The Final Empire m-1

by Brandon Sanderson

  Vin eventually traced her pouch by steel-line to the upper branches of a tree. She Pulled it slightly, tugging it down into her hand, then made her way back out to the street. Kelsier probably would have left the pouch behind – the two dozen or so clips it contained wouldn’t have been worth his time. However, for most of her life Vin had scrounged and starved. She just couldn’t force herself to be wasteful. Even tossing coins to jump with made her uncomfortable.

  So, she used her coins sparingly as she traveled back toward Renoux’s mansion, instead Pushing and Pulling off of buildings and discarded bits of metal. The half-jumping, half-running gait of a Mistborn came naturally to her now, and she didn’t have to think much about her movements.

  How would she fare, trying to pretend to be a noblewoman? She couldn’t hide her apprehensions, not from herself. Camon had been good at imitating noblemen because of his self-confidence, and that was one attribute Vin knew she didn’t have. Her success with Allomancy only proved that her place was in corners and shadows, not striding around in pretty dresses at courtly balls.

  Kelsier, however, refused to let her back out. Vin landed in a crouch just outside Mansion Renoux, puffing slightly from exertion. She regarded the lights with a slight feeling of apprehension.

  You’ve got to learn to do this, Vin, Kelsier kept telling her. You’re a talented Allomancer, but you’ll need more than Steelpushes to succeed against the nobility. Until you can move in their society as easily as you do in the mists, you’ll be at a disadvantage.

  Letting out a quiet sigh, Vin rose from her crouch, then took off her mistcloak and stuffed it away for later retrieval. Then she walked up the steps and into the building. When she asked after Sazed, the mansion servants directed her to the kitchens, so she made her way into the closed-off, hidden section of the mansion that was the servants’ quarters.

  Even these parts of the building were kept immaculately clean. Vin was beginning to understand why Renoux made such a convincing impostor: He didn’t allow for imperfection. If he maintained his impersonation half as well as he maintained order in his mansion, then Vin doubted anyone would ever discover the ruse.

  But, she thought, he must have some flaw. Back in the meeting two months ago, Kelsier said that Renoux wouldn’t be able to withstand scrutiny by an Inquisitor. Perhaps they’d be able to sense something about his emotions, something that gives him away?

  It was a small item, but Vin had not forgotten it. Despite Kelsier’s words about honesty and trust, he still had his secrets. Everyone did.

  Sazed was, indeed, to be found in the kitchens. He stood with a middle-aged servant. She was tall for a skaa woman – though standing next to Sazed made her look diminutive. Vin recognized her as a member of the mansion staff; Cosahn was her name. Vin had made an effort to memorize all of the names of the local staff, if only to keep tabs on them.

  Sazed looked over as Vin entered. “Ah, Mistress Vin. Your return is quite timely.” He gestured to his companion. “This is Cosahn.”

  Cosahn studied Vin with a businesslike air. Vin longed to return to the mists, where people couldn’t look at her like that.

  “It is long enough now, I think,” Sazed said.

  “Probably,” Cosahn said. “But I cannot perform miracles, Master Vaht.”

  Sazed nodded. “Vaht” was, apparently, the proper title for a Terrisman steward. Not quite skaa, but definitely not noblemen, the Terrismen held a very strange place in imperial society.

  Vin studied the two of them suspiciously.

  “Your hair, Mistress,” Sazed said with a calm tone. “Cosahn is going to cut it for you.”

  “Oh,” Vin said, reaching up. Her hair was getting a bit long for her taste – though somehow she doubted that Sazed was going to let her have it cropped boyishly short.

  Cosahn waved to a chair, and Vin reluctantly seated herself. She found it unnerving to sit docilely while someone worked with shears so close to her head, but there was no getting around it.

  After a few moments of running her hands through Vin’s hair, “tisk”ing quietly, Cosahn began to snip. “Such beautiful hair,” she said, almost as if to herself, “thick, with a nice deep black color. It’s a shame to see it cared for so poorly, Master Vaht. Many courtly women would die for hair like this – it has just enough body to lie full, but is straight enough to work with easily.”

  Sazed smiled. “We’ll have to see that it receives better care in the future,” he said.

  Cosahn continued her work, nodding to herself. Eventually, Sazed walked over and took a seat just a few feet in front of Vin.

  “Kelsier hasn’t returned yet, I assume?” Vin asked.

  Sazed shook his head, and Vin sighed. Kelsier didn’t think she was practiced enough go with him on his nightly raids, many of which he went on directly following his training sessions with Vin. During the last two months, Kelsier had put in appearances on the properties of a dozen different noble houses, both in Luthadel and in Fellise. He varied his disguises and apparent motives, trying to create an air of confusion among the Great Houses.

  “What?” Vin asked, eyeing Sazed, who was regarding her with a curious look.

  The Terrisman nodded his head slightly with respect. “I was wondering if you might be willing to listen to another proposal.”

  Vin sighed, rolling her eyes. “Fine.” It isn’t like I can do anything else but sit here.

  “I think I have the perfect religion for you,” Sazed said, his normally stoic face revealing a glimmer of eagerness. “It is called ‘Trelagism,’ after the god Trell. Trell was worshipped by a group known as the Nelazan, a people who lived far to the north. In their land, the day and night cycle was very odd. During some months of the year, it was dark for most of the day. During the summer, however, it only grew dark for a few hours at a time.

  “The Nelazan believed that there was beauty in darkness, and that the daylight was more profane. They saw the stars as the Thousand Eyes of Trell watching them. The sun was the single, jealous eye of Trell’s brother, Nalt. Since Nalt only had one eye, he made it blaze brightly to outshine his brother. The Nelazan, however, were not impressed, and preferred to worship the quiet Trell, who watched over them even when Nalt obscured the sky.”

  Sazed fell silent. Vin wasn’t sure how to respond, so she didn’t say anything.

  “It really is a good religion, Mistress Vin,” Sazed said. “Very gentle, yet very powerful. The Nelazan were not an advanced people, but they were quite determined. They mapped the entire night sky, counting and placing every major star. Their ways suit you – especially their preference of the night. I can tell you more, if you wish.”

  Vin shook her head. “That’s all right, Sazed.”

  “Not a good fit, then?” Sazed said, frowning slightly. “Ah, well. I shall have to consider it some more. Thank you, Mistress – you are very patient with me, I think.”

  “Consider it some more?” Vin asked. “That’s the fifth religion you’ve tried to convert me to, Saze. How many more can there be?”

  “Five hundred and sixty two,” Sazed said. “Or, at least, that is the number of belief systems I know. There are, likely and unfortunately, others that have passed from this world without leaving traces for my people to collect.”

  Vin paused. “And you have all of these religions memorized?”

  “As much as is possible,” Sazed said. “Their prayers, their beliefs, their mythologies. Many are very similar – breakoffs or sects of one another.”

  “Even still, how can you remember all of that?”

  “I have… methods,” Sazed said.

  “But, what’s the point?”

  Sazed frowned. “The answer should be obvious, I think. People are valuable, Mistress Vin, and so – therefore – are their beliefs. Since the Ascension a thousand years ago, so many beliefs have disappeared. The Steel Ministry forbids the worship of anyone but the Lord Ruler, and the Inquisitors have quite diligently destroyed hundreds of religions. If someone doesn’t r
emember them, then they will simply disappear.”

  “You mean,” Vin said incredulously, “you’re trying to get me to believe in religions that have been dead for a thousand years?”

  Sazed nodded.

  Is everyone involved with Kelsier insane?

  “The Final Empire cannot last forever,” Sazed said quietly. “I do not know if Master Kelsier will be the one who finally brings its end, but that end will come. And when it does – when the Steel Ministry no longer holds sway – men will wish to return to the beliefs of their fathers. On that day they will look to the Keepers, and on that day we shall return to mankind his forgotten truths.”

  “Keepers?” Vin asked as Cosahn moved around to begin snipping at her bangs. “There are more like you?”

  “Not many,” Sazed said. “But some. Enough to pass the truths on to the next generation.”

  Vin sat thoughtfully, resisting the urge to squirm beneath Cosahn’s ministrations. The woman certainly was taking her time – when Reen had cut Vin’s hair, he had been finished after just a few quick hacks.

  “Shall we go over your lessons while we wait, Mistress Vin?” Sazed asked.

  Vin eyed the Terrisman, and he smiled just slightly. He knew that he had her captive; she couldn’t hide, or even sit at the window, staring out into the mists. All she could do was sit and listen. “Fine.”

  “Can you name all ten Great Houses of Luthadel in order of power?”

  “Venture, Hasting, Elariel, Tekiel, Lekal, Erikeller, Erikell, Haught, Urbain, and Buvidas.”

  “Good,” Sazed said. “And you are?”

  “I am the Lady Valette Renoux, fourth cousin to Lord Teven Renoux, who owns this mansion. My parents – Lord Hadren and Lady Fellette Renoux – live in Chakath, a city in the Western Dominance. Major export, wool. My family works in trading dyes, specifically blushdip red, from the snails that are common there, and callowfield yellow, made from tree bark. As part of a trade agreement with their distant cousin, my parents sent me down here to Luthadel, so I can spend some time at court.”

  Sazed nodded. “And how do you feel about this opportunity?”

  “I am amazed and a little overwhelmed,” Vin said. “People will pay attention to me because they wish to curry favor with Lord Renoux. Since I’m not familiar with the ways of court, I will be flattered by their attention. I will ingratiate myself to the court community, but I will stay quiet and out of trouble.”

  “Your memorization skills are admirable, Mistress,” Sazed said. “This humble attendant wonders how much more successful might you be if you dedicated yourself to learning, rather than dedicating yourself to avoiding our lessons.”

  Vin eyed him. “Do all Terrisman ‘humble attendants’ give their masters as much lip as you do?”

  “Only the successful ones.”

  Vin eyed him for a moment, then sighed. “I’m sorry, Saze. I don’t mean to avoid your lessons. I just… the mists… I get distracted sometimes.”

  “Well, fortunately and honestly, you are very quick to learn. However, the people of the court have had their entire lives to study etiquette. Even as a rural noblewoman, there are certain things you would know.”

  “I know,” Vin said. “I don’t want to stand out.”

  “Oh, you can’t avoid that, Mistress. A newcomer, from a distant part of the empire? Yes, they will notice you. We just don’t want to make them suspicious. You must be considered, then dismissed. If you act too much like a fool, that will be suspect in and of itself.”

  Great.

  Sazed paused, cocking his head slightly. A few seconds later, Vin heard footsteps in the hallway outside. Kelsier sauntered into the room, bearing a self-satisfied smile. He pulled off his mistcloak, then paused as he saw Vin.

  “What?” she asked, sinking a little further into the chair.

  “The haircut looks good,” Kelsier said. “Nice job, Cosahn.”

  “It was nothing, Master Kelsier.” Vin could hear the blush in her voice. “I just work with what I have.”

  “Mirror,” Vin said, holding out her hand.

  Cosahn handed her one. Vin held it up, and what she saw gave her pause. She looked… like a girl.

  Cosahn had done a remarkable job of evening out the hair, and she had managed to get rid of the snags. Vin had always found that if her hair got too long, it had a tendency to stand up. Cosahn had done something about this too. Vin’s hair still wasn’t very long – it barely hung down over her ears – but at least it lay flat.

  You don’t want them to think of you as a girl, Reen’s voice warned. Yet, for once, she found herself wanting to ignore that voice.

  “We might actually turn you into a lady, Vin!” Kelsier said with a laugh, earning him a glare from Vin.

  “First we’ll have to persuade her not to scowl so often, Master Kelsier,” Sazed noted.

  “That’s going to be hard,” Kelsier said. “She’s quite fond of making faces. Anyway, well done, Cosahn.”

  “I’ve still got a little bit of trimming to do, Master Kelsier,” the woman said.

  “By all means, continue,” Kelsier said. “But I’m going to filch Sazed for a moment.”

  Kelsier winked at Vin, smiled at Cosahn, then he and Sazed retreated from the room – once again leaving Vin where she couldn’t eavesdrop.

  Kelsier peeked into the kitchen, watching Vin sit sullenly in her chair. The haircut really was good. However, his compliments had an ulterior motive – he suspected that Vin had spent far too much of her life being told that she was worthless. Perhaps if she had a bit more self-confidence, she wouldn’t try to hide so much.

  He let the door slide shut, turning to Sazed. The Terrisman waited, as always, with restful patience.

  “How is the training going?” Kelsier asked.

  “Very well, Master Kelsier,” Sazed said. “She already knew some things from training she received at her brother’s hands. Above that, however, she is an extremely intelligent girl – perceptive and quick to memorize. I didn’t expect such skill from one who grew up in her circumstances.”

  “A lot of the street children are clever,” Kelsier said. “The ones who aren’t dead.”

  Sazed nodded solemnly. “She is extremely reserved, and I sense that she doesn’t see the full value in my lessons. She is very obedient, but is quick to exploit mistakes or misunderstandings. If I don’t tell her exactly when and where to meet, I often have to search the entire mansion for her.”

  Kelsier nodded. “I think it’s her way of maintaining a bit of control in her life. Anyway, what I really wanted to know is whether she’s ready or not.”

  “I’m not sure, Master Kelsier,” Sazed replied. “Pure knowledge is not the equivalent of skill. I’m not certain if she has the… poise to imitate a noblewoman, even a young and inexperienced one. We’ve done practice dinners, gone over conversational etiquette, and memorized gossip. She seems skilled at it all, in a controlled situation. She’s even done well sitting in on tea meetings when Renoux entertains noble guests. However, we won’t really be able to tell if she can do this until we put her alone in a party full of aristocrats.”

  “I wish she could practice some more,” Kelsier said with a shake of his head. “But every week we spend preparing increases the chances that the Ministry will discover our budding army in the caves.”

  “It is a test of balance, then,” Sazed said. “We must wait long enough to gather the men we need, yet move soon enough to avoid discovery.”

  Kelsier nodded. “We can’t pause for one crewmember – we’ll have to find someone else to be our mole if Vin does badly. Poor girl – I wish I had time to train her better in Allomancy. We’ve barely covered the first four metals. I just don’t have enough time!”

  “If I might make a suggestion…”

  “Of course, Saze.”

  “Send the child with some of the Misting crewmembers,” Sazed said. “I hear that the man Breeze is a very accomplished Soother, and surely the others are equally skilled. L
et them show Mistress Vin how to use her abilities.”

  Kelsier paused thoughtfully. “That’s a good idea, Saze.”

  “But?”

  Kelsier glanced back toward the door, beyond which Vin was still petulantly getting her haircut. “I’m not sure. Today, when we were training, we got into a Steelpush shoving match. The kid has to weigh less than half what I do, but she gave me a decent pummeling anyway.”

  “Different people have different strengths in Allomancy,” Sazed said.

  “Yes, but the variance isn’t usually this great,” Kelsier said. “Plus, it took me months and months to learn how to manipulate my Pushes and Pulls. It’s not as easy as it sounds – even something as simple as Pushing yourself up onto a rooftop requires an understanding of weight, balance, and trajectory.

  “But Vin… she seems to know all these things instinctively. True, she can only use the first four metals with any skill, but the progress she’s made is amazing.”

  “She is a special girl.”

  Kelsier nodded. “She deserves more time to learn about her powers. I feel a little guilty about pulling her into our plans. She’ll probably end up at a Ministry execution ceremony with the rest of us.”

  “But that guilt won’t stop you from using her to spy on the aristocracy.”

  Kelsier shook his head. “No,” he said quietly. “It won’t. We’ll need every advantage we can get. Just… watch over her, Saze. From now on, you’ll act as Vin’s steward and guardian at the functions she attends – it won’t be odd for her to bring a Terrisman servant with her.”

  “Not at all,” Sazed agreed. “In fact, it would be strange to send a girl her age to courtly functions without an escort.”

  Kelsier nodded. “Protect her, Saze. She might be a powerful Allomancer, but she’s inexperienced. I’ll feel a lot less guilty about sending her into those aristocratic dens if I know you’re with her.”

  “I will protect her with my life, Master Kelsier. I promise you this.”