23. Binding Wounds

Adolin leads a group of Radiants, soldiers, and spren down from Urithiru into Shadesmar to begin a diplomatic mission to the honorspren fortress of Lasting Integrity. The party descends the enormous pillar to the bead ocean below, boards a barge captained by a peakspren, and begins their journey south. Meanwhile, Shallan discovers that someone has accessed Mraize's communication cube hidden in her trunk, revealing that a spy is present on the mission.

Adolin's group successfully enters Shadesmar through the gateway, where massive spren sentinels acknowledge the Stormfather's authority to grant passage. Adolin observes the stunning landscape—the shimmering tower of Urithiru above, swarms of emotion spren, and the vast bead ocean below. He encounters Maya, his deadeye Shardblade, and introduces her to his team and the other Radiants: Shallan with Pattern, Godeke with his cultivationspren, Arshqqam with her mistspren, and Zu with her peakspren Ua'pam. The group discovers that Shardplate cannot be brought into Shadesmar, leaving them without their armor. Over several hours, Adolin descends the spiral ramp with his companions, learning about each person: Zu, a former guide from the Reshi Isles; Godeke, an ardent struggling to reconcile his faith with recent revelations about the Heralds; and Arshqqam, an older woman transformed by her Radiant powers. They reach the base of the pillar and board a barge commanded by a peakspren captain, Ua'pam's cousin, which will carry them south along the bead ocean toward the honorspren lands. As everyone settles in, Adolin watches Maya independently begin helping him brush Gallant the horse, demonstrating understanding despite her muteness. Meanwhile, Shallan discovers with alarm that Mraize's communication cube, which she secretly packed in her trunk, has been moved and used by someone. She realizes a spy embedded in the mission is using the cube to report their movements to Mraize.