28. Boots

Shallan and Tyn bond while traveling by wagon, with Tyn teaching her the art of deception and accent work. When soldiers from Dalinar Kholin's personal guard arrive to investigate bandit attacks, Shallan improvises a ridiculous Horneater princess character, successfully convincing the lead soldier, Kal, to give up his boots as an apology.

Shallan and Tyn travel with the caravan toward the Shattered Plains, where Tyn teaches Shallan about the importance of mastering different accents and personas for effective deception. Tyn explains that appearing unimportant or lowly can grant access and opportunities that a lighteyed person would never receive, and she gives Shallan eyedrops that can temporarily darken her light blue eyes. When four mounted soldiers from Dalinar Kholin's personal guard approach the caravan, Shallan and Tyn decide to deflect scrutiny. At Tyn's suggestion, Shallan adopts an exaggerated Horneater princess persona with a comically broken accent, claiming to be "Princess Unulukuak'kina'autu'atai." The soldier Kal questions the caravan about a bandit attack three weeks prior; Tyn provides details while Shallan remains in character, absurdly demanding Kal's boots as an apology for insulting her. Against his better judgment, Kal surrenders both boots and departs. After the soldiers leave, Shallan laughs at the success of the ruse and the appearance of joyspren. Tyn explains that the exercise was meant to build Shallan's confidence in maintaining a false persona, no matter how outlandish, and to practice deception in real situations.