Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson [140]
“Yes,” Vin said hesitantly.
“My mistress, Lady Shan Elariel, requires your presence at her table.”
Requires? Vin thought. She already didn’t like that tone, and she had little desire to meet with Elend’s former betrothed. Unfortunately, House Elariel was one of the more powerful Great Houses—probably not someone to dismiss offhandedly.
The Terrisman waited expectantly.
“Very well,” Vin said, rising with as much grace as she could muster.
The Terrisman led Vin toward a table a short distance from her own. The table was well attended, with five women seated around it, and Vin picked out Shan immediately. Lady Elariel was obviously the statuesque woman with long dark hair. She wasn’t participating in the conversation, but seemed to dominate it nonetheless. Her arms sparkled with lavender bracelets that matched her dress, and she turned dismissive eyes toward Vin as she approached.
Those dark eyes, however, were keen. Vin felt exposed before them—stripped of her fine dress, reduced to a dirty urchin once again.
“Excuse us, ladies,” Shan said. The women immediately did as ordered, departing the table in a stately flurry.
Shan picked up a fork and began to meticulously dissect and devour a small piece of dessert cake. Vin stood uncertainly, the Terrisman steward taking up a position behind Shan’s chair.
“You may sit,” Shan said.
I feel like a skaa again, Vin thought, sitting. Noblemen treat each other this way too?
“You are in an enviable position, child,” Shan said.
“How is that?” Vin asked.
“Address me as ‘Lady Shan,’” Shan said, her tone unchanged. “Or, perhaps, ‘Your Ladyship.’”
Shan waited expectantly, taking petite bites of the cake. Finally, Vin said, “Why is that, Your Ladyship?”
“Because young Lord Venture has decided to use you in his games. That means you have the opportunity to be used by me as well.”
Vin frowned. Remember to stay in character. You’re the easily intimidated Valette.
“Wouldn’t it would be better to not be used at all, Your Ladyship?” Vin said carefully.
“Nonsense,” Shan replied. “Even an uncultured simpleton like yourself must see the importance of being useful to your betters.” Shan said the words, even the insult, without vehemence; she simply seemed to take it for granted that Vin would agree.
Vin sat, dumbfounded. None of the other nobility had treated her in such a manner. Of course, the only member of a Great House she’d met so far was Elend.
“I trust from your vapid look that you accept your place,” Shan said. “Do well, child, and perhaps I will let you join my retinue. You could learn much from the ladies here in Luthadel.”
“Such as?” Vin asked, trying to keep the snappishness out of her voice.
“Look at yourself sometime, child. Hair like you’ve undergone some terrible disease, so scrawny that your dress hangs like a bag. Being a noblewoman in Luthadel requires…perfection. Not that.” She said the last word while waving her hand dismissively toward Vin.
Vin flushed. There was a strange power to this woman’s demeaning attitude. With a start, Vin realized that Shan reminded her of some crewleaders she had known, Camon the latest of them—men who would hit a person, fully expecting no resistance. Everyone knew that resisting such men only made the beating worse.
“What do you want from me?” Vin asked.
Shan raised an eyebrow as she set aside her fork, the cake only half-eaten. The Terrisman took the plate and walked off with it. “You really are a dull-minded thing, aren’t you?” Shan asked.
Vin paused. “What does Her Ladyship want from me?”
“I’ll tell you eventually—assuming Lord Venture decides to keep playing with you.” Vin caught just the barest flash of hatred in her eyes when she said Elend’s name.
“For now,” Shan continued, “tell me of your conversation with him this evening.”
Vin opened her mouth to respond. But…something felt wrong. She only caught the barest flicker of it—she wouldn’t have even noticed that much without Breeze’s training.
A Soother? Interesting.
Shan was trying to make Vin complacent. So that she would talk,