Checkhov's Yet to Fire Gun

[The Sovereign]

Was anyone else waiting for Wax to make use of Vin's Earring the entire book? Wax's deliberately disregards it early on but after his Heart-to-heart (Soul-to-god?) with Harmony I was expecting that he would end up putting it in during the Epilogue or something, obviously this did not happen. This seems too big to just be a red herring. I suspect it will come up during The Lost Metal.

Thoughts?

[Orlion Blight]

I think his putting it in would have belabored the point a bit, and drawn attention away from the rest of the wedding.

 

Besides, it's quite probable that the earring was lost during the train incident, though he may end up getting another one in the next book.

[The Sovereign]

I think his putting it in would have belabored the point a bit, and drawn attention away from the rest of the wedding.

 

Besides, it's quite probable that the earring was lost during the train incident, though he may end up getting another one in the next book.

 

It seemed pretty clear by the description at the end of SoS that it was the Bronze Spike Earring that Vin wore. I doubt it was just lost and that is the end of it. Your point about it being a bit forced is a good one though, which bring me pack to my speculation that it will come up in The Lost Metal.

[Lightning]

I read the book too fast to remember everything, but wasn't there a scene after the train accident where Wax almost puts the earring in?

[The Sovereign]

I read the book too fast to remember everything, but wasn't there a scene after the train accident where Wax almost puts the earring in?

 

Yes and no, he notices it on the train and basically scoffs at it.

[thegatorgirl00]

Does that mean he'll become a Seeker when he does wear it?

[Nethseäar]

I read the book too fast to remember everything, but wasn't there a scene after the train accident where Wax almost puts the earring in?

Bands of Mourning spoilers (topic doesn't say so, so I thought I'd be safe).

Indeed! After Wax is framed for murder and they're on the run, they stop for a few hours during the night. He considers putting the earring in while everyone else is sleeping, but doesn't.

I think it's safe to say we'll be hearing from Harmony regularly in the next book, via earring. Having died and confronted Harmony, and now being happily remarried, Wax should be able to get over his emotional block and accept intel from Harmony.

EDIT: 

 

 

It seemed pretty clear by the description at the end of SoS that it was the Bronze Spike Earring that Vin wore. I doubt it was just lost and that is the end of it. [...]

While I was certain that was Vin's earring, I am certain no longer. VenDell and MeLaan say in Bands that they make Pathian earrings from old Inquisitor spikes. So, it may or may not have been Vin's earring.

 

 

Does that mean he'll become a Seeker when he does wear it?

 

Since Hemalurgic spikes decay when out of a body/blood, and the earring has likely been out of a body for several hundred years, I think it's unlikely there's enough power left for any noticeable Seeking (or other Allomantic/Feruchemical use).

Edited January 28, 2016 by Nethseäar

[Moogle]

Since Hemalurgic spikes decay when out of a body/blood, and the earring has likely been out of a body for several hundred years, I think it's unlikely there's enough power left for any noticeable Seeking (or other Allomantic/Feruchemical use).

 

Power to burn metals directly perhaps, but it seems likely to me that if you used the mists as a power source, you could use the spike's Allomancy at full power. In other words, I'm theorizing that how powerful an Allomancer is just relates to how much power they can get from burning metal - not what they can do with the power once they get it.