89. Voice of Lights

In a flashback set a year and a half before the present timeline, Eshonai discovers that Venli has captured a stormspren in a gemstone—a spren that can grant stormform, a dangerous new transformation. After arguing with Venli about whether to present this discovery to the Five, Eshonai walks into the storm to confront the Rider of Storms, only to encounter a chasmfiend and be rescued by a mysterious white-fire spren.

The chapter opens with Eshonai at home with her mother Jaxlim during a storm, when Venli bursts in soaking wet, clutching a gemstone. Venli reveals she has successfully captured a stormspren by using lightning to draw the creatures through from another realm. The spren glows with an odd, smoky light and Venli calls it stormform—a powerful new form their people could adopt. Eshonai challenges Venli's reasoning, pointing out that such a dangerous power could destroy the listeners, but Venli argues that their people are already being destroyed and they should try new solutions rather than relying on ancient songs. Eshonai refuses to endorse the idea and walks out into the storm. She travels to the edge of the central plateau at Narak and confronts the Rider of Storms directly, demanding answers about why the storm sent these spren to Venli. She reflects bitterly on her struggles as a general and the listeners' inability to compete with the spreading human presence on Roshar. Receiving no divine answer, Eshonai turns to leave but discovers a massive chasmfiend perched at the edge of the chasm mere feet away. Frozen in terror, she stands motionless as the creature lowers its head toward her. A small spren made of white fire suddenly appears and chases the chasmfiend back into the chasm, saving Eshonai's life. The mysterious spren follows her as she hurries home.