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The skaa at the back of the square began to chant It was a bizarre sound to hear in thehis pains and exhaustion as Vin ju The koloss had already beaten on it so hard

The massive wooden portal burst free froht nu behind herself--but, that would hts as heavy as that gate

And yet, she did it, lifting the gate door with a heave, Pulling it toward herself The huge hardwood gate crashed through the koloss ranks, scattering bodies Vin twisted expertly in the air, Pulling herself to the side, swinging the gate to the side as if it were tethered to her by a chain

Koloss flew in the air, bones cracking, sprayed like splinters before the enorle sweep, Vin cleared the entire courtyard

The gate dropped Vin landed a a soldier's war staff up into her hands The reate paused only briefly, then charged Vin began to attack swiftly, but precisely Skulls cracked, koloss falling dead in the slush as they tried to pass her She spun, sweeping a few of the up behind

II have to do so off his stupefaction He was still bare-chested, the cold ignored because of his brass koloss after koloss Even her strength won't last forever She can't save the city

Sazed forced himself to his feet, then rabbed the oldthe ht," Sazed said "She returned"

"Yes, Holy First Witness"

"She will be able to give us some time, I think," Sazed said "The koloss have broken into the city We need to gather what people we can and escape"

The old ht he would object--that he would claim Vin would protect them, would defeat the entire army Then, thankfully, he nodded

"We'll run out the northern gate," Sazed said urgently "That is where the koloss first entered the city, and so it is likely that they have ht, rushing off to raise the warning The fallback defensive positions were supposed to be the high noble keeps Perhaps they would find survivors there

So, Breeze thought, it turns out that I' revelation He had always said that it was important for a man to understand himself, and he had always been aware of his selfishness So, he was not at all shocked to find hi bricks of an old skaa ho his ears to the screams just outside

Where was the proud man now? The careful diploone, leaving behind this quivering, useless mass He tried several ti outside However, he couldn't accomplish this most simple of actions He couldn't evenas ht, as if looking at hi the pitiful creature in the ripped, bloodied suit So this is what happens to ? It's ironic, in a way I've spent a lifeti the emotions of others Now I' continued outside It was going on an awful long time Shouldn't those soldiers be dead?

"Breeze?"

He couldn't move to see who it was Sounds like Ham That's funny He should be dead, too

"Lord Ruler!" Ha on one arently to Breeze's side "Breeze, can you hear me?"

"We saw him duck in here, my lord," another voice said A soldier? "Took shelter froh Kept us fighting, even e should have given up After Lord Cladent died"

I'ure appeared Sazed, looking concerned "Breeze," Haate is down We haven't heard anything from Dockson in over an hour, and we found Clubs's body Please The koloss are destroying the city We need to knohat to do"

Well, don't ask ht it came out as a mumble

"I can't carry you, Breeze," Ham said "My arht, Breeze mumbled You see, my dear man, I don't think I'ht if you just leave me here

Ham looked up at Sazed, helpless

"Hurry, Lord Hammond," Sazed said "We can have the soldiers carry the wounded We willPerhaps we can find sanctuary there Orperhaps the koloss will be distracted enough to let us slip out of the city"

Distracted? Breezeof other people, youto know that we're all cowards Now, if I could just lie here for a little longer, I et all of this

Alendi will need guides through the Terris Mountains I have charged Rashek withcertain that he and his trusted friends are chosen as those guides

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VIN'S STAFF BROKE AS SHE slaht with frustration, spinning and ra the broken shard into another creature's chest She turned and caood five feet taller than she

It thrust its sword toward her Vin jumped, and the sword collided with broken cobblestones beneath her She shot upward, not needing any coins to carry herself up to eye level with the creature's twisted face