Mistborn #03 The Hero of Ages

the city's stooped, one-story buildings.
    "Who are you?" Fatren asked quietly.
    "I am who I said," Venture said.
    "I don't believe you."
    "But you trust me," Venture said.
    "No. I just don't want to argue with an Allomancer."
    "That's good enough, for now," Venture said. "Look, friend, you have ten thousand koloss marching on your city. You need whatever help you can get."
    Ten thousand? Fatren thought, feeling stupefied.
    "You're in charge of this city, I assume?" Venture asked.
    Fatren shook out of his stupor. "Yes," he said. "My name is Fatren."
    "All right, Lord Fatren, we—"
    "I'm no lord," Fatren said.
    "Well, you just became one," Venture said. "You can choose a surname later. Now, before we continue, you need to know my conditions for helping you."
    "What kind of conditions?"
    "The nonnegotiable kind," Venture said. "If we win, you'll swear fealty to me."
    Fatren frowned, stopping in the street. Ash fell around him. "So that's it? You saunter in before a fight, claiming to be some high lord, so you can take credit for our victory? Why should I swear fealty to a man I only met a few minutes before?"
    "Because if you don't," Venture said quietly, "I'll just take command anyway." Then he continued to walk.
    Fatren stood for a moment; then he rushed forward and caught up to Venture. "Oh, I see. Even if we survive this battle, we'll end up ruled by a tyrant."
    "Yes," Venture said.
    Fatren frowned. He hadn't expected the man to be so blunt.
    Venture shook his head, regarding the city through the falling ash. "I used to think that I could do things differently. And, I still believe that I'll be able to, someday. But, for now, I don't have a choice. I need your soldiers and I need your city."
    "My city?" Fatren asked, frowning. "Why?"
    Venture held up a finger. "We have to survive this battle first," he said. "We'll get to other things later."
    Fatren paused, and was surprised to realize that he did trust the stranger. He couldn't have explained exactly why he felt that way. This was simply a man to follow—a leader such as Fatren had always wanted to be.
    Venture didn't wait for Fatren to agree to the "conditions." It wasn't an offer, but an ultimatum. Fatren hurried to catch up again as Venture entered the small square in front of the city gates. Soldiers bustled about. None of them wore uniforms—their only method of distinguishing a captain from a regular soldier was a red band tied around the arm. Venture hadn't given them much time to gather—but, then, they all knew the city was about to be attacked. They had been gathered anyway.
    "Time is short," Venture repeated in a loud voice. "I can teach you only a few things, but they will make a difference.
    "Koloss range in size from small ones that are about five feet tall to the huge ones, which are about twelve feet tall. However, even the little ones are going to be stronger than you are. Expect that. Fortunately, the creatures fight without coordination between individuals. If a koloss's comrade is in trouble, he won't bother to help.
    "They attack directly, without guile, and try to use blunt force to overwhelm. Don't let them! Tell your men to gang up on individual koloss—two men for the small ones, three or four for the big ones. We won't be able to maintain a very large front, but that will keep us alive the longest.
    "Don't worry about creatures that get around our line and enter the city—we'll have the civilians hidden at the very back of your town, and the koloss who bypass our line might turn to pillaging, leaving others to fight alone. That's what we want! Don't chase them down into the city. Your families will be safe.
    "If you're fighting a big koloss, attack the legs, bring it down before you go for the kill. If you're fighting a small one, make certain your sword or spear doesn't get caught in their loose skin. Understand that koloss aren't stupid—they're just unsophisticated. Predictable. They'll come at you the easiest way possible, and attack only in the most direct manner.
    "The most important thing for you to understand is that they can be beaten. We'll do it today. Don't let yourselves become intimidated! Fight with coordination, keep your heads, and I promise you that we will survive ."
    The soldier captains stood in a small cluster, looking at Venture. They didn't cheer at the speech, but they did seem a little more confident. They moved off to pass on Venture's instructions to their men.
    Fatren approached the emperor quietly. "If