Page 9 (1/2)

"Thatlike that," she said, snuggling up against hiain

"Now, see, you don't understand how clever that is ofan idiot and when I'enius, perhaps they'll assus"

"As long as they don't mistake your actual brilliant moves for blunders"

"That shouldn't be difficult," Elend said "I fear I have few enough of those for people to e in his voice He, however, s Will he still be able to go out with you at nights?"

Vin shrugged "I guess I wasn't really planning on bringing him for a while"

"I'd like it if you did take hiht, pushing yourself so hard"

"I can handle it," Vin said "Someone needs to watch over you"

"Yes," Elend said, "but atches over you?"

Kelsier Even now, that was still her immediate reaction She'd known him for less than a year, but that year had been the first in her life that she had felt protected

Kelsier was dead She, like the rest of the world, had to live without hiht those Alloht," Elend said "It would be really nice for my psyche if I knew souard," Vin said

"I know," Elend said "But they're incredibly loyal--I've never heard of one breaking Contract He'll watch out for you I worry about you, Vin You wonder why I stay up so late, scribbling at ht be out there fighting--or, worse, lying so because nobody was there to help you"

"I take OreSeur with me sometimes"

"Yes," Elend said, "but I know you find excuses to leave hiht you the services of an incredibly valuable servant I can't understand why you work so hard to avoid him"

Vin closed her eyes "Elend He ate Kelsier"

"So?" Elend asked "Kelsier was already dead Besides, he hi her eyes "I justdon't trust that thing, Elend The creature is unnatural"

"I know," Elend said "My father always kept a kandra But, OreSeur is so, at least Please Proht But I don't think he's going to like the arrange very well even when he was playing Renoux, and I his niece"

Elend shrugged "He'll hold to his Contract That's what is important"

"He holds to the Contract," Vin said, "but only grudgingly I swear that he enjoys frustrating me"

Elend looked down at her "Vin, kandra are excellent servants They don't do things like that"

"No, Elend," Vin said "Sazed was an excellent servant He enjoyed being with people, helping the I command, but he doesn't like hed, rubbing her shoulder "Don't you think you ht be a little irrational? There's no real reason to hate him so"

"Oh?" Vin asked "Just like there's no reason you shouldn't get along with Dockson?"

Elend paused Then he sighed "I guess you have a point," he said He continued to rub Vin's shoulder as he stared upward, toward the ceiling, contemplative

"What?" Vin asked

"I'ood job of this, am I?"

"Don't be foolish," Vin said "You're a wonderful king"

"I , Vin, but I'm not him"

"Who?"

"Kelsier," Elend said quietly

"Elend, nobody expects you to be Kelsier"

"Oh?" he said "That's why Dockson doesn't like me He hates noblemen; it's obvious in the way that he talks, the way he acts I don't know if I really blaardless, he doesn't think I should be king He thinks that a skaa should be in my place--or, even better, Kelsier They all think that"

"That's nonsense, Elend"

"Really? And if Kelsier still lived, would I be king?"

Vin paused

"You see? They accept me--the people, the merchants, even the noblemen But in the back of their minds, they wish they had Kelsier instead"

"I don't wish that"

"Don't you?"

Vin frowned Then she sat up, turning so that she was kneeling over Elend in the reclined chair, their faces just inches apart "Don't you ever wonder that, Elend Kelsier was my teacher, but I didn't love him Not like I love you"

Elend stared into her eyes, then nodded Vin kissed hiain