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Sazed wilted slightly "It'sthat obvious, is it?"

Breeze sat, laying his cane across his lap, and eyed Sazed tellingly, Soothing the man to make him feel a little more self-conscious "You may have helped us overthrow the Lord Ruler,sneaky"

"I apologize," Sazed said, sitting "I simply wanted to meet quickly, to discuss certainsensitive issues"

"Well, I'd recouards," Breeze said "They et us so to eat or drink If Elend walks in--I assu from?"

"Yes"

"Well, if he co each other insidiously, he'll know so is up The less natural the occasion, the more natural you want to appear"

"Ah, I see," Sazed said "Thank you"

The door opened and Clubs hobbled in He eyed Breeze, then Sazed, then wandered over toward a chair Breeze glanced at Sazed--no surprise there Clubs was obviously invited as well

"Lose those guards," Clubs snapped

"I over to the door He spoke briefly with the guards, then returned As Sazed was sitting, Ha suspicious

"Wait ato this secret estured for Ham to sit "All of the moreexperienced members of the crew"

"You mean everyone but Elend and Vin," Breeze said

"I did not invite Lord Lestibournes either," Sazed said

Yes, but Spook isn't the one we're hiding fro glance at Breeze "Sowhy exactly are we ?"

"King no longer," a voice noted from the door Dockson walked in and sat "In fact, it could be argued that Elend isn't leader of this crew anymore He fell into that position by happenstance--just like he fell into the throne"

Ham flushed "I know you don't like him, Dox, but I'm not here to talk treason"

"There's no treason if there's no throne to betray," Dockson said, sitting "What are we going to do--stay here and be servants in his house? Elend doesn't need us Perhaps it's time to transfer our services to Lord Penrod"

"Penrod is a nobleman, too," Ham said "You can't tell me you like him any better than you do Elend"

Dockson thumped the table quietly with his fist "It's not about who I like, Hado! We've spent a year and a half cleaning up his mess Do you want to see that asted?"

"Please, gentle--without success--to break into the conversation

"Work, Dox?" Ham said, flushed "What work have you done? I haven't seen you dobesides sit and complain every time someone offers a plan"

"Complain?" Dockson snapped "Do you have any idea how much ad upon itself? What have you done, Ham? You refused to take command of the army All you do is drink and spar with your friends!"

That's enough of that, Breeze thought, Soothing the le each other before Straff can have us executed

Dockson settled back in his chair, waving a dismissive hand at Harined by the outbreak Breeze Soothed away his insecurity You're in charge here, Sazed Tell us what is going on

"Please," Sazed said "I did not bring us together so that we could argue I understand that you are all tense--that is understandable, considering the circuive our city to Straff," Hahter us," Dockson countered

"Actually," Breeze said, "I don't think we have to worry about Straff slaughtering us"

"No?" Dockson asked, frowning "Do you have so with us, Breeze?"

"Oh, get over yourself, Dox," Ham snapped "You've never been happy that you didn't end up in charge when Kell died That's the real reason you never liked Elend, isn't it?"

Dockson flushed, and Breeze sighed, slapping both of thehtly, as if they'd been stung--though the sensation would be quite the opposite Their emotions, once volatile, would suddenly have become numb and unresponsive

Both looked at Breeze