The Hero of Ages

supplies Elend had ordered brought down the canal.

'We don't have that much time, Elend,' Cett said quietly. 'A few months, at most. Time enough to weaken Yomen's resolve, perhaps make his people get so thirsty that they begin to look forward to invasion. But, if we don't get resupplied, there's no way we'll be able to maintain this siege.'

Elend glanced at the older man. Cett sat in his chair with an arrogant expression, looking back at Elend, meeting his eyes. So much about what the crippled man did was about posturing-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 make himself threatening.

Cett knew how 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 accomplished Soothers manage. And he did all this while covering up a heart that Elend suspected was far softer than Cett would ever admit.

He seemed particularly on edge this day. As if worried about something. Something important to him- something 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'm better off without the damn fool of a girl around. Let that Soother have her, I say! Anyway, we're not talking about me, we're talking about you and this siege!'

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

'Demoux!' Elend said, approaching the general. '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.

Ham nodded. 'Mostly up and about as well. Demoux is among the last batch. A few more days, and the army will be back to full strength.'

Minus those who died, Elend thought.

Cett eyed Demoux. 'Most of the men recovered weeks ago. A bit weaker in the constitution than one might expect, eh, Demoux? That's what I've been hearing, at least.'

Demoux blushed.

Elend frowned at this. 'What?'

'It is nothing, Your Majesty,' Demoux said.

'It's never 'nothing' in my camp, Demoux,' Elend said. 'What am I missing?'

Ham sighed, pulling over a chair. He sat on it backward, resting his muscular arms across its back. 'It's just a rumor moving through the camp, El.'

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

Ham nodded. 'Some of them have gotten it into their heads that the men who got sick from the mists were being punished.'

'Punished?' Elend asked. 'For what?'

'Lack of faith, Your Majesty,' Demoux said.

'Nonsense,' Elend said. 'We all know that the mists struck randomly.'

The others shared looks, and Elend had to pause and reconsider. No. The strikes weren't random-at least, the statistics surrounding them weren't. 'Regardless,' he said, deciding to change the subject, 'what are your daily reports?'

The three men took turns talking about their various duties in the bivouac. Ham saw to morale and training, Demoux to supplies and camp duties, Cett to tactics and patrols. Elend stood with hands clasped behind his back, listening to the reports, but only with half an ear. They weren't much different from the previous day, though it was good to see Demoux back at his duties. He was far more efficient than his assistants.

As they talked, Elend's mind wandered. The siege was going fairly well, but a part of him-the part trained by Cett and Tindwyl-chafed at the waiting game. He might just be able to take the city straight out. He had koloss, and all accounts said that his troops were far more experienced than those inside of Fadrex. The rock formations would provide cover for the defenders, but Elend wasn't in so bad a position that he couldn't win.

But doing so would cost many, many lives.

That was the step he balked at-the last step that would take him from defender to aggressor. From protector to conqueror. And he was frustrated at his own hesitation.

There was another reason going into the city had been bad for Elend. It had been better for Elend to think of Yomen as an evil tyrant, a corrupt obligator loyal to the Lord Ruler. Now, unfortunately, he knew Yomen to be a reasonable man. And one with very good arguments. In a way, his indictment of Elend was true. Elend was a hypocrite. He spoke of democracy, yet he had taken his throne by force.

It was what the people had needed from him, he believed. But it did make him a hypocrite. Still, by that same logic, he knew he should send Vin to assassinate Yomen. But, could Elend order the death of a man who had done nothing wrong besides getting in his way?

Assassinating the obligator seemed as twisted an action as sending his koloss to attack the city. Cett is right, Elend thought. I'm trying to play both sides on this one. For a moment, while talking to Telden during the ball, he had felt so sure of himself. And, in truth, he still believed what he'd claimed. Elend wasn't the Lord Ruler. He did give his people more freedom and more justice.

However, he realized that this siege could tip the balance between who he was and who he feared he would become. Could he really justify invading Fadrex, slaughtering its armies and pillaging its resources, all ostensibly in the name of protecting the people of the empire? Could he dare do the opposite: back away from Fadrex, and leave the secrets in that cavern-the secrets that could potentially save the entire empire-to a man who still thought the Lord Ruler would return to save his people?

He wasn't ready to decide. For now, he was determined to exhaust every other option. Anything that would keep him from needing to invade the city. That included besieging the city to make Yomen more pliant. That also included sneaking Vin into the storage cavern. Her reports indicated that the building was very heavily guarded. She wasn't certain if she could get into it on an ordinary night. However, during a ball, defenses might be more porous. It would be the perfect time to try to get a glimpse at what was hidden in that cavern.

Assuming Yomen hasn't simply removed the Lord Ruler's last inscription, Elend thought. Or that there was even something there in the first place.

Yet, there was a chance. The Lord Ruler's final message, the last bit of help he had left for his people. If Elend could find a way to get that help without breaking his way into the city, killing thousands, he would take it.

Eventually, the men finished with their reports, and Elend dismissed them. Ham went quickly, wanting to get in on a morning sparring session. Cett was gone a few moments later, carried back to his own tent. Demoux, however, lingered. It was sometimes hard to remember just how young Demoux was-barely older than Elend himself. The balding scalp and numerous scars made the man look much older than he was, as did the still-visible effects of his extended illness.

Demoux was hesitant about something. Elend waited, and finally the man dropped his eyes, looking embarrassed. 'Your Majesty,' he said, 'I feel that I must ask to be released from my post as general.'

'And why do you say that?' Elend asked carefully.

'I don't think I'm worthy of the position anymore.'

Elend frowned.

'Only a man trusted by the Survivor should command in this army, my lord,' Demoux said.

'I'm sure that he does trust you, Demoux.'

Demoux shook his head. 'Then why did he give me the sickness? Why pick me, of all the men in the army?'

'I've told you, it was random luck, Demoux.'

'My lord,' Demoux said, 'I hate to disagree, but we both know that isn't true. After all, you were the one who