62. Research

Shallan and her companions interrogate Yokska, a tailor in Kholinar, learning about the city's deterioration under the influence of an Unmade. Shallan deliberately attracts spren by injuring herself and humiliating herself to document their twisted forms. The group decides to scout the palace and Oathgate, with Shallan volunteering to infiltrate as a messenger while Kaladin watches her back. Shallan then reveals her Veil persona to her team and prepares to begin reconnaissance in disguise.

In the tailor shop, Elhokar, Adolin, Kaladin, and Shallan question Yokska about conditions in Kholinar. Yokska describes chaos following riots, the mysterious execution of an ardent by the queen, and strange weather after the Everstorm. She reports that the parshmen were exiled to the plains before the Everstorm arrived, the palace is now controlled by an Unmade that influenced the queen's orders, and the Wall Guard under an unknown Highmarshal Azure maintains minimal order. The city is fragmenting under various highlords, and a new cult calling itself the Cult of Moments has gained influence. Most critically, use of any fabrial draws dangerous yellow spren and creatures from the sky who seize the devices. Shallan deliberately injures herself to attract painspren, then humiliates herself publicly to draw shamespren, documenting that these spren appear distorted and twisted with an unnatural greenish or glass-like appearance—evidence of Unmade corruption. After giving Yokska a break, the group strategizes. Elhokar proposes that Shallan pose as a messenger from the Shattered Plains to infiltrate the palace and assess the Oathgate's status, with Kaladin as backup. Shallan agrees, tasking Kaladin to meet her at the grand steps after obtaining the king's letter. Alone in her room, Shallan reveals her Veil identity to Red, Vathah, and Ishnah—the latter having already suspected—and uses an old sketch of Lyn to create her disguise before leaving to scout the city.