Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

precious, for they were a link to her. A painful link, but one he couldn't bear to discard.
    The Hero of Ages was not simply to be a warrior , he thought, still riding slowly toward the battlefield. He was a person who united others, who brought them together. A leader .
    He knew that Vin thought she was the Hero. But Tindwyl was right: it was too much of a coincidence. And, he wasn't even certain what he believed anymore. If anything.
    The Hero of Ages was removed from the Terris people , he thought, watching the koloss attack. He was not royalty himself, but came to it eventually .
    Sazed pulled his horse up, pausing in the center of the open, empty field. Arrows stuck from the snow around him, and the ground was thoroughly trampled. In the distance, he heard a drum. He turned, watching as an army of men marched over a rise to the west. They flew Cett's banner.
    He commanded the forces of the world. Kings rode to his aid .
    Cett's forces joined the battle against Straff. There was a crash of metal against metal, bodies grunting, as a new front came under attack. Sazed sat on the field between the city and the armies. Vin's forces were still outnumbered, but as Sazed watched, Straff's army began to pull back. It broke into pieces, its members fighting without direction. Their movements bespoke terror.
    She's killing their generals , he thought.
    Cett was a clever man. He himself rode to battle, but he stayed near the back of his ranks—his infirmities requiring him to remain tied into his saddle and making it difficult for him to fight. Still, by joining the battle, he ensured that Vin would not turn her koloss on him.
    For there was really no doubt in Sazed's mind who would win this conflict. Indeed, before even an hour had passed, Straff's troops began to surrender in large groups. The sounds of battle died down, and Sazed kicked his horse forward.
    Holy First Witness , he thought. I don't know that I believe that. But, either way, I should be there for what happens next .
    The koloss stopped fighting, standing silently. They parted for Sazed as he rode up through their ranks. Eventually, he found Vin standing, bloodied, her massive koloss sword held on one shoulder. Some koloss pulled a man forward—a lord in rich clothing and a silvery breastplate. They dropped him before Vin.
    From behind, Penrod approached with an honor guard, led by a koloss. Nobody spoke. Eventually, the koloss parted again, and this time a suspicious Cett rode forward, surrounded by a large group of soldiers and led by a single koloss.
    Cett eyed Vin, then scratched his chin. "Not much of a battle," he said.
    "Straff's soldiers were afraid," Vin said. "They're cold, and they have no desire to fight koloss."
    "And their leaders?" Cett asked.
    "I killed them," Vin said. "Except this one. Your name?"
    "Lord Janarle," said Straff's man. His leg appeared broken, and koloss held him by either arm, supporting him.
    "Straff is dead," Vin said. "You control this army now."
    The nobleman bowed his head. "No, I don't. You do."
    Vin nodded. "On your knees," she said.
    The koloss dropped Janarle. He grunted in pain, but then bowed forward. "I swear my army to you," he whispered.
    "No," Vin said sharply. "Not to me—to the rightful heir of House Venture. He is your lord now."
    Janarle paused. "Very well," he said. "Whatever you wish. I swear loyalty to Straff's son, Elend Venture."
    The separate groups stood in the cold. Sazed turned as Vin did, looking at Penrod. Vin pointed at the ground. Penrod quietly dismounted, then bowed himself to the ground.
    "I swear as well," he said. "I give my loyalty to Elend Venture."
    Vin turned to Lord Cett.
    "You expect this of me?" the bearded man said, amused.
    "Yes," Vin said quietly.
    "And if I refuse?" Cett asked.
    "Then I'll kill you," Vin said quietly. "You brought armies to attack my city. You threatened my people. I won't slaughter your soldiers, make them pay for what you did, but I will kill you, Cett."
    Silence. Sazed turned, looking back at the lines of immobile koloss, standing in the bloodied snow.
    "That is a threat, you know," Cett said. "Your own Elend would never stand for such a thing."
    "He's not here," Vin said.
    "And what do you think he'd say?" Cett asked. "He'd tell me not to give in to such a demand—the honorable Elend Venture would never give in simply because someone threatened his life."
    "You're not the man that Elend is," Vin said. "And you know it."
    Cett paused, then smiled. "No.