Mistborn #01 The Final Empire

arrived.
    “Ah, very good,” Renoux said. “Show them up, Tawnson.”
    “Yes, my lord.”
    A few minutes later, Kelsier, Breeze, Yeden, and Dockson walked out onto the balcony. Renoux discreetly waved to the servants, who closed the glass balcony doors and left the crew in privacy. Several men took up position just inside, watching to make certain that the wrong people didn’t have an opportunity to eavesdrop.
    “Are we interrupting your meal?” Dockson asked.
    “No!” Vin said quickly, cutting off Lord Renoux’s reply. “Sit, please.”
    Kelsier strolled over to the balcony’s ledge, looking out over the garden and grounds. “Nice view you have here.”
    “Kelsier, is that wise?” Renoux asked. “Some of the gardeners are men for whom I cannot vouch.”
    Kelsier chuckled. “If they can recognize me from this distance, they deserve more than the Great Houses are paying them.” However, he did leave the balcony edge, walking over to the table and spinning a chair, then sitting down on it the wrong way. Over the last few weeks, he had mostly returned to his old, familiar self. Yet, there were still changes. He held meetings more often, discussed more of his plans with the crew. He also still seemed different, more . . . thoughtful.
    Sazed was right, Vin thought. Our attack on the palace might have been near-deadly for me, but it has changed Kelsier for the better.
    “We thought we’d have our meeting here this week,” Dockson said, “since you two rarely get to participate.”
    “That was most thoughtful of you, Master Dockson,” Lord Renoux said. “But your concern is unnecessary. We are doing just fine—”
    “No,” Vin interrupted. “No, we aren’t. Some of us need information. What’s happening with the crew? How is the recruitment going?”
    Renoux eyed her with dissatisfaction. Vin, however, ignored him. He’s not really a lord, she told herself. He’s just another crewmember. My opinion counts as much as his! Now that the servants are gone, I can speak how I want.
    Kelsier chuckled. “Well, captivity’s made her a bit more outspoken, if nothing else.”
    “I don’t have anything to do ,” Vin said. “It’s driving me insane.”
    Breeze set his cup of wine on the table. “Some would find your state quite enviable, Vin.”
    “Then they must already be insane.”
    “Oh, they’re mostly noblemen,” Kelsier said. “So, yes, they’re quite mad.”
    “The job,” Vin reminded. “What’s happening?”
    “Recruitment is still too slow,” Dockson said. “But we’re improving.”
    “We may have to sacrifice further security for numbers, Kelsier,” Yeden said.
    That’s a change too, she thought, impressed as she noted Yeden’s civility. He had taken to wearing nicer clothing—not quite a full gentlemen’s suit like Dockson or Breeze, but at least a well-cut jacket and trousers, with a buttoning shirt beneath, all kept clean of soot.
    “That can’t be helped, Yeden,” Kelsier said. “Fortunately, Ham’s doing well with the troops. I had a message from him just a few days ago. He’s impressed with their progress.”
    Breeze snorted. “Be warned—Hammond does tend to be a bit optimistic about these kinds of things. If the army were made up of one-legged mutes, he would praise their balance and their listening skills.”
    “I should like to see the army,” Yeden said eagerly.
    “Soon,” Kelsier promised.
    “We should be able to get Marsh into the Ministry within the month,” Dockson said, nodding to Sazed as the Terrisman passed their sentries and entered the balcony. “Hopefully, Marsh will be able to give some insight as to how to deal with the Steel Inquisitors.”
    Vin shivered.
    “They are a concern,” Breeze agreed. “Considering what a couple of them did to you two, I don’t envy capturing the palace with them in there. They are as dangerous as Mistborn.”
    “More,” Vin said quietly.
    “Can the army really fight them?” Yeden asked uncomfortably. “I mean, they’re supposed to be immortal, aren’t they?”
    “Marsh will find the answer,” Kelsier promised.
    Yeden paused, then nodded, accepting Kelsier’s word.
    Yes, changed indeed, Vin thought. It appeared that not even Yeden could resist Kelsier’s charisma for an extended period of time.
    “In the meantime,” Kelsier said, “I’m hoping to hear what Sazed has learned about the Lord Ruler.”
    Sazed sat, laying his tome on the tabletop. “I will tell you what I can, though