Page 149 of The Well of Ascension

Vin snorted. “You sound like Sazed. A part of me is tempted to think that all these prophecies and legends were devised by priests who wanted to make a living.”

“Only a part of you?” OreSeur asked, sounding amused.

Vin paused, then nodded. “The part that grew up on the streets, the part that always expects a scam.” That part didn’t want to acknowledge the other things she felt.

The thumpings were getting stronger and stronger.

“Prophecies do not have to be a scam, Mistress,” OreSeur said. “Or even, really, a promise for the future. They can simply be an expression of hope.”

“What do you know of such things?” Vin said dismissively, setting aside her sheet.

There was a moment of silence. “Nothing, of course, Mistress,” OreSeur eventually said.

Vin turned toward the dog. “I’m sorry, OreSeur. I didn’t mean…Well, I’ve just been feeling distracted lately.”

Thump. Thump. Thump….

“You need not apologize to me, Mistress,” OreSeur said. “I am only kandra.”

“Still a person,” Vin said. “If one with dog breath.”

OreSeur smiled. “You chose these bones for me, Mistress. You must deal with the consequences.”

“The bones might have something to do with it,” Vin said, rising. “But I don’t think that carrion you eat is helping. Honestly, we have to get you some mint leaves to chew.”

OreSeur raised a canine eyebrow. “And you don’t think a dog with sweet breath would attract attention?”

“Only from anyone you happen to kiss in the near future,” Vin said, returning her stacks of paper to her desk.

OreSeur chuckled softly in his canine way, turning back to study the city.

“Is the procession finished yet?” Vin asked.

“Yes, Mistress,” OreSeur said. “It is difficult to see, even from a height. But, it does look like Lord Cett has finished moving in. He certainly did bring a lot of carts.”

“He’s Allrianne’s father,” Vin said. “Despite how much that girl complains about accommodations in the army, I’d bet that Cett likes to travel in comfort.”

OreSeur nodded. Vin turned, leaning against the desk, watching him and thinking of what he’d said earlier.Expression of hope….

“The kandra have a religion, don’t they?” Vin guessed.

OreSeur turned sharply. That was enough of a confirmation.

“Do the Keepers know of it?” Vin asked.

OreSeur stood on his hind legs, paws against the windowsill. “I should not have spoken.”

“You needn’t be afraid,” Vin said. “I won’t give away your secret. But, I don’t see why it has to be secret anymore.”

“It is a kandra thing, Mistress,” OreSeur said. “It wouldn’t be of any interest to anyone else.”

“Of course it would,” Vin said. “Don’t you see, OreSeur? The Keepers believe that the last independent religion was destroyed by the Lord Ruler centuries ago. If the kandra managed to keep one, that suggests that the Lord Ruler’s theological control of the Final Empirewasn’tabsolute. That has to mean something.”

OreSeur paused, cocking his head, as if he hadn’t considered such things.

His theological control wasn’t absolute?Vin thought, a bit surprised at the words.Lord Ruler—I’m starting to sound like Sazed and Elend. I’ve been studying too much lately.

“Regardless, Mistress,” OreSeur said. “I’d rather you didn’t mention this to your Keeper friends. They would probably begin asking discomforting questions.”

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