Elend held up his hands. “All right, consider me suitably chastised. I was a fool and a twit. It runs in the family.”
Vin sighed, sitting back and feeling the cool whisper of the mists on her tear-wetted cheeks. Elend wasn’t a monster; she believed him on that count. Perhaps she was a fool, but Kelsier was having an effect on her. She was beginning to trust those around her, and there was no one she wanted to let herself trust more than Elend Venture.
And, when it wasn’t connected directly to Elend, she found the horrors of the noble-skaa relationship easier to deal with. Even if a third of the noblemen were murdering skaa women, something was probably salvageable of the society. The nobility wouldn’t have to be purged—that was their tactic. Vin would have to make certain that sort of thing didn’t happen, no matter what bloodline one had.
Lord Ruler, Vin thought. I’m starting to think like the others—it’s almost like I think that we can change things.
She glanced across at Elend, who sat with his back to the curling mists beyond. He looked morose.
I brought out bad memories, Vin thought guiltily. No wonder he hates his father so much. She longed to do something to make him feel better.
“Elend,” she said, drawing his attention. “They’re just like us.”
He paused. “What?”
“The plantation skaa,” Vin said. “You asked me about them once. I was afraid, so I acted like a proper noblewoman—but you seemed disappointed when I didn’t have more to say.”
He leaned forward. “So, you did spend time with the skaa?”
Vin nodded. “A lot of time. Too much, if you ask my family. That might be why they sent me out here. I knew some of the skaa very well—one older man, in particular. He lost someone, a woman he loved, to a nobleman who wanted a pretty thing for the evening’s entertainment.”
“At your plantation?”
Vin shook her head quickly. “He ran away and came to my father’s lands.”
“And you hid him?” Elend asked with surprise. “Runaway skaa are supposed to be executed!”
“I kept his secret,” Vin said. “I didn’t know him for very long, but … well, I can promise you this, Elend: His love was as strong as that of any nobleman. Stronger than most of them here in Luthadel, certainly.”
“And intelligence?” Elend asked eagerly. “Did they seem … slow?”
“Of course not,” Vin snapped. “I should think, Elend Venture, that I knew several skaa more clever than yourself. They may not have education, but they’re still intelligent. And they’re angry.”
“Angry?” he asked.
“Some of them,” Vin said. “About the way they’re treated.”
“They know, then? About the disparities between us and them?”
“How could they not?” Vin said, reaching up to wipe her nose with the handkerchief. She paused, however, noting just how much makeup she had rubbed across it.
“Here,” Elend said, handing her his own handkerchief. “Tell me more. How do you know these things?”
“They told me,” Vin said. “They trusted me. I know that they’re angry because they would complain about their lives. I know they’re intelligent because of the things they keep hidden from the nobility.”
“Like what?”
“Like, the underground movement network,” Vin said. “Skaa help runaways travel the canals from plantation to plantation. The noblemen don’t notice because they never pay attention to skaa faces.”
“Interesting.”
“Plus,” Vin said, “there are the thieving crews. I figure that those skaa must be fairly clever if they’re able to hide from the obligators and the nobility, stealing from the Great Houses right beneath the Lord Ruler’s nose.”
“Yes, I know,” Elend said. “I wish I could meet one of them, to ask them how they hide so well. They must be fascinating people.”
Vin almost spoke further, but she held her tongue. I’ve probably said too much already.
Elend looked over at her. “You’re fascinating too, Valette. I should have known better than to assume you’d been corrupted by the rest of them. Perhaps you’ll be able to corrupt them instead.”
Vin smiled.
“But,” Elend said, rising. “I need to be leaving. I actually came to the party tonight for a specific purpose—some friends of mine are meeting together.”
That’s right! Vin thought. One of the men Elend met with before—the ones that Kelsier and Sazed thought it was strange that he would associate with—was a Hasting.
Vin stood as well, handing Elend back his handkerchief.
He didn’t take it. “You might want to keep that. It wasn’t intended to be simply functional.”
Vin looked down at the handkerchief. When a nobleman wants to court a lady seriously, he gives her a handkerchief.
“Oh!” she said, pulling the handkerchief back. “Thank you.”
Elend smiled, stepping close to her. “That other man, whoever he is, might have a lead on me because of my foolishness. However, I am not so foolish that I would pass up the chance to give him a little competition.” He winked, bowed slightly, and walked back toward the central ballroom.
Vin waited a moment, then walked forward and slipped through the balcony doorway. Elend met up with the same two as before—a Lekal and a Hasting, political enemies of the Venture. They paused for a moment, then all three walked toward a stairwell at the side of the room.
Those stairwells only lead to one place, Vin thought, slipping back into the room. The auxiliary towers.
“Mistress Valette?”
Vin jumped, turning to find Sazed approaching. “Are we ready to go?” he asked.
Vin moved over to him quickly. “Lord Elend Venture just disappeared down that stairwell with his Hasting and Lekal friends.”
“Interesting,” Sazed said. “And why would … Mistress, what happened to your makeup!”
“Never mind,” Vin said. “I think I should follow them.”
“Is that another handkerchief, Mistress?” Sazed asked. “You have been busy.”
“Sazed, are you listening to me?”
“Yes, Mistress. I suppose you could follow them if you wish, but you would be fairly obvious. I don’t know that it would be the best method of gaining information.”
“I wouldn’t follow them overtly,” Vin said quietly. “I’d use Allomancy. But, I need your permission for that.”
Sazed paused. “I see. How is your side?”
“It’s been healed for ages,” Vin said. “I don’t even notice it anymore.”
Sazed sighed. “Very well. Master Kelsier intended to begin your training in earnest again when he returned, anyway. Just … be careful. This is a ridiculous thing to say to a Mistborn, I think, but I ask anyway.”
“I will,” Vin said. “I’ll meet you on that balcony over there in an hour.”
“Good luck, Mistress,” Sazed said.
Vin was already rushing back toward the balcony. She stepped around the corner, then stood before the stone railing and the mists beyond. The beautiful, swirling void. It’s been far too long, she thought, reaching into her sleeve and pulling out a vial of metals. She downed it eagerly and got out a small handful of coins.