Kelsier was done. Two weeks of sitting in a prison cell with only Adolin for company was far too long. He'd explored the nearby area of camp a little bit, but there were only so many laps around empty barracks one could handle.

"For the last time, we are not going to overthrow my cousin!" Adolin shouted.

There was that too, Kelsier thought. He'd been trying to convince Adolin to overthrow the king for locking Kaladin up. There were deeper reasons too. Elhokar was a terrible king in a bad time for mediocrity. If he was overthrown, Dalinor would surely swoop in like he wanted to, and take charge. Elhokar's death would free Alethkar from tyranny.

Also, Adolin had the perfect set of powers for the job. He was a Mistborn, a biological–or in his case, created–assassin. Their bond granted him incredible powers and he refused to use them to do anything productive. Instead, he sat in prison as a token protest. It was a sweet gesture on Kaladin's behalf, but small compared to the things Adolin could be doing.

"If you won't help me, then I'll find someone else who will. I wonder what Bridgeboy would say to a little assassination," Kelsier said. He walked out through the wall, before Adolin could protest. He hated incorporeality, but he couldn't complain about the dramatic exits it allowed him.

As Kelsier walked towards the back of the dank little prison, everything became darker. The former Captain Kaladin was being kept in a cell near the back, just barely lit by a single sphere lamp. He was lying on his cot, barely moving.

Kaladin called out,"Wit, I don't know how you muffled your footsteps so well, but I don't want to hear it. You already made me tell you a story. We're even."

"Lucky for you, I'm not Wit." Rusts, could Drifter leave anyone alone? Kaladin jumped up, tense. Kelsier walked through the cell bars nonchalantly, and stood by the wall in a casual position. "The name's Kelsier. I'll take you up on the story though." He held out his hand for a shake. Kaladin didn't budge.

He said,"I don't shake hands with my hallucinations. Better not to encourage them."

"Oh, I'm no figment of your imagination, Kaladin. I'm what you call a spren."

That finally forced Kaladin to sit up. "What do you want from me?"

"Nothing. However, I can help you. Rescuing the highprince's sons from death, facing down Shardbearers with only a spear? It seems a shame to lock up a soldier like you. I want to get you out of here."

"Can't. Once my sentence is served, I'll be in charge of the king's guard again. If I escape I jeopardize my men by losing my position. I won't let some lighteyes take control."

"You already have though. I know you've seen the rift Elhokar is causing, with the way he throws tantrums and embarrasses the throne. He needs to be removed so the real king, Dalinor, can take control."

"Treason. You want my help with treason."

"Not treason so much as patriotism. This is what Alethekar needs. Treason is a terrible word for such a noble act."

"Don't play dumb. It's murder, plain and simple. And who are you to declare that the king should die?"

"I'm a spren of justice. It's my duty to see that the world is taken care of."

"Right. What are you and who are you working for? Do the Lighteyes have spren to spy for them now?" Kaladin said, back on guard.

Kelsier needed to try a different tactic. "Nothing of the sort. I've freed one group of beaten-down masses from tyranny. I can, and would, do it again in a heartbeat. For this to work though, I need your help. Are you in?"

Kaladin looked at a little blue woman on his shoulder, presumably his Radiant spren, who was shaking her head softly. He nodded regardless. "I'll do it."

"Great, then let me help you. I'm working on a plan to get you some Stormlight, which I assume you can then use to escape with your Radiant powers." Kelsier had guessed Kaladin was Radiant ever since the Assassin in White had attacked, but the duel, and now the spren on Kaladin's shoulder, had confirmed Kelsier's suspicions.

Kaladin was startled. "I'm not a Radiant."

"Right, and that blue woman on your shoulder isn't an Honorspren." Kelsier had crossed paths with the unpleasant type of spren before.

"Fine, you caught me." Kaladin shook his head. "I'd still rather not sneak out. Wouldn't that undermine your mysterious plan? I can't hold open doors or send guards away if I'm not in Dalinor's retinue. He won't want me around if I try to undermine his authority further."

Kelsier had actually wanted Kaladin to sneak into the king's chambers and take care of business like a Mistborn. That wasn't going to happen, looking at the captain's face. Kaladin wanted to limit his involvement? Then the hard way it was. Kelsier would still need someone to do the deed, since Adolin wouldn't agree anytime soon, but a man in charge of the guards would help considerably.

"Then I'll find you once we're both free from this place," Kelsier said.

Kaladin nodded, and Kelsier showed himself out.