Chapter 52

Szeth faces Rit, a Stoneward wielding one of the Honorblades, in a duel within the monastery. After being trapped in stone and nearly suffocating, Szeth's spren finally grants him access to his second Surge (Division), allowing him to break free and kill Rit, whose body dissolves into black smoke. Meanwhile, Adolin battles the Fused Abidi the Monarch, successfully repels a singer assault on the human defensive position, and prevents a catastrophic retreat that would have cost the city.

Szeth engages Rit in combat within the monastery's large front hall. Rit uses her Stoneward abilities to transform the floor into liquid stone, creating columns and waves to attack Szeth, who counters using only his Lashing Surges while waiting for his spren's permission to access Division. Szeth notes Rit's exceptional power and control—far beyond what he's seen from other Willshapers—and wonders how she accesses so much Stormlight. The spren repeatedly refuses permission to use Division and instead encourages Szeth to imagine his death: being entombed in stone, suffocating surrounded by whispers of his past murders. Szeth, trembling but resolute, commits to fighting until ordered otherwise. He intentionally lands and allows Rit to encase him completely in stone. As he suffocates and his Stormlight drains, the spren finally grants permission to use Division. Szeth unleashes the power, igniting and charring the stone around him, breaking free and lunging at Rit as she inspects her handiwork. He impales her with his Blade; her body disintegrates into black smoke, and her corpse whispers, "Your family awaits you, pilgrim." In the parallel battle, Adolin faces Abidi the Monarch with his support squad. After brief skirmishing, Adolin recognizes Abidi doesn't fly—possibly due to a damaged gemheart from their previous encounter in Shadesmar—and decides not to waste time on this duel. He signals his team to retreat in good order. Abidi, weighing whether to pursue and risk being cut off from his forces, ultimately doesn't chase. The singers advance but lack human discipline in formation, allowing the Azish defenders—with archers, pikemen, and crossbowmen—to inflict heavy casualties. After approximately half an hour, Abidi sounds retreat and pulls his forces back into Shadesmar. Adolin realizes the Fused are regrouping because they cannot afford for Abidi to die and miss the final confrontation, as there is only one more Everstorm before Dalinar's contest. Adolin thanks the archers and prepares for the next phase of defending the city.