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Straff al his ar assault The preli that the defenses were hardly iainst Cett

However, Elend's final words before departing this evening ainst my city, Father, the boy had said, and die You've felt her power--you knohat she can do You can try and hide, you can even conquer my city

But she will find you And she will kill you

Your only option is to wait I'll contact you when ether, as I said earlier

Straff couldn't depend on that The boy had changed--had becoether, Straff had no illusions as to how quickly he'd be betrayed But Straff couldn't attack Luthadel while that girl was alive Not knowing her strength, having felt her touch on his emotions

"No," he finally said to Zane's question "We won't attack Not until you kill her"

"That ht be harder than you make it sound, Father," Zane said "I'll need some help"

"What kind of help?"

"A strike team Allo of a particular group Most Alloes Straff, however, had access to some special resources There was a reason that he had so ht it was just because he was lustful

That wasn't it at all More mistresses h noble line like his, meant more Allomancers He'd only spawned one Mistborn, but there were s

"It will be done," Straff said

"They ht not survive the encounter, Father," Zane warned, still standing in the mists

That awful sensation returned The sense of nothingness, the horrible knowledge that someone else had complete and total control over his emotions Nobody should have that much power over him Especially not Elend

He should be dead He cao

"Get rid of her," Straff said "Do anything you need to, Zane Anything"

Zane nodded, then walked aith a self-satisfied stroll

Straff returned to his tent and sent for Hoselle again She looked enough like Elend's girl It would do hiood to remind himself that most of the time, he really was in control

Elend sat back in the carriage, a little stunned I' excitement I did it! I convinced Straff to leave the city alone

For a ti frightened of Vin Butwell, any victory was an enormous one for Elend He hadn't failed his people He was their king, and his plan--crazy though it ht have seemed--had worked The small crown on his head suddenly didn't seem as heavy as it had before

Vin sat across from him She didn't look nearly as pleased as she could have

"We did it, Vin!" Elend said "It wasn't e planned, but it worked Straff won't dare attack the city now"

She nodded quietly

Elend frowned "Um, it's because of you that the city will be safe You know that, right? If you hadn't been therewell, of course, if it hadn't been for you, the entire Final Empire would still be enslaved"

"Because I killed the Lord Ruler," she said quietly

Elend nodded

"But it was Kelsier's plan--the crew's skills, the people's strength of will--that freed the empire I just held the knife"

"You , Vin," he said "It's not! You're a fantastic Alloht anymore, and you've kept the palace free of assassins There's nobody like you in all of the Final Eely, his words made her huddle into the corner just a little farther She turned, watching out the , eyes staring into the mists "Thank you," she said softly

Elend wrinkled his brow Every ti on in her headHe ?"

She was silent, then finally shook her head, forcing a sht to be excited You were brilliant in there--I doubt even Kelsier could have manipulated Straff so neatly"

Elend se rolled up to the dark city The doors of Tin Gate opened hesitantly, and Elend saw a group ofjust inside of the courtyard Ham held aloft a lantern in the e to stop on its own He opened the door and hopped down as it was rolling to a halt His friends began to sates thumped closed

"It worked?" Ham asked hesitantly as Elend approached "You did it?"

"Kind of," Elend said with a s hands with Ham, Breeze, Dockson, and finally Spook Even the kandra, OreSeur, was there He padded over to the carriage, waiting for Vin "The initial feint didn't go so well--my father didn't bite on an alliance But then I told hiood idea?" Hareatest resources, e Elend turned, waving his hand toward her "We have a weapon like nothing they can , and he was ready to control that situation However, when I er was roused"