Chapter 97

Shallan experiences a vision in a dying singer's body, where she encounters Ba-Ado-Mishram healing wounded soldiers and learns the Unmade fears Odium. After a confrontation with Mraize in the vision, Shallan is forced to flee as Odium notices the intrusion. Meanwhile, Adolin trains Yanagawn in tactics and learns that reinforcements from Emul and Tashikk have betrayed the coalition, ensuring the enemy can continue their siege for the required three and a half days.

Shallan uses a vision to inhabit a dying singer's body on a battlefield, accompanied by Pattern. She witnesses Ba-Ado-Mishram healing mortally wounded singers with compassion, speaking of wanting them to feel and live beyond what Odium allows. When Mishram finds a dying human soldier, she sings the Rhythm of Peace to ease his passing, prompting Shallan to question whether coexistence between humans and singers is possible. As Mishram approaches again, her demeanor shifts to violent hatred when she recognizes Shallan as a Lightweaver, threatening graphic torture. Pattern pulls Shallan free, but she manages to create a persistent Lightweaving of herself that remains in the vision. Using this, Shallan asks Mishram why Odium fears her, implying the Unmade could replace him. Mishram's essence surges forward, but Rlain and Renarin step between them in the Spiritual Realm—Glys noting they are children of Sja-anat and asking Mishram to let them find her prison rather than Odium's enemies. Mraize is glimpsed watching Shallan's illusion with a readiness to strike but hesitation. Odium senses the intrusion and darkness engulfs the realm as Shallan is cast into chaos alone. In Azir, Adolin continues teaching Yanagawn military tactics through towers, focusing on how inferior forces can win through terrain, superior leadership, or random chance. Yanagawn questions whether such knowledge will be useful if their father achieves lasting peace. Adolin affirms they can win their current siege. Conversation turns to other worlds and figures like Wit, with Yanagawn sharing that Azish records contain accounts of interdimensional travel. Adolin reflects on his lost faith given recent revelations about the gods. Yanagawn orders aluminum metalware gathered for armor, and Adolin discovers that one of his guards, Hmask, is a Thaylen whose son Adolin saved during the Battle of Thaylen Field. Two scribes arrive with urgent news, and Adolin follows them to Noura's tent, where he learns that Emul and Tashikk have betrayed the coalition and made their own deals with Odium. Their armies, supposedly reinforcements, are instead harrying the actual relief force and preventing it from arriving in time. The siege will be extended by three and a half days with no help forthcoming, and the exhausted defenders inside the dome must hold out alone.