Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

moved over, putting an arm around her. "Vin, what's wrong?"
    She was silent, then finally shook her head, forcing a smile. "It's nothing, Elend. You're right to be excited. You were brilliant in there—I doubt even Kelsier could have manipulated Straff so neatly."
    Elend smiled, and pulled her close, impatient as the carriage rolled up to the dark city. The doors of Tin Gate opened hesitantly, and Elend saw a group of men standing just inside of the courtyard. Ham held aloft a lantern in the mists.
    Elend didn't wait for the carriage to stop on its own. He opened the door and hopped down as it was rolling to a halt. His friends began to smile eagerly. The gates thumped closed.
    "It worked?" Ham asked hesitantly as Elend approached. "You did it?"
    "Kind of," Elend said with a smile, clasping hands with Ham, Breeze, Dockson, and finally Spook. Even the kandra, OreSeur, was there. He padded over to the carriage, waiting for Vin. "The initial feint didn't go so well—my father didn't bite on an alliance. But then I told him I'd kill him!"
    "Wait. How was that a good idea?" Ham asked.
    "We overlooked one of our greatest resources, my friends," Elend said as Vin climbed down from the carriage. Elend turned, waving his hand toward her. "We have a weapon like nothing they can match! Straff expected me to come begging, and he was ready to control that situation. However, when I mentioned what would happen to him and his army if Vin's anger was roused. . ."
    "My dear man," Breeze said. "You went into the camp of the strongest king in the Final Empire, and you threatened him?"
    "Yes I did!"
    "Brilliant!"
    "I know!" Elend said. "I told my Father that he was going to let me leave his camp and that he was going to leave Luthadel alone, otherwise I'd have Vin kill him and every general in his army." He put his arm around Vin. She smiled at the group, but he could tell that something was still troubling her.
    She doesn't think I did a good job , Elend realized. She saw a better way to manipulate Straff, but she doesn't want to spoil my enthusiasm .
    "Well, guess we won't need a new king," Spook said with a smile. "I was kind of looking forward to taking the job. . .."
    Elend laughed. "I don't intend to vacate the position for quite some time yet. We'll let the people know that Straff has been cowed, if temporarily. That should boost morale a bit. Then, we deal with the Assembly. Hopefully, they'll pass a resolution to wait for me to meet with Cett like I just did with Straff."
    "Shall we have a celebration back at the palace?" Breeze asked. "As fond as I am of the mists, I doubt the courtyard is an appropriate place to be discussing these issues."
    Elend patted him on the back and nodded. Ham and Dockson joined him and Vin, while the others took the carriage they'd come in. Elend glanced oddly at Dockson as he climbed into the carriage. Ordinarily, the man would have chosen the other vehicle—the one Elend wasn't in.
    "Honestly, Elend," Ham said as he settled into his seat. "I'm impressed. I half thought we were going to have to raid that camp to get you back."
    Elend smiled, eyeing Dockson, who sat down as the carriage began moving. He pulled open his satchel and took out a sealed envelope. He looked up and met Elend's eyes. "This came from the Assembly members for you a short time ago, Your Majesty."
    Elend paused. Then he took it and broke the seal. "What is it?"
    "I'm not sure," Dockson said. "But. . .I've already started hearing rumors."
    Vin leaned in, reading over Elend's arm as he scanned the sheet inside. Your Majesty , it read.
This note is to inform you that by majority vote, the Assembly has decided to invoke the charter's no-confidence clause. We appreciate your efforts on behalf of the city, but the current situation calls for a different kind of leadership than Your Majesty can provide. We take this step with no hostility, but only resignation. We see no other alternative, and must act for the good of Luthadel .
We regret to have to inform you of this by letter .
    It was signed by all twenty-three members of the Assembly.
    Elend lowered the paper, shocked.
    "What?" Ham asked.
    "I've just been deposed," Elend said quietly.

PART THREE

He left ruin in his wake, but it was forgotten. He created kingdoms, and then destroyed them as he made the world anew .

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    "LET ME SEE IF I understand this correctly," Tindwyl said, calm and polite, yet somehow still stern and disapproving. "There is a clause in the kingdom's legal