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The torches flickered as the doors opened, and a figure left the palace Hauards One reason--perhaps the ent was because of Haht have been a bit of an anarchist at heart, but he could be a very good leader if he was given a suards weren't the most disciplined, polished soldiers Vin had seen, they were fiercely loyal

Ham talked with the men for a time, then he waved farewell and walked out into the mists The small courtyard between the keep and its wall contained a couple of guard posts and patrols, and Haht, trusting to diffused starlight to see, rather than blinding himself with a torch A thief's habit

Vin s after Hanorant of her presence What would it be like to have only one Alloer, but to have ears as weak as those of any normal man? It had been only two years, but already she had come to rely so heavily on her abilities

Ha discreetly, until they reached the a her bronze

OreSeur howled suddenly, ju froht, his inhu quietly

And he instinctively flared pewter Focused on her bronze, Vin confir froht as OreSeur landed Vin, however, simply smiled Ham's Allomancy meant he wasn't the impostor She could cross another name off her list

"It's okay, Ha forward

Ha cane "Vin?" he asked, squinting in the mist

"It's et juuess Anything happening tonight?"

"Not that I can tell," she said "I'd let you know"

Hah I doubt you'd need uard, but you're the one who does all the work"

"You're more valuable than you think, Ham," Vin said "Elend confides in you Since Jastes and the others left him, he's needed a friend"

Ha into theon his haunches He see more and more comfortable with his hound's body

Now that she knew Ha she needed to discuss with him "Ham," she said, "your protection of Elend isabout the ih the palace staff to see whofor a few hours on that day It's a tough task, though"

She nodded "There's so else, Ham I'm out of atium"

He stood quietly in the mists for a moment, and then she heard hiht a Mistborn," she said

"Not unless he has atium," Ham said

"What are the chances that soht me?"

He hesitated

"Haainst so atiued in the darkness "There are lots of theories, Vin I once had a long conversation with Breeze about this--though he spenthim"

"Well?" Vin asked "What can I do?"

He rubbed his chin "Most people agree that the best way to kill a Mistborn with atium is to surprise them"

"That doesn't help if they attacksurprise, there isn't ht be able to kill an atiu Mistborn if you catch theame of fets--sometimes, the only way to take a piece is to corner it so that nothat to a Mistborn is pretty tough, though The thing is, atium lets the Mistborn see the future--so he knohen a move will trap him, and so he can avoid the situation The metal is supposed to enhance hisatiuister the attacks that are co"

Ham nodded

"So," Vin said, "what else?"

"That's it, Vin," Has talk about this topic a lot--we're all afraid of going up against a Mistborn Those are your two options: Surprise him or overwhelm him I'm sorry"

Vin frowned Neither option would do herI promise to tell you about any corpses I produce"

Ha into situations where you have to produce thedoh she wasn't certain how much Ham could see of her in the darkness She waved to OreSeur, heading out toward the keep wall, leaving Ham on the cobbled path

"Mistress," OreSeur said as they reached the top of the wall, " Master Ha your friends?"

"It was a test," Vin said, pausing beside aout over the city proper

"A test, Mistress?"

"To see if he would use Allomancy That way, I could know that he wasn't the impostor"

"Ah," the kandra said "Clever, Mistress"

Vin s toward the to have to deal with theuardhouse She ju off a coin, and landed on top of it OreSeur bounded up beside her, using his strange kandra musculature to leap the ten feet