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said. “Shoot? Maim? Eat? I’m not picky, VenDell.” “Ah, yes, er,” he said. “You see, I am not much of a fighter. I’m a connoisseur. A good planner. A bearer of deep and important thoughts.” She glared at him. “I follow the First Contract, Miss Colms,” he said. “Like almost all kandra. I cannot kill, or even hurt, a livi... |
Men scrambling for weapons and starting to fire. Screams and shouts of pain. Constables trying to organize themselves—a dozen different voices giving conflicting orders. Marasi tackled Captain Blantach—who had barely reached her feet—pushing her behind another of the trucks. The Sequence’s shots hit the floor, tossing ... |
spinning. There, she thought, leaping to grab her metals belt, which was peeking from beneath a broken box. She yanked it out and fished inside a pouch, but the latch had broken open and two of the grenades had spilled free. She only had one. A floppy body flew past and slammed into the overturned truck. It slumped and... |
the middle of a city! Mission is a bust. Time to get out.” Kellen thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re right,” the woman said. “What do you want from me?” “Gather the others and help the wounded. I’ll coordinate with the Bilming group, then set up a distraction. Which truck has the real explosives?” “Number six!”... |
cooled and chain fed, with bullets longer than a person’s palm. Those had been developed in case of a Malwish invasion, and were illegal to smuggle out of Elendel. The full extent of how outgunned they were struck Marasi right then. The room fell strangely silent, though she thought she heard glass shatter somewhere. A... |
ignoring the rest of the chaos in the room. He did stop time as something hit near him—a bullet scraping the side of a truck—and he saw the sparks drop in slow motion. But Marasi and the conners would have to deal with the blokes with guns. Wayne had a very-much-not-at-all-clone-of-him to deal with. She was grinning as... |
dropped beside them. “Getruda,” he said to the woman, “I’m disappointed in you.” Then he pointed a gun at Wayne’s head. Right, then. Wayne let go and ducked away. He dodged into a roll—because who doesn’t like a nice finishing roll—and came out of it with a speed bubble in place, sheltering him and Marasi, who had been... |
was cleanup; the real fight had moved to the sky. Wait, Wayne thought. He put up a speed bubble so two nearby wounded could crawl into the back of a truck for shelter. Did anyone warn Wax that the Coinshot can do those crazy super-Pushes? Hmm. Well, Wayne supposed his friend would figure it out soon enough. Wax darted ... |
could slide over to a window in another room, he could maybe trap the enemy by— The entire apartment wall caved in, torn to pieces by the metal girders beneath the stonework. A wave of debris crashed into Wax and pushed him back against the far wall. He groaned, rubble tumbling around him, and caught sight of motion th... |
a nearby roof and began shooting. Wax scrambled around a corner and stopped filling his metalmind—which these days he wore embedded deep in his skin. A change he’d made, with the help of surgeons, after the events surrounding the Bands of Mourning. A person’s body acted like aluminum, protecting things like metalminds ... |
to Wax’s face, and Wax felt a sudden coldness. His metal reserve vanished. The Coinshot had another power. He was a Leecher, with the ability to drain other people’s Allomancy. He smiled, meeting Wax’s eyes—and Wax scrambled to grab a vial from the pouch on his metals belt. The Coinshot then grabbed Wax’s metals belt i... |
Wax had landed in a city square with decorative paving stones and a few impressive statues—designed in a strange chunky and blockish art style. His drop had drawn … well, more than a little attention. It seemed he had interrupted a dedication ceremony for a new building, for a journalist was there with an evanotype sta... |
forced to surrender their weapons. And when they’d been dropped off in here, the implication had been clear: Don’t try anything. Though they had been given four chairs, only Marasi sat—at the back of the room. Wax paced in front of the door. VenDell sat on the floor by the wall, looking exhausted. He’d stitched up his ... |
members of the Set with access to so many powers … “We tried following the kidnappings, Wax,” she said. “Dead ends, every one. Are we sure that Harmony didn’t see anything about this? Maybe before he was blinded?” “He can be cryptic, even to us,” VenDell said softly from where he sat by the wall. He glanced up at them,... |
his characteristic smug smile. Lord mayor of Bilming was an important position—probably the most important one outside of Elendel. Which meant Wax had to be careful not to insult him. This would be a delicate conversation. “Oi!” Wayne said, sitting up. “Hey, Wax! Somebody done sewn a sack of dicks together and made a p... |
eerie sight, particularly since VenDell chose to leave the eyeballs normal—and they seemed to float in the jelly that his face had become. “Ah!” Entrone said. “One of the puppets! Look how it tries to frighten us, Captain Blantach!” “Er, yes,” VenDell said. “I’m an emissary and representative of Harmony.” “I’m not Path... |
side of his head. “Point is,” Wayne continued, “we can make fun of you because we like you. That’s how it works. Anybody else does it, and we ram a dueling cane up a part of them that I can’t mention, ’cuz I’m working on my language.” “You are?” Marasi said. “Yup. Ranette keeps sayin’ I need to watch what I say, ’cuz t... |
You never could make anything useful of yourself unless you also made a huge mess for me. “Telsin,” he said softly, “what are you doing?” What needs to be done, Brother. As always. “I…” What could he say? All of his objections felt hollow. “You’ll get millions killed”? Six years ago, she’d been willing to let her own p... |
of Death himself: noseball. These “players” should be going to school or working in factories! Instead, their mal-aimed balls hit unsuspecting motorists and create road debris. The mayor banned this miscreance months ago, yet the conners don’t enforce it. R*st and R*in, some of them even join in! Come to a Rally Agains... |
like an umbrella canopy. Below us, the tops of more stone outcroppings materialized against a gradual, soft mist that made it impossible to see where the mists ended and the outcroppings began. I scanned for signs of Vila. If I were her, I would wait to attack until we entered the mist, so I directed Tabaar-Ke-Sun towa... |
though one—bearing the shoulder patch of a Seeker—managed to pull out a gun. Not a move Wax would have advised. All Death did was wave absently and Pull the gun across the room to catch it. Then, making it hover between his hands—an incredible feat, the difficulty of which few non-Allomancers would grasp—he flexed. And... |
I struggle yet to live…” Rusts. Death took a deep breath, and the lines on his face retreated—then regrew when he exhaled. It looked like he was vacillating between decades of age with each breath. “Trell wants to own this planet,” Death whispered. “So your time dwindles, as does mine.” He studied Wax with those inscru... |
Trell’s plan somehow. Be warned. Be careful. She steers them. I’ve been … dull of mind lately, as I try to fight off what is happening to me.” “We’ll stop them,” Marasi said. “I promise it, Marsh.” Wayne waved to them. A moment later, an attendant arrived with their weapons and equipment. She then withdrew to let them ... |
when I’ve traded for someone’s favorite shoes or whatnot. Hear me?” Together they marched out through the quiet constabulary office and into the sunlight. Right, Marasi thought, trying to pull her emotions together. Conversation with Death. Just another everyday conversation with Death himself … She couldn’t blame Wayn... |
“We worked on a project together a while ago—she came to Elendel to further some research she was doing.” Wax narrowed his eyes, obviously trying to decide if that made Kim more or less suspicious. Marasi, though, felt maybe she could trust the woman. A little. After all, Marsh had said that people with the interlockin... |
didn’t, actually,” Marasi said. “We should go explain who you are to the others—there’s no reason to keep it a secret.” “I’d prefer not to,” Moonlight said lightly. “I’m not here for them. I’m here for you.” “I thought you couldn’t interfere?” “Not without orders,” Moonlight said. “I’ve received some: I can help, but I... |
constable. She’d envisioned making the entire city safer—not by chasing criminals, but by changing the way people and neighborhoods saw themselves. Lock a man in prison, and you might stop him from committing crimes. Teach a man to respect himself and his community, and you stopped everyone he might have taught, recrui... |
city government is in on it, and so were my employers! They fired me because I got too close to the truth. You have to listen. They’re splitting harmonium, and once they do, they’ll make bombs to turn us into turtles. That … last part seemed a little far-fetched. The researchers vanished out the door, leaving Marasi an... |
clefts in the stone to climb on. Wayne brightened their lantern again, looking doubtful. “We sure they came this way?” he asked in a whisper. “Who else would have made the footprints?” “Footprints?” “In the dust? And near the opening, they were crusted over with sewage from boots? Seriously, Wayne, you can be remarkabl... |
mask, though they pretend it’s taboo—and maybe it was once upon a time. Now they like the way they can use it to express themselves.” He swung over the side and continued down. She gave him a little space, then followed. “So…” he said. “Want to hear number two?” “Actually … I kind of do.” “Ha! I thought so. Wax would h... |
you against literal gods. We’re going to find you, Trell, Marasi thought, creeping forward. She’d first heard that name uttered by a dying man, years ago—and she was increasingly certain Trell was a god of vast power like Harmony. You can’t hide forever. Not if you want to keep influencing the world. Wayne grabbed her ... |
workers wore holsters. Judging by the leads she’d been tracing, those boxes would be full of military supplies—with a frightening number of explosive components. The gang had tried to cover their tracks by making some more mundane thefts as well, but she was confident she knew what was really happening here. Elendel ha... |
glanced at them in the darkness, then shouted. Wayne had him down and knocked out half a second later, but cries of alarm sounded from the direction of the main cavern. Still standing atop the body, Wayne looked to her and grinned again. “My way it is!” The apartment building didn’t look much like a plateau. Wayne stoo... |
overly trusting of this strange power what leaked from sockets in the walls. After all, Wayne was a primary investor in the technology, and that should have been a big red flag for everyone. On the twenty-second floor, at the end of a long hallway, the building manager used a set of keys to open a door into a large apa... |
set those traps in case someone dangerous got wind of the Set. You don’t need to blow up ordinary constables. Just the extraordinary kind.” “Like you?” “Hell no,” Wayne said, then pointed to Marasi, searching through books, then to Wax, knocking against the far wall and listening for compartments. “You see those two? T... |
been scraped away by repeatedly being hit like that. “It’s old. Worn. The carpet too. The room appears neat and orderly, because the Set cleaned it up after they did their search—but it was likely a mess before they arrived.” “I think the fellow is dead,” Wayne said, tapping the wall and breaking away some putty. “Bull... |
up in some train station. He’ll share them. If the government won’t listen, then…” He opened his eyes and met Wax’s. “… he’ll do whatever he can to get the information out.” “Kim,” Wax said, thoughtful, “which local broadsheet has the worst reputation? The type that publishes whatever nonsense it can get its hands on? ... |
that most of the casualties were members of the Set. That wasn’t a nuance for headlines. Still, she had sent her children out of the city with Kath. She prayed to the Survivor that they were safe in their grandfather’s estate to the south. For now, Steris pushed through the cacophony, steeling herself against the flutt... |
didn’t want to panic the city, and didn’t yet know how urgent the timing was. She still needed to get a plan in place for evacuating the city. Always plan for the worst. So: get the governor into a more private conversation. In the proper circumstances, he could authorize an evacuation of the city without a Senate vote... |
at the back of the chamber—from the observation seats. A figure in a sharp wooden mask painted with red lines. “Your Grace,” the Malwish ambassador said, “I should very much like to observe the workings of this council.” “Um, Admiral Daal?” the governor said. “This is a matter of internal Basin affairs.” “Yes, which is... |
This is not a place for a woman who has been a sitting senator for less than an hour.” He smiled. “Indeed, this situation is going to require delicacy and tact, not…” Not whatever it is you are, the unfinished sentence seemed to imply. He nodded to her, then joined the others at the door to the governor’s chambers. Ste... |
world is changing. People have rights. It makes our job harder, but it makes the world better.” Wax frowned, lowering his hand. “We can afford to wait a few minutes,” Marasi said. “If we’re right, we want whoever owns this place to work with us—and breaking in might turn them against us. If we’re wrong, then we’ll have... |
hands of someone who is trembling. He wasn’t facing a Set assassin. Carefully, he raised his gun to the side, pointed away from the window. “I’m a constable,” he said loudly. “I’m here to help.” Silence. Then finally a voice. Feminine, husky. “You’re here to kill me. Like you killed Tobal.” “No,” Wax said. “I promise i... |
she sounded hopeful. “Afraid not.” She frowned, eyeing him. “Oh, don’t mind Dawnshot,” Wayne said, nudging Wax. “He gets coy about Jak sometimes.” He leaned toward the woman. “Honestly, he’s a little jealous.” “Well, who wouldn’t be?” she said, then sighed and began doing up the locks on the door. “Has he ever let you ... |
as lists. It had a frenzied air to it, but not like—say—the ravings of a madman. More like … Notes, Marasi thought. A journalist’s shorthand notes, connecting ideas and building a story. Maraga slumped down on the bottom step, seeming exhausted. “I … didn’t believe him at first,” she whispered. “Tobal. Thought he was a... |
told me that one day he wouldn’t show up to our nightly conversation. He said, when that happened, I should run. Take everything to the authorities. But the authorities are involved, so … what then? Who to tell? And then, two weeks ago, he didn’t show up. One night. Two. Three … And I knew. I knew. They’d found him.” “... |
another plate. “This talks about ashfalls. The days of ash and destruction allowed the Lord Ruler to secure near-universal power, at least in the North. So maybe Telsin thinks that would work again?” “You should read the next plate over,” Maraga said. Together they stepped to the side, reading what appeared to be a lis... |
for project completion. The weapon was supposed to be detonated two weeks ago.” Maraga slumped back down onto the steps. “They killed him the day before that. I thought for sure the end would come soon after … “I…” She buried her head in her hands. “I know I should have published this. I’m a coward. In the end, I’m a c... |
electric light. Something ancient. Something new. Just like the picture Wax handed back to her. A door opened upstairs. The locks had been fastened, but that didn’t stop whoever had arrived. Wayne scrambled to his feet, hands going to his dueling canes as a single set of footsteps crossed the wooden floor up above. Wax... |
Telsin replied. “Oh,” Wayne said, perking up. “Does this mean I can make her talk? On a scale of one to broken, how much do you fancy your kneecaps, Telsin?” “I’ll heal in seconds, Wayne,” Telsin said. “Not if we yank out the spikes,” Wayne snapped. “Which would kill me,” Telsin said. “I’m sure that will give you so mu... |
Trell on this planet. For now. Until she fails.” “Wait,” Wayne said. “Who is Trell and who is Autonomy and who is that on the steps?” “That on the steps,” Wax said, “is my sister. A woman representing the god Autonomy. Using the title of Trell—an ancient god from this world.” “Right…” Wayne said. “And all three are utt... |
many secrets. Marasi had become a constable in part to reveal secrets—and here, in working with Moonlight, she had a chance. At something bigger. Something more important. Secrets beyond secrets. She needed more time to pry information out of Moonlight. “Wax,” she said, “we should split up.” He met her eyes. “Two teams... |
she’s working for the enemy.” “Right,” he said. “Hey, you take care of yourself.” “You too, Wayne.” “Don’t I always?” He said it as if in jest, but there was something to his voice. “You all right?” she asked. He shrugged. “Just feels off, you know? After six years together, I’ve gotta let you march away alone. Without... |
planet.” “You expect me to believe that you are interested in the safety of the planet? That you are being altruistic?” “Hardly,” she said, her arms folded. “I live here, Wax. If the Basin goes, I go. If you can trust in one thing, trust in my sense of self-preservation. Elendel has to be destroyed. Or else.” “Or else ... |
the fire escape, indifferent. She paused at the first landing and glanced at Wax. “Come on.” Then she kept climbing. Rusts. Wax raised Vindication beside his head, then dropped a bullet with the other hand and used it to launch himself up past Telsin onto the roof. She joined him a short time later, and they both looke... |
a lifetime sharpening this particular blade. “Do you remember back in the Village,” he said to her, “when you wanted your own room?” “Father always said it was appropriate for us,” she said, “because of our lineage. We shouldn’t have to share.” “You planted stolen cash on your own cousin to achieve it. And even that wa... |
Seize your position.” “Entrone is a coward,” she said. “He won’t move against me. Wax, you’re not half as smart as you think you are.” He might not see it all, true—but if Entrone was a coward, then maybe Wax was interrogating the wrong person. He doubted he could break Telsin. But clearly there was someone else who kn... |
through the lens of a god who thinks she knows best. And in that context, individualism is a virtue best applied to finding ways to carry out the plans she has outlined. You get to be individual in your chosen path to do what she says…” Wax missed the next part, as he had quietly slipped over the side of the roof. With... |
it amazing how quickly coachmen had made the swap between horse-drawn carriages and motorcabs. They settled in the rear of the motorcar, and the cabbie—a woman with dark hair in a ponytail—glanced back at them. “Where to?” “Knightbridge district,” Marasi said. “Thirty-Third and Finete.” The cabbie nodded, pulling out i... |
the blasts have been happening with the places where Set agents appear and vanish…” “… We might be able to find a way into their testing facility,” Marasi said. “I did something similar to locate that cavern under Elendel.” “I remember when all this started to hit me,” Moonlight said softly. “When my world expanded, an... |
people change it every day? Wayne wondered regarding the choices people made. Rushing through their lives eating bagels, breaking twigs. Each of them changing the future. Shouldn’t they all … worry about that a little more? Worry how they were changing the future right now, rather than writing books about people doing ... |
three streets over. Two different bums swore by it.” Wayne earned a real good glare out of that one. Made him feel all proud of himself. Smiles, then glares, then smiles, then glares. They pulled at a person like taffy, keeping them limber. “I had to get away from Telsin,” Wax said. “I’m sure she was stalling, trying t... |
in all this. He’s the type to have secrets written down somewhere, maybe give us a lead on where that bomb is being kept. He’s probably got a safe or something full of answers.” “You just said shaking him down would create another incident,” Wax said, his hands on his hips, holstered guns jutting out and making basical... |
But then, no person ever fit comfortably in a pocket. “Very well,” the governor said. “I’m afraid we started without you. As the information has come in and we’ve gauged the feelings of Outer Cities governments, we’ve come to see that our path is inevitable. It looks like war.” “War?” Reddi said. “It’s the necessary co... |
the governor said. “I hold your commission, and that of every constable in this city. They ultimately answer to me.” “We can quit, Varlance,” Reddi said, leaning forward, his hands on the table. “You can’t force us to fight.” “I—” Steris started. “Actually,” Adawathwyn said lightly, “that’s precisely what a draft is, C... |
posturing—manipulating us into the position of a bully and tyrant who needs to be resisted—might be intended to give the leaders of the Outer Cities a justification. A way to explain why they had to take such extreme measures. Like destroying us all.” The room quieted, but then Lady Gardre shook her head. “Are we reall... |
outdated information. A kandra in your place would take far more care not to be an utterly worthless piece of slime.” She made a notation. The room was quiet. “Oh, did I say something awkward again? I do make that mistake sometimes, don’t I?” Reddi slumped back into his seat. “I can’t believe this…” “It was all but ine... |
The walls were lined with maps, illuminated by electric lights. Moonlight slid her bag onto a table by the far wall, where a woman in her twenties—somewhat plump, with a stark blonde bob—was peering at a paper covered in strange writing. She had a small terrier in her lap. “Moonlight,” the woman said after a glance. “Y... |
powder-white mustache and the liver-spotted skin, which was a deep tan. He wore a formal suit in the Bilming fashion, so … maybe he was from her land? But he also had a short beard with mustaches—a style she’d never seen a man wear in Elendel. Though he stood tall, not the least bit bowed by age, he did seem a little u... |
the outsides of that finger and formed into a nib, like a fountain pen. He absently unscrewed a small jar of ink, then began taking notes. “What is the emergency, Moonlight?” he asked. “Autonomy is moving on a much faster timetable than we believed,” she explained. “One of these charts lists explosions—once assumed to ... |
a self-satisfied way. He appeared to enjoy the showmanship. Perhaps if she hadn’t been here, he’d have pulled out a mundane map. But this was oh so much more impressive. “It’s called an aether,” Moonlight said, walking up behind her. “An ancient entity predating the creation of your world. TwinSoul can grow it, manipul... |
one of their files. “Uh … let’s see … Curious. The woman we had watching this location says it’s mostly shut down, because very little is ever shipped out of it.” “But things are shipped in?” Marasi said, growing excited. “Maybe an oddly large number of deliveries, given that the factory barely seems to be doing anythi... |
Bastion rifle, and so she kept it shouldered and downed the next person who stumbled over the falling body. Those behind called a warning, and no one dared come barreling in after that. Wayne wiped his brow, leaving an unconscious gangster on the floor. “You got the magic boxes?” “They’re not magic, Wayne,” Marasi said... |
blame the gangsters for not knowing what to do; even among the Malwish these were rare. If the men had heard of the devices—and they might have, since the Set was known to employ them—they had likely never seen one. A second later, a bubble of slowed time popped up around the device, trapping about ten of the men and w... |
like I asked.” He shrugged like it was nothing, but she was legitimately proud of him. He received an allotment from the department, and during the early days of their partnership he’d always run out on missions. She’d been planning to talk to Captain Reddi about increasing the allotment, until she’d discovered that Wa... |
it was still possible for him to take so much damage he couldn’t heal. Any blast that separated his metalminds from the bulk of his body would leave Wayne dead, just like the Lord Ruler when he’d lost the Bands of Mourning centuries before. Well, she couldn’t monitor Wayne all the time. And she most certainly couldn’t ... |
discovered the relationship between harmonium and trellium. Beyond that, they’ve been experimenting with long-range delivery devices. They’re prepared to do something stupid.” “Not so much stupid as desperate,” Kelsier said. “They know that Autonomy has declared this entire planet anathema. The Set is fighting for surv... |
think it is time to do something drastic. Take the stores of purified Dor. The Command is ‘Respect.’ Authorize the other cells to access theirs as well, and pass the Command to them.” Codenames gasped. Marasi had no idea what purified Dor was, but even Moonlight seemed impressed. “Do what you can,” Kelsier said. “I wil... |
abilities?” Marasi asked. “What are they powered by?” Moonlight smiled. She hadn’t admitted to any abilities, but so far Marasi had seen a man who could create objects from crystal, a woman with a pet … sphere … and Moonlight, who seemed fairly high in their organization. So what was she capable of doing? Moonlight pac... |
backpack that she thought—from the way it moved, and from the hose draped over his shoulder—might be filled entirely with water. He’d changed outfits, and now wore some kind of loose-fitting uniform with a bright yellow sash around his waist. He’d strapped on a sword—a slightly curved one in an ornate golden sheath. As... |
floor. The place was messy, but not cluttered. Piles of papers occupied the desk and the nearby tables. A small bar held a collection of spirits, half the tops off, the other half put haphazardly back on the wrong bottle. Books lined a shelf, some put in spine first, others reversed, and a good third of them slumped to... |
behind, and were covered in notations in two hands: A sloppier one that, from the letters, Wax assumed was Gave’s. And a neater hand that likely belonged to a secretary. Lots of visits to something called the lab, Wax thought. With tight scheduling between meetings here at the mansion. So the lab is close, or he has so... |
specific order to unlock the thing. He got to work as the shouts outside grew more urgent. These kinds of locks were secure against most people, and even most Allomancers. But there was a weakness. Wax carefully, subtly Pushed each pin in turn, wiggling them until he found the one that activated a tumbler. That would b... |
bypassing traffic congestion. The train stopped frequently, but each time it did, it bolted back into motion with a jarring acceleration. It felt almost like she was a Coinshot, each burst of speed from the train a fresh Push launching them ever closer to their destination. She’d read of the Ascendant Warrior’s Flight ... |
third?” “It’s for emergencies.” Moonlight shifted in her seat. “The other two work on nonliving objects only. This one changes a person—me, specifically—in dramatic ways. I avoid using it if possible.” Marasi glanced at TwinSoul, who shook his head in a “leave it alone” sort of way. Well, all right. She hated going int... |
again, causing them all to lean the other direction in their seats. Only three more stops until they arrived. “Moonlight, can your door stamp help us get into the enemy base?” Marasi asked. “It will depend on the building materials,” she said. “This stamp pretends the people who constructed the place installed a door. ... |
drops in recent weeks. Today, unfortunately, the building was buzzing with activity—some half a dozen trucks loading up and pulling out through a large bay door at the side of the structure. “Well,” Moonlight said, “little doubt where the loading bay is. We’ll probably find the elevator in there.” “Inside the bay,” Twi... |
table, and several looked to TenSoon. “We should believe Dawnshot,” he said. “Harmony has long thought the enemy was working on something like this. The deadline is … far more urgent than we realized. Rusts. We need to take this very seriously.” “I am forced to agree,” Adawathwyn—of all people—said. “I don’t much like ... |
Coinshots and station them to Push this weapon away. We can position them atop our highest structures, to watch for the weapon’s arrival—or, better, keep people on call in Bilming, watching. They’ll be able to tell us when it has launched.” “Pardon me, Adawathwyn,” Steris said. “Have you ever been in a situation where ... |
a possibility.” “What?” Steris asked. “There are … things about the interactions of the powers you don’t know,” he said. “I have only hints. I think it might be possible … to send the bomb away using the Bands. But the deal we made…” “Holy One,” the governor said, “what would Harmony say, should it come down to our sur... |
our first meeting! “You silly man. You’ll never get rid of me that easily,” I said. “It’s you and me exploring the cosmere together forever. Just like we promised.” I let him pull me close, his familiar scent of hellfire and cedar filling me. With the knuckle of his finger, he lifted my chin so that I looked into his s... |
narrow. Almost like the stories of the old Luthadel slums. Crowded tenements were crammed up beside factories, refineries, and warehouses. All in the shadow of the tracks—a symbol of progress and unity upon which stormed past every few minutes a tooth-rattling reminder: Wasn’t it so nice to live in such a modern city? ... |
said. “But Silajana? Well, he senses a small room cluttered with shelves and small objects. No one is inside, and the wall to the right of the window bears no shelving.” He broke his hand free, leaving a crust of crystals on the wall—which began disintegrating, dropping to dust that in turn burned away into rose-colore... |
the brilliant red sky. Ash drifted from above, sprinkling the smoldering ruins. A loud mechanical sound came from the room emitting the light. “By the first aether,” TwinSoul said, stepping up beside her and resting his hand on the back of a nearby chair for support. “What is it? A window into the future?” “I’ve never ... |
direction, out through the theater room toward the larger doors on the wall near the projecting device. They peeked out to find a hallway lit with caged industrial lights. The place felt eerily empty, considering the earlier activity. Moonlight went out first. Marasi joined her, and they found a set of doors at the end... |
what? Riots in the streets? Or something more nefarious, like an accidental weapon detonation? Chilled, Wax inspected the room and found scrapes on the floor indicating a hidden door on one wall. He opened it without much difficulty—though it was made of thick reinforced metal—and found a path into the storm drain. Lig... |
you didn’t set a rabbit on fire, Wayne.” “Of course not. I couldn’t find a damn wig in time; where would I find a rabbit?” “Good, I—” “You use a cat for Flaming Bunny. And those are all over the dang place.” “Wayne. You set a cat on fire?” “Hell, no! What do you think I am? A sadist?” Wax relaxed a little. “You throw t... |
kind of trajectory test a couple months ago. Disguised as a vacation.” “Huh,” Wayne said, pointing ahead. “And the lab is this way, you think?” “Seems likely,” Wax said. He dug in his pocket a moment, then passed the calendar to Wayne. Who whistled softly. “No appointments after today?” “I noticed that too.” “‘They arr... |
you were in the mayor’s office … did you notice if he had a nice desk?” “He had a rather nice one,” Wax said. “Why?” “Did you…” He nodded back in the direction of the Silver House. “You know…” “Fart in his chair?” “Yup.” “Wayne. Of course I didn’t.” They walked a little farther through the muck, finding a place where k... |
ever lived. You’re gonna stop him…” He hesitated. “Watch out. Might be some snakes in this canyon.” “It’s a storm drain,” Wax said, “and I’ve never seen a snake in the city.” “Yeah, they’re damn good at sneaking,” Wayne said. “Speaking of snakes: the Set, they’ll know that was us with the mansion.” “Undoubtedly,” Wax s... |
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