Elend nodded.
“You sure she’s safe?” Clubs asked.
“Yes,” Elend said. “Her story checks out—Vin brought in several of the Terris people from the city, and they knew and recognized Tindwyl. She’s apparently a fairly important person back in her homeland.”
Plus, she had performed Feruchemy for him, growing stronger to free her hands. That meant she wasn’t a kandra. All of it together meant that she was trustworthy enough; even Vin admitted that, even if she continued to dislike the Terriswoman.
Clubs nodded to him, and Elend took a deep breath. Then he walked down the stairs to meet Tindwyl for another round of lessons.
“Today, we will do something about your clothing,” Tindwyl said, closing the door to Elend’s study. A plump seamstress with bowl-cut white hair waited inside, standing respectfully with a group of youthful assistants.
Elend glanced down at his clothing. It actually wasn’t bad. The suit coat and vest fit fairly well. The trousers weren’t as stiff as those favored by imperial nobility, but he was the king now; shouldn’t he be able to set the trends?
“I don’t see what’s wrong with it,” he said. He held up a hand as Tindwyl began to speak. “I know it’s not quite as formal as what other men like to wear, but it suits me.”
“It’s disgraceful,” Tindwyl said.
“Now, I hardly see—”
“Don’t argue with me.”
“But, see, the other day you said that—”
“Kings don’t argue, Elend Venture,” Tindwyl said firmly. “They command. And, part of your ability to command comes from your bearing. Slovenly clothing invites other slovenly habits—such as your posture, which I’ve already mentioned, I believe.”
Elend sighed, rolling his eyes as Tindwyl snapped her fingers. The seamstress and her assistants started unpacking a pair of large trunks.
“This isn’t necessary,” Elend said. “I already have some suits that fit more snugly; I wear them on formal occasions.”
“You’re not going to wear suits anymore,” Tindwyl said.
“Excuse me?”
Tindwyl eyed him with a commanding stare, and Elend sighed.
“Explain yourself!” he said, trying to sound commanding.
Tindwyl nodded. “You have maintained the dress code preferred by the nobility sanctioned by the Final Emperor. In some respects, this was a good idea—it gave you a connection to the former government, and made you seem less of a deviant. Now, however, you are in a different position. Your people are in danger, and the time for simple diplomacy is over. You are at war. Your dress should reflect that.”
The seamstress selected a particular costume, then brought it over to Elend while the assistants set up a changing screen.
Elend hesitantly accepted the costume. It was stiff and white, and the front of the jacket appeared to button all the way up to a rigid collar. All and all, it looked like…
“A uniform,” he said, frowning.
“Indeed,” Tindwyl said. “You want your people to believe that you can protect them? Well, a king isn’t simply a lawmaker—he’s a general. It is time you began to act like you deserve your title, Elend Venture.”
“I’m no warrior,” Elend said. “This uniform is a lie.”
“The first point we will soon change,” Tindwyl said. “The second is not true. You command the armies of the Central Dominance. That makes you a military man whether or not you know how to swing a sword. Now, go change.”
Elend acceded with a shrug. He walked around the changing screen, pushed aside a stack of books to make room, then began to change. The white trousers fit snugly and fell straight around the calves. While there was a shirt, it was completely obscured by the large, stiff jacket—which had military shoulder fittings. It had an array of buttons—all of which, he noticed, were wood instead of metal—as well as a strange shieldlike design over the right breast. It seemed to have some sort of arrow, or perhaps spear, emblazoned in it.
Stiffness, cut, and design considered, Elend was surprised how well the uniform fit. “It’s sized quite well,” he noted, putting on the belt, then pulling down the bottom of the jacket, which came all the way to his hips.
“We got your measurements from your tailor,” Tindwyl said.
Elend stepped around the changing screen, and several assistants approached. One politely motioned for him to step into a pair of shiny black boots, and the other attached a white cape to fastenings at his shoulders. The final assistant handed him a polished hardwood dueling cane and sheath. Elend hooked it onto the belt, then pulled it through a slit in the jacket so it hung outside; that much, at least, he had done before.
“Good,” Tindwyl said, looking him up and down. “Once you learn to stand up straight, that will be a decent improvement. Now, sit.”
Elend opened his mouth to object, but thought better of it. He sat down, and an assistant approached to attach a sheet around his shoulders. She then pulled out a pair of shears.
“Now, wait,” Elend said. “I see where this is going.”
“Then voice an objection,” Tindwyl said. “Don’t be vague!”
“All right, then,” Elend said. “I like my hair.”
“Short hair is easier to care for than long hair,” Tindwyl said. “And you have proven that you cannot be trusted in the area of personal grooming.”
“You aren’t cutting my hair,” Elend said firmly.
Tindwyl paused, then nodded. The apprentice backed away, and Elend stood, pulling off the sheet. The seamstress produced a large mirror, and Elend walked forward to inspect himself.
And froze.
The difference was surprising. All his life, he’d seen himself as a scholar and socialite, but also as just a bit of a fool. He was Elend—the friendly, comfortable man with the funny ideas. Easy to dismiss, perhaps, but difficult to hate.
The man he saw now was no dandy of the court. He was a serious man—a formal man. A man to be taken seriously. The uniform made him want to stand up straighter, to rest one hand on the dueling cane. His hair—slightly curled, long on the top and sides, and blown loose by the wind atop the city wall—didn’t fit.
Elend turned. “All right,” he said. “Cut it.”
Tindwyl smiled, then nodded for him to sit. He did so, waiting quietly while the assistant worked. When he stood again, his head matched the suit. It wasn’t extremely short, not like Ham’s hair, but it was neat and precise. One of the assistants approached and handed him a loop of silver-painted wood. He turned to Tindwyl, frowning.
“A crown?” he asked.
“Nothing ostentatious,” Tindwyl said. “This is a more subtle era than some of those gone by. The crown isn’t a symbol of your wealth, but of your authority. You will wear it from now on, whether you are in private or in public.”
“The Lord Ruler didn’t wear a crown.”
“The Lord Ruler didn’t need to remind people that he was in charge,” Tindwyl said.
Elend paused, then slipped on the crown. It bore no gemstones or ornamentation; it was just a simple coronet. As he might have expected, it fit perfectly.
He turned back toward Tindwyl, who waved for the seamstress to pack up and leave. “You have six uniforms like this one waiting for you in your rooms,” Tindwyl said. “Until this siege is over, you will wear nothing else. If you want variety, change the color of the cape.”
Elend nodded. Behind him, the seamstress and her assistants slipped out the door. “Thank you,” he told Tindwyl. “I was hesitant at first, but you are right. This makes a difference.”
“Enough of one to deceive people for now, at least,” Tindwyl said.
“Deceive people?”
“Of course. You didn’t think that this was it, did you?”
“Well…”
Tindwyl raised an eyebrow. “A few lessons, and you think you’re through? We’ve barely begun. You are still a fool, Elend Venture—you just don’t look like one anymore. Hopefully, our charade will begin r
eversing some of the damage you’ve done to your reputation. However, it is going to take a lot more training before I’ll actually trust you to interact with people and not embarrass yourself.”
Elend flushed. “What do you—” He paused. “Tell me what you plan to teach me, then.”
“Well, you need to learn how to walk, for one thing.”
“Something’s wrong with the way I walk?”
“By the forgotten gods, yes!” Tindwyl said, sounding amused, though no smile marred her lips. “And your speech patterns still need work. Beyond that, of course, there is your inability to handle weapons.”
“I’ve had some training,” Elend said. “Ask Vin—I rescued her from the Lord Ruler’s palace the night of the Collapse!”
“I know,” Tindwyl said. “And, from what I’ve heard, it was a miracle you survived. Fortunately, the girl was there to do the actual fighting. You apparently rely on her quite a bit for that sort of thing.”
“She’s Mistborn.”
“That is no excuse for your slovenly lack of skill,” Tindwyl said. “You cannot always rely on your woman to protect you. Not only is it embarrassing, but your people—your soldiers—will expect you to be able to fight with them. I doubt you will ever be the type of leader who can lead a charge against the enemy, but you should at least be able to handle yourself if your position gets attacked.”
“So, you want me to begin sparring with Vin and Ham during their training sessions?”
“Goodness, no! Can’t you imagine how terrible it would be for morale if the men saw you being beaten up in public?” Tindwyl shook her head. “No, we’ll have you trained discreetly by a dueling master. Given a few months, we should have you competent with the cane and the sword. Hopefully, this little siege of yours will last that long before the fighting starts.”
Elend flushed again. “You keep talking down to me. It’s like I’m not even king in your eyes—like you see me as some kind of placeholder.”
Tindwyl didn’t answer, but her eyes glinted with satisfaction. You said it, not I, her expression seemed to say.
Elend flushed more deeply.
“You can, perhaps, learn to be a king, Elend Venture,” Tindwyl said. “Until then, you’ll just have to learn to fake it.”
Elend’s angry response was cut off by a knock at the door. Elend gritted his teeth, turning. “Come in.”
The door swung open. “There’s news,” Captain Demoux said, his youthful face excited as he entered. “I—” He froze.
Elend cocked his head. “Yes?”
“I…uh…” Demoux paused, looked Elend over again before continuing. “Ham sent me, Your Majesty. He says that a messenger from one of the kings has arrived.”
“Really?” Elend said. “From Lord Cett?”
“No, Your Majesty. The messenger is from your father.”
Elend frowned. “Well, tell Ham I’ll be there in a moment.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Demoux said, retreating. “Uh, I like the new uniform, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Demoux,” Elend said. “Do you, by chance, know where Lady Vin is? I haven’t seen her all day.”
“I think she’s in her quarters, Your Majesty.”
Her quarters? She never stays there. Is she sick?
“Do you want me to summon her?” Demoux asked.
“No, thank you,” Elend said. “I’ll get her. Tell Ham to make the messenger comfortable.”
Demoux nodded, then withdrew.
Elend turned to Tindwyl, who was smiling to herself with a look of satisfaction. Elend brushed by her, walking over to grab his notebook. “I’m going to learn to do more than just ‘fake’ being king, Tindwyl.”
“We’ll see.”
Elend shot a glance at the middle-aged Terriswoman in her robes and jewelry.
“Practice expressions like that one,” Tindwyl noted, “and you just might do it.”
“Is that all it is, then?” Elend asked. “Expressions and costumes? Is that what makes a king?”
“Of course not.”
Elend stopped by the door, turning back. “Then, what does? What do you think makes a man a good king, Tindwyl of Terris?”
“Trust,” Tindwyl said, looking him in the eyes. “A good king is one who is trusted by his people—and one who deserves that trust.”
Elend paused, then nodded. Good answer, he acknowledged, then pulled open the door and rushed out to find Vin.
17
If only the Terris religion, and belief in the Anticipation, hadn’t spread beyond our people.
The piles of paper seemed to multiply as Vin found more and more ideas in the logbook that she wanted to isolate and remember. What were the prophecies about the Hero of Ages? How did the logbook author know where to go, and what did he think he’d have to do when he got there?
Eventually, lying amid the mess—overlapping piles turned in odd directions to keep them separate—Vin acknowledged a distasteful fact. She was going to have to take notes.
With a sigh, she rose and crossed the room, stepping carefully over several stacks and approaching the room’s desk. She’d never used it before; in fact, she’d complained about it to Elend. What need did she have of a writing desk?
So she’d thought. She selected a pen, then pulled out a little jar of ink, remembering the days when Reen had taught her to write. He’d quickly grown frustrated with her scratchings, complaining about the cost of ink and paper. He’d taught her to read so that she could decipher contracts and imitate a noblewoman, but he’d thought that writing was less useful. In general, Vin shared this opinion.
Apparently, however, writing had uses even if one wasn’t a scribe. Elend was always scribbling notes and memos to himself; she’d often been impressed by how quickly he could write. How did he make the letters come so easily?
She grabbed a couple of blank sheets of paper and walked back over to her sorted piles. She sat down with crossed legs and unscrewed the top of the ink bottle.
“Mistress,” OreSeur noted, still lying with his paws before him, “you do realize that you just left the writing desk behind to sit on the floor.”
Vin looked up. “And?”
“The purpose of a writing desk is, well, writing.”
“But my papers are all over here.”
“Papers can be moved, I believe. If they prove too heavy, you could always burn pewter to give yourself more strength.”
Vin eyed his amused face as she inked the nib of her pen. Well, at least he’s displaying something other than his dislike of me. “The floor is more comfortable.”
“If you say so, Mistress, I will believe it to be true.”
She paused, trying to determine if he was still mocking her or not. Blasted dog’s face, she thought. Too hard to read.
With a sigh, she leaned down and began to write out the first word. She had to make each line precisely so that the ink didn’t smudge, and she had to pause often to sound out words and find the right letters. She’d barely written a couple of sentences before a knock came at her door. She looked up with a frown. Who was bothering her?
“Come in,” she called.
She heard a door open in the other room, and Elend’s voice called out. “Vin?”
“In here,” she said, turning back to her writing. “Why did you knock?”
“Well, you might have been changing,” he said, entering.
“So?” Vin asked.
Elend chuckled. “Two years, and privacy is still a strange concept to you.”
Vin looked up. “Well, I did—”
For just the briefest flash of a moment, she thought he was someone else. Her instincts kicked in before her brain, and she reflexively dropped the pen, jumping up and flaring pewter.
Then she stopped.
“That much of a change, eh?” Elend asked, holding out his arms so she could get a better look at his costume.
Vin put a hand to her chest, so shocked that she stepped right on one of her stacks. It was Elend,
but it wasn’t. The brilliant white costume, with its sharp lines and firm figure, looked so different from his normal loose jacket and trousers. He seemed more commanding. More regal.
“You cut your hair,” she said, walking around him slowly, studying the costume.
“Tindwyl’s idea,” he said. “What do you think?”
“Less for people to grab on to in a fight,” Vin said.
Elend smiled. “Is that all you think about?”
“No,” Vin said absently, reaching up to tug his cape. It came free easily, and she nodded approvingly. Mistcloaks were the same; Elend wouldn’t have to worry about someone grabbing his cape in a fight.
She stepped back, arms folded. “Does this mean I can cut my hair, too?”
Elend paused just briefly. “You’re always free to do what you want, Vin. But, I kind of think it’s pretty longer.”
It stays, then.
“Anyway,” Elend said. “You approve?”
“Definitely,” Vin said. “You look like a king.” Though, she suspected a part of her would miss the tangle-haired, disheveled Elend. There had been something…endearing about that mixture of earnest competence and distracted inattention.
“Good,” Elend said. “Because I think we’re going to need the advantage. A messenger just…” He trailed off, looking over her stacks of paper. “Vin? Were you doing research?”
Vin flushed. “I was just looking through the logbook, trying to find references to the Deepness.”
“You were!” Elend stepped forward excitedly. To her chagrin, he quickly located the paper with her fledgling notes on it. He held the paper up, then looked over at her. “Did you write this?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Your penmanship is beautiful,” he said, sounding a bit surprised. “Why didn’t you tell me you could write like this?”
“Didn’t you say something about a messenger?”
Elend put the sheet back down, looking oddly like a proud parent. “Right. A messenger from my father’s army has arrived. I’m making him wait for a bit—it didn’t seem wise to appear too eager. But, we should probably go meet with him.”
Vin nodded, waving to OreSeur. The kandra rose and padded to her side, and the three of them left her quarters.
Mistborn Trilogy Page 89
