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"No." Straff nodded. "I'm glad we both understand that." "You should just attack," Zane said. "We can find the atium once we control Luthadel." Straff smiled, then sipped the tea. The poisoned tea. Despite himself, Zane started, sitting up straight. "Don't presume to think you know what I'm planning, Zane," Straff said... |
nudity. "I need your antidote," he said. "Quickly." "Which one, my lord?" she asked. She wasn't the only herbalist Straff kept; he learned scents and tastes from four different people. Amaranta, however, was the best of them. "Birchbane," Straff said. "And. . .maybe something else. I'm not sure." "Another general potio... |
now. He'd passed Faleast and Tyrian, two of the northern Ashmounts. Tyrian was still just barely visible to the south—a tall, solitary peak with a cut-off, blackened top. The landscape had grown flat, the trees changing from patchy brown pines to the willowy white aspens common around Luthadel. The aspens rose like bon... |
large. And very dangerous. Sazed dropped from the tree, making his body light enough that he hit the ground softly. He hurriedly searched through his copperminds. When he found the one he wanted, he strapped it to his upper left arm, then climbed back up the tree. He searched an index quickly. Somewhere, he'd taken not... |
disgust. So. . .their body continues to grow, but their skin doesn't? His thought was confirmed as a massive, ten-foot-tall beast of a koloss wandered into the group. Smaller creatures scattered before this newcomer, who thumped up to the fire, where several horses were roasting. This largest creature's skin was pulled... |
inhumanly quick swipe of the arm. It tossed the pack to another koloss. "I need that," Sazed said. "I will be much more cooperative if—" "Quiet!" the koloss yelled with a rage so sudden that Sazed took a step backward. Terrismen were tall—especially Terrismen eunuchs—and it was very disconcerting to be dwarfed by this ... |
though the two largest creatures in the group each had several. They look like coin pouches, Sazed thought. But, the koloss don't have an economy. Perhaps they keep personal possessions in them? But what would beasts like these value? They entered the camp. There didn't appear to be sentries at the borders—but, then, w... |
in the camp—or, if there were, they were indistinguishable from the males. Sazed did, however, notice a koloss corpse lying forgotten near one of the fires. It had been flayed, the blue skin ripped free. How could any society exist like this? he thought with horror. His books said the koloss bred and aged quickly—a for... |
back the tent door. Sazed entered the second chamber. The man inside wore the pants and suit jacket of a Luthadel nobleman. He was balding—his hair reduced to a few struggling wisps—despite his youth. He stood, tapping the side of his leg with a nervous hand, and jumped slightly when Sazed entered. Sazed recognized the... |
through the remnants of his hair. "These are koloss we speak of—we can't expect much from them." "And you bring them to Luthadel?" Sazed asked. "Even the Lord Ruler feared these creatures, Your Majesty. He kept them away from cities. You bring them to the most populated area in all of the Final Empire!" "You don't unde... |
coming—I don't even care if you give our numbers. Be sure you're accurate, though! I have over twenty thousand koloss in this army. He can't fight me. He can't fight the others, either. But, if I had those city walls. . .well, I could hold off both other armies for him. Tell him to be logical. If he gives over the atiu... |
pulled down into the chair just a little bit farther as Elend continued to speak with Ham, Dox, Clubs, and Breeze. "El," Ham said, "you realize that if you go into the enemy camp, we won't be able to protect you." "I'm not sure you can protect me here, Ham," Elend said. "Not with two armies camped practically against t... |
the city from us!" Ham and Breeze nodded their heads. Dockson, however, shook his. "The plan is good in theory, but going into the enemy camp unguarded? That seems foolish." "Now, see," Elend said. "I think this is to our advantage. My father believes strongly in control and domination. If I walk into his camp, I'll es... |
protect him. It will only be fair for Elend to be able to bring me. And, if I'm there, I can get him out should something go wrong." Ham chuckled again. "That probably wouldn't make for a very dignified retreat—getting slung over Vin's shoulder and carried to safety." "Better than dying," Elend said, obviously trying t... |
Spook's shift in language patterns due to growing maturity, or because the kandra had difficulty mimicking his slang? Was Ham, perhaps, too jovial? He also seemed to focus less on his little philosophical puzzles than he once had. Was that because he was more serious now, or because the kandra didn't know how to imitat... |
felt she'd give herself a headache. There was a. . .vibration to the pulses. But what that could mean, she wasn't certain. Focus! she told herself. However, the pulses stubbornly refused to yield any further information. Fine, she thought. I'll cheat. She turned off her tin—she almost always had it on a little bit—then... |
still, eh? Elend thought with amusement. He nodded reassuringly, and Vin frowned, looking just a little annoyed. He would have let her stay, but. . .well, facing Tindwyl was embarrassing enough alone. Vin left the room, wolfhound kandra at her side. Looks like she's growing more attached to the creature, Elend thought ... |
well, Your Majesty. You can unclench your fists now. You're going to have to work on that—a statesman should not give visual clues of his nervousness." Elend glanced down, relaxing his hands. "All right." "In addition," Tindwyl continued, "you still hedge too much in your language. It makes you seem timid and hesitant.... |
not, weak of character or not, mocked or not, you are all this country has. You are king, Elend Venture." Elend paused. "I'm. . .not sure if you're making me feel any better about myself, Tindwyl." "It's—" Elend raised a hand. "Yes, I know. It's not about how I feel." "You have no place for guilt. Accept that you're ki... |
tested by those you meet, Your Majesty. You might as well grow accustomed to it." "But, why do you care about my relationship with Vin?" "Love is not easy for kings, Your Majesty," Tindwyl said in an uncharacteristically kind voice. "You will find that your affection for the girl can cause far more trouble than any of ... |
father sent you as an ambassador?" Allrianne paused. "Um. . .he didn't exactly send me, Your Majesty." "Oh, dear," Breeze said, pulling out a handkerchief to dab his brow. Elend glanced at Ham, then back at the girl. "Perhaps you should explain," he said, gesturing toward the atrium's seats. Allrianne nodded eagerly, b... |
Elend. Fortunately, she thought better of it, instead allowing the servants to lead her away. Elend sat. Breeze sighed deeply, leaning back in a wearied posture as Dockson walked forward, taking the girl's seat. "That was. . .unexpected," Breeze noted. There was an awkward pause, the atrium trees shifting slightly in t... |
She's actually quite witty, in the right circumstances." "So, was there anything between you?" Vin pressed. "Of course not," Breeze said. "Well, not really. Nothing real, though it could have been taken the wrong way. Was taken the wrong way, actually, once her father discovered. . .Anyway, who are you to talk, Vin? I ... |
be hidden by clouds. It was more powerful than the storms, for it would outlast any weather's fury. It was always there. Changing, but eternal. Day was an impatient sigh, awaiting the night. When the darkness did come, however, Vin found that the mists did not calm her as they once had. Nothing seemed certain anymore. ... |
a dark silhouette in the night, his inhuman baying disturbing even to Vin. Ham spun, cursing quietly. And he instinctively flared pewter. Focused on her bronze, Vin confirmed that the pulses were definitely coming from him. Ham spun around, searching in the night as OreSeur landed. Vin, however, simply smiled. Ham's Al... |
is supposed to enhance his mind somehow, too." "It does. When I'm burning atium, I often dodge before I even register the attacks that are coming." Ham nodded. "So," Vin said, "what else?" "That's it, Vin," Ham said. "Thugs talk about this topic a lot—we're all afraid of going up against a Mistborn. Those are your two ... |
shoulders. "I know you'd rather not have to deal with me," she said. "We'd both rather keep our distance from each other. But, we'll just have to make things work this way." OreSeur nodded again, then turned his head slightly and looked at her. "Why is it that you hate me?" "I don't hate you," Vin said. OreSeur raised ... |
thought. First, when he was Renoux, I reacted against his haughty bearing—but that bearing wasn't his, it was part of the act he had to play. Then, as OreSeur, I avoided him. Hated him, even, for letting Kelsier die. Now I've forced him into an animal's body. And, in two years of knowing him, the only times I've asked ... |
your efforts to remain harmless seem to provoke them. They hate your skill, they hate the fact that they don't have more reasons to beat you, so they beat you." OreSeur turned back to her. "How do you know these things?" he demanded. Vin shrugged. "That's not only how they treat kandra, OreSeur. That's the same way cre... |
could beat me far harder than he should have been able to." "Why didn't you run?" OreSeur asked. "You didn't have a Contract bonding you to him." "I. . .don't know," Vin said. "People are strange, OreSeur, and loyalty is so often twisted. I stayed with Camon because he was familiar, and I feared leaving more than I did... |
difference does that make?" Vin asked. "You're still doing the same things, aren't you?" "Yes, but now we do them at your command," OreSeur said. "Men like power, and they love controlling something powerful. Our people offered to serve, and we devised a binding contract—one that every kandra vowed to uphold. We will n... |
trained by Reen, the part that still occasionally used his voice in the back of her mind—whispered that there was another way to fight these armies. Rather than rely on politics and parlays, the crew could use Vin. Send her on a quiet visit into the night that left the kings and generals of the armies dead. But, she kn... |
said, approaching the edge of the guard station's roof. Only then did she realize something important. OreSeur had taken the initiative: he'd alerted her of the danger without specifically being ordered to listen. It was a small thing, but it seemed important. "What do you think?" she asked quietly, watching the figure... |
prepare the main dining hall, though he apparently hadn't eaten all day. So, they sat on the low wooden benches, waiting while the cooks worked—far enough away that they couldn't hear the hushed conversation in the alcove. Vin sat beside Elend, arm around his waist, her wolfhound kandra on the floor beside her. Breeze ... |
march." "Probably wasn't expecting to find that two other armies beat him to the city," Ham noted. Elend nodded. "What do we do, then?" "I don't see that we can do anything, Your Majesty," Dockson said, shaking his head. "Sazed's report doesn't give me much hope that we'll be able to reason with Jastes. And, with the s... |
Majesty, for your burdens already seem great." "You might as well just tell me," Elend said. Sazed nodded. "I fear that we may have exposed the world to something when we killed the Lord Ruler, Your Majesty. Something unanticipated." Breeze raised a tired eyebrow. "Unanticipated? You mean other than ravaging koloss, po... |
Majesty?" He pointed at the plate. "Eat. You can be polite another time. Right now, you look famished—and you're among friends." Sazed paused, giving Elend an odd look. "Yes, Your Majesty," he said, picking up a knife and spoon. "Now," Elend began, "why does it matter if you saw mist during the day? We know that the th... |
asked, waving his hand. "When you left, I recall that you said something about spending the rest of your life traveling, or some nonsense like that." Sazed blushed slightly, glancing down again. "That duty will have to wait, I fear." "You're welcome to stay as long as you want, Sazed," Elend said, shooting a glare at B... |
saying." "And what do you think of it?" Vin paused. "I'll tell you later." "All right," Elend said. To Vin's side, the kandra rose and stretched its wolfhound body. Why did she insist on bringing OreSeur to the meeting? he wondered. Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that she couldn't stand the thing? The wolfhound turned,... |
he should help overthrow the Final Empire, then find himself with even less time. He reached to push open the door, and froze almost immediately. There was already a light inside the room. Did they leave a lamp on for me? he wondered. He slowly pushed the door open. Someone was waiting for him. "Tindwyl," Sazed said qu... |
"Can't you see, Sazed? You spent ten years working to overthrow the Final Empire. Now, you can't content yourself with regular work, so you have invented some grand threat to the land. You're afraid of being irrelevant." Sazed looked down. "Perhaps. If you are correct, then I will seek the forgiveness of the Synod. I s... |
balcony below, and with tin, she could easily read the words. I sleep but a few hours each night. We must press forward, traveling as much as we can each day—but when I finally lie down, I find sleep elusive. The same thoughts that trouble me during the day are only compounded by the stillness of night. And, above it a... |
been waiting," he said quietly. "Atop Keep Hasting. Hoping you'd come." She sighed, careful to keep an eye on him, but relaxing slightly. "I'm not really in the mood for sparring right now." He watched her. "Pity," he finally said. He walked over, prompting Vin to rise cautiously to her feet. He paused beside the lip o... |
Zane paused. "If I could just use my power as I wanted?" Vin asked. "No repercussions? I'd protect him." "Your king?" Zane asked, turning. Vin nodded sharply. "These men who brought armies against him—your master, this man named Cett. I'd kill them. I'd use my power to make certain that nobody could threaten Elend." Za... |
some of that danger, but she had been warned to burn away excess metals at the end of each day. She downed this vial even as she reached for the obsidian daggers hidden beneath her pillow. The door to her sleeping chamber swung open, and Tindwyl walked in. The Terriswoman froze in midstep as she saw Vin crouching on th... |
she turned into the last part of the hallway. "The king's gift will surely be enough to pay for a dress, dear," Tindwyl said, noticing Vin. "Ah, here she is." A sullen-looking Spook stood with the two women. He had on his palace guard's uniform, though he wore the jacket undone and the trousers loose. Vin walked forwar... |
to train me well. Of course, she was just trying to make me into a good catch so Father could auction me off to make an alliance." Allrianne smiled. It had been a while since Vin had been forced to deal with women like her. She remembered hours spent at court, smiling, pretending to be Valette Renoux. Often when she th... |
to go on. "There," Tindwyl said, pointing to a dressmaker's shop. Allrianne scampered forward. Tindwyl followed behind, walking with modest decorum. "Eager young thing, isn't she?" the Terriswoman asked. Vin shrugged. The blond noblewoman had already gotten Spook's attention; he was following her with a lively step. Of... |
shouldn't have come here. Tindwyl laid a hand on Vin's shoulder. "Why haven't you married him, child?" Vin looked up sharply. "What kind of question is that?" "An honest one," Tindwyl said. She seemed far less harsh than she had been the other times Vin had met her. Of course, during those times, she had mostly been ad... |
"Is that what this is all about?" Vin said. "You trying to turn me into a queen for Elend?" "No, child," Tindwyl said. "I wish to help you turn into whoever you are. Now, go let the man take your measurements so you can try on some stock dresses." Whoever I am? Vin thought, frowning. However, she let the tall Terriswom... |
traitorous dress take control of her again. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Vin demanded quietly. "Why shouldn't I be?" Tindwyl asked. "Because you're mean to Elend," Vin said. "Don't deny it—I've listened in on your lessons. You spend the time insulting and disparaging him. But now you're pretending to be nice." Ti... |
himself a little more stability. "I'm. . .I'm sorry if I offended you, my lady. I didn't know." Vin flushed again. Another reason why I shouldn't go shopping. "No," she said, reassuring the man. "It's all right. You haven't offended me." He relaxed slightly, and Vin noticed Spook strolling over. "Looks like we've been ... |
"There sure are a lot of them. . .." Vin nodded. OreSeur sat where he had before, near the door, and he watched her with a curious canine expression. Allrianne smiled at the crowd, waving with a sudden hesitance. "You can, you know, fight them off or something if this turns messy, right?" "That won't be necessary," Vin... |
man, and a good leader. He has sacrificed much for you—your freedom comes because of his long hours spent drafting laws, and your livelihoods come because of his work securing trade routes and agreements with merchants." Many members of the crowd looked down. The bearded man at the front continued to twist his cap, how... |
moved about, trying to organize the men, but apparently too many footmen had come to the wall, leaving a lot of the archers trapped in the courtyard below. Why? Elend thought desperately, turning back toward the charging army. Why is he attacking? We had an a agreement to meet! Had he, perhaps, gotten wind of Elend's p... |
an actual attack." "What was it then?" Vin asked, frowning. "A test," Clubs said. "It's common in warfare—a quick skirmish to see how your enemy responds, to feel out their tactics and preparations." Elend turned, watching the disorganized soldiers make way for healers to care for the wounded. "A test," he said, glanci... |
It wasn't as tight as some, and gave her a lot of room to move through the thigh and legs. Good so far. OreSeur's objection was logical. One of the first things she had learned on the street was to avoid situations where it was difficult to flee. Her every instinct rebelled at the idea of walking into Straff's camp. El... |
seem very practical." "Yes, I know," Vin said, using a pair of sapphire barrettes to pin the sides of her hair back a bit from her face. "But. . .well, I'd forgotten how much fun these things could be to wear." "I fail to see why that would be, Mistress." "That's because you're a man." "Actually, I'm a kandra." "But yo... |
of disappointment; she'd expected him to object more. She pushed the emotion aside. Why should she fault him? He'd been the one to rightly point out the dangers of going into the camp. OreSeur simply lay down, resting head on paws as he watched her continue applying her makeup. "But, El," Ham said, "you should at least... |
for something with sleeves." "Be thankful for the weather," Ham said. "Every chill you suffer will seem far worse to the men out in those armies." Elend nodded. Winter had, technically, started. The weather probably wouldn't get bad enough to be more than a mild discomfort—they rarely got snow in the Central Dominance—... |
She rose and moved across the carriage—but paused, eyeing him. "Makeup." "I'll be careful," Elend promised. She nodded, sitting and letting him put an arm around her. "Be careful of the hair, too," she said. "And your suit coat—don't get anything on it." "When did you get so fashion-conscious?" he asked. "It's the dres... |
think that he liked how strong he felt by taking a girl while knowing that she would be killed for his passion. He keeps several dozen mistresses, and if they don't please him, they get removed." Vin muttered something quietly in response to this. "He's the same way with political allies. One didn't ally with House Ven... |
the suits he had tried to get Elend to wear as a boy. That was when Elend had begun wearing his clothing disheveled—the buttons undone, the jackets too large. Anything to separate him from his father. Elend's defiance had never been meaningful, however. He had annoyed Straff, pulling small stunts and acting foolish whe... |
"He's also a Tineye," he said in a normal voice. "So he's probably listening to us right now." Elend looked toward the door. Straff walked in a few moments later, giving no indication as to whether he had heard Vin or not. A group of servants entered a few moments later, carrying a large dining table. Vin inhaled sharp... |
to ally with you." "Perhaps," Elend said. "But, there are other factors at play here. I assume that you weren't expecting Cett's arrival?" "Cett is of little concern," Straff said, turning his attention to the meal: big slabs of barely cooked beef. Vin wrinkled her nose, though Elend couldn't tell if that was part of h... |
a sudden motion at the front of the tent, and soon a flustered young girl entered. She wore a ball gown—red—and had her black hair pulled back into a long, flowing tail. She was, perhaps, fifteen. "Hoselle," Straff said, pointing to the chair next to him. The girl nodded obediently, scurrying forward to sit beside Stra... |
Elend. "It's all right," he said slowly. She paused, then nodded. Straff himself was little danger to Elend, and she was a Mistborn. If something went wrong, she could get to Elend quickly. And, if she left, it would do what they wanted—make Elend look less powerful. In a better position to deal with Straff. Hopefully.... |
able to promise me that atium—you would never have left this camp tonight. I made a mistake a year ago. If I'd stayed in Luthadel, I would have been the one on that throne. Instead, it was you. I can't imagine why—I guess a weak Venture was still better than the other alternatives." Straff was everything Elend had hate... |
"You die; I take the city by force." "And Cett attacks you from behind," Elend said. "Pinning you against our wall and forcing you to fight surrounded." "He'd take heavy losses," Straff said. "He wouldn't be able to take and hold the city after that." "Even with diminished forces, he'd have a better chance of taking it... |
in the back." Straff pointed at Elend as soldiers rushed in. Elend didn't cringe. He'd grown up with this man, been raised by him, been tortured by him. And, despite it all, Elend had never spoken his mind. He'd rebelled with the petty timidity of a teenage boy, but he'd never spoken the truth. It felt good. It felt ri... |
Elend. "Fear," Elend said. She Soothed away Straff's anger and exchanged it for fear. "Passion." She complied. "Calmness." She soothed everything away. Inside the tent, she saw Straff's shadow standing stiffly. An Allomancer couldn't force a person to do anything—and usually, strong Pushes or Pulls on an emotion were l... |
she'll begin the slaughter. Men will die like prisoners before the fountains on a day of execution." "I thought you said he was above this kind of thing," Zane whispered. "You claimed you weren't his tool. You said he wouldn't use you as an assassin. . .." Vin shuffled uncomfortably. "He's bluffing, Zane," she said. "H... |
Then he bowed slightly to her and jumped away, disappearing into the mists. Inside the room, Straff spoke to Elend. "Go. Leave here." The carriage rolled away. Straff stood outside his tent, heedless of the mists, still feeling a bit stunned. I let him go. Why did I let him go? Yet—even now—he could feel her touch slam... |
as to how quickly he'd be betrayed. But Straff couldn't attack Luthadel while that girl was alive. Not knowing her strength, having felt her touch on his emotions. "No," he finally said to Zane's question. "We won't attack. Not until you kill her." "That might be harder than you make it sound, Father," Zane said. "I'll... |
like you in all of the Final Empire!" Strangely, his words made her huddle into the corner just a little farther. She turned, watching out the window, eyes staring into the mists. "Thank you," she said softly. Elend wrinkled his brow. Every time I begin to think I've figured out what's going on in her head. . .He moved... |
Straff." "Shall we have a celebration back at the palace?" Breeze asked. "As fond as I am of the mists, I doubt the courtyard is an appropriate place to be discussing these issues." Elend patted him on the back and nodded. Ham and Dockson joined him and Vin, while the others took the carriage they'd come in. Elend glan... |
a thousand years. During that time, philosophers and thinkers dreamed of a government where a bad ruler could be ousted without bloodshed. I took this throne through an unpredictable and unique series of events, and I didn't think it right to unilaterally impose my will—or the will of my descendants—upon the people. I ... |
the elected representatives of the Assembly." "An Assembly you formed, my dear man," Breeze said. "They have power because you gave it to them." "The law gives them their power, Breeze," Elend said. "And we are all subject to it." "Nonsense," Tindwyl said. "As king, you are the law. Once we secure the city, you can cal... |
people of Luthadel—his determination to do what was right for them—was what separated him from Kelsier. Even in martyrdom, Kelsier had displayed a hint of arrogance. He'd made certain that he would be remembered like few men who had ever lived. But Elend—to him, ruling the Central Dominance wasn't about fame or glory. ... |
things up." Vin paused. OreSeur, however, had a strange little smile on his lips. "Kandra humor, Mistress. I apologize. We can be a bit grim." Vin smiled. "They probably wouldn't taste very good anyway. Ham's far too stringy, and you don't want to know the kinds of things that Breeze spends his time eating. . .." "I'm ... |
of books. His depression seemed to be abating in face of this new academic problem. "There might be a few other clauses of relevance in the law," he half mumbled. "I need to do some studying. Spook, did you invite Sazed to this meeting?" Spook shrugged. "I couldn't get him to wake up." "He's recovering from his trip he... |
being deposed. He paused, noticing movement. Tindwyl was the only one still in the room with him. He looked up from his books with resignation. I probably have this coming. . .. "I apologize for treating you with disrespect, Your Majesty," she said. Elend frowned. Wasn't expecting that. "I have a habit of treating peop... |
"you must make some decisions, Your Majesty. Your relationship with Vin is going to be difficult. She has certain issues that will provide more problems than you would find in a more conventional woman." "We've already discussed this," Elend said. "I'm not looking for a more 'conventional' woman. I love Vin." "I'm not ... |
her body strong. Even the night's cold wasn't as bothersome. The moment she extinguished her pewter, however, she'd feel the exhaustion in force. "That cannot be healthy, Mistress," OreSeur said. "You sleep barely three or four hours a day. Nobody—Mistborn, man, or kandra—can survive on a schedule like that for long." ... |
the hearts of men. I do not like what I have seen of Zane. He seems too pleased with himself. He seems too deliberate in the way he has befriended you. He makes me uncomfortable." Vin sat on the ledge, legs parted, hands before her with palms down, resting on the cool stone. He might be right. But, OreSeur hadn't flown... |
fight or scare away. His world is of papers, books, laws, and philosophies, she thought. He rides the words of his theories like I ride the mists. I always worry that he can't understand me. . .but can I really even understand him? OreSeur stood, stretched, and placed his forepaws on the wall's railing to raise himself... |
opened her mouth slightly, cocking her head. "I think I just realized what the Deepness was." But, I must continue with the sparsest of detail. Space is limited. The other Worldbringers must have thought themselves humble when they came to me, admitting that they had been wrong. Even then, I was beginning to doubt my o... |
the Deepness hadn't come, providing a threat that drove men to desperation both in action and belief. If only I had passed over Alendi when looking for an assistant, all those years ago. Sazed sat back from his work of transcribing the rubbing. There was still a great deal to do—it was amazing how much writing this Kwa... |
over his work. Even in the months I've been away. "What's this?" Vin asked, still looking at the desk. "I found it at the Conventical of Seran, Lady Vin," Sazed said, walking forward. It felt so good to be wearing clean robes again, to have a quiet and comfortable place in which to study. Was he a bad man for preferrin... |
"Continue." "There isn't much more to say—or, rather, there is a great deal more to say, but I doubt much of it has relevance. Was the Deepness an army? Was it, perhaps, the first attack from koloss, as some theorize? That would explain much—most stories agree that the Lord Ruler gained some power to defeat the Deepnes... |
mean, Lady Vin?" She sat quietly for a moment, one foot tapping back idly against the chair's back cushion. She finally looked up, meeting his eyes. "What would happen if the mists came during the day permanently?" Sazed mused on that for a moment. "There would be no light," Vin continued. "Plants would die, people wou... |
doesn't have a shadowlike solid outline. It's insubstantial—wispy and formless. Like it's made out of a dark fog. Or mist, perhaps. "Yes, Lady Vin," Sazed said. "The Hero saw a creature following him. It attacked one of his companions, I think." Vin looked in his eyes. "I've seen it, Sazed." He felt a chill. "It's out ... |
try and discover." "That is true," Sazed admitted. "However, we do not know much about the prophecies that our ancestors used to find their Hero. Besides, the reading I've been doing lately suggests that there was something wrong with their interpretations. If the greatest theologians of pre-Ascension Terris were unabl... |
reason to be displeased with me." "Well, I think you're doing the right thing," Vin said. "We need you." "Thank you, Lady Vin." "I don't think you have to listen to Tindwyl," she said. "She's the type who acts like she knows more than she does." "She is very wise." "She's hard on Elend." "Then she probably does so beca... |
Skaa made things or grew things. Philen sold things. There was an enormous difference between the two. Oh, some people had called him skaa. Even now, he could see that word in the eyes of some of the other Assemblymen. They regarded Philen and his fellow merchants with the same disdain that they gave the eight skaa wor... |
of the Assembly, who sat chatting a short distance away. One of their last members—Lord Ferson Penrod—had just arrived. The older man walked up onto the Assembly's dais, passing by the members, greeting each in turn. "Philen," Penrod said, noticing him. "A new suit, I see. The red vest suits you." "Lord Penrod! Why, yo... |
a weak man. A fool." "I wouldn't say that," Getrue said. "He has good ideas. . .." Getrue glanced downward uncomfortably. Philen snorted, glancing at the clock. It was time, though he couldn't hear the chimes over the crowd. The Assembly meetings had become busy since Venture's fall. Benches fanned out before the stage... |
vote against him? No, no he didn't, he couldn't. He was looking at each of the Assembly members in turn, meeting their eyes. There was none of the jovial, dismissible boy that had attended these meetings before. Standing in the militaristic suit, firm instead of hesitant. . .he almost seemed like a different person. Yo... |
at the lectern. To his right, the floor of the hall was packed with shuffling, coughing, whispering people. There was a tension to the room—this was the first time Elend had confronted the group that had betrayed him. "As many of you know," Elend said to the twenty-three Assembly members, "I recently returned from a me... |
Survivor is a legend already, one we cannot hope to emulate. He has power over this people—a power stronger than our own, even though he is dead. We're jealous. Insecure, even. These are natural, human feelings. Leaders feel them just as acutely as other people—perhaps even more so. "Gentlemen, we cannot afford to cont... |
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