Mistborn #02 The Well of Ascension

do this in the command tent."
    Straff continued to sip his soup, staying where he was, implying that Zane had no power to order him about. It was frustrating, but not unexpected. Zane had used virtually the same tactic on the nightwatch officer just moments before. He had learned from the best.
    Finally, Zane sighed, taking a seat. He rested his arms on the table, idly spinning a dinner knife as he watched his father eat. A servant approached to ask Zane if he wanted a meal, but he waved the man away.
    "Kill Straff," God commanded. "You should be in his place. You are stronger than he is. You are more competent."
    But I'm not as sane , Zane thought.
    "Well?" Straff asked. "Do they have the Lord Ruler's atium or not?"
    "I'm not sure," Zane said.
    "Does the girl trust you?" Straff asked.
    "She's beginning to," Zane said. "I did see her use atium, that once, fighting Cett's assassins."
    Straff nodded thoughtfully. He really was competent; because of him, the Northern Dominance had avoided the chaos that prevailed in the rest of the Final Empire. Straff's skaa remained under control, his noblemen quelled. True, he had been forced to execute a number of people to prove that he was in charge. But, he did what needed to be done. That was one attribute in a man that Zane respected above all others.
    Especially since he had trouble displaying it himself.
    " Kill him !" God yelled. "You hate him! He kept you in squalor, forcing you to fight for your survival as a child."
    He made me strong , Zane thought.
    "Then use that strength to kill him!"
    Zane grabbed the carving knife off the table. Straff looked up from his meal, then flinched just slightly as Zane sliced the flesh of his own arm. He cut a long gash into the top of his forearm, drawing blood. The pain helped him resist the voice.
    Straff watched for a moment, then waved for a servant to bring Zane a towel so he wouldn't get blood on the rug.
    "You need to get her to use atium again," Straff said. "Elend may have been able to gather one or two beads. We'll only know the truth if she runs out." He paused, turning back to his meal. "Actually, what you need to do is get her to tell you where the stash is hidden, if they even have it."
    Zane sat, watching the blood seep from the gash on his forearm. "She's more capable than you think, Father."
    Straff raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you believe those stories, Zane? The lies about her and the Lord Ruler?"
    "How do you know they are lies?"
    "Because of Elend," Straff said. "That boy is a fool; he only controls Luthadel because every nobleman with half a wit in his head fled the city. If that girl were powerful enough to defeat the Lord Ruler, I sincerely doubt that your brother could ever have gained her loyalty."
    Zane cut another slice in his arm. He didn't cut deeply enough to do any real damage, and the pain worked as it usually did. Straff finally turned from his meal, masking a look of discomfort. A small, twisted piece of Zane took pleasure from seeing that look in his father's eyes. Perhaps it was a side effect of his insanity.
    "Anyway," Straff said, "did you meet with Elend?"
    Zane nodded. He turned to a serving girl. "Tea," he said, waving his uncut arm. "Elend was surprised. He wanted to meet with you, but he obviously didn't like the idea of coming into your camp. I doubt he'll come."
    "Perhaps," Straff said. "But, don't underestimate the boy's foolishness. Either way, perhaps now he understands how our relationship will proceed."
    So much posturing , Zane thought. By sending this message, Straff took a stand: he wouldn't be ordered about, or even inconvenienced, on Elend's behalf.
    Being forced into a siege inconvenienced you, though , Zane thought with a smile. What Straff would have liked to do was attack directly, taking the city without parlay or negotiations. The arrival of the second army made that impossible. Attack now, and Straff would be defeated by Cett.
    That meant waiting, waiting in a siege, until Elend saw reason and joined with his father willingly. But, waiting was something Straff disliked. Zane didn't mind as much. It would give him more time to spar with the girl. He smiled.
    As the tea arrived, Zane closed his eyes, then burned tin to enhance his senses. His wounds burst to life, minor pains becoming great, shocking him to wakefulness.
    There was a part of all this he wasn't telling Straff. She is coming to trust me , he thought. And there's something else about her. She's like me.