The Well of Ascension

Page 50

  "What time are we leaving, Mistress?" OreSeur asked.

  Vin paused. "Actually, OreSeur, I wasnt planning to bring you. I still intend to keep your cover with the other people in the palace, and I think it would look very suspicious of me to bring my pet dog on this particular trip. "

  OreSeur was silent for a moment. "Oh," he said. "Of course. Good luck, then, Mistress. "

  Vin felt only a tiny stab of disappointment; shed expected him to object more. She pushed the emotion aside. Why should she fault him? Hed 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 let us send you in our own carriage. "

  Elend shook his head, straightening his jacket as he looked in the mirror. "That would require sending in a coachman, Ham. "

  "Right," Ham said. "Who would be me. "

  "One man wont make a difference in getting us out of that camp. And, the fewer people I take with me, the fewer people Vin and I have to worry about. "

  Ham shook his head. "El, I. . . "

  Elend laid a hand on Hams shoulder. "I appreciate the concern, Ham. But, I can do this. If theres one man in this world I can manipulate, its my father. Ill come out of this with him feeling assured that he has the city in his pocket. "

  Ham sighed. "All right. "

  "Oh, one other thing," Elend said hesitantly.

  "Yes?"

  "Would you mind calling me Elend instead of just El?"

  Ham chuckled. "I suppose that ones easy enough to do. "

  Elend smiled thankfully. Its not what Tindwyl wanted, but its a start. Well worry about the "Your Majesty"s later.

  The door opened, and Dockson walked in. "Elend," he said. "This just arrived for you. " He held up a sheet of paper.

  "From the Assembly?" Elend asked.

  Dockson nodded. "Theyre not happy about you missing the meeting this evening. "

  "Well, I cant change the appointment with Straff just because they want to meet a day early," Elend said. "Tell them Ill try and visit when I get back. "

  Dockson nodded, then turned as a rustling sounded from behind him. He stepped to the side, a strange look on his face, as Vin walked up to the doorway.

  And she was wearing a dress—a beautiful blue gown that was sleeker than the common courtly fare. Her black hair sparkled with a pair of sapphire barrettes, and she seemed. . . different. More feminine—or, rather, more confident in her femininity.

  How much shes changed since I first met her, Elend thought, smiling. Almost two years had passed. Then she had been a youth, albeit one with the life experiences of someone far older. Now she was a woman—a very dangerous woman, but one who still looked up at him with eyes that were just a bit uncertain, just a bit insecure.

  "Beautiful," Elend whispered. She smiled.

  "Vin!" Ham said, turning. "Youre wearing a dress!"

  Vin flushed. "What did you expect, Ham? That I would meet with the king of the Northern Dominance in trousers?"

  "Well. . . " Ham said. "Actually, yes. "

  Elend chuckled. "Just because you insist on going about everywhere in casual clothing, Ham, doesnt mean that everyone does. Honestly, dont you get tired of those vests?"

  Ham shrugged. "Theyre easy. And simple. "

  "And cold," Vin said, rubbing her arms. "Im glad I asked 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 wouldnt get bad enough to be more than a mild discomfort—they rarely got snow in the Central Dominance—but the chill nights certainly wouldnt improve morale.

  "Well, lets go," Vin said. "The sooner we get this over with, the better. "

  Elend stepped forward, smiling, taking Vins hands. "I appreciate this, Vin," he said quietly. "And you really do look gorgeous. If we werent marching off to near certain doom, Id be tempted to command a ball be held tonight just for the opportunity to show you off. "

  Vin smiled. "Near certain doom is that compelling?"

  "Guess Ive been spending too much time with the crew. " He leaned down to kiss her, but she yelped and jumped back.

  "It took me the better part of an hour to get this makeup on right," she snapped. "No kissing!"

  Elend chuckled as Captain Demoux poked his head in the door. "Your Majesty, the carriage has arrived. "

  Elend looked at Vin. She nodded.

  "Lets go," he said.

  Sitting inside the carriage Straff had sent for them, Elend could see a solemn group standing on the wall, watching them roll away. The sun was near to setting.

  He commands us to come in the evening; well have to leave when the mists are out, Elend thought. A crafty way of pointing out how much power he has over us.

  It was his fathers way—a move, in a way, that was similar to the attack on the walls a day before. To Straff, everything was about posturing. Elend had watched his father at court, and had seen him manipulate even obligators. By holding the contract to oversee the Lord Rulers atium mine, Straff Venture had played a game even more dangerous than his fellow noblemen. And he had played that game very well. He hadnt factored in Kelsier throwing chaos into the mix, but who had?

  Since the Collapse, Straff had secured the most stable, and most powerful, kingdom in the Final Empire. He was a crafty, careful man who knew how to plan for years to get what he wanted. And this was the man Elend had to manipulate.

  "You look worried," Vin said. She was across from him in the carriage, sitting in a prim, ladylike posture. It was as if donning a dress somehow granted her new habits and mannerisms. Or just a return to old ones—shed once been able to act like a noblewoman well enough to fool Elend.

  "Well be all right," she said. "Straff wont hurt you—even if things go bad, he wont dare make a martyr of you. "

  "Oh, Im not worried about my safety," Elend said.

  Vin raised an eyebrow. "Because?"

  "Because I have you," Elend said with a smile. "Youre worth an army, Vin. "

  This, however, didnt seem to console her.

  "Come here," he said, scooting over and waving her to the seat beside him.

  She rose and moved across the carriage—but paused, eyeing him. "Makeup. "

  "Ill 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—dont get anything on it. "

  "When did you get so fashion-conscious?" he asked.

  "Its the dress," Vin said with a sigh. "As soon as I put it on, all of Sazeds lessons started coming back to me. "

  "I really do like the dress on you," Elend said.

  Vin shook her head.

  "What?" Elend asked as the carriage bumped, pushing her a bit closer to him. Another new perfume, he thought. At least thats one habit she never got out of.

  "This isnt me, Elend," she said quietly. "This dress, these mannerisms. Theyre a lie. "

  Elend sat quietly for a moment.

  "No objections?" Vin said. "Everyone else thinks Im speaking nonsense. "

  "I dont know," Elend said honestly. "Changing into my new clothes made me feel different, so what you say makes sense. If wearing dresses feels wrong to you, then you dont have to wear them. I want you to be happy, Vin. "

  Vin smiled, looking up at him. Then she leaned up and kissed him.

  "I thought you said none of that," he said.

  "From you," she said. "Im Mistborn—were more precise. "

  Elend smiled, though he couldnt quite feel jovial. Conversation, however, did keep him from fretting. "I feel uncomfortable in these clothes, sometimes. Everyo
ne expects so much more from me when I wear them. They expect a king. "

  "When I wear a dress," Vin said, "they expect a lady. Then theyre disappointed when they find me instead. "

  "Anyone who would feel disappointed to find you is too dense to be of any relevance," Elend said. "I dont want you to be like them, Vin. Theyre not honest. They dont care. I like you as you are. "

  "Tindwyl thinks that I can be both," Vin said. "A woman and a Mistborn. "

  "Tindwyl is wise," Elend said. "A bit brutal, but wise. You should listen to her. "

  "You just told me you liked me how I am. "

  "I do," Elend said. "But Id like you however you were, Vin. I love you. The question is, how do you like yourself?"

  That gave her pause.

  "Clothing doesnt really change a man," Elend said. "But it changes how others react to him. Tindwyls words. I think. . . I think the trick is convincing yourself that you deserve the reactions you get. You can wear the courts dresses, Vin, but make them your own. Dont worry that you arent giving people what they want. Give them who you are, and let that be enough. " He paused, smiling. "It was for me. "

  She smiled back, then carefully leaned against him. "All right," she said. "Enough insecurity for the moment. Lets review. Tell me more about your fathers disposition. "

  "Hes a perfect imperial nobleman. Ruthless, clever, and infatuated with power. You remember my. . . experience when I was thirteen?"

  Vin nodded.

  "Well, Father was very fond of skaa brothels. I 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 dont please him, they get removed. "

  Vin muttered something quietly in response to this.

  "Hes the same way with political allies. One didnt ally with House Venture—one agreed to be dominated by House Venture. If you werent willing to be our slave, then you didnt get to contract with us. "

  Vin nodded. "Ive known crewleaders like that. "

  "And how did you survive when they turned an eye toward you?"

  "By acting unimportant," Vin said. "By crawling on the ground when they passed and by never giving them reason to challenge me. Exactly what youre planning to do tonight. "

  Elend nodded.

  "Be careful," Vin said. "Dont let Straff think that youre mocking him. "

  "All right. "

  "And dont promise too much," Vin said. "Act like youre trying to seem tough. Let him think hes bullying you into doing what he wants—hell enjoy that. "

  "Youve had experience with this before, I see. "

  "Too much of it," Vin said. "But, youve heard this before. "

  Elend nodded. Theyd planned and replanned this meeting. Now he simply had to do what the crew had taught him. Make Straff think were weak, imply well give him the city—but only if he helps us against Cett first.

  Outside the window, Elend could see that they were approaching Straffs army. So big! he thought. Where did Father learn to administrate a force like this?