Well of Ascension

by Brandon Sanderson

  But then the Collapse had come-the rebellion predicted in his books and theories coming to life. His beliefs hadn't been able to continue as mere academic abstractions. And he'd come to know the skaa-not just Vin and the crew, but the workers and the servants. He'd seen the hope beginning to grow within them. He'd seen the awakening of self-respect, and of self-worth, in the people of the city, and it excited him.

  He would not abandon them.

  That's what I am, Elend thought, pausing as he walked the wall. An idealist. A melodramatic idealist who, despite his hooks and learning, never did make a very good nobleman.

  "What?" Ham asked, stopping next to him.

  Elend turned toward him. "I've got an idea," he said.

  This is the problem. Though I believed in Alendi at first, I later became suspicious. It seemed that he fit the signs, true. But, well, how can I explain this?

  Could it be that he fit them too well?

  38

  HOW CAN HE, POSSIBLY LOOK so confident when 1 feel so nervous? Vin thought, standing beside Elend as the Assembly Hall began to fill. They had arrived early; this time. Elend said he wanted to appear in control by being the one who greeted each Assemblyman as he arrived.

  Today, the vote for king wouldor of the room, the benches were already growing crowded. The first few rows, as always, were seeded with guards.

  "You look beautiful today," Elend said, looking at Vin.

  Vin shrugged. She had worn her white gown, a flowing garment with a few diaphanous occur.

  Vin and Elend stood on the stage, nodding to the Assemblymen as they entered through the room's side door. On the flo layers on the top. Like the others, it was designed for mobility, and it matched Elend's new outfits-especially with the dark embroidery on the sleeves. Her'jewelry was gone, but she did have a few white wooden barrettes for her hair.

  "It's odd," she said, "how quickly wearing these gowns became natural for me again."

  "I'm glad you made the switch," Elend said. "The trousers and shirt are you ... but this is you, too. The part of you I remember from the balls, when we barely knew each other."

  Vin smiled wistfully, looking up at him, the gathering crowd growing a bit more distant. "You never did dance with me."

  "I'm sorry," he said, holding her arm with a light touch. "We haven't had much time for each other lately, have we?"

  Vin shook her head.

  "I'll fix that," Elend said. "Once this confusion is all through, once the throne is secure, we can get back to us."

  Vin nodded, then turned sharply as she noticed movement behind her. An Assemblyman walking across the stage.

  "You're jumpy," Elend said, frowning slightly. "Even more than usual. What am I missing?"

  Vin shook her head. "I don't know."

  Elend greeted the Assemblyman-one of the skaa representatives-with a firm handshake. Vin stood at his side, her earlier wistfulness evaporating like mist as her mind returned to the moment. What is bothering me?

  The room was packed-everyone wanted to witness the events of the day. Elend had been forced to post guards at the doors to maintain order. But, it wasn't just the number of people that made her edgy. It was a sense of ... wrong-ness to the event. People were gathering like carrion feeders to a rotting carcass.

  "This isn't right," Vin said, holding Elend's arm as the Assemblyman moved off. "Governments shouldn't change hands based on arguments made from a lectern."

  "Just because it hasn't happened that way in the past doesn't mean it shouldn't happen," Elend said.

  Vin shook her head. "Something is going to go wrong, Elend. Celt will surprise you, and maybe Penrod will, too. Men like them won't sit still and let a vote decide their future."

  "I know," Elend said. "But they aren't the only ones who can offer up surprises."

  Vin looked at him quizzically. "You're planning something?"

  He paused, then glanced at her. "I... well. Ham and I came up with something last night. A ploy. I've been trying to find a way to talk to you about it, but there just hasn't been time. We had to move quickly."

  Vin frowned, sensing his apprehension. She started to say something, but then stopped, studying his eyes. He seemed a little embarrassed. "What?" she asked.

  ."Well... it kind of involves you, and your reputation. I was going to ask permission, but..."

  Vin felt a slight chill. Behind them, the last Assemblyman took his seat, and Penrod stood up to conduct the meeting. He glanced toward Elend, clearing his throat

  Elend cursed quiedy. "Look, I don't have time to explain," he said. "But, it's really not a big deal-it might not even get me that many votes. But, well, I had to try. And it doesn't change anything. Between us, I mean."

  "What?"

  "Lord Venture?" Penrod said. "Are you ready for this meeting to begin?"

  The hall grew quiet. Vin and Elend still stood in the center of the stage, between the lectern and the seats of the Assembly members. She looked at him, torn between a sense of dread, a sense of confusion, and a slight sense of betrayal.

  Why didn 't you tell me? she thought. How can I be ready if you don V tell me what you 're planning ? And... why are you looking at me like that?

  "I'm sorry," Elend said, moving over to take his seat.

  Vin remained standing alone before the audience. Once, so much attention would have terrified her. It still made her uncomfortable. She ducked her head slightly, walking toward the back benches and her empty spot.

  Ham wasn't there. Vin frowned, turning as Penrod opened the proceedings. There, she thought, finding Ham in the audience, sitting calmly with a group of skaa. The group was obviously conversing quietly, but even with tin, Vin would never be able to pick out their voices in the large crowd. Breeze stood with some of Ham's soldiers at the back of the room. It didn't matter if they knew about Elend's plan- they were too far away for her to interrogate them.

  Annoyed, she arranged her skirts, then sat. She hadn't felt so blind since ...

  Since that night a year ago, she thought, that moment just before we figured out Kelsier's true plan, that moment when I thought everything was collapsing around me.

  Perhaps that was a good sign. Had Elend cooked up some last-minute flash of political brilliance? It didn't really matter that he hadn't shared it with her; she probably wouldn't understand the legal basis for it anyway.

  But... he always shared his plans with me before.

  Penrod continued to drone on, likely maximizing his time in front of the Assembly. Cett was on the front bench of the audience, surrounded by a good twenty soldiers, sitting with a look of self-satisfaction. As well he should. From the accounts she'd heard, Cett stood to take the vote with ease.

  But what was Elend planning?

  Penrod will vol,' Jar himself, Vin thought. So will Elend. That leaves twenty-two rotes. The merchants are behind Cett, and so are the skaa. They're too afraid of that army to vote for anyone else.

  That only leaves the nobility. Some of them will vote for Penrod-he's the strongest nobleman in the city; many of the members of the Assembly are longtime political allies of his. But. even if he takes half of the nobility-which he probably won't-Cett will win. Cett only needs a two-thirds majority to %el the throne.

  Eight merchants, eight skaa. Sixteen men on Cett's side. He was going to win. What could Elend possibly do?

  Penrod finally finished his opening announcements. "But, before we vote," he said, "I would like to offer time to the candidates to make any final addresses they wish. Lord Cett, would you care to go first?"

  In the audience, Cett shook his head. "I've made my offers and my threats, Penrod. You all know you have to vote for me."

  Vin frowned. He seemed certain of himself, and yet... She scanned the crowd, eyes falling on Ham. He was talking to Captain Demoux. And seated next to them was one of the men who had followed her in the market. A priest of the Survivor.

  Vin turned, studying the Assembly. The skaa representatives looked uncomfortable. She glanced
at Elend, who stood up to take his turn at the front of the lectern. His earlier confidence had returned, and he looked regal in his sharp white uniform. He still wore his crown.

  It doesn't change things, he'd said. Between us....

  I 'in sorry.

  Something that would use her reputation to gain him

  votes. Her reputation was Kelsier's reputation, and only

  the skaa really cared about that. And there was one easy

  way to gain influence with them

  "You joined the Church of the Survivor, didn't you?" she whispered.

  The reactions of the skaa Assemblymen, the logic of the moment, Elend's words to her before, all of them suddenly made sense. If Elend joined the Church, the skaa Assemblymen might .be afraid to vote against him. And. Elend didn't need sixteen votes to gain the throne; if the Assembly deadlocked, he won. With the eight skaa and his own vote, the others would never be able to oust him.

  "Very clever." she whispered.

  The ploy might not work. It would depend on how much hold the Church of the Survivor had on the skaa Assemblymen. Yet, even if some skaa voted against Elend, there were still the noblemen who would probably vote for Pen-rod. If enough did, Elend would still deadlock the Assembly and keep his throne.

  All it would cost was his integrity.

  That's unfair. Vin told herself. If Elend had joined with the Church of the Survivor, he would hold to whatever promises he had made. And. if the Church of the Survivor gained official backing, it could become as powerful in Luthadel as the Steel Ministry had once been. And ... how would that change the way Elend saw her?

  This doesn't change anything, he had promised.

  She dully heard him begin to speak, and his references to Kelsier now seemed obvious to her. Yet, the only thing she could feel was a slight sense of anxiety. It was as Zane had said. She was the knife-a different kind of knife, but still a tool. The means by which Elend would protect the city.

  She should be furious, or at least sick. Why did her eyes keep darting toward the crowd? Why couldn't she focus on what Elend was saying, on how he was elevating her? Why was she suddenly so on edge?

  Why were those men subtly moving their way around the edges of the room?

  "So," Elend said, "by the blessing of the Survivor himself, I ask you to vote for mc."

  He waited quietly. It was a drastic move: joining the Church of the Survivor put Elend under the spiritual authority of an external group. But, Ham and Demoux both had thought it a good idea. Elend had spent the better part of the previous day getting the word out to the skaa citizens about his decision.

  It felt like a good move. The only thing he worried about was Vin. He glanced at her. She didn't like her place in the Church of the Survivor, and having Elend join it meant that he-technically-accepted her part in the mythology. He tried to catch her eye and smile, but she wasn't watching him. She was looking out into the audience. Elend frowned. Vin stood up.

  A man from the audience suddenly shoved aside two soldiers in the front row, then leaped supernaturally far to land up on the dais. The man pulled out a dueling cane.

  What? Elend thought in shock. Fortunately, months spent sparring at Tindwyl's command had given him instincts he didn't know he had. As the Thug charged, Elend tucked and rolled. He hit the ground, scrambling, and turned to see the beefy man bearing down on him, dueling cane raised.

  A flurry of white lace and skins fluttered through the air over Elend. Vin slammed feet-first into the Thug, throwing him backward as she spun, skirts flaring.

  The man grunted. Vin landed with a thump directly in front of Elend. The Assembly Hall echoed with sudden screaming and shouts.

  Vin kicked the lectern out of the way. "Stay behind me," she whispered, an obsidian dagger glittering in her right hand.

  Elend nodded hesitantly, unbuckling the sword at his waist as he climbed to his feet. The Thug wasn't alone; three small groups of armed men were moving through the room. One attacked the front row, distracting the guards there. Another group was climbing onto the dais. The third group seemed occupied by something in the crowd. Cert's soldiers.

  The Thug had regained his feet. He didn't look like he had suffered much from Vin's kick.

  Assassins, Elend thought. But who sent them?

  The man smiled as he was joined by a group of five friends. Chaos filled the room. Assemblymen scattering, their bodyguards rushing to surround them. Yet. the fighting in front of the stage kept anyone from escaping in that direction. The Assemblymen clogged around the stage's side exit. The attackers, however, didn't seem concerned with them.

  Only with Elend.

  Vin remained in her crouch, waiting for the men to attack first, her posture threatening despite the frilly dress. Elend thought he actually heard her growl quiedy.

  The men attacked.

  Vin snapped forward, swiping at the lead Thug with a dagger. His reach was too great, however, and he easily fended her off with a swipe of his staff. There were six men in total; three who were obviously Thugs, leaving the other three to likely be Coinshots or Lurchers. A strong component of metal-controllers. Someone didn't want her ending this fight quickly with coins.

  They didn't understand that she would never use coins in this situation. Not with Elend standing so close and with so many people in the room. Coins couldn't be deflected safely. If she shot a handful at her enemies, random people would die.

  She had to kill these men fast. They were already fanning out, surrounding her and Elend. They moved in pairs-one Thug and one Coinshot in each team. They would attack from the sides, trying to get past her to Elend.

  Vin reached behind herself with iron. Pulling Elend's sword from its sheath with a ringing squeal. She caught it by the hilt, throwing it at one of the teams. The Coinshot Pushed it back at her, and she in turn Pushed it to the side, spinning it toward a second pair of Allomancers.

  One of them Pushed it back at her again. Vin Pulled from behind, whipping Elend's metal-tipped sheath out of his hands and shooting it through the air by its clasp. Sheath passed sword in the air. This time, the enemy Coin-shots Pushed both items out of the way, deflecting them toward the fleeing audience.

  Men shouted in desperation as they trampled and tried to force their way out of the room. Vin gritted her teeth. She needed a better weapon.

  She flung a stone dagger at one assassin pair, then jumped toward another, spinning beneath the attacking Thug's weapon. The Coinshot didn't have any metal on him that she could sense; he was just there to keep her from killing the Thug with coins. They probably assumed that Vin would be easy to defeat, as she was deprived of the ability to shoot coins.

  The Thug brought his staff back around, trying to catch her with the end. She caught the weapon, yanking it forward and jumping up as she Pushed against the Assembly bleachers behind her. Her feet hit the Thug in the chest, and she kicked hard with flared pewter. As he grunted, Vin Pulled herself back toward the nails in the bleachers as hard as she could.

  The Thug managed to stay on his feet. He seemed completely surprised, however, to find Vin streaking away from him, holding his staff in her hands.

  She landed and spun toward Elend. He'd found himself a weapon-a dueling cane-and had the good sense to back himself against a wall. To her right, some of the Assemblymen stood in a huddle, surrounded by their guards. The room was too full, the exits too small and cramped, for them all to escape.

  The Assemblymen made no moves to help Elend.

  One of the assassins cried out, pointing as Vin Pushed against the bleachers and shot toward them, moving herself in front of Elend. Two Thugs raised their weapons as Vin turned in the air, lightly Pulling against a door's hinges to spin herself. Her gown fluttered as she landed.

  I really have to thank that dressmaker, she thought as she raised the staff. She briefly considered ripping the dress free anyway, but the Thugs were upon her too quickly. She blocked both blows at once, then threw herself between the men, flaring pewter, movi
ng faster than even they.

  One of them cursed, trying to bring his staff around. Vin broke his leg before he could. He dropped with a howl, and Vin leaped onto his back, forcing him to the ground as she swung an overhand blow at the second Thug. He blocked, then shoved his weapon against hers to throw her back off his companion:

  Elend attacked. The king's actions, however, seemed sluggish compared with the movements of men burning pewter. The Thug turned almost nonchalantly, smashing Elend's weapon with an easy blow. .

  Vin cursed as she fell. She hurled her staff at the Thug, forcing him to turn away from Elend. He barelhe Thug could turn back to Elend.

  A spray of coins flew toward her. She couldn't Push them back, not toward the crowd. She y ducked out of the way as Vin hit the ground, bounced to her feet, and whipped out a second dagger. She dashed forward before tcried out-throwing herself between the coins and Elend-dien Pushed to the sides, dividing them as best she could so they sprayed against the wall. Even so, she felt a flash of pain from her shoulder.

  Where did he get the coins? she thought with frustration. However, as she glanced to the side, she saw the Coinshot standing beside a cowering Assemblyman, who had been forced to give up his coin pouch.

  Vin gritted her teeth. Her arm still worked. That was all that mattered. She yelled and threw herself at the closest Thug. However, the third Thug had regained his weapon- the one Vin had thrown-and was now circling with his Coinshot to try and get behind Vin.

  One at a time. Vin thought.

  The Thug nearest her swung his weapon. She needed to surprise him. So, she didn't dodge or block. She simply took his blow in the side, burning duralumin and pewter to resist. Something cracked within her as she was hit, but with duralumin, she was strong enough to stay up. Wood shattered, and she continued forward, slamming her dagger into the Thug's neck.

  He dropped, revealing a surprised Coinshot behind him. Vin's pewter evaporated with the duralumin, and pain blossomed like a sunrise in her side. Even so, she yanked her dagger free as the Thug fell, still moving quickly enough to drop the Coinshot with a dagger in the chest.