72. Rockfall

Veil, Shallan, and their team execute a daring heist at the mansion Rockfall to steal food supplies while avoiding guards. When they're discovered fleeing, Shallan uses her Lightweaving to create terrifying illusions that scatter the guards, even sustaining a crossbow bolt to the head. After unloading the stolen goods, Veil redirects the remaining food to feed hungry people throughout the city, hoping to attract the attention of the Cult of Moments.

Veil and Vathah infiltrate Rockfall, a wealthy mansion known for its Soulcast waterfalls, disguised with Lightweaving illusions. Red and Ishnah provide support from within, with Ishnah posing as a rug merchant to gain access. Veil navigates the mansion's layout and nearly succumbs to Nananav's personality while wearing her face, but Vathah snaps her out of it. The team fills a dumbwaiter with food from the larder, then loads the goods into carpets. As they attempt to escape, their theft is discovered. Shallan takes control, standing on the wagon and unleashing horrifying illusory spren while wearing a distorted version of Nananav's face. A guard shoots a crossbow bolt through her head, but her Stormlight heals around the wound. The terrified guards and Nananav flee, allowing the team to escape through the closing gates. Vathah pulls the bolt from Shallan's skull while she's unconscious. Later, Veil decides to use the food differently: she visits the street urchin Grund for information on the Cult of Moments and begins distributing the stolen supplies to hungry citizens—a widow seamstress named Muri, refugee children in parks, and others—throughout the market. By evening, the wagon is empty. Veil hopes this public display of charity will draw the cult's attention, as her mysterious contact (Wit) had suggested they respond to bold gestures.