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"I didn't kill him," OreSeur said "We are cautioned to stay out of combat, lest we accidentally cause a hu so, and feel it is a breach of the Contract The words are distinct, however I did nothing wrong"

"And if that man you tackled had broken his neck?"

"Then I would have returned to my kind for execution," OreSeur said

Vin smiled "Then you did risk your life for me"

"In a small way, I suppose," OreSeur said "The chances ofthat man's death were slim"

"Thank you anyway"

OreSeur bowed his head in acceptance

"Executed," Vin said "So you can be killed?"

"Of course, Mistress," OreSeur said "We aren't immortal"

Vin eyed hi specific, Mistress," OreSeur said "As you ine, I would rather not reveal the weaknesses of my kind Please suffice it to say that they exist"

Vin nodded, but frowned in thought, bringing her knees up to her chest So about what Elend had said earlier, so about OreSeur's actions

"But," she said slowly, "you couldn't have been killed by swords or staves, right?"

"Correct," OreSeur said "Though our flesh looks like yours, and though we feel pain, beating us has no permanent effect"

"Then why are you afraid?" Vin said, finally lighting upon as bothering her

"Mistress?"

"Why did your people ate yourselves to mankind? If our soldiers couldn't hurt you, then why even worry about us?"

"You have Allomancy," OreSeur said

"So, Allo his canine head "It cannot But, perhaps we should change the topic I'round for"It's just so frustrating There's so al politicseven aboutAnd there's still a spy in the palace Demoux or Dockson, likely Maybe I should just order them both taken and held for a ti?

OreSeur atching her, apparently noting her frustration Finally, he sighed "Perhaps there are sos I can speak of, Mistress, if I ain of the kandra?"

Vin perked up "Nothing"

"We did not exist before the Ascension," he said

"You mean to say that the Lord Ruler created you?"

"That is what our lore teaches," OreSeur said "We are not certain of our purpose Perhaps ere to be Father's spies"

"Father?" Vin said "It seee to hear him spoken of that way"

"The Lord Ruler created us, Mistress," OreSeur said "We are his children"

"And I killed hiize"

"Just because he is our Father does nothe did, Mistress," OreSeur said "Cannot a huood person?"

"I suppose"

"Kandra theology about Father is complex," OreSeur said "Even for us, it is difficult to sort through it sometimes"

Vin frowned "OreSeur? How old are you?"

"Old," he said simply

"Older than Kelsier?"

"Much," OreSeur "But not as old as you are thinking I do not remember the Ascension"