Part 3

Chapter 34

This chapter starts from Elend's perspective. He is with most of the Crew and Sazed, pointing out to Ham how utterly stupendous his suggestion to vote all of the merchants off of the assembly is. When I was a kid, I used to think "stupendous" meant "really, really stupid".

Tindwyl is here too, but, as keepers aren't allowed to take sides, she isn't lifting another finger to help Elend regain his throne. Not that she needs to; it's clear as rain on a sunny day what Elend needs to do now. Slander. Slander campaigns are an essential part of politics, especially when it comes to elections; it's about time Elend started looking for some of his opponents "dirty laundry", so to speak.

A former obligator named Noorden is helping Elend and Crew look for information on Cett. Together, they've found that, contrary to what he would like them to believe, Cett had strong political connections in Luthadel before the Collapse. Not exactly dirty laundry, but it'll have to do for now.

They have thus far been unable to find any loopholes in the law that would allow them to prevent Cett's coronation if the Assembly chooses him. Elend wont't stand for the manipulative abuse of his own laws, anyway, so they'd better just focus their efforts on keeping Cett from winning at all.

The way Elend puts it, Cett would make a positively atrocious king. Despite this, he is starting to think that he should have handed the city to Cett a while back; that is what the people want, after all. Sazed disagrees, quoting Tindwyl's words about believing in oneself almost word for word. Heh. It'll take a little more than base flattery to make up for his abject disobedience. "Abject". Such a wonderful word...but that's besides the point!

Vin enters the room, now, so, as per usual, the book switches to her point-of-view. She informs Elend that she overheard some of the palace workers chatting about some sort of sickness. Apparently he forgot to tell her about the poisoned wells. The old Elend would have taken the information to her the moment he first heard it. Vin doesn't seem very happy about this change in him; she is actually quite troubled by Elend's newfound independence. She should be happy for him. Are once pathetic wanna-be king is becoming a man!

Anyway, Sazed apparently contributed heavily to the creation and perfecting of Elend's laws. When Tindwyl hears of this, she gets a bit...testy, so Elend has no choice but to command her to apologise to Sazed or get the hell out; She chooses the latter option. Elend is finally beginning to act like a true king. How.. ironic.

Vin takes note of Elend's new firmness. She's still bothered by his "secrecy" about the wells, and she begins to wonder what else he's kept from her. Ah, so the pot suspects the kettle of being black, does she? How... hypocritical.

Vin whispers that she wants to tell Elend about some new theory about the deepness or whatnot, but he says he doesn't have time for her right now, which, apparently, means he doesn't need her any more, and he is going to abandon her first chance he gets. Oh the horror! The insecure, secretly needy Vin starts to make a comeback, and she begins to hear "Reen's" voice in her head once more.

It is now, at her lowest point in years, that she hears a rustling outside. She goes out to investigate it, and finds the Mad Bastard there. Waiting. He's come with near perfect timing. Come to take her away--to take her to the worms. He attacks abruptly, and this time it's for real. It doesn't take Vin long to realize that he is burning atium. She tries to resist, but she soon finds that she's as helpless as a cat in a convectional oven... That thought terrifies her, and she experiences the mind numbing, bowel loosening, petrification that accompanies the sure knowledge of one's imminent demise. It looks like it's all over for her, but, as luck would have it, Zane is insane, and he's just a bit treacherous as well, so he stops just before delivering the killing blow.

Zane is a little bit shocked at the discovery that Vin doesn't even have any atium at all. He tells her what Straff has ordered him to do, and asks her to run away with him. She rejects him, unsurprisingly, but, if things continue the way they've been going, she will go to him soon enough. I'd make a Twilight joke here, but don't think I want to go down that road.

Zane chooses this moment to reveal to her who he is, and warn her of some refugees Straff has sent ahead to Luthadel. Survivors from a koloss raid. They are perilously near, and growing nearer each day. Has Jastes lost control of them yet? It'll be quite a sight when he finally does. The scale of the death and destruction will be magnificent atrocious!

The chapter ends when Zane leaves her, requesting that she consider his offer. Thinking in his twisted little mind that Vin will soon see how Elend truly feels about her. How does he know how Elend feels? Is he a mind reader, now?

Yay, more Kwaam! He finally, plainly states that he was a fraud. Of that there is no doubt. The question is, what exactly was the ultimate result of his deceptions, and how does it relate to our protagonists?

Aaaand I just realized that all this was stated a few chapters back. It must be pretty darned important for Sanderson to write it into the book two times.

Chapter 25

This chapter begins with a very familiar scene. Vin is busy preparing herself for the meeting with Cett, but this time she's with Tindwyl instead of Oreseur. Where is that adorable little mutt, anyway?

Tindwyl and Vin seem to be getting along quite nicely. They're having a little chat about Elend. Tindwyl says that Elend has no need of her instruction any more. Anything more he needs to learn about kingship, he must learn for himself--if he ever gets re-instated, that is.

Over to Elend, now. He definitely isn't planning on taking any insanely precarious risks this time around; he's bringing two hundred soldiers plus Ham to the dinner with Cett. Breeze isn't coming along, so Cett won't have to be offended by his presence, and Vin will be attending the dinner. With all that going for him, Elend should be able to return from this meeting wholly unmolested.

Elend brings up the fact that he'll still be outnumbered five to one. Sure, in numbers, maybe, but if you bring skill and training into consideration, it's a bit closer to sixteen-to-one.

Anyway, Vin arrives, last as always, and off they go. Demoux comes with them them; Vin is debating just throwing him inn the dungeon, but fortunately she has the sense to hold back until she is able to procure some hard evidence.

Once they've entered the Hasting keep and been brought to Cett, they find that he has rudely begun eating without them. He seems to be rather enjoying himself. On the menu tonight are drumsticks and vegetables in gravy. No giant meat pies, though. Rats!

This meeting apparently is not about his daughter. As a matter of fact, Cett is actually relieved to have her out of the way. Really? Why didn't he just leave her at home, then? Why bring his prissy little daughter with him to a siege, making them both miserable? He's definitely hiding something, and I think I know what.

Cett claims that Breeze told him a great deal about Elend. He claims to have known who Breeze was from the very beginning, as he can recognize the Survivor's crew members anywhere. Why is that? They were a thieving crew; they were supposed to be low key! Cett also says that Allriane wasn't the reason for him and Breeze's falling out, either. He just thought it would be more prudent for him to kill the soother than to allow him to return to Luthadel. Makes sense.

Cett goes on to say that the only way Elend will survive his coronation is if he steps out of the race, votes for him, and flees the city. Upon winning the throne, he will dissolve the assembly, reverse the clock, and bring back what was once lost--in this case, the Lord Ruler's oppressive laws. Why would anyone on the Assembly willingly vote for him if that's the case?

Elend says that the Assembly won't vote for him. Not because Cett's ideals are old fashioned, but because he believes in the honor of his Assembly. Pfah! I hope he's not including Philen in that little statement. Cett makes fun of Elend's undying belief in the respectability of his people. Elend is indignant, but before he's able to storm out of the room, Cett asks him about the Atium. He's willing to trade canned goods for the most dangerous and valuable metal known to man, but Elend tells him that he is, unfortunately, fresh out of Atium. He says that any rumors Cett heard were lies spread by Breeze in his brilliant scheme to save the city from Straff.

Meanwhile, Vin has stopped paying attention to their chatter, and has instead busied herself with searching-- more like feeling--the room for hidden allomancers. There are two thugs disguised as servants, but no copper cloud, and none of Cett's guards are allomancers. Hmm...

Cett tries to confirm that they have no atium, and he is apparently satisfied with Elend's answer's, so, seeing the futility of holding them captive, he lets them go.

End of Chapter 35