93. Kata

Adolin wakes in Shadesmar and performs a morning kata with Azure and Kaladin to center himself. The group then assesses their dire situation: they have minimal supplies, are stranded in the Cognitive Realm, and must find a way back to the Physical Realm. Azure reveals she previously crossed Shadesmar using a Perpendicularity and suggests hiring a spren ship to reach a port city, but ominous screeching sounds signal the arrival of dangerous spren, forcing them to flee immediately.

Adolin awakens in the nightmare landscape of Shadesmar, troubled by guilt over killing Sadeas. He performs a stretching kata along the glass shore, finding comfort in the familiar forms. Azure and Kaladin join him, and the three practice together in synchronized movements. When Shallan arrives and the group gathers, they take inventory: one bag of gemstones (half their Stormlight spent), Azure's Shardblade, Adolin's side knife, Shallan's art supplies and emergency jam, Kaladin's travel rations (three meals), and limited water—enough for perhaps one day. Pattern reveals the Oathgate's spren are now hostile, so that escape route is blocked. Azure then discloses her history: she came from a distant land hunting a criminal, crossed into Roshar via Cultivation's Perpendicularity in the Horneater Peaks, and previously hired a spren ship to traverse Shadesmar. When Adolin questions whether she is a Knight Radiant or Herald due to her Shardblade, Azure insists she is neither, merely someone out of her league. She explains her Blade is flawed and cannot be summoned. She suggests they travel to a spren port city to trade their Stormlight for supplies and passage toward the Horneater Peaks, though Kaladin protests this will take too long given the crisis in Alethkar. The conversation is cut short by horrific metallic screeching sounds echoing across the realm, which Azure recognizes as dangerous spren. She urgently begins packing their supplies as they prepare to flee.