Shallan’s Sketchbook: Inkspren

Seven and a half years before the main timeline, Venli sneaks through Kholinar Palace during a treaty signing, tasked by the spren Ulim to retrieve gemstones. She is caught by guards but then unexpectedly released by Nale, a Herald, who has his own agenda. Nale manipulates Venli by warning her that King Gavilar plans to betray the listeners and directing her toward a slave bearing Jezrien's Blade, subtly encouraging her toward war.

Venli, hiding in Kholinar Palace, questions her alliance with Ulim as she sneaks through forbidden hallways to retrieve gemstones from a hidden location. She discovers that Ulim's contact, Axindweth, has abandoned the mission and fled the world, leaving Ulim without answers and Venli exposed. When caught by human guards, she is detained in a guard post. Ulim returns and reveals that Heralds are present in the palace, claiming they are in grave danger. A dark-skinned man identifying himself as an ambassador named Nale arrives and uses a seal of deputation to extract Venli from custody. Outside the guard room, Nale reveals he is a Herald and interrogates Venli about spren, particularly Voidspren. Nale appears unstable, ranting about King Gavilar's plans and Ishar's warnings. He then pivots, claiming to offer Venli a service: he informs her that Gavilar plans to betray the listeners and grants her legal justification to act against him under Alethi law. Nale directs her to purchase a Shin slave bearing Jezrien's Blade from the market, suggesting this man can help her people. After Nale departs, Ulim convinces Venli that rather than merely preparing her people for war, they should provoke one themselves. Venli rationalizes that making her people desperate will force them to accept the forms of power Ulim offers. She commits to this plan, attuning to Destruction, though she acknowledges that thousands will die.