Radiant inspects training in a reservoir chamber beneath Urithiru, worrying over the impending mission to petition the honorspren in Shadesmar. Bound by a compact among her personas, she balances Veil’s desire to work with the Ghostbloods against Shallan’s intention to learn their secrets cautiously. Radiant focuses on the official embassy’s success while noting Shallan’s lingering fear that loved ones will reject her truths.

She drills Lightweavers like Beryl and Darcira, stressing sword fundamentals even for spies, and discusses Cryptic naming quirks with Pattern. The team—calling themselves the Unseen Court—has widespread Cryptic bonds and its own structure. Radiant and Adolin have planned a small envoy: themselves, Godeke, Zu, the Stump, select grooms, and three Lightweavers to Soulcast supplies.

Concerned Mraize has a mole among her agents—especially those on the warcamps mission tied to Ialai’s death—Veil argues to bring suspects to watch them, while Radiant prefers to leave them. Radiant canvasses interest with Ishnah, who eagerly volunteers, and compiles the most eager candidates: Ishnah, Vathah, Beryl, and Stargyle. Initially, Shallan decides to exclude these four and choose safer members.

Overcome by a wave of nausea and urgency, Veil seizes control and reverses course, instructing Ishnah to assemble Vathah and Stargyle for the trip, leaving Red in charge at Urithiru. She knowingly breaks the personas’ compact to keep potential traitors close; Radiant unexpectedly yields, accepting Veil’s plan.

That night Veil finds a green feather and a hidden, seamless metal cube with a ciphered note from Mraize. Pattern deciphers it: the device enables communication between realms if she holds it and calls Mraize’s name, and must not be opened. Seeing a pearlescent power within from Shadesmar, Veil resolves to hide the cube from Adolin and to go into Shadesmar as the hunter, not the prey.