53. Such a Twisted Cut

Jasnah oversees the scholarly institute in Urithiru's basement while conducting a secret correspondence with colleagues in other kingdoms about Heralds and Radiants. Meridas Amaram confronts her attempting reconciliation, which ends in a heated confrontation. Renarin discovers a hidden cache of coded gemstones built into the library walls by ancient Radiants, revealing a previously unknown method of preserving knowledge.

Jasnah enters the library basement at Urithiru, where Navani has established a scholarly institute filled with researchers investigating the Desolation and its threats. Jasnah reflects on historical patterns of internal family conflict in royal lines while observing Renarin working nearby with the scholars. She sets up a spanreed conversation with two trusted colleagues—Jochi of Thaylenah and Ethid of Azir—both Veristitalians she studied under previously. Through this secure channel, Ethid reveals that a man they believe is the Herald Nalan (Nakku, the Judge) attacked the Azish palace and may be broken or corrupted. Ethid also mentions an Edgedancer Radiant named Reshi who fled to Tashikk. Jasnah responds that she has drawings of the Heralds' true faces and confirms they are broken and will not be reliable allies. The conversation covers Thaylenah's destruction, parshmen uprisings, and various Radiant spren. Meridas Amaram, regent of the Sadeas princedom, enters the library and confronts Jasnah, attempting to reconcile their past relationship and bridge the rift between their houses. When Jasnah refuses his advances and insults both him and his mother, Amaram nearly summons a Shardblade before backing down under threat of Jasnah's Stormlight display. After he leaves, Jasnah recognizes him as a future threat requiring careful management. Shallan expresses that the confrontation was impressive, but Jasnah self-critically notes she relied on crude insults rather than genuine cleverness. When Shallan requests leave to accompany Elhokar on an expedition to Kholinar, Jasnah instead assigns her to draw the spren of Renarin and Kaladin. While examining the wall, Renarin discovers a hidden spring-latched drawer containing a ruby cut with an intentional twisted pattern that vibrates when infused with Stormlight. Navani examines it and notes the poor cut will cause rapid energy loss. Shallan recognizes the vibrations as a code or musical pattern. When Renarin presses his hands against the wall while channeling Stormlight, he triggers a cascade of hundreds of hidden drawers built into the ancient library tiles, each containing gemstones. The ancient Radiants had created a hidden knowledge archive designed to survive the library's decay.