Shallan hurries through smoke-stained halls after Jasnah’s public Soulcasting, weighing how to win wardship. She recalls House Davar’s rise through her father’s illicit Soulcaster, now broken, with steward Luesh unable to use it. Debts loom, so Shallan plans to become Jasnah’s ward and secretly replace Jasnah’s working fabrial with her family’s repaired but nonfunctional one.

Entering Kharbranth’s Veil and the threshold of the Palanaeum, Shallan learns admission is exorbitant and chooses to wait in Jasnah’s reserved reading alcove. Parshmen porters raise her to a balcony, where she prepares to think and impress Jasnah.

To calm herself, Shallan draws: first Kharbranth, then Yalb with a city porter, attracting creationspren. Finally, she captures her Memory of Jasnah Soulcasting, producing a striking portrait. Buoyed, she composes an elegant letter that admits educational gaps, argues for merit through struggle, and asks Jasnah to reconsider—despite knowing her true intent is theft.

An approaching figure interrupts: Brother Kabsal, a young ardent. With easy humor, he studies her artwork, applies lacquer with practiced care, and chats about ardents, Veden customs, and her training. Learning she is not Jasnah’s ward, he asks Shallan to tell Jasnah he called, hoping to persuade the famed heretic to faith.

Kabsal departs—with a playful promise of jam—leaving Shallan to finish packing her sketches. Footsteps return, and Jasnah arrives with servants. Her displeased demeanor signals that Shallan’s next exchange will be difficult.