Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson [185]
“Try wearing a formal gown sometime,” Vin said, seating herself. She’d brushed off the front of her dress, and it didn’t look half as bad as she’d feared. The blackish gray ash still showed up a bit against the dark fabric, and the fibers were rough where she’d rubbed against stone, but both were barely noticeable.
Ham laughed. “It seems that you’ve turned into a proper young lady while I was gone.”
“Hardly,” Vin said as Kelsier handed her a cup of wine. She paused briefly, then took a sip.
“Mistress Vin is being modest, Master Hammond,” Sazed said, taking a seat. “She’s growing quite proficient at courtly arts—better than many actual nobles that I have known.”
Vin flushed, and Ham laughed again. “Humility, Vin? Where’d you ever learn a bad habit like that?”
“Not from me, certainly,” Kelsier said, offering Sazed a cup of wine. The Terrisman raised his hand in a respectful refusal.
“Of course she didn’t get it from you, Kell,” Ham said. “Maybe Spook taught her. He seems to be the only one in this crew who knows how to keep his mouth shut, eh, kid?”
Spook flushed, obviously trying to avoid looking at Vin.
I’ll have to deal with him sometime, she thought. But…not tonight. Kelsier’s back and Elend’s not a murderer—this is a night to relax.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and a moment later Dockson strolled into the room. “A party? And no one sent for me?”
“You seemed busy,” Kelsier said.
“Besides,” Ham added, “we know you’re too responsible to sit around and get drunk with a bunch of miscreants like us.”
“Someone has to keep this crew running,” Dockson said lightheartedly, pouring himself a drink. He paused, frowning at Ham. “That vest looks familiar….”
Ham smiled. “I ripped the arms off of my uniform coat.”
“You didn’t!” Vin said with a smile.
Ham nodded, looking self-satisfied.
Dockson sighed, continuing to fill his cup. “Ham, those things cost money.”
“Everything costs money,” Ham said. “But, what is money? A physical representation of the abstract concept of effort. Well, wearing that uniform for so long was a pretty mean effort. I’d say that this vest and I are even now.”
Dockson just rolled his eyes. In the main room, the shop’s front door opened and closed, and Vin heard Breeze bid hello to the apprentice on watch.
“By the way, Dox,” Kelsier said, leaning with his back against a cupboard. “I’m going to need a few ‘physical representations of the concept of effort’ myself. I’d like to rent a small warehouse to conduct some of my informant meetings.”
“That can probably be arranged,” Dockson said. “Assuming we keep Vin’s wardrobe budget under control, I—” He broke off, glancing at Vin. “What did you do to that gown, young lady!”
Vin flushed, scrunching down in her chair. Perhaps it’s a bit more noticeable than I thought….
Kelsier chuckled. “You may have to get used to dirtied clothing, Dox. Vin’s back on Mistborn duty as of this evening.”
“Interesting,” Breeze said, entering the kitchen. “Might I suggest that she avoid fighting three Steel Inquisitors at once this time?”
“I’ll do my best,” Vin said.
Breeze strolled over to the table and chose a seat with his characteristic decorum. The portly man raised his dueling cane, pointing it at Ham. “I see that my period of intellectual respite has come to an end.”
Ham smiled. “I thought up a couple beastly questions while I was gone, and I’ve been saving them just for you, Breeze.”
“I’m dying of anticipation,” Breeze said. He turned his cane toward Lestibournes. “Spook, drink.”
Spook rushed over and fetched Breeze a cup of wine.
“He’s such a fine lad,” Breeze noted, accepting the drink. “I barely even have to nudge him Allomantically. If only the rest of you ruffians were so accommodating.”
Spook frowned. “Niceing the not on the playing without.”
“I have no idea what you just said, child,” Breeze said. “So I’m simply going to pretend it was coherent, then move on.”
Kelsier rolled his eyes. “Losing the stress on the nip,” he said. “Notting without the needing