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The koloss stopped fighting, standing silently They parted for Sazed as he rode up through their ranks Eventually, he found Vin standing, bloodied, her massive koloss sword held on one shoulder So and a silvery breastplate They dropped him before Vin

Frouard, led by a koloss Nobody spoke Eventually, the koloss parted again, and this tiroup of soldiers and led by a single koloss

Cett eyed Vin, then scratched his chin "Not much of a battle," he said

"Straff's soldiers were afraid," Vin said "They're cold, and they have no desire to fight koloss"

"And their leaders?" Cett asked

"I killed them," Vin said "Except this one Your na appeared broken, and koloss held hi him

"Straff is dead," Vin said "You control this army now"

The nobleman bowed his head "No, I don't You do"

Vin nodded "On your knees," she said

The koloss dropped Janarle He grunted in pain, but then bowed forward "I swear my army to you," he whispered

"No," Vin said sharply "Not to htful heir of House Venture He is your lord now"

Janarle paused "Very well," he said "Whatever you wish I swear loyalty to Straff's son, Elend Venture"

The separate groups stood in the cold Sazed turned as Vin did, looking at Penrod Vin pointed at the ground Penrod quietly disround

"I swear as well," he said "I give my loyalty to Elend Venture"

Vin turned to Lord Cett

"You expect this of me?" the bearded man said, amused

"Yes," Vin said quietly

"And if I refuse?" Cett asked

"Then I'll kill you," Vin said quietly "You brought armies to attack hter your soldiers, make them pay for what you did, but I will kill you, Cett"

Silence Sazed turned, looking back at the lines of i in the bloodied snow

"That is a threat, you know," Cett said "Your own Elend would never stand for such a thing"

"He's not here," Vin said

"And what do you think he'd say?" Cett asked "He'd tell ive in to such a deive in simply because someone threatened his life"

"You're not the man that Elend is," Vin said "And you know it"

Cett paused, then smiled "No No, I'm not" He turned to his aides "Help uards undid Cett's legs, then lifted hiround He bowed "Very well, then I swear doator who now controls it"

Vin nodded, turning to Sazed "I need your help, Sazed"

"Whatever you command, Mistress," Sazed said quietly

Vin paused "Please don't call me that"

"As you wish," Sazed said

"You're the only one here I trust, Sazed," Vin said, ignoring the three kneeling men "With Ham wounded and Breeze"

"I will dohis head "What is it you want me to do?"

"Secure Luthadel," Vin said "Make certain the people are sheltered, and send for supplies from Straff's storehouses Get these armies so that they won't kill each other, the send a squad to fetch Elend He'll be cohway"

Sazed nodded, and Vin turned to the three kneeling kings "Sazed is my second You will obey him as you would Elend or myself"

They each nodded in turn

"But, where will you be?" Penrod asked, looking up

Vin sighed, suddenly looking terribly weak "Sleeping," she said, and dropped her sword Then she Pushed against it, shooting backward into the sky, toward Luthadel

He left ruin in his wake, but it was forgotten, Sazed thought, turning to watch her fly He created kingdoms, and then destroyed them as he made the world anew