Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

trying to intimidate us," Vin said. "But the king won't let them. Our walls are strong, as are our soldiers. We can outlast this siege."
    The crowd was silent.
    "One of those armies is led by Elend's father, Straff Venture," Vin said. "Elend and I are going to go meet with Straff tomorrow. We will persuade him to be our ally."
    "The king is going to surrender!" a voice said. "I heard it. He's going to trade the city for his life."
    "No," Vin said. "He would never do that!!"
    "He won't fight for us!" a voice called. "He's not a soldier. He's a politician!"
    Other voices called out in agreement. Reverence disappeared as people began to yell out concerns, while others began to demand help. The dissidents continued to rail against Elend, yelling that there was no way he could protect them.
    Vin raised her hands to her ears. Trying to ward off the crowd, the chaos. " Stop !" she yelled, Pushing out with steel and brass. Several people stumbled back away from her, and she could see a wave in the crowd as buttons, coins, and buckles suddenly pressed backward.
    The people grew suddenly quiet.
    "I will suffer no ill words spoken of our king!" Vin said, flaring her brass and increasing her Soothing. "He is a good man, and a good leader. He has sacrificed much for you—your freedom comes because of his long hours spent drafting laws, and your livelihoods come because of his work securing trade routes and agreements with merchants."
    Many members of the crowd looked down. The bearded man at the front continued to twist his cap, however, looking at Vin. "They're just right frightened, Lady Heir. Right frightened."
    "We'll protect you," Vin said. What am I saying ? "Elend and I, we'll find a way. We stopped the Lord Ruler. We can stop these armies. . ." She trailed off, feeling foolish.
    Yet, the crowd responded. Some were obviously still unsatisfied, but many seemed calmed. The crowd began to break up, though some of its members came forward, leading or carrying small children. Vin paused nervously. Kelsier had often met with and held the children of the skaa, as if giving them his blessing. She bid the group a hasty farewell and ducked back into the shop, pulling Allrianne after her.
    Tindwyl waited inside, nodding with satisfaction.
    "I lied," Vin said, pushing the door closed.
    "No you didn't," Tindwyl said. "You were optimistic. The truth or fiction of what you said has yet to be proven."
    "It won't happen," Vin said. "Elend can't defeat three armies, not even with my help."
    Tindwyl raised an eyebrow. "Then you should leave. Run away, leave the people to deal with the armies themselves."
    "I didn't mean that," Vin said.
    "Well, make a decision then," Tindwyl said. "Either give up on the city or believe in it. Honestly, the pair of you. . .." She shook her head.
    "I thought you weren't going to be harsh with me," Vin noted.
    "I have trouble with that sometimes," Tindwyl said. "Come, Allrianne. Let's finish your fitting."
    They moved to do so. However, at that moment—as if to belie Vin's assurances of safety—several warning drums began to beat atop the city wall.
    Vin froze, glancing through the window, out over the anxious crowd.
    One of the armies was attacking. Cursing the delay, she rushed into the back of the shop to change out of the bulky dress.

    Elend scrambled up the steps to the city wall, nearly tripping on his dueling cane in his haste. He stumbled out of the stairwell, moving onto the wall top, rearranging the cane at his side with a curse.
    The wall top was in chaos. Men scrambled about, calling to each other. Some had forgotten their armor, others their bows. So many tried to get up after Elend that the stairwell got clogged, and he watched hopelessly as men crowded around the openings below, creating an even larger jam of bodies in the courtyard.
    Elend spun, watching a large group of Straff's men—thousands of them—rush toward the wall. Elend stood near Tin Gate, at the north of the city, nearest Straff's army. He could see a separate group of soldiers rushing toward Pewter Gate, a little to the east.
    "Archers!" Elend yelled. "Men, where are your bows?"
    His voice, however, was lost in the shouting. Captains moved about, trying to organize the men, but apparently too many footmen had come to the wall, leaving a lot of the archers trapped in the courtyard below.
    Why ? Elend thought desperately, turning back toward the charging army. Why is he attacking? We had an a agreement to meet !
    Had he,