Chapter 18

Kalak, a Herald, barricades himself after the Radiants escape, but is quickly captured in his study by Felt, a Ghostblood operative, with assistance from Ala, a spren who was disguised as an imprisoned captive. The spren reveals it has been a spy all along, transmitting information about Mishram's location to Iyatil and others in the conspiracy.

Kalak locks himself in his secure building at Lasting Integrity, feeling the weight of his immensely long life and fearing pursuit by Thaidakar and the Ghostbloods. He briefly considers whether he should have escaped with the Radiants, then resolves to gather his belongings and flee to another hiding place. Upon entering his study, he is immediately ensnared by animated drapes that bind him against the wall. A foreign man with long mustaches, later revealed to be Felt, sits at Kalak's desk and reveals he has questions. Felt produces the box containing the seon that Shallan had entrusted to Kalak. When Felt opens it, the spren—identified as Ala—emerges and cheerfully greets him, its demeanor completely transformed from the frightened creature it had appeared to be. Ala boasts of having transmitted crucial information about Mishram's location to Iyatil and others, including Lord Kelsier. The spren had been a spy embedded within the Radiant group all along, overhearing private conversations between Shallan and Adolin. Felt considers using a gemstone dagger against Kalak but decides against it, deeming it untrustworthy and preferring to wait for further orders from Mraize and Iyatil. Felt resolves to keep Kalak captive for now, recognizing that the Herald may yet prove useful. Kalak, trapped and trembling, experiences a strange relief that his fate is no longer his own to decide.