Chapter 102

Adolin detects enemy reinforcements approaching Azimir and prepares defenses while Navani experiences a vision of ancient Urithiru as the Radiants abandon the tower due to ideological rifts between orders. The chapter culminates in Adolin's discovery that a Thunderclast—a massive stone creature—is being deployed against the dome's defenses.

Adolin uses newly acquired binoculars to spot four Heavenly Ones in the sky near Azimir, prompting him to alert forces quietly and request Notum's presence. He meets with Commandant Kushkam on the dome's balcony to discuss defensive strategy against mounting enemy pressure. They debate tactics including using oil reserves and plugging passageways with Soulcast bronze to slow enemy advances. Kushkam expresses despair over exhausted troops and missing reinforcements, asking how they can survive additional Fused. Adolin receives a cryptic message from Maya—"Hold. Help. Comes"—and promises aid is coming, though he doubts it himself. He notes that holding the palace and throne may be the legal definition of holding the city. Later, Adolin briefly trains and counsels Zabra, an Azish girl wanting to become a fighter, before Notum arrives with alarming news of a Thunderclast approaching. Meanwhile, Navani is transported into a vision of Urithiru during its abandonment thousands of years ago. She finds herself positioned as the Bondsmith Melishi between hostile Windrunners and Skybreakers. A Windrunner named Garith pleads with the Skybreakers to fight an emerging parsh threat, but the Skybreaker leader refuses, accusing the Windrunners of lies and revealing they have disclosed humanity's true history to everyone. The confrontation ends with the Skybreakers flying off in anger, and Garith departing coldly toward a gathering at Cabridar, leaving Navani alone and uncertain about what truths have been hidden.