She reveals five voidspren trapped in gemstones and distributes them to her companions—Demid, Tusa, and others—proposing they bond with these spren to gain access to powers from Shadesmar that will allow the listeners to harness storm powers. Venli frames Eshonai's war as foolish and positions herself and her followers as the true saviors who will rule the spren rather than be ruled by them, gaining the power needed to protect their people.