Chapter 26

Two meetings occur simultaneously in the tower. In the first, Dalinar's council discusses defensive positions against imminent attacks on multiple kingdoms, but Wit discovers a critical loophole in the contract with Odium: the enemy can claim entire kingdoms by capturing their capitals. This revelation leads Wit to conclude that Rayse (the original Odium) must be dead, replaced by an unknown and far more cunning adversary. In the second meeting, Shallan and her team track a new Ghostblood recruit and learn of a hideout in Narak, while Shallan shows compassion to Shob regarding his anxiety.

Adolin and Yanagawn arrive at a war council in the tower where leaders including Dalinar, Navani, Jasnah, Queen Fen, Radiant representatives, and various other rulers and generals have gathered. When a Reshi king of a small island arrives seeking entry, The Mink advocates for his inclusion based on kinship principles, and Dalinar welcomes him. The council begins discussing defensive positions, with Queen Fen initially blaming Dalinar for not freezing borders after the contract was struck. However, Yanagawn defuses the tension by praising Dalinar's solution and noting that eight days remain until the contest concludes and peace becomes possible. As the meeting progresses, Wit suddenly realizes he has made a catastrophic error. He explains that he consulted with contract experts (including Frost's unnamed sister) and discovered a loophole in the Alethi legal code: Odium can attempt to claim entire kingdoms by capturing their capitals, not just peripheral lands. This means the enemy will likely throw all forces at Azimir to claim the Azish Empire entirely. Wit solemnly reveals that this strategic sophistication cannot be Rayse's work—Rayse promised not to exploit loopholes and could not break such a promise without dire consequences. Therefore, someone else must have taken up the Shard of Odium, and this new enemy is far more dangerous and unpredictable than the original. In a separate scene, Shallan, Gaz, and Shob meet in an alcove on the tower's third floor disguised as Herdazian workers. Shob presents sketches Hoid has made of Ghostblood operatives, including a recently recruited former actor whom they are now tailing. Darcira's spanreed message reports discovering a new Ghostblood hideout in Narak. Shallan decides to send in a reconnaissance team before striking, wanting to confirm whether Mraize and Iyatil are present and to learn their plans. After Gaz leaves, Shallan notices Shob's continued complaints about his health and, recognizing that his exaggerations stem from anxiety rather than simple dramatization, she offers him support and suggests finding professional help once their current mission concludes. Shob reveals he uses humor to mask his genuine distress and prevent others from hating him. Shallan reassigns him to gather intelligence from guards outside the council chamber rather than participate in the coming strike.