Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

involved."
    Breeze shook his head. "If the fate of the Central Dominance weren't at stake—and if it weren't so fantastically enjoyable to watch Hammond lose an entire month's earnings to the boy there—I'd have left an hour ago."
    "Yes, well, we can get started now," Elend said.
    Ham chuckled, standing up. "Actually, it's kind of like the old days. Kell always arrived late, too—and he liked to hold his meetings at night. Mistborn hours."
    Spook smiled, his coin pouch bulging.
    We still use boxings—Lord Ruler imperials—as our coinage , Elend thought. We'll have to do something about that .
    "I miss the charcoal board, though," Spook said.
    "I certainly don't," Breeze replied. "Kell had atrocious handwriting."
    "Absolutely atrocious," Ham said with a smile, sitting. "You have to admit, though—it was distinctive."
    Breeze raised an eyebrow. "It was that, I suppose."
    Kelsier, the Survivor of Hathsin , Elend thought. Even his handwriting is legendary . "Regardless," he said, "I think perhaps we should get to work. We've still got two armies waiting out there. We're not leaving tonight until we have a plan to deal with them!"
    The crewmembers shared looks.
    "Actually, Your Majesty," Dockson said, "we've already worked on that problem for a bit."
    "Oh?" Elend asked, surprised. Well, I guess I did leave them alone for a couple of hours . "Let me hear it, then."
    Dockson stood, pulling his chair a bit closer to join the rest of the group, and Ham began to speak.
    "Here's the thing, El," Ham said. "With two armies here, we don't have to worry about an immediate attack. But, we're still in serious danger. This will probably turn into an extended siege as each army tries to outlast the other."
    "They'll try to starve us out," Clubs said. "Weaken us, and their enemies, before attacking."
    "And," Ham continued, "that puts us in a bind—because we can't last very long. The city is already on the edge of starvation—and the enemy kings are probably aware of that fact."
    "What are you saying?" Elend asked slowly.
    "We have to make an alliance with one of those armies, Your Majesty," Dockson said. "They both know it. Alone, they can't reliably defeat one another. With our help, however, the balance will be tipped."
    "They'll hem us in," Ham said. "Keep us blockaded until we get desperate enough to side with one of them. Eventually, we'll have to do so—either that, or let our people starve."
    "The decision comes down to this," Breeze said. "We can't outlast the others, so we have to choose which of those men we want to take over the city. And, I would suggest making our decision quickly as opposed to waiting while our supplies run out."
    Elend stood quietly. "By making a deal with one of those armies, we'll essentially be giving away our kingdom."
    "True," Breeze said, tapping the side of his cup. "However, what I gained us by bringing a second army is bargaining power. You see, at least we are in a position to demand something in exchange for our kingdom."
    "What good is that?" Elend asked. "We still lose."
    "It's better than nothing," Breeze said. "I think that we might be able to persuade Cett to leave you as a provisional leader in Luthadel. He doesn't like the Central Dominance; he finds it barren and flat."
    "Provisional leader of the city," Elend said with a frown. "That is somewhat different from king of the Central Dominance."
    "True," Dockson said. "But, every emperor needs good men to administrate the cities under their rule. You wouldn't be king, but you—and our armies—would live through the next few months, and Luthadel wouldn't be pillaged."
    Ham, Breeze, and Dockson all sat resolutely, looking him in the eye. Elend glanced down at his pile of books, thinking of his research and study. Worthless. How long had the crew known that there was only one course of action?
    The crew seemed to take Elend's silence as assent.
    "Cett really is the best choice, then?" Dockson asked. "Perhaps Straff would be more likely to make an agreement with Elend—they are, after all, family."
    Oh, he'd make an agreement , Elend thought. And he'd break it the moment it was convenient. But. . .the alternative? Give the city over to this Cett? What would happen to this land, this people, if he were in charge ?
    "Cett is best, I think," Breeze said. "He is very willing to let others rule, as long as he gets his glory and his coins. The problem is going to be that atium. Cett thinks it is here, and if he doesn't find it. .