Mists? she wondered idly, leaning against the railing. It, like the lantern bracket behind her, was intricate and detailed—both had been wrought in the form of thick, curving vines. To her sides, the tops of the pillars were carved into stone animals that appeared frozen in the motion of jumping off of the balcony.
“Now, see, here’s the problem with going to refill your cup of wine.”
The sudden voice made Vin jump, and she spun. A young man stood behind her. His suit wasn’t the finest she had seen, nor was his vest as bright as most. Both coat and shirt seemed to fit too loosely, and his hair was just a bit disheveled. He carried a cup of wine, and the outer pocket of his suit coat bulged with the shape of a book that was just a bit too big for its confines.
“The problem is,” the young man said, “you return to find that your favorite spot has been stolen by a pretty girl. Now, a gentleman would move on to another place, leaving the lady to her contemplations. However, this is the best spot on the balcony—it’s the only place close enough to a lantern to have good reading light.”
Vin flushed. “I’m sorry, my lord.”
“Ah, see, now I feel guilty. All for a cup of wine. Look, there’s plenty of room for two people here—just scoot over a bit.”
Vin paused. Could she politely refuse? He obviously wanted her to stay near him—did he know who she was? Should she try to find out his name, so she could tell Kelsier?
She stepped a bit to the side, and the man took a place next to her. He leaned back against the side pillar, and, surprisingly, took out his book and began to read. He was right: The lantern shined directly on the pages. Vin stood for a moment, watching him, but he seemed completely absorbed. He didn’t even pause to look up at her.
Isn’t he going to pay me any attention at all? Vin thought, puzzled at her own annoyance. Maybe I should have worn a fancier dress.
The man sipped at his wine, focused on the book.
“Do you always read at balls?” she asked.
The young man looked up. “Whenever I can get away with it.”
“Doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of coming?” Vin asked. “Why attend if you’re just going to avoid socializing?”
“You’re up here too,” he pointed out.
Vin flushed. “I just wanted to get a brief view of the hall.”
“Oh? And why did you refuse all three men who asked you to dance?”
Vin paused. The man smiled, then turned back to his book.
“There were four,” Vin said with a huff. “And I refused them because I don’t know how to dance very well.”
The man lowered his book slightly, eyeing her. “You know, you’re a lot less timid than you look.”
“Timid?” Vin asked. “I’m not the one staring at his book when there’s a young lady standing by him, never having properly introduced himself.”
The man raised a speculative eyebrow. “Now, see, you sound like my father. Far better looking, but just as grumpy.”
Vin glared at him. Finally, he rolled his eyes. “Very well, let me be a gentleman, then.” He bowed to her with a refined, formal step. “I am Lord Elend. Lady Valette Renoux, might I have the pleasure of sharing this balcony with you whilst I read?”
Vin folded her arms. Elend? Family name or given name? Should I even care? He just wanted his spot back. But … how did he know that I’d refused dancing partners? Somehow, she had a suspicion that Kelsier would want to hear about this particular conversation.
Oddly, she didn’t feel a desire to shrug this man away as she had the others. Instead, she felt another stab of annoyance as he again raised his book.
“You still haven’t told me why you would rather read than participate,” she said.
The man sighed, lowering the book again. “Well, see, I’m not exactly the best dancer either.”
“Ah,” Vin said.
“But,” he said, raising a finger, “that’s only part of it. You may not realize this yet, but it’s not that hard to get overpartied. Once you attend five or six hundred of these balls, they start to feel a bit repetitive.”
Vin shrugged. “You’d probably learn to dance better if you practiced.”
Elend raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to let me get back to my book, are you?”
“I wasn’t intending to.”
He sighed, tucking the book back into his jacket pocket—which was beginning to show signs of book-shaped wear. “Well, then. Do you want to go dance instead?”
Vin froze. Elend smiled nonchalantly.
Lord! He’s either incredibly smooth or socially incompetent. It was disturbing that she couldn’t determine which.
“That’s a no, I assume?” Elend said. “Good—I thought I should offer, since we’ve established that I’m a gentleman. However, I doubt the couples below would appreciate us trampling their toes.”
“Agreed. What were you reading?”
“Dilisteni,” Elend said. “Trials of Monument. Heard of it?”
Vin shook her head.
“Ah, well. Not many have.” He leaned over the railing, looking below. “So, what do you think of your first experience at court?”
“It’s very … overwhelming.”
Elend chuckled. “Say what you will about House Venture—they know how to throw a party.”
Vin nodded. “You don’t like House Venture, then?” she said. Perhaps this was one of the rivalries Kelsier was watching for.
“Not particularly, no,” Elend said. “They’re an ostentatious lot, even for high nobility. They can’t just have a party, they have to throw the best party. Never mind that they run their servants ragged setting it up, then beat the poor things in retribution when the hall isn’t perfectly clean the very next morning.”
Vin cocked her head. Not words I’d expect to hear from a nobleman.
Elend paused, looking a little embarrassed. “But, well, never mind that. I think your Terrisman is looking for you.”
Vin started, glancing over the side of the balcony. Sure enough, Sazed’s tall form stood by her now-empty table, speaking to a serving boy.
Vin yelped quietly. “I’ve got to go,” she said, turning toward the stairwell.
“Ah, well then,” Elend said, “back to reading it is.” He gave her a half wave of farewell, but he had his book open before she passed the first step.
Vin reached the bottom out of breath. Sazed saw her immediately.
“I’m sorry,” she said, chagrined as she approached.
“Do not apologize to me, Mistress,” Sazed said quietly. “It is both unseemly and unnecessary. Moving about a bit was a good idea, I think. I would have suggested it, had you not seemed so nervous.”
Vin nodded. “Is it time for us to go, then?”
“It is a proper time to withdraw, if you wish,” he said, glancing up at the balcony. “May I ask what you were doing up there, Mistress?”
“I wanted to get a better look at the windows,” Vin said. “But I ended up talking to someone. He seemed interested in me at first, but now I don’t think he ever intended to pay me much attention. It doesn’t matter—he didn’t seem important enough to bother Kelsier with his name.”