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Elend had been to the city before His father had made certain to introduce him in all of the Final Empire's main cultural centers Fadrex hadn't been one of those, but it had been on the way to Tre his new kingdo his capital in Fadrex A clever move, in Elend's estimation--Fadrex was smaller, more defensible, and had been a major supply station for numerous canal routes
"The city looks different from the last time I was here," Elend said
"Trees," Harowing on the rocky shelves and plateaus" Halanced at him "They're ready for us They cut down the trees to provide a better killing field and to keep us fro up close"
Elend nodded "Look down there"
Hah it obviously took him a moment to pick out what Elend's tin-enhanced eyes had noticed On the northern side of the city--the one closest to the main canal route--the rock terraces and shelves fell down into a natural canyon Perhaps twenty feet across, it was the only way into the city, and the defenders had cut several troughs into the floor They were bridged at the h that narrow entryith pits in front of the ar froate at the end
"Not bad," Halad they decided not to drain the canal on us"
As they'dthe convoy to pass through several massive lock mechanis hours of effort to get the
"They rely on it too e, they'll need to ship in supplies Assu any can be had"
Ha back up the dark canal behind them "El," he said "I don't think thatthis canal The boats barely o hoo hoed Despite the colder western weather, he still wore only a vest Now that Elend was an Allo pewter, Elend barely felt the chill, though several of the soldiers had cos
"I don't know, El," Ham finally said "It just see behind us as we travel Kind of like fate is trying to strand us here"
"Ha seeed
"Organize our forces," Elend said, pointing "Dock us in that inlet over there, and set up ca backward, however Toward Luthadel, which they had left behind
They don't fear the h the darkness at the rocky formations that marked the entrance into Fadrex City Bonfires blazed up there, lighting the night Often, such lights were futile--signifying man's fear of the mists These fires were different, so; a bold declaration of confidence They burned brightly, high, as if floating in the sky
Elend turned, walking into his illuroup of people sat waiting for hi froht Spook and Breeze in the North, Penrod back at Luthadel, Felt watching the storage cache in the East
"All right," Elend said, letting the tent flaps close behind him "Looks like they're holed up in there pretty well"
"Initial scout reports are in, El," Ha about twenty-five thousand defenders"
"Not as many as I expected," Elend said
"That bastard Yodom," Cett said "If he pulled all of his troops into the capital, the other cities would overthrow hi amused "You think they'd rebel and switch back to your side?"
"No," Cett said, "they'd rebel and try to take over the kingdom themselves! That's the way this works Now that the Lord Ruler is gone, every little lord or petty obligator with half a taste of power thinks he can run a kingdom Hell, I tried it--so did you"
"We were successful," Ham pointed out
"And so was Lord Yodom since Cett marched on Luthadel"
"He all but forced ainsthie, but we both knew the truth He's a clever one--clever enough to know he can hold that city against a larger force, letting hido out of supplies"
"Unfortunately, Cett's probably right," Ham said "Our initial reports placed Yohty thousanddistance of our cauards and triple scout patrols," Elend said, "particularly during the earlyhours, when the dayht"
Hahtfully, "order thethe mists--but tell them to be ready fo1r a raid If Yomen thinks that we're afraid to coainst us"
"Clever," Haet us past those natural walls, though," Elend said, folding his arms "Cett, what do you say?"
"Hold the canal," Cett said "Post sentries up around those upper rock formations to make certain that Yomen doesn't resupply the city via secret means Then, move on"
"What?" Ha to decide what thecities? Leave a force here that's large enough to stye-break, then capture other parts of his territory?"