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He didn't worry about the morality of his decision to expose his forces to the mists--at least, he didn't worry about it at thatvery important about himself: He was honest Perhaps too honest If he was uncertain, it would show in his face The soldiers would sense his hesitation So he'd learned to confine his worries and concerns to times when he was only with those closest to hi However, it left him free at other times to project confidence

Hehis horse's hooves beat a thunder for the men to hear Occasionally, he heard captains call out for their men to be firm Even so, Elend saw the anxiety in his soldiers' eyes And could he blame them? This day, the ht, and could not resist Within the hour, seven hundred of therand scale--but thatthe round Elend was proud of theiven those ished it the opportunity to return to Luthadel instead of facing the mists He still needed troops in the capital, and he'd rather not o into the one The vastto be ordered, wearing full battle gear, ar as clean as possible in the ash-stained wilderness It seeht to Elend for theoing to battle--and, i1n a way, they were

They trusted hi toward Luthadel, and understood the ie caverns They believed in Elend's ability to do so to save their families

Their trustthe massive beast beside a rank of soldiers He flared pewter, s, then Rioted the e!" he shouted

Heads turned toward hi of armor hushed His own voice was so loud in his ears that he had to dampen his tin "These mists will strike down some of us However, most of us will be untouched--and most who fall will recover! Then, none of us need fear theinoculated ourselves! If we did so, ould risk being attacked in thein our tents Our enemies would force us out into the ht with a sixth of our round fro behind, andthe ranks "I do not knohy the mists kill But I trust in the Survivor! He named himself Lord of the Mists If so!"

His reminders seehter, facing west, tohere the sun would soon set Elend reined in again, sitting tall and letting hi,his horse up beside Elend's "It was a good speech"

Elend nodded

"My lord" Demoux said, "did you mean what you said about the Survivor?"

"Of course I did"

"I'm sorry, my lord," Demoux said "I didn't mean to question your faith, it's just thatwell, you don't have to keep up the charade of belief, if you don't want to"

"I gaveat the scarred general "I do what I say"

"I believe you, my lord," Demoux said "You are an honorable man"

"But?"

Demoux paused "Butif you don't really believe in the Survivor, I don't think he would want you speaking in his name"

Elend opened his mouth to reprimand Demoux for his lack of respect, but stopped himself The man spoke with honesty, fro to punish

Besides, he ht have had a point "I don't knohat I believe, De back at the field of soldiers "Certainly not in the Lord Ruler Sazed's religions have been dead for centuries, and even he has stopped talking about them It seems to me that leaves the Church of the Survivor as the only real option"

"With all due respect,profession of faith"

"I' trouble with faith lately, De flakes of ash drift through the air "My last god was killed by the woure, but who spurns your devotion"

Deod, De faith in Kelsier is better than the alternatives And, considering what's going to be co at us in the next few --is out there helping us"

They were quiet for a few moments

"I know that the Lady Heir objects to our worship of the Survivor, my lord," Demoux finally said "She knew him, as did I What she doesn't understand is that the Survivor has become so much more than just the man Kelsier"

Elend frowned "That sounds like you calculatedly od, Demoux--that you believe in him as a sy that Kelsier was a --aeternal and immortal When he died, he wasn't just Kelsier, the crewleader Don't you think it odd that he was never Mistborn before he went to the Pits?"

"That's the way Alloain your powers until you Snap--until you face so that nearly kills you"