Well of Ascension

by Brandon Sanderson

  Then she stumbled, gasping quietly, holding her side as two men died at her feet.

  One Thug left, she thought desperately. And two Coin-shots.

  Elend needs me. To the side, she saw one of the Coinshots fire a spray of stolen coins at Elend. She cried out, Pushing them away, and she heard the Coinshot cursing.

  She turned-counting on the blue lines from her steel to warn her if the Coinshots tried shooting anything else at Elend-and ripped her backup vial of metal from her sleeve, where it had been tied tightly to keep it from being Pulled away. However, even as she yanked the stopper open, the vial lurched from her now undexterous hand. The second Coinshot grinned as he Pushed the vial away, tipping it and spraying its contents across the floor.

  Vin growled, but her mind was growing fuzzy. She needed pewter. Without it, the large coin wound in her shoulder-its blood turning her lacy sleeve red-and the crushing pain in her side were too much. She almost couldn't think.

  A staff swung toward her head. She jerked to the side, rolling. However, she no longer had the grace or speed of pewter. A normal man's blow she could have dodged, but the attack of an Allomancer was another thing.

  I shouldn’t have humed duralumin! she thought. It had been a gamble, letting her kill two assassins, but it had left her too exposed. The staff descended toward her.

  Something large slammed into the Thug, bearing him to the ground in a growling flurry of claws. Vin came out of her dodge as the Thug punched OreSeur in the head, cracking his skull. Yet, the Thug was bleeding and cursing, and his staff had rolled free. Vin snatched it up, scrambling to her feet and gritting her teeth as she drove the butt of the staff down into the man's face. He took the blow with a curse, swiping her feet out from under her with a kick.

  She fell beside OreSeur. The wolfhound, oddly, was smiling. There was a wound in his shoulder.

  No, not a wound. An opening in the flesh-and a vial of metal hidden inside. Vin snatched it, rolling, keeping it hidden as the Thug regained his feet. She downed the liquid, and the flakes of metal it contained. On the floor before her, she could see the shadow of the Thug raising his weapon in a mighty overhand blow.

  Pewter flared to life inside of her, and her wounds became mere annoying buzzes. She jerked to the side as the blow fell, hitting the floor, throwing up bits of wood. Vin flipped to her feet, slamming her fist into the arm of her surprised opponent.

  It wasn't enough to break the bones, but it obviously hurt. The Thug-now missing two teeth-grunted in pain. To the side, Vin saw OreSeur on his feet, his dog's jaw hanging unnaturally. He nodded to her; the Thug would think him dead from the cracked skull.

  More coins flew at Elend. She Pushed them away without even looking. In front of her, OreSeur struck the Thug from behind, making him spin in surprise just as Vin attacked. The Thug's staff passed within a finger's width of her head as it smashed into OreSeur's back, but her own hand took the man in the face. She didn't punch, however; that wouldn't do much against a Thug.

  She had one finger out, and she had incredible aim. The Thug's eye popped as she rammed her finger into the socket.

  She hopped back as he cried out, raising a hand to his face. She smashed her fists into his chest, throwing him to the ground, then jumped over OreSeur's crumpled form and grabbed her dagger off the ground.

  The Thug died, clutching his face in agony, her dagger in his chest.

  Vin spun, searching desperately for Elend. He'd taken one of the fallen Thugs' weapons and was fending off the two remaining Coinshots, who had apparently grown frustrated by her Pushing away all of their coin attacks. Instead, they had pulled out dueling canes to attack him directly. Elend's training had apparently been enough to keep him alive-but only because his opponents had to keep an eye on Vin to make certain she didn't try using coins herself.

  Vin kicked up the staff of the man she'd just killed, catching it. A Coinshot cried out as she growled and dashed toward them, spinning her weapon. One had the presence of mind to Push off the bleachers and launch himself away. Vin's weapon still caught him in midair, throwing him to the side. The next swing took down his companion, who had tried to dash away.

  Elend stood breathing heavily, his costume disheveled.

  He did better than I thought he would, Vin admitted, flexing, trying to judge the damage to her side. She needed to get a bandage on that shoulder. The coin hadn't hit bone, but the bleeding would-

  "Vin!" Elend cried out.

  Something very strong suddenly grabbed her from behind. Vin choked as she was jerked backward and thrown to the ground. The first Thug. She'd broken his leg, then forgotten-He got his hands around her neck, squeezing as he knelt above her, his legs pressing against her chest, his face wild with rage. His eyes bulged, adrenaline mixing with pewter.

  Vin gasped for breath. She was taken back to years before, to beatings performed by men looming above her. Camon, and Reen, and a dozen others.

  No! she thought, flaring her pewter, struggling. He had her pinned, however, and he was much larger then she was. Much stronger. Elend slammed his staff against the man's back, but the Thug barely even flinched.

  Vin couldn't breathe. She felt her throat being crushed. She tried to pry the Thug's hands apart, but it was as Ham had always said. Her small size was a great advantage to her in most situations-but when it came down to brute strength, she was no match for a man of bulk and muscle. She tried Pulling herself to the side, but the man's grip was too strong, her weight too small compared with his.

  She struggled in vain. She had duralumin still-burning it only made other metals vanish, not the duralumin itself- but last time that had nearly gotten her killed. If she didn't take the Thug down quickly, she'd be left without pewter once again.

  Elend pounded, yelling for help, but his voice sounded distant. The Thug pressed his face almost up against Vin's, and she could see his fury. At that moment, incredibly, a thought occurred to her.

  Where have I seen this man before?

  Her vision darkened. However, as the Thug constricted his grip, he leaned closer, closer, closer....

  She didn't have a choice. Vin bumed duralumin and flared her pewter. She flung her opponent's hands aside and smashed her head upward into his face.

  The man's head exploded as easily as the eyeball had earlier.

  Vin gasped for breath and pushed the headless corpse off her. Elend stumbled back, his suit and face sprayed red. Vin stumbled to her feet. Her vision swam as her pewter dissipated-but even through that, she could see an emotion on Elend's face, stark as the blood on his brilliant white uniform.

  Horror.

  No, she thought, her mind fading. Please, Elend, not that..,.

  She fell forward, unable to maintain consciousness.

  Elend sat in his ruined suit, hands against forehead, the wreckage of the Assembly Hall hauntingly empty around him.

  "She'll live," Ham said. "She actually isn't hurt that badly. Or ... well, not that badly for Vin. She just needs plenty of pewter and some of Sazed's care. He says the ribs aren't even broken, just cracked."

  Elend nodded absently. Some soldiers were clearing away the corpses, among them the six men that Vin had killed, including the one at the end....

  Elend squeezed his eyes shut.

  "What?" Ham asked.

  Elend opened his eyes, forming his hand into a fist to keep it from shaking. "I know you've seen a lot of battles. Ham," he said. "But, I'm not used to them. I'm not used to..." He turned away as the soldiers dragged away the headless body.

  Ham watched the corpse go.

  "I've only actually seen her fight orice before, you know," Elend said quiedy. "In the palace, a year ago. She only threw a few men against the walls. It was nothing like this."

  Ham took a seat beside Elend on the benches. "She's Mistborn, El. What did you expect? A single Thug can easily take down ten men-dozens, if he has a Coinshot to support-him. A Mistborn ... well, they're like an army in

  one person."

 
Elend nodded. "I know, Ham. 1 know she killed the Lord Ruler-she's even told me how she faced several Steel Inquisitors. But... I've just never seen ..."

  He closed his eyes again. The image of Vin stumbling toward him at the end, her beautiful white ball gown covered in the gore of a man she'd just killed with her forehead ...

  She did it to protect me, he thought. But that doesn't make it any less disturbing.

  Maybe that even makes it a little more disturbing.

  He forced his eyes open. He couldn't afford to be distracted; he had to be strong. He was king.

  "You think Straff sent them?" Elend asked.

  Ham nodded. "Who else? They targeted you and Cett. I guess your threat to kill Straff wasn't as binding as we assumed."

  "How is Cett?"

  "He barely escaped alive. As it is, they slaughtered half of his soldiers. In the fray, Demoux and I couldn't even see what was happening up on the stage with you and Vin."

  Elend nodded. By the time Ham had arrived, Vin had already dealt with the assassins. It had taken her only a few minutes to wipe out all six of them.

  Ham was silent for a moment. Finally, he turned to Elend. "I'll admit, El," he said quiedy. "I'm impressed. I didn't see the fight, but I saw the aftermath. It's one thing to fight six Allomancers, but it's another to do that while trying to protect a regular person, and to keep any bystanders from harm. And that last man ..."

  "Do you remember when she saved Breeze?" Elend asked. "It was so far away, but I swear I saw her throw horses into the air with her Allomancy. Have you ever heard of anything like that?"

  Ham shook-his head.

  Elend sat quietly for a moment. "I think we need to do some planning. What with today's events, we can't..." Ham looked up as Elend trailed off. "What?" "Messenger," Elend said, nodding toward the doorway.

  Sure enough, the man presented himself to the soldiers,

  then was escorted up to the stage. Elend stood, walking

  over to meet the short man, who wore Penrod's heraldry

  on his coat. . .

  "My lord," the man said, bowing. "I've been sent to inform you that the voting will proceed at Lord Penrod's mansion."

  'The voting?" Ham asked. "What nonsense is this? His Majesty was nearly killed today!"

  "I'm sorry, my lord," the aide said. "I was simply told to deliver the message."

  Elend sighed. He'd hoped that, in the confusion, Penrod wouldn't remember the deadline. "If they don't choose a new leader today. Ham, then I get to retain the crown. They've already wasted their grace period."

  Ham sighed. "And if there are more assassins?" he asked quietly. "Vin will be laid up for a few days, at least."

  "I can't rely on her to protect me all the time," Elend said. "Let's go."

  "I vote for myself," Lord Penrod said.

  Not unexpected, Elend thought. He sat in Penrod's comfortable lounge, accompanied by a group of shaken Assemblymen-none of whom, thankfully, had been hurt in the attack. Several held drinks, and there was a veritable army of guards waiting around the perimeter, eyeing each other warily. The crowded room also held Noorden and three other scribes, who were there to witness the voting, according to the law.

  "I vote for Lord Penrod as well," said Lord Dukaler.

  Also not unexpected, Elend thought. I wonder how much that cost Penrod.

  Mansion Penrod was not a keep, but it was lavishly decorated. The plushness of Elend's chair was welcome as a relief from the tensions of the day. Yet, Elend feared that it was too soothing. It would be very easy to drift off....

  "I vote for Cett," said Lord Habren.

  Elend perked up. It was the second for Cett, which put him behind Penrod by three.

  Everyone turned to Elend. "I vote for myself," he said, trying to project a firmness that was hard to maintain after everything that had happened. The merchants were next. Elend settled back, prepared for the expected run of votes for Cett.

  "I vote for Penrod," Philen said.

  Elend sat upright, alert. What!

  The next merchant voted for Penrod as well. As did the next, and the next. Elend sat stunned, listening. What did I miss? he thought. He glanced at Ham, who shrugged in confusion.

  Philen glanced at Elend, smiling pleasantly. Elend couldn't tell if there was bitterness or satisfaction in that look, however. They switched allegiances? That quickly? Philen had been the one to sneak Cett into the city in the first place.

  Elend looked down the row of merchants, trying with little success to gauge their reactions. Cett himself wasn't in the meeting; he had retreated to Keep Hasting to nurse his wound.

  "I vote for Lord Venture," said Haws, foremost of the skaa faction. This also managed to get a stir out of the room. Haws met Elend's eye, and nodded. He was a firm believer in the Church of vote for Penrbd." said Jasten, a canal worker.

  "As do I," said Thurts, his brother.

  Elend gritted his teeth. He'd known they would be trouble; they never had liked the Church of the Survivor. But, four of the skaa had already given him their votes. the Survivor, and while the different preachers of the religion were beginning to disagree on how to organize their followers, they all agreed that a believer on the throne would be better for them than handing the city over to Cett.

  There will he a price to pay for this allegiance, Elend thought as the skaa voted. They knew Elend's reputation for honesty, and he would not betray their trust.

  He had told them he would become an open member of their sect. He hadn't promised them belief, but, he had promised them devotion. He still wasn't certain what he had given away, but both of them knew they would need each other. -

  "IWith only two remaining, he had a very good shot at a deadlock.

  "I vote for Venture," said the next man.

  "I do, too." said the final skaa. Elend gave the man. Vet, a smile of appreciation.

  That left fifteen votes for Penrod, two for Cett, and seven for Elend. Deadlock. Elend reclined slightly, head resting against the chair's pillowed back, sighing softly.

  You did your job, Vin, he thought. I did mine. Now we just need to keep this country in one piece.

  "Um," a voice asked, "am I allowed to change my vote?"

  Elend opened his-eyes. It was Lord Habren, one of the votes for Cett.

  "I mean, it's obvious now that Cett isn't going to win," Habren said, flushing slightly. The young man was a distant cousin of the Elariel family, which was probably how he'd gotten his seat. Names still meant power in Luthadel.

  "I'm not sure if you can change or not," Lord Penrod said.

  "Well, I'd rather my vote meant something," Habren said. "There are only two votes for Cett, after all."

  The room fell silent. One by one, the members of the Assembly turned to Elend. Noorden the scribe met Elend's eyes. There was a clause allowing for men to change their votes, assuming that the chancellor hadn't officially closed the voting-which, indeed, he hadn't.

  The clause was a rather oblique; Noorden was probably the only other one in the room who knew the law well enough to interpret it. He nodded slightly, still meeting Elend's eyes. He would hold his tongue.

  Elend sat still in a room full of men who trusted him. even as they rejected him. He could do as Noorden did. He could say nothing, or could say that he didn't know.

  "Yes," Elend said softly. "The law allows for you to change your vote. Lord Habren. You may only do so once, and must do so before the winner is declared. Everyone else has the same opportunity."

  "Then I vote for Lord Penrod," Habren said.

  "As do I," said Lord Hue, the other who had voted for Cett.

  Elend closed his eyes.

  "Are there any other alterations?" Lord Penrod asked. No one spoke.

  "Then," Penrod said, "I see seventeen votes for myself, seven votes for Lord Venture. I officially close the voting and humbly accept your appointment as king. I shall serve as best I can in this capacity."

  Elend stood, then slowly removed his crown. "Here," he s
aid, setting it on the mantle. "You'll need this."

  He nodded to Ham, then left without looking back at the men who had discarded him.

  THE END OF PART THREE

  39

  STRAFF VENTURE RODE QUIETLY IN the misty twilight air. Though he would have preferred a carriage, he felt it important to travel by horseback and present a compelling image for the troops. Zane, not surprisingly, chose to walk. He sauntered along beside Straffs horse, the two of them leading a group of fifty soldiers.

  Even with the troops, Straff felt exposed. It wasn't just the mists, and it wasn't just the darkness. He could still remember her touch on his emotions.

  "You've failed me, Zane," Straff said.

  The Mistborn looked up, and-burning tin-Straff could see a frown on his face. "Failed?"

  "Venture and Cett still live. Beyond that, you sent a batch of my best Allomancers to their deaths."

  "I warned you that they might die," Zane said.

  "For a purpose, Zane," Straff said sternly. "Why did you need a group of secret Allomancers if you were just going to send them on a suicide mission in the middle of a public gathering? You may assume our resources to be unlimited, but let me assure you-those six men cannot be replaced."

  It had taken Straff decades of work with his mistresses to gather so many hidden Allomancers. It had been pleasurable work, but work all the same. In one reckless gambit, Zane had destroyed a good third of Straff's Allomancer children.

  My children dead, our hand exposed, and thai... creature of Elend's still lives!

  "I'm sorry, Father," Zane said. "I thought that the chaos and crowded quarters would keep the girl isolated, and force her not to use coins. I really thought this would work."

  Straff frowned. He well knew that Zane thought himself more competent than his father; what Mistbom wouldn't think such a thing? Only a delicate mixture of bribery, threats, and manipulation kept Zane under control.

  Yet, no matter what Zane thought. Straff was no fool. He knew, at that-moment, that Zane was hiding something. Why send those men to die? Straff thought. He must have intended them 10 fail-otherwise he would have helped them fight the girl.