Two servants, Baxil and Av, follow their Makabaki mistress. She is a very beautiful woman who dresses in tight pants and wears a sword. The three enter the house of one of the richest and holiest men in Emuli and the woman breaks into a sacred gallery in order to deface the art.

Two ardents live on a small Reshi island to take care of the needs of Vorin visitors. Geranid studies spren, while her partner, Ashir, experiments with cooking. Geranid has just made an interesting discovery. Flamespren normally fluctuate in size, shape, and color. However, as soon as she measures them and makes a notation, they freeze in their current state and remain that way unless Geranid erases the measurement.

Szeth is in the process of assassinating a king, killing as many of his guards and soldiers as possible. The need to go through so many men before being able to accomplish his goal makes Szeth hate the king, which in turn makes him feel even worse. However, all the killing is turning him numb, unable to even cry.