Sha bargains Kelep down to 100 marks for shortspear lessons. The group visits Bettani, who offers help finding Liss and teaching women’s script if they bring her a Listener bone. On the way to the Red Rockbud gambling den, they catch Bon, a spy hired by someone there—later revealed to be Liss.

At the Red Rockbud, they meet Nel, gamble, share secrets, and learn that Bordin knows where Liss is. They also buy a chull and wagon, naming the chull Shimshack.

Back at the tavern, a man in black steals Orlan’s shortsword and leaves a warning from the Ghostbloods. The group experiences strange visions. They investigate the chasms for Bordin, finding many corpses. A group of Listeners arrives; a fight breaks out, and Tas-son-Dar takes a head for Bettani. Orlan refuses to loot the dead.

Bettani demands a cleaned skull instead, then gives Tas-son-Dar a book on women’s script. Bordin reveals Liss is at the Crem Oven. Liss explains she was hired by Taszo to retrieve Taln’s honorblade. Taszo is dead, so she offers to help the group instead. Sha’s stone releases Po’Ahu, a peakspren, who bonds with her—Sha becomes a Stoneward.

On the way out, soldiers of Amaram confront them; the captain attacks with glowing red eyes and dies warning, “The Everstorm comes!” The group rests, modifies their wagon, and warns Bordin of a Listener attack. Liss kills a guard and helps them infiltrate the monastery. They kill another intruder, steal a Shardblade, and hide it.

They find Taln, who briefly regains clarity when he sees Po’Ahu. He warns that the Desolation is near and that his honorblade lies in Rathalas. Tas-son-Dar bonds a spren and becomes a Lightweaver.

As they escape, Amaram catches them and declares them enemies of the Sons of Honor. The group prepares to head for Rathalas next.