42. Mere Vapors

Shallan awakens in Sebarial's manor and discovers Tyn's spanreed, through which she makes contact with the Ghostbloods' intermediary. She deciphers a hidden code in their communications and learns they want to meet tonight. Using her Lightweaving abilities, Shallan transforms her appearance into a darkeyed woman and prepares to infiltrate the Ghostbloods by posing as Tyn's apprentice at an arranged meeting.

Shallan wakes in her luxurious room at Sebarial's manor where Pattern has been keeping her company. After eating food left by servants, she discovers Tyn's spanreed hidden in her trunk and begins examining previous communications between Tyn and a Ghostbloods contact in Tashikk. Pattern identifies a hidden authentication code embedded in the messages' opening words. When Shallan activates the spanreed, she receives an urgent message: the Ghostbloods want to meet tonight and will sever ties if refused. The contact mentions that Jasnah's ward has arrived and caused problems. Shallan decides to impersonate Tyn's apprentice rather than attempt a direct impersonation of Tyn herself. She creates a detailed sketch of a new identity—a darkeyed woman with dark hair, tan skin, and worn features—then uses her Lightweaving ability to transform her physical appearance to match the drawing, though she notices a small imperfection near the nose. She discovers that maintaining the illusion requires infused spheres to fuel it. With only twenty-five minutes before the scheduled meeting at Salas's moonheight in Sebarial's warcamp, Shallan dresses in Tyn's clothing—brown trousers, white shirt, and white coat—along with Bluth's hat to shade her face. She gathers infused spheres and a map, then exits through a ground-floor window into the night, ready to infiltrate the Ghostbloods.