Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

follow," Vin said.
    "It was not easy, Mistress," OreSeur said flatly. "Do you require assistance?"
    "What? No, no assistance." Vin shook her head, clearing her mind. "I guess that's one thing I didn't think of by making you a dog. You can't carry metals for me now."
    The kandra cocked his head, then padded over into an alleyway. He returned a moment later with something in his mouth. Her belt.
    He dropped it by her feet, then returned to his waiting position. Vin picked up the belt, pulling off one of her extra metal vials. "Thank you," she said slowly. "That is very. . .thoughtful of you."
    "I fulfill my Contract, Mistress," the kandra said. "Nothing more."
    Well, this is more than you've ever done before , she thought, downing a vial and feeling her reserves return. She burned tin, restoring her night vision, releasing a veil of tension from her mind; since she'd discovered her powers, she'd never had to go out at night in complete darkness.
    The shutters of the Watcher's room were open; he had apparently fled during her fit. Vin sighed.
    "Mistress!" OreSeur snapped.
    Vin spun. A man landed quietly behind her. He looked. . .familiar, for some reason. He had a lean face—topped with dark hair—and his head was cocked slightly in confusion. She could see the question in his eyes. Why had she fallen down?
    Vin smiled. "Maybe I just did it to lure you closer," she whispered—softly, yet loud enough that she knew tin-enhanced ears would hear her.
    The Mistborn smiled, then tipped his head to her as if in respect.
    "Who are you?" Vin asked, stepping forward.
    "An enemy," he replied, holding up a hand to ward her back.
    Vin paused. Mist swirled between them on the quiet street. "Why, then, did you help me fight those assassins?"
    "Because," he said. "I'm also insane."
    Vin frowned, eyeing the man. She had seen insanity before in the eyes of beggars. This man was not insane. He stood proudly, eyes controlled as he regarded her in the darkness.
    What kind of game is he playing ? she wondered.
    Her instincts—a lifetime's worth of instincts—warned her to be wary. She had only just learned to trust her friends, and she wasn't about to offer the same privilege to a man she had met in the night.
    And yet, it had been over a year since she'd spoken with another Mistborn. There were conflicts within her that she couldn't explain to the others. Even Mistings, like Ham and Breeze, couldn't understand the strange dual life of a Mistborn. Part assassin, part bodyguard, part noblewoman. . .part confused, quiet girl. Did this man have similar troubles with his identity?
    Perhaps she could make an ally out of him, bringing a second Mistborn to the defense of the Central Dominance. Even if she couldn't, she certainly couldn't afford to fight him. A spar in the night was one thing, but if their contest grew dangerous, atium might come into play.
    If that happened, she'd lose.
    The Watcher studied her with a careful eye. "Answer something for me," he said in the mists.
    Vin nodded.
    "Did you really kill Him?"
    "Yes," Vin whispered. There was only one person he could mean.
    He nodded slowly. "Why do you play their games?"
    "Whose games?"
    The Watcher gestured into the mists, toward Keep Venture.
    "Those aren't games," Vin said. "It's no game when the people I love are in danger."
    The Watcher stood quietly, then shook his head, as if. . .disappointed. Then, he pulled something from his sash.
    Vin jumped back immediately. The Watcher, however, simply flipped a coin to the ground between them. It bounced a couple of times, coming to a rest on the cobbles. Then, the Watcher Pushed himself backward into the air.
    Vin didn't follow. She reached up, rubbing her head; she still felt like she should have a headache.
    "You're letting him go?" OreSeur asked.
    Vin nodded. "We're done for tonight. He fought well."
    "You sound almost respectful," the kandra said.
    Vin turned, frowning at the hint of disgust in the kandra's voice. OreSeur sat patiently, displaying no further emotion.
    She sighed, tying her belt around her waist. "We're going to need to come up with a harness or something for you," she said. "I want you to carry extra metal vials for me, like you did as a human."
    "A harness won't be necessary, Mistress," OreSeur said.
    "Oh?"
    OreSeur rose, padding forward. "Please get out one of your vials."
    Vin did as requested, pulling out a small glass vial. OreSeur stopped, then turned one shoulder toward her. As she watched, the fur parted