The Alloy of Law - Brandon Sanderson [132]
“You weren’t there when we made it.”
“I wasn’t there?”
“Yeah.”
“Wayne, you can’t make bets with people when they aren’t there.”
“I can,” Wayne said, tucking the book into his pocket and standing, “if they shoulda been there. And you shoulda, Wax.”
“I…” How to respond to that? “I will be. From now on.”
Wayne nodded, joining him and looking toward Elendel. It rose in the distance, the two competing skyscrapers rising on one side of the city, other smaller ones growing like crystals from the center of the expanding metropolis.
“You know,” Wayne said, “I always wondered what it would be like to come here, find civilization and all that. I didn’t realize.”
“Realize what?” Waxillium asked.
“That this was really the rough part of the world,” Wayne said. “That we had it easy, out past the mountains.”
Waxillium found himself nodding. “You can be very wise sometimes, Wayne.”
“It’s onnacount of my thinkin’, mate,” Wayne said, tapping his head, increasing the thickness of his accent. “It’s what I do wif my brain. Somma the time, at least.”
“And the rest of the time?”
“The rest of the time, I don’t do so much thinkin’. ’Cuz if I did, I’d go runnin’ back to where things is simple. You see?”
“I see. And we do have to stay, Wayne. I have work to do here.”
“Then we’ll see it done,” Wayne said. “Just like always.”
Waxillium nodded, reaching into his sleeve and sliding out a thin black book.
“What’s that?” Wayne asked, taking it, curious.
“My uncle’s pocket book,” Waxillium said. “Filled with appointments and notes.”
Wayne whistled softly. “How’d you take it? Shoulder bump?”
“Table sweep,” Waxillium said.
“Nice. Glad to know I’ve taught you somethin’ useful during our years together. What did you trade for it?”
“A threat,” Waxillium said, looking back toward Elendel. “And a promise.”
He would see this to the end. Roughs honor. When one of your own went bad, it was your job to see the mess cleaned up.
ARS ARCANUM
LIST OF METALS
ALUMINUM: A Mistborn who burns aluminum instantly metabolizes all of his or her metals without giving any other effect, wiping all Allomantic reserves. Mistings who can burn aluminum are called Aluminum Gnats due to the ineffectiveness of this ability by itself. Trueself Ferrings can store their spiritual sense of identity in an aluminum metalmind. This is an art rarely spoken of outside of Terris communities, and even among them, it is not yet well understood. Aluminum itself and a few of its alloys are Allomantically inert; they cannot be Pushed or Pulled and can be used to shield an individual from emotional Allomancy.
BENDALLOY: Slider Mistings burn bendalloy to compress time in a bubble around themselves, making it pass more quickly within the bubble. This causes events outside the bubble to move at a glacial pace from the point of view of the Slider. Subsumer Ferrings can store nutrition and calories in a bendalloy metalmind; they can eat large amounts of food during active storage without feeling full or gaining weight, and then can go without the need to eat while tapping the metalmind. A separate bendalloy metalmind can be used to similarly regulate fluids intake.
BRASS: Soother Mistings burn brass to soothe (dampen) the emotions of nearby individuals. This can be directed at a single individual or directed across a general area, and the Soother can focus on specific emotions. Firesoul Ferrings can store warmth in a brass metalmind, cooling themselves off while actively storing. They can tap the metalmind at a later time to warm themselves.
BRONZE: Seeker Mistings burn brass to “hear” pulses given off by other Allomancers who are burning metals. Different metals produce different pulses. Sentry Ferrings can store wakefulness in a bronze metalmind, making themselves drowsy while actively storing. They can tap the metalmind at a later time to reduce drowsiness or to heighten their awareness.
CADMIUM: Pulser Mistings burn cadmium to stretch time in a bubble around themselves, making it pass more slowly inside the bubble.