Mistborn Trilogy - Brandon Sanderson [469]
“Consider selling out the people of this city to a tyrant?”
Penrod’s face grew cold, and he shook Elend’s arm free. “Listen, lad,” he said quietly. “You are a good man, but you’ve always been an idealist. You’ve spent time in books and philosophy—I’ve spent my life fighting politics with the members of the court. You know theories; I know people.”
He turned, nodding to the audience. “Look at them, lad. They’re terrified. What good do your dreams do them when they’re starving? You talk of freedom and justice when two armies are preparing to slaughter their families.”
Penrod turned back to Elend, staring him in the eyes. “The Lord Ruler’s system wasn’t perfect, but it kept these people safe. We don’t even have that anymore. Your ideals can’t face down armies. Cett might be a tyrant, but given the choice between him and Straff, I’d have to choose Cett. We’d probably have given him the city weeks ago, if you hadn’t stopped us.”
Penrod nodded to Elend, then turned and joined a few of the noblemen who were leaving. Elend stood quietly for a moment.
We have seen a curious phenomenon associated with rebel groups that break off of the Final Empire and attempt to seek autonomy, he thought, recalling a passage from Ytves’s book Studies in Revolution. In almost all cases, the Lord Ruler didn’t need to send his armies to reconquer the rebels. By the time his agents arrived, the groups had overthrown themselves.
It seems that the rebels found the chaos of transition more difficult to accept than the tyranny they had known before. They joyfully welcomed back authority—even oppressive authority—for it was less painful for them than uncertainty.
Vin and the others joined him on the stage, and he put his arm around her shoulders, standing quietly as he watched people trail from the building. Cett sat surrounded by a small group of Assemblymen, arranging meetings with them.
“Well,” Vin said quietly. “We know he’s Mistborn.”
Elend turned toward her. “You sensed Allomancy from him?”
Vin shook her head. “No.”
“Then, how do you know?” Elend asked.
“Well, look at him,” Vin said with a wave of her hand. “He acts like he can’t walk—that has to be covering up something. What would be more innocent than a cripple? Can you think of a better way to hide the fact that you’re a Mistborn?”
“Vin, my dear,” Breeze said, “Cett has been crippled since childhood, when a disease rendered his legs useless. He’s not Mistborn.”
Vin raised an eyebrow. “That has to be one of the best cover stories I’ve ever heard.”
Breeze rolled his eyes, but Elend just smiled.
“What now, Elend?” Ham asked. “We obviously can’t deal with things the same way now that Cett has entered the city.”
Elend nodded. “We have to plan. Let’s…” He trailed off as a young man left Cett’s group, walking toward Elend. It was the same man who had been sitting next to Cett.
“Cett’s son,” Breeze whispered. “Gneorndin.”
“Lord Venture,” Gneorndin said, bowing slightly. He was, perhaps, about Spook’s age. “My father wishes to know when you would like to meet with him.”
Elend raised an eyebrow. “I have no intention of joining the line of Assemblymen waiting upon Cett’s bribes, lad. Tell your father that he and I have nothing to discuss.”
“You don’t?” Gneorndin asked. “And what about my sister? The one you kidnapped?”
Elend frowned. “You know that isn’t true.”
“My father would still like to discuss the event,” Gneorndin said, shooting a hostile glance at Breeze. “Besides, he thinks that a conversation between you two might be in the city’s best interests. You met with Straff in his camp—don’t tell me that you aren’t willing to do the same for Cett inside your own city?”
Elend paused. Forget your biases, he told himself. You need to talk to this man, if only for the information the meeting might provide.
“All right,” Elend said. “I’ll meet with him.”
“Dinner, in one week?” Gneorndin asked.
Elend nodded curtly.
33
As the one who found Alendi, however, I became someone important. Foremost among the Worldbringers.
Vin lay on her stomach, arms folded, head resting on them