Kaladin is in a slave caravan, and has been branded as a dangerous slave on account of his constant attempts to escape. He is locked up in a wagon with ten other slaves. Kaladin tries hard not to let his mind regress to the state of the others. He notices a windspren that seems to follow him. Kaladin questions his sanity as he is the only one that can see or hear the windspren which takes the shape of a woman and questions Kaladin. The men talk about how they became slaves, and ask Kaladin how he became a slave. "Failures. Crimes. Betrayals. Probably the same for most every one of us." Finally, he admits that he killed a lighteyes.

Later, Tvlakv - the slaver - stops the wagon, and with his bodyguards, begins to inspect the slaves. One of the slaves shows signs of illness, which Kaladin recognizes. He realizes all the slave needs is some water and rest. Instead, the slave is killed, and Tvlakv states it was to protect the lives of the other slaves. Kaladin is angered by this, and accidently destroys the blackbane - a poisonous leaf - that he'd smuggled. Defeated, Kaladin gives up, the windspren still following and darting around him.