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"Very well," Elend said "I'll have Vin do it tonight--and I'll have her leave ae've done"

"What good will that do?" Cett asked, frowning

"I don't want to kill the people, Cett," Elend said, "I want to worry theo to Yo dee cache pretty quickly"

Cett grunted He seeestion "And the surrounding villages?"

"Feel free to bully theanize a force of ten thousand, and send them out to harass--but not kill I want Yomen's spies in the area to send hi"

"You're trying to play this halfway, lad," Cett said "Eventually, you'll have to choose If Yomen doesn't surrender, you'll have to attack"

Elend reined in his horse outside the command tent "I know," he said softly

Cett snorted, but he fell silent as servants came out of the tent to unstrap hian to tre torattled tents, knocking poles free and collapsing a couple of the of round Eventually, the ru on Cett The h one of his useless legs swung free from the saddle, and he looked as if he was about to fall off His servants rushed to his side to help

"Da more and more frequent," Cett said

Elend cal in thewith the after more frequent; the last one had only been a feeeks before Earthquakes weren't supposed to be co his youth, he'd never heard of one happening in the inner do fro the beast off to an aide, then followed Cett into the command tent The servants sat Cett in a chair, then retreated, leaving the two of the troubled "Did that fool Ham tell you about the news frohing "Yes" Not a peep had come from the capital city, let alone the supplies Elend had ordered brought down the canal

"We don't have that much time, Elend," Cett said quietly "A few h to weaken Yoet so thirsty that they begin to look forward to invasion But, if we don't get resupplied, there's no e'll be able to lanced at the older ant expression, looking back at Elend,his eyes So --Cett had lost the use of his legs to disease long ago, and he couldn't intimidate people physically So, he had to find other ways to

Cett kne to hit where it hurt He could pick at the very faults that bothered people and exploit their virtues in ways that Elend had rarely seen even acco up a heart that Elend suspected was far softer than Cett would ever ade this day As if worried about so he'd been forced to leave behind, perhaps?

"She'll be all right, Cett," Elend said "Nothing will happen to Allrianne while she's with Sazed and Breeze"

Cett snorted, waving an indifferent hand--though he did look away "I'irl around Let that Soother have her, I say! Anye're not talking about e!"

"Your points have been noted, Cett," Elend said "We will attack if I deem it necessary" As he spoke, the tent flaps parted, and Haure Elend hadn't seen in several weeks--at least not out of bed

"Deeneral "You're up and about!"

"Barely, Your Majesty," Demoux said He did still look pale "However, I have recovered enough strength to move around a bit"

"The others?" Elend asked

Ha the last batch A few th"

Minus those who died, Elend thought

Cett eyed Deo A bit weaker in the constitution than one , at least"

Demoux blushed

Elend frowned at this "What?"

"It is nothing, Your Majesty," De' in ?"

Ha histhrough the camp, El"

"Soldiers," Cett said "They're all the same--superstitious as housewives"

Haotten it into their heads that thepunished"