Adolin’s barge sights a small, free waystop in Shadesmar. He orders caution, sending Shallan—Lightwoven as a cultivationspren—with Vathah and peakspren guides to scout. While the group conserves dwindling Stormlight and plans to trade most of it for supplies, Adolin reflects on Jasnah’s concerns about near-perfect gemstones and instructs Godeke to handle the exchanges.

Under the tarp, Adolin practices a confined longsword kata. Maya rises and mirrors his form perfectly, drawing astonished attention. Ua’pam challenges the idea that a deadeye can change, but Adolin counters that spren certainties have already shifted. Shallan returns, reporting no Fused presence; the group disembarks in teams to explore the market.

Shallan, hungover and arguing internally with Veil and Radiant about restraint and honesty, engineers solitude by keeping watch on the barge. With Pattern observing, she confirms the mysterious cube has been moved again, then activates it by invoking Mraize. The device glows and relays his voice as he greets her, establishing a clandestine channel.

Meanwhile, Adolin tours the eclectic waystop, noting diverse spren, fashions, and his own anxieties about supporting Shallan and succeeding with the honorspren. Maya fixates on a deadeye Cryptic outside a bookseller’s stall. Inside, an inkspren says the Cryptic—his former business partner—became a deadeye only recently, blaming human Radiants. The claim alarms Adolin, who considers the implications of new oathbreaking.

As Adolin regroups, Godeke hurries in, urging him to come see “the humans,” signaling that other people from the Physical Realm are among the caravans and potentially complicating their mission.