Once inside Kholinar, the Radiants set to work testing their powers and various fabrials. They picked a street away from the tailor's and checked Shallan's lightweavings, which failed to attract screamers. Adolin had assumed this would be the case, since they'd used her powers to enter the city, but it was good to confirm.

Next Kaladin took a turn. He lashed a rock towards the street, which summoned the screaming spren immediately. The Radiants waited tensely from a nearby alleyway. A Fused came to investigate, but quickly dismissed the rock as a curiosity.

After the screamers dissipated, Shallan said,"What was different about Kaladin's Stormlight? I doubt the screamers would prioritize one order over another, particularly since the spanreeds attract Fused too."

"Shallan's powers are less involved, right? They take Stormlight to activate and run, but it's similar to when any of us draws in Stormlight. Lashings are more…forceful," Kaladin offered.

Kelsier nodded towards Kaladin,"He's onto something. Which gives me an idea. There are a few metals we haven't used yet, one of which is copper. Turn it on, and have Kaladin lash a stone again, but leave it next to you."

"And what does this metal do?" Adolin said quietly.

"You'll see." Kelsier grinned.

Storming insufferable spren and his flair for dramatics. Adolin explained the plan. Shallan and Kaladin were hesitant but agreed to try it.

Adolin activated copper. Kaladin infused a stone and stood close, ready to reclaim the Stormlight quickly if any screamers came.

A tense second past. Then another. Only a whole minute after when the screamers should have appeared did Adolin release his breath with a puff of Stormlight.

"Copper creates a bubble around the person burning it that prevents the detection of investiture. As long as Adolin has Stormlight, he can hide Radiants from sight," Kelsier said, appearing to the rest of the group. He finished his speech with a flourish.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's grab the squires and fly into the palace to investigate. We might even be able to find the queen," Shallan said.

Kaladin said,"How far does your copper cloud extend?"

"A few feet in every direction, I think," Adolin said. He could barely sense the edges of the bubble.

"So not large enough to fly a group. I might be able to lash you and keep myself close, but we can't take a team to investigate the castle."

Shallan brightened. "But we can use the spanreeds now."

As soon as they got back to Yaska's house, that was what they did. Elhokar dictated a report which Shallan sent, using his personal spanreed. They also attempted a message to the palace, though that failed. Shallan was the first to realize that any spanreeds in the palace had likely been confiscated early in the invasion, before people had learned how to avoid screamers.

Dalinor was concerned about the news that the city was tearing itself apart, but everyone agreed that they needed to continue with the mission. Shallan tried to gain entrance into the cult, Kaladin investigated the Wall Guard, and Adolin? He partied.

At a ball that night, Adolin did his best to drum up support to reclaim the castle–and failed spectacularly. After his fifth conversation, he excused himself to get some air and talk to Kelsier. He was also desperately in need of a break.

Adolin walked Lord Gashivah's grounds. The garden was thriving despite the current upheaval, with several shalebark walls in full bloom. However, the splendor was ruined by the view. Beyond the cultivated vines and rockbuds, he could see a destroyed storefront that hadn't survived the city's looting.

"Kelsier, what am I missing? I knew persuading anyone to help would be difficult, but everyone inside is so stubborn. They refuse to see reality." The lighteyes in Kholinar lived a life as cultivated as the gardens they grew, carefully designed so they could ignore the world falling apart outside. When Adolin asked for help to reclaim the castle, he was forcing them to confront the truth. It was a mission doomed to fail.

"You have to hope that someone will listen and offer aid, but nobody can keep their houses together as it is. I'd tell you to use Allomancy, but even a Rioter can't create feelings that aren't already there."

"I was Soothing for all the good it did me."

Kelsier grinned. "It took you long enough." Adolin had only done so out of desperation. He still wasn't comfortable relying on such a dishonest metal, but he was willing to admit that it could be useful.

"I need to find an army or there's no point in trying to reclaim the castle."

"You're not talking about Kholinar anymore, are you?" Kelsier said gently, stopping in the middle of the path.

Adolin hesitated, then shook his head.
"You must feel horrible watching your friends take risks–especially Shallan and that cult of hers–while you sip wine at dances. The honest truth is that even the best Mistborns have to take the bench sometimes. When I was first training Vin–"

Adolin couldn't resist cutting Kelsier off to ask,"Who was Vin?"

Kelsier got a faraway look in his eyes. "She was…my protege you might say. A street girl who had no idea she was Mistborn until I dragged her into my revolution. She surpassed me in the end."

He looked over to Adolin and seemed to reorientate to the present. "That was a long time ago. What I was saying is that as the plan moved forwards, sometimes Vin would spend months at a time going to parties and gathering information, and she hated it. However, the secrets she learned and rumors she planted were just as important as the army I helped raise. Adolin, you're incredible at connecting to people. You'll find an army, you only need to give it time. Don't worry about the mission."

"Sure, if you say so."

Kelsier raised an eyebrow.

"You're right, but I need to grit my teeth and get back in there. If I talk to more people, I'll find someone who will listen. It's only a matter of time." Adolin's smile was hollow. Kelsier looked him over, but didn't say anything. Both knew that the other wasn't fooled.

Adolin felt worthless, standing around as he was. Shallan was using her powers to steal food to distribute. Kaladin couldn't currently use his powers, but he more than made up for it in sheer heroism. Kelsier and Adolin had a bet going on how long Bridgeboy would take to be running the Wall Guard. But Adolin was nothing more than a prince in a world that needed Radiants. He'd come along to help the city with his Mistborn powers. It was time he acted, as he'd sworn in his Third Ideal.