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"See, Venture?" Cett asked "Threats onderfully"

"You honestly expect us to ?" Elend asked

"Actually, I do," Cett said "Look, with your twenty thousand added to ainst Straff--we could even stop that aran i to Elend "You didn't tell them about the koloss, did you?"

Elend didn't respond

"Well, they'll know soon enough," Cett said "Regardless, I don't see that you have any other option but to elect me"

"You're not an honorable man," Elend said simply "The people expect more from their leaders"

"I'm not an honorable man?" Cett asked with amusement "And you are? Let s of thislanced to the side, finding Breeze Vin closed her eyes No, Elend, don't--

"Yes, they have," Elend adroan quietly

"And," Cett continued, "can you honestly say that you've never doubted yourself? Never wondered if you were a good king?"

"I think every leader wonders these things," Elend said

"Well, I haven't," Cett said "I've always knoas e--and I've always done the best job ofcertain that I stayed in power I kno to , and thatas well

"Here's the deal You give et to keep your titles--and those of the Asseet theet to keep your heads--which is a far better deal than Straff would offer, I assure you

"The people get to keep working, and I'll oes back to noran a year back The skaa work, the nobility ado back to that?" Elend asked "After all we fought for, you think I will simply let you force the people back into slavery?"

Cett se beard "I wasn't under the impression that the decision was yours, Elend Venture"

Elend fell silent

"I want to meet with each of you," Cett said to the Assemblymen "If you'll alloish to move into Luthadel with soh to er to you I'll take up residence in one of the abandoned keeps, and wait until your decision next week During that time, I'll meet with each of you in turn and explain thebenefits that would co"

"Bribes," Elend spat

"Of course," Cett said "Bribes for all of the people of this city--the fore, Venture 'Slaves,' 'threats,' 'honorable' 'Bribe' is just a word Looked at another way, a bribe is just a proroup of Assemblymen was silent "Shall we vote, then, on whether to let him enter the city?" Penrod asked

"Five thousand is way too reed," Elend said "There's no e can let that n troops into Luthadel"

"I don't like it at all," another said

"What?" said Philen "A erous than one outside, wouldn't you say? And besides, Cett has proroup soive ates to my army"

"You can't," Elend said iet a unaniht now"

Vin s as Elend was on the Assembly

"Bah," Cett said, but he obviously was sislative body further "Let me take up residence in the city, then"

Penrod nodded "All in favor of allowing Lord Cett to take up residence inside withsaya thousand troops?"

A full nineteen of the Assemblymen raised their hands Elend was not one of them

"It is done, then," Penrod said "We adjourn for teeks"

This can't be happening, Elend thought I thought e, Philen a lesser one Butone of the very tyrants who is threatening the city? How could they? How could they even consider his suggestion?

Elend stood, catching Penrod's arm as he turned to walk off the dais "Ferson," Elend said quietly, "this is insanity"

"We have to consider the option, Elend"

"Consider selling out the people of this city to a tyrant?"

Penrod's face grew cold, and he shook Elend's arood man, but you've always been an idealist You've spent ti politics with the members of the court You know theories; I know people"

He turned, nodding to the audience "Look at theood do your drea? You talk of freedohter their fa him in the eyes "The Lord Ruler's system wasn't perfect, but it kept these people safe We don't even have that anyht be a tyrant, but given the choice between hiiven hio, if you hadn't stopped us"