13. Chaperone

Shallan practices her Veil disguise in her new room at Urithiru when Adolin arrives unexpectedly with food and books, leading to an intimate evening together. The chapter explores their growing relationship while Shallan manages her secret guilt about killing her mother and demonstrates her powers to Adolin, with Pattern awkwardly serving as an uninformed chaperone.

Shallan spends time in her new quarters in Sebarial's section of Urithiru, perfecting her Veil disguise using Stormlight. She practices Veil's voice, gait, and appearance, studying her sketches to ensure she can transform quickly. Pattern comments approvingly on her deceptive work. When someone knocks on her door, Shallan assumes it is Palona checking on her absence from dinner, but Adolin enters instead, carrying a large plate of food and books. Shallan, wearing only her nightgown, is embarrassed and quickly dresses while bantering with Adolin about propriety and knockings. Once dressed, they settle on the floor to eat together. Shallan invokes Pattern as their chaperone, though Pattern misunderstands the concept, interpreting it as preventing them from "mating." Shallan demonstrates her Lightweaving abilities by creating a small illusion of Adolin in Shardplate. Adolin asks why she hides her true order of Radiance, and Shallan explains that secrets can provide strategic advantage. During dinner, Adolin offers Shallan a taste of spicy curry, which she finds unbearably hot. Pattern then loudly announces his understanding that chaperones prevent mating, causing shamespren to appear and embarrassing Shallan. Adolin produces a slim notebook containing a report from May Aladar's teams about Vedekar Perel's final movements before his death, along with books on Makabaki politics to help Shallan. Adolin expresses worry that he will ruin their betrothal, given that Shallan is now a Knight Radiant. Shallan reassures him by sharing the story of Kabsal, her previous romantic interest who was actually an assassin attempting to poison her. They banter about Adolin's past courtships, and Shallan pulls him close, saying neither will mess up their relationship. They kiss, but Pattern interrupts with his warning against mating, causing them both to laugh. Shallan squeezes Adolin's hand and suggests they review the notebook about the murder investigation. Throughout the chapter, Shallan internally struggles with her suppressed memory of killing her mother, which she has spoken as a truth-spren bond and cannot fully suppress, though she manages to push it aside for the evening.