Page 11 (1/2)

"Why the costued "I'et infor outside"

"How long you been standing there?" Clubs asked, glaring at his nephew

"Since before you got here, Uncle Gruot back a couple days ago Before Dockson, actually I just thought I'd take a bit of a break before I went back to duty"

"I don't know if you've noticed, Spook," Elend said, "but we're at war There isn't a lot of tied "I just didn't want you to sendto be war here, I want to be around You know, for the exciteet that uniforlanced to the side, displaying just a hint of the uncertain boy Elend had known

Clubs gruhed and clapped Spook on the shoulder The boy looked up, snore at first, he was proving as valuable as any of the otherwho could burn tin to enhance his senses--Spook could listen to conversations from far away, not to mention notice distant details

"Anyelcome back," Elend said "What's the word from the west?"

Spook shook his head "I hate to sound too ood You know those ru in Luthadel? Well, they're back Stronger this tiht ere past that!" Elend said Breeze and his tea ru that the atium must have been hidden in another city, since Elend hadn't found it in Luthadel

"Guess not," Spook said "AndI think so these ruh to sense a planted story, and this ru Someone really wants the warlords to focus on you"

Great, Elend thought "You don't knohere Breeze is, do you?"

Spook shrugged, but he no longer see the sparring Elend glanced back toward Vin and Ham

As Clubs had predicted, the two had fallen into a more serious contest There was no es They sparred in earnest, fighting in a swirling melee of staffs and dust Ash flew around them, blown up by the wind of their attacks, and evenhallways to watch

Elend leaned forward There was so intense about a duel between two Allo siot her oeapon up in time, but the power of Haround on one shoulder She gave barely a grunt of pain, however, and so herself up to land on her feet She skidded for aher staff up

Pewter, Elend thought It raceful like Vin

Vin's eyes narrowed, her innate stubbornness showing in the set of her jaw, the displeasure in her face She didn't like being beaten--even when her opponent was obviously stronger than she was

Elend stood up straight, intending to suggest an end to the sparring At that ht his staff up expectantly, swinging as Vin ca within inches of the attack, then brought her weapon around and sla him off balance Then she ducked in for the attack

Ham, however, recovered quickly He let the force of Vin's blow spin hi his staff around in a powerful blow aimed directly at Vin's chest

Elend cried out

Vin juainst, but that didn't seeood seven feet in the air, easily cresting Ha passed beneath her, her fingers brushing the air just above the weapon, her own staff spinning in a one-handed grip

Vin landed, her staff already howling in a loing, its tip throwing up a line of ash as it ran along the ground It slas The bloept Ham's feet out from beneath him, and he cried out as he fell

Vin juain

Ham slammed to the earth on his back, and Vin landed on his chest Then, she calmly rapped him on the forehead with the end of her staff "I win"

Ha on his chest Dust and ash settled quietly in the courtyard

"Da a senti soldiers

Finally, Haetback intooff his chest and sca to his feet Despite his words, he walked with barely a limp; he'd probably have a bruise, but it wouldn't bother hith, balance, and speed, it alsooff a blow that would have shattered Elend's legs

Hahtly on the ar and rubbed his left calf, cringing slightly "I swear, Elend--soht with a gust of wind She's never where I think she'll be"

"How did she do that, Ham?" Elend asked "The jump, I mean That leap seemed inhuman, even for an Allomancer"

"Used steel, didn't she?" Spook said

Ham shook his head "No, I doubt it"

"Then how?" Elend asked