Page 226 of The Well of Ascension

“Yes.”

“Well, if he comes and sees us sitting here in the dark, eyeing each other insidiously, he’ll know something is up. The less natural the occasion, the more natural you want to appear.”

“Ah, I see,” Sazed said. “Thank you.”

The door opened and Clubs hobbled in. He eyed Breeze, then Sazed, then wandered over toward a chair. Breeze glanced at Sazed—no surprise there. Clubs was obviously invited as well.

“Lose those guards,” Clubs snapped.

“Immediately, Lord Cladent,” Sazed said, standing and shuffling over to the door. He spoke briefly with the guards, then returned. As Sazed was sitting, Ham poked his head into the room, looking suspicious.

“Wait a minute,” Breeze said. “How many people are coming to this secret meeting?”

Sazed gestured for Ham to sit. “All of the more…experienced members of the crew.”

“You mean everyone but Elend and Vin,” Breeze said.

“I did not invite Lord Lestibournes either,” Sazed said.

Yes, but Spook isn’t the one we’re hiding from.

Ham sat down hesitantly, shooting a questioning glance at Breeze. “So…why exactly are we meeting behind the backs of our Mistborn and our king?”

“King no longer,” a voice noted from the door. Dockson walked in. “In fact, it could be argued that Elend isn’t leader of this crew anymore. He fell into that position by happenstance—just like he fell into the throne.”

Ham flushed. “I know you don’t like him, Dox, but I’m not here to talk treason.”

“There’s no treason if there’s no throne to betray,” Dockson said, sitting. “What are we going to do—stay here and be servants in his house? Elend doesn’t need us. Perhaps it’s time to transfer our services to Lord Penrod.”

“Penrod is a nobleman, too,” Ham said. “You can’t tell me you like him any better than you do Elend.”

Dockson thumped the table quietly with his fist. “It’s not about who Ilike,Ham. It’s about seeing that this damn kingdom Kelsier threw at us remains standing! We’ve spent a year and a half cleaning up his mess. Do you want to see that work wasted?”

“Please, gentlemen,” Sazed said, trying—without success—to break into the conversation.

“Work, Dox?” Ham said, flushed. “What work have you done? I haven’t seen you do much of anything besides sit and complain every time someone offers a plan.”

“Complain?” Dockson snapped. “Do you have any idea how much administrative work it has taken to keep this city from falling upon itself? What have you done, Ham? You refused to take command of the army. All you do is drink and spar with your friends!”

That’s enough of that,Breeze thought, Soothing the men.At this rate, we’ll strangle each other before Straff can have us executed.

Dockson settled back in his chair, waving a dismissive hand at Ham, who still sat red-faced. Sazed waited, obviously chagrined by the outbreak. Breeze Soothed away his insecurity.You’re in charge here, Sazed. Tell us what is going on.

“Please,” Sazed said. “I did not bring us together so that we could argue. I understand that you are all tense—that is understandable, considering the circumstances.”

“Penrod is going to give our city to Straff,” Ham said.

“That’s better than letting him slaughter us,” Dockson countered.

“Actually,” Breeze said, “I don’t think we have to worry about Straff slaughtering us.”

“No?” Dockson asked, frowning. “Do you have some information you haven’t been sharing with us, Breeze?”

“Oh, get over yourself, Dox,” Ham snapped. “You’ve never been happy that you didn’t end up in charge when Kell died. That’s the real reason you never liked Elend, isn’t it?”

Dockson flushed, and Breeze sighed, slapping both of them with a powerful blanket Soothing. They both jumped slightly, as if they’d been stung—though the sensation would be quite the opposite. Their emotions, once volatile, would suddenly have become numb and unresponsive.

Both looked at Breeze.

---