27. Banners

On the fourth day of the barge journey through Shadesmar, Shallan and her three agents begin investigating which member of her staff is a spy communicating with Mraize. Shallan allows Veil to coach her through espionage techniques, testing each suspect with planted information about corrupted spren. The chapter interweaves scenes of Shadesmar life, Shallan's fractured mental state, and her growing awareness that one of her trusted companions is betraying her.

Shallan spends her fourth day on the barge in Shadesmar, initially enjoying carefree drawing despite the presence of four Cryptics observing her intently. The sensation overwhelms her, forcing Radiant to take control and provide stability. Veil then takes over to coach Shallan through identifying the spy by testing which of three suspects—Ishnah, Beryl, or Vathah—has been moving a communication device in her trunk. After confirming the device couldn't have shifted accidentally, Shallan confronts Ishnah, discovering she has been secretly giving money to old criminal associates from the underworld. Though Ishnah claims ignorance about the Ghostbloods' involvement, the confession suggests she is not the primary spy. Shallan plants false information about a corrupted spren with Ishnah, hoping it will be relayed to Mraize if she is the spy. She then attempts the same with Beryl, but becomes emotionally destabilized by Beryl's discussion of transformation and leaving one's old life—topics that trigger thoughts of Shallan's own hidden crimes and the emergence of Formless, an emerging fragmented identity. Radiant takes control and instructs Beryl to watch for odd gloryspren. Finally, Shallan finds Vathah performing deck work and joins him, eventually learning he too feels watched by spren and harbors deep guilt over his past as a soldier. She plants the same corrupted spren information with him. During a moment of genuine connection, Shallan makes a joke that earns Vathah's gratitude. However, as Veil attempts to probe deeper into Shallan's connection to Mraize, Shallan retreats entirely, leaving Radiant in control and refusing further conversation.