After learning Taln’s Honorblade is in Rathalas, the group sets out. Erytl Photrak says goodbye to Shansan, and Tas-son-Dar leaves Bettani a note thanking her for teaching him women’s script. Before departure, Erytl bonds the Ashspren Cinder. During a Highstorm, Orlan walks into the storm, takes Stormform, and begins hearing ominous voices.

The next day they meet a lone man—Wit. Tas-son-Dar, startled by his shardblade’s screams, rushes to “save” him. Wit hitches a ride and explains Adonalsium’s shattering, the Shards, and the danger of multiple Shards on one world. He vanishes mid‑journey, leaving only strange dust patterns behind.

Later, Erytl finds a cremling with a human nose that leads them to a cave full of similar creatures and an egg she takes. They also recover an obsidian dagger.

The following day they meet a merchant, and Tas-son-Dar learns the screaming shardblade must be bonded. Yus-Son-Les, Erytl’s truthless servant, emerges from the wagon. An axehound flees to them as a massive chasmfiend charges past, overturning the wagon but ignoring the group. The axehound leads them to a dying singer who asks Orlan to leave his club at a stormshelter and care for his axehound, Pooch. At the shelter, the group is ambushed by Ghostblood agents; they kill one, interrogate the other, and loot vials, hard canes, and obsidian daggers.

The rest of the journey is calm. Lines presses Tas-son-Dar for more truths, and Orlan bonds the enlightened Mistspren Bran. Near Rathalas they meet Lorn, a fleeing bandit, who explains an Iriali shardbearer has taken over the city and gives them a detailed map. Tas-son-Dar kills him for being a bandit.