Mistborn #03 The Hero of Ages

shared a look.
    "Why would we do that, El?" Ham asked, standing at the front of the boat. In the distance, the sun was setting, and the mists had already begun to gather. The boat rocked quietly, and soldiers milled about on the shore, preparing for night. One week had passed since Vin's initial scouting of Fadrex, and she still hadn't managed to sneak into the storage cache.
    The night of the next ball had arrived, and Elend and Vin were planning to attend.
    "Well, I can think of a couple of reasons why you might object," Elend said, counting them off on his fingers. "First, it isn't wise to expose me to potential capture. Second, by revealing myself at the party, I'll show that I'm Mistborn, confirming rumors that Yomen may not believe. Third, I'll be putting both of our Mistborn in the same place, where they can be easily attacked—that can't be a good idea. Finally, there's the fact that going to a ball in the middle of a war is just plain crazy ."
    Ham shrugged, leaning with one elbow against the deck railing. "This isn't so different from when you entered your father's camp during the siege of Luthadel. Except you weren't Mistborn then, and you weren't in such a position of political power. Yomen would be crazy to make a move against you—he has to know that if you're in the same room with him, he's in mortal danger himself."
    "He'll run," Cett said from his seat. "This party will end the moment you arrive."
    "No," Elend said, "I don't think it will." He glanced back toward their cabin. Vin was still getting ready—she'd had the camp tailors modify one of the cooking girls' dresses. Elend was worried. No matter how good the dress turned out to be, it would look out of place compared to the lavish ball gowns.
    He turned back to Cett and Ham. "I don't think Yomen will run. He has to know that if Vin wanted to kill him, she'd attack his palace in secret. He's trying very hard to pretend that nothing has changed since the Lord Ruler disappeared. When we show up at the ball, it will make him think that we're willing to pretend with him. He'll stay and see if he can gain some advantage by meeting with us on his terms."
    "The man's a fool," Cett said. "I can't believe he'd want to go back to the way things were."
    "At least he's trying to give his subjects what they want. That's where you went wrong, Cett. You lost your kingdom the moment you left because you didn't care to try pleasing anyone."
    "A king doesn't have to please anyone," Cett snapped. "He's the one with the army—that means other people have to please him. "
    "Actually," Ham said, rubbing his chin, "that theory can't be true. A king has to please somebody—after all, even if he intended to force everyone to do what he said, he'd still have to at least please his army. But then, I guess if the army is pleased simply by being allowed to push people around, you might have an argument . . ."
    Ham trailed off, looking thoughtful, and Cett scowled. "Does everything have to be some damn logic puzzle to you?" he demanded. Ham just continued to rub his chin.
    Elend smiled, glancing at his cabin again. It was good to hear Ham acting like himself. Cett protested Ham's comments almost as much as Breeze did. In fact . . . Maybe that's why Ham hasn't been quite so prone to his little logic puzzles lately, Elend thought. There hasn't been anyone around to complain about them.
    "So, Elend . . ." Cett said. "If you die, I'm in charge, right?"
    "Vin will take command if something happens to me," Elend said. "You know that."
    "Right," Cett said. "And if both of you die?"
    "Sazed is next in the imperial succession after Vin, Cett. We've discussed that."
    "Yes, but what about this army?" Cett said. "Sazed is off in Urteau. Who leads these men until we meet up with him?"
    Elend sighed. "If, somehow, Yomen manages to kill both Vin and myself, then I suggest that you run—because yes, you'd be in charge here, and the Mistborn who killed us is likely to come for you next."
    Cett smiled in satisfaction, though Ham frowned at this.
    "You've never wanted titles, Ham," Elend pointed out. "And you've chafed at every leadership position I've given you."
    "I know," he said. "But what about Demoux?"
    "Cett has more experience," Elend said. "He's a better man than he pretends, Ham. I trust him. That will have to be enough for you. Cett, if things turn bad, I charge you with returning to Luthadel and searching out Sazed to tell him that he's emperor. Now, I think that—"
    Elend