21. Set Up to Fail

Shallan wakes hungover from a night spent investigating as Veil in the Breakaway market, where she got drunk and stabbed a man. Adolin visits her room and asks her to accompany him to meet with Ialai Sadeas, widow of the murdered highprince, to help investigate her husband's death. They collect guards and navigate through Urithiru's corridors to reach Ialai's quarters in the Sadeas section.

Shallan awakens in the afternoon, disoriented and hung over from drinking Horneater white the night before while investigating in the Breakaway. She had spent the night out as Veil and stabbed someone in front of armed thugs—actions she now views with regret. Adolin arrives at her room and, after some banter about menstrual cycles and bad hair, reveals he needs moral support for meeting with Ialai Sadeas. Shallan uses Stormlight from one of Adolin's spheres to heal her hand and headache, then realizes the Stormlight shortage is more dire than she thought, making her recklessness even more problematic. She bathes and meets Adolin at Sebarial's sitting room, where the highprince lounges on cots receiving massages while his servants attend him. Sebarial complains that the Desolation has disrupted his business plans, though he intends to reclaim the warcamps and collect taxes on Oathgate passage. Shallan and Adolin depart with guards—Vathah and Gaz from her personal guard unit. During their walk, Adolin explains that having guards is about prestige and giving soldiers meaningful work, urging Shallan to use her men purposefully. As they traverse Urithiru's hallways and climb to higher levels, they pass through increasingly disorderly sections belonging to the Sadeas forces, where soldiers appear gang-like despite their military discipline. They eventually reach Ialai Sadeas's quarters and are ushered in to confront her, discovering that Mraize, a leader of the Ghostbloods, stands beside her throne.