83. The Games of Men and Singers

Veil confronts Mraize about withholding information that Restares is actually Kelek, one of the Heralds, and demands answers about her true purpose. Mraize reveals a hidden dagger in the communication cube designed to trap Kelek's soul, and manipulates Shallan into agreeing to impersonate the Herald after capturing him to secure Adolin's trial victory and bring the honorspren into the war. Meanwhile, Adolin meets with Kelek and requests a trial by witness, which Kelek grants but insists be held publicly at the forum, undermining Adolin's strategy.

Radiant (one of Shallan's personalities) angrily confronts Mraize through the communication cube about his deception regarding Restares's true identity as Kelek, a Herald who has lived for seven thousand years. Mraize explains he withheld the information to avoid alerting Kelek to their knowledge. After Radiant demands answers about her purpose, Mraize instructs her to open the cube by finding the weakest point of his humming voice and twisting the correct face. This reveals a hidden compartment containing an intricate dagger with a gemstone on its grip—a tool designed to trap a Herald's soul. Mraize claims this is necessary because Kelek, like the other Heralds, abandoned the Oathpact and left Talenelat suffering in Damnation for thousands of years. He argues Kelek must be forced to share knowledge critical to fighting the Fused and can be convinced to aid them only through soul imprisonment. When Shallan objects that capturing Kelek would implicate them in Adolin's trial, Mraize reveals the true solution: Shallan can impersonate the Herald using her illusion powers. He then offers her full membership in the Ghostblood organization and release from apprenticeship if she performs this task—an offer that appeals to the ambitious parts of her personality. In a parallel scene, Adolin approaches Kelek with Blended, requesting a trial by witness to prove humans are not enemies of the honorspren. Kelek, dismissive and defeatist about the war against Odium, readily grants this request but insists the trial be held publicly at the forum rather than privately, which undermines Adolin's strategy and leaves him dismayed.