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Tiht, the joviality of the o visit the kitchens and get solanced at the sky--likely checking to see how soon it would grow dark Finally, she nodded

"I'll corabbing the boy by the back of the neck "You're going to stay right here and explain exactly where you got one ofVin away Truth be told, even with the slightly sour end of conversation, he felt better for having coe how the ht, even during the et about his problems Perhaps that was a holdover fro, no matter how bad the situation It had been a form of rebellion to hio away They still faced an arer than their own, in a city that they could barely defend Yet, if anyone could survive such a situation, it would be Kelsier's crew

Later that night, having filled her stomach at Elend's insistence, Vin made her ith Elend to her roo on the floor, was a perfect replica of the wolfhound she had bought earlier It eyed her, then bowed its head "Welco, muffled voice

Elend whistled appreciatively, and Vin walked in a circle around the creature Each hair appeared to have been placed perfectly If it hadn't spoken, one would never have been able to tell it wasn't the original dog

"How do you e the voice?" Elend asked curiously

"A voice box is a construction of flesh, not bone, Your Majesty," OreSeur said "Older kandra learn to manipulate their bodies, not just replicate theest a person's corpse to memorize and re-create their exact features However, I can is"

Vin nodded "Is that why er than you'd said?"

"No, Mistress," OreSeur said "The hair I'reat deal of precision and effort"

"Actually, you didher hand

"What do you think of the body, OreSeur?" Elend asked

"Honestly, Your Majesty?"

"Of course"

"It is offensive and degrading," OreSeur said

Vin raised an eyebrow That's forward of you, Renoux, she thought Feeling a little belligerent today, are we?

He glanced at her, and she tried--unsuccessfully--to read his canine expression

"But," Elend said, "you'll wear the body anyway, right?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," OreSeur said "I would die before breaking the Contract It is life"

Elend nodded to Vin, as if he'd just made a ht If someone has a "Contract" to ensure their honor, then all the better That nant when they do turn on you

Elend was obviously waiting for soether in the future"

"If that is what you wish, Mistress"

"I' to happen anyway Hoell can you h, Mistress"

"Come on," she said, "let's see if you can keep up"

I am also afraid, however, that all I have known--that otten I am afraid for the world that is to come Afraid that my plans will fail

Afraid of a doom worse, even, than the Deepness

7

SAZED NEVER THOUGHT HE'D HAVE reason to appreciate dirt floors However, they proved re instruction He drew several words in the dirt with a long stick, giving his half-dozen students athe words several tiroups of rural skaa for a year, Sazed was still surprised by their le piece of chalk in the entire village, let alone ink or paper Half the children ran around naked, and the only shelters were the hovels--long, one-roo tools, fortunately, but no

Sazed had led a scavenging s had been e elders relocate their people to the manor itself for the winter, but he doubted they would do so They had visited theto leave Sazed's side The place reminded them of lords--and lords reminded them of pain