Mistborn #03 The Hero of Ages

little. What could shine so magnificently?
    "Take this," a voice said. "Find humans, and trade for weapons and supplies."
    "Yes, Lord KanPaar," a second voice said. They were coming from the center of the shining area. It was to the side of the Pits, only a few minutes' travel from the refugees.
    Oh, no . . . Vin thought, feeling a sudden dread.
    "The foolish Firsts have sat on this treasure for far too long," KanPaar said. "With these riches, we could be ruling, not serving, mankind."
    "I . . . thought we didn't want to change things?" the second voice said.
    "Oh, we won't. Not quickly, at least. For now, just this small amount needs to be sold . . ."
    Hidden beneath the ground, Vin thought, heightened mind making the connections. In a place that already shines because of the large number of metal deposits. Ruin would never have been able to know where the atium was .
    The depth of the Lord Ruler's strategies amazed her. He had held on for a thousand years, maintaining such an amazing secret, keeping atium safe. She imagined obligators communicating only on metal plates, giving instructions for the operations at the Pits. She imagined caravans traveling from the Pits, carrying atium mixed with gold and coins to hide where it was moving and what exactly was going on.
    You don't know what I do for mankind, the Lord Ruler had said.
    And I didn't, Vin thought. Thank you .
    She felt Ruin surge with power, and she blocked him. But just as she had been able to get a tendril of power past Ruin to Elend, Ruin was able to get the tiniest thread through. It was enough, for the one who had spoken was tainted with Hemalurgy. A spike in each shoulder drew Ruin's power and allowed him to speak to their bearer.
    A kandra? Vin thought, her senses finally managing to peer through the atium glare to see a creature with a translucent body standing in a cavern, just beneath the ground. Another kandra was crawling out of a hole nearby, carrying a small pouch of atium.
    Ruin seized control of the kandra KanPaar. The creature stiffened, his metal spikes betraying him.
    Speak of this, Ruin said to KanPaar, Vin feeling his words as they pulsed into the kandra. How much atium is there?
    "Wha . . . who are you?" KanPaar said. "Why are you in my head?"
    I am God, the voice said. And you are mine .
    All of you are mine .
    Elend landed outside the Pits of Hathsin, throwing up a puff of ash. Oddly, some of his own soldiers were there, guarding the perimeter. They rushed forward, spears held anxiously, then froze when they recognized him.
    "Lord Venture? " one of the men asked with shock.
    "I know you," Elend said, frowning. "From my army at Fadrex."
    "You sent us back, my lord," the other soldier said. "With General Demoux. To help Lord Penrod in Luthadel."
    Elend glanced up at the night sky, speckled with stars. Some time had passed during his travel to the Pits from Luthadel. If time were now passing normally, the night was halfway through. What would happen when the sun rose again?
    "Quickly," Elend said. "I need to speak with the leaders of this camp."
    The return of the First Generation was accomplished with as much flair as Sazed had hoped. The old kandra, now wearing larger bodies, still bore the distinctive colorings and aged skin of their generation. He had feared that the ordinary kandra would not recognize them. However, he hadn't counted on the long life spans of the kandra people. Even if the Firsts only emerged once every century, most of the kandra would have seen them several times.
    Sazed smiled as the group of Firsts moved into the main kandra chamber, continuing to cause shock and surprise in the others. They proclaimed KanPaar had betrayed them and imprisoned them, then called the kandra people to assemble. Sazed stayed back behind MeLaan and the others, watching for snags in their plan.
    To the side, he saw a familiar kandra approaching.
    "Keeper," TenSoon said, still wearing the body of a Fifth. "We need to be careful. There are strange things afoot."
    "Such as?" Sazed asked.
    Then, TenSoon attacked him.
    Sazed started, and his moment of confusion cost him dearly. TenSoon—or whoever it was—got his hands around Sazed's throat and began to choke him. They fell backward, drawing the attention of the surrounding kandra. Sazed's assailant—bearing bones of rock—weighed far more than Sazed, and was easily able to roll to the top, his hands still on Sazed's neck.
    "TenSoon?" MeLaan asked, sounding terrified.
    It's not him,