Five and a half years earlier in Hearthstone, Kaladin peels roots as Tien marvels at a color-shifting rock and Hesina explains spren. A carriage from the manor arrives; Kaladin rushes to join Lirin, determined to support him before Roshone. On the ride, Lirin considers fleeing to another city but admits he feels bound to care for Hearthstone, noting townsfolk secretly bring them food despite Roshone’s pressure.

At the mansion, Lirin asserts his rank and sits at Roshone’s table. Roshone demands Wistiow’s spheres and offers a deal for nine-tenths. Lirin refuses to be cowed but sends Kaladin to the kitchens as the bargaining intensifies, projecting frustration to suggest he might bend.

In the kitchens, Kaladin encounters Rillir and Laral. Rillir belittles him and orders food; Laral, now fully lighteyed in bearing, supports Rillir. Humiliated, Kaladin recognizes the childishness of his plan to join the army and begins to desire the path of surgery.

Afterward, during the carriage ride home, Lirin reveals he only pretended to capitulate to mislead Roshone and plans to keep resisting. Kaladin declares his wish to become a surgeon and asks about the spheres.

Seeing Lirin’s guilt, Kaladin realizes Lirin took Wistiow’s spheres while the old man was incoherent; Lirin defends it as ensuring promises were kept and asks Kaladin to keep it from Tien. Expecting Laral to be engaged to Rillir, Kaladin resolves to use the spheres to study in Kholinar, learn to match lighteyes in wit, and adopts his full name: Kaladin.