Shallan arrives at an east-facing winehouse terrace to meet Adolin. She steels herself to negotiate an alliance but is immediately disarmed by Adolin’s warmth and the revelation that they are there to watch an oncoming highstorm. Despite initial fear, she plays along, their banter turning frank and playful.

Prompted by Shallan, Adolin recounts plateau runs and battlefield realities, which she uses to pivot into scientific curiosity about chasmfiends. Sketching quickly, she connects chrysalis hardness and form to the yu-nerig, hypothesizing a related life cycle and warning that systematic chrysalis “harvesting” could crash the population. She suggests the radical idea of breeding chasmfiends; Adolin is intrigued and offers to help get her onto the Shattered Plains.

In return, Adolin confides sensitive matters: Dalinar’s visions, Sadeas’s betrayal, the purpose behind Adolin’s duels to disarm rivals, and a planned meeting with Parshendi leaders that might start peace talks. Shallan, in turn, reveals Jasnah’s research pointing to the Voidbringers’ return and raises the alarming possibility that parshmen are connected. Adolin calls removing parshmen impossible politically but agrees not to spread the idea and to speak with Navani—who has rebuffed Shallan—to review Jasnah’s notes.

As the stormwall approaches, Shallan feels an irresistible urge to draw the living presence she senses within the storm. Adolin pulls her to safety at the last moment; she measures a six-second margin between sealing the doors and impact. In the shelter, they plan: Adolin will ask Dalinar and Amaram about an exploratory trip for Shallan and smooth the way with Navani, inviting future discussion at a feast.

Separated into gendered sitting rooms, Shallan notes cool receptions from lighteyed women jealous or suspicious of an outsider courting Adolin. Despite this, she is pleased with the trust earned and resolves to continue her investigations—rewarding herself with sweets and refining a plan to sneak into Brightlord Amaram’s house.