Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

clandestine location.
    The door swung closed, the soldier returning to his place. I can trust Sazed, can't I? Breeze thought. But, if that was the case, why the quiet meeting? Was Breeze overreacting?
    No, the guards proved that Sazed worried about this meeting being discovered. It was suspicious. If it were anyone else, Breeze would have gone straight to Elend. But Sazed. . .
    Breeze sighed, then wandered into the hallway, dueling cane clicking against the floor. Might as well see what he has to say. Besides, if he is planning something devious, it'd almost be worth the danger to see it . Despite the letter, despite the strange circumstances, Breeze had trouble imagining a Terrisman being involved in something that wasn't completely honest.
    Perhaps the Lord Ruler had had the same problem.
    Breeze nodded to the soldiers, Soothing away their anxiety and restoring them to a more temperate humor. There was another reason why he was willing to chance the meeting. Breeze was only just beginning to realize how dangerous his predicament was. Luthadel would soon fall. Every instinct he'd nurtured during thirty years in the underground was telling him to run.
    That feeling made him more likely to take risks. The Breeze of a few years earlier would already have abandoned the city. Damn you, Kelsier , he thought as he pushed open the door.
    Sazed looked up with surprise from his table. The room was sparse, with several chairs and only two lamps. "You're early, Lord Breeze," Sazed said, standing quickly.
    "Of course I am," Breeze snapped. "I had to make certain this wasn't a trap of some sort." He paused. "This isn't a trap of some sort, right?"
    "Trap?" Sazed asked. "What are you talking about?"
    "Oh, don't sound so shocked," Breeze said. "This is no simple meeting."
    Sazed wilted slightly. "It's. . .that obvious, is it?"
    Breeze sat, laying his cane across his lap, and eyed Sazed tellingly, Soothing the man to make him feel a little more self-conscious. "You may have helped us overthrow the Lord Ruler, my dear man—but you have a lot to learn about being sneaky."
    "I apologize," Sazed said, sitting. "I simply wanted to meet quickly, to discuss certain. . .sensitive issues."
    "Well, I'd recommend getting rid of those guards," Breeze said. "They make the room stand out. Then, light a few more lamps and get us something to eat or drink. If Elend walks in—I assume it's Elend we're hiding from?"
    "Yes."
    "Well, if he comes and sees us sitting here in the dark, eyeing each other insidiously, he'll know something is up. The less natural the occasion, the more natural you want to appear."
    "Ah, I see," Sazed said. "Thank you."
    The door opened and Clubs hobbled in. He eyed Breeze, then Sazed, then wandered over toward a chair. Breeze glanced at Sazed—no surprise there. Clubs was obviously invited as well.
    "Lose those guards," Clubs snapped.
    "Immediately, Lord Cladent," Sazed said, standing and shuffling over to the door. He spoke briefly with the guards, then returned. As Sazed was sitting, Ham poked his head into the room, looking suspicious.
    "Wait a minute," Breeze said. "How many people are coming to this secret meeting?"
    Sazed gestured for Ham to sit. "All of the more. . .experienced members of the crew."
    "You mean everyone but Elend and Vin," Breeze said.
    "I did not invite Lord Lestibournes either," Sazed said.
    Yes, but Spook isn't the one we're hiding from .
    Ham sat down hesitantly, shooting a questioning glance at Breeze. "So. . .why exactly are we meeting behind the backs of our Mistborn and our king?"
    "King no longer," a voice noted from the door. Dockson walked in and sat. "In fact, it could be argued that Elend isn't leader of this crew anymore. He fell into that position by happenstance—just like he fell into the throne."
    Ham flushed. "I know you don't like him, Dox, but I'm not here to talk treason."
    "There's no treason if there's no throne to betray," Dockson said, sitting. "What are we going to do—stay here and be servants in his house? Elend doesn't need us. Perhaps it's time to transfer our services to Lord Penrod."
    "Penrod is a nobleman, too," Ham said. "You can't tell me you like him any better than you do Elend."
    Dockson thumped the table quietly with his fist. "It's not about who I like , Ham. It's about seeing that this damn kingdom Kelsier threw at us remains standing! We've spent a year and a half cleaning up his mess. Do you want to see that work wasted?"
    "Please, gentlemen," Sazed