Vin felt a moment of panic, but Sazed’s lessons snapped quickly into her mind. “Almost two months by canal, with some stops.”
“Such a long time,” Elend said. “They say it can take half a year to travel from one end of the empire to the other, yet most of us ignore everything but this little bit at the center.”
“I …” Vin trailed off. With Reen, she’d been all across the Central Dominance. It was the smallest of the dominances, however, and she’d never visited the more exotic places in the empire. This central area was good for thieves; oddly, the place closest to the Lord Ruler was also the one with the most corruption, not to mention the most riches.
“What do you think of the city, then?” Elend asked.
Vin paused. “It’s … dirty,” she said honestly. In the dim light, a servant arrived to remove her empty plate. “It’s dirty, and it’s full. The skaa are treated terribly, but I guess that’s true everywhere.”
Elend cocked his head, giving her a strange look.
I shouldn’t have mentioned the skaa. That wasn’t very noble-like.
He leaned forward. “You think the skaa here are treated worse than the ones on your plantation? I always thought they would be better off in the city.”
“Um … I’m not sure. I didn’t go to the fields very often.”
“So, you didn’t interact with them very much?”
Vin shrugged. “Why does it matter? They’re just skaa.”
“See, now, that’s what we always say,” Elend said. “But I don’t know. Maybe I’m too curious, but they interest me. Did you ever hear them talk to one another? Did they sound like regular people?”
“What?” Vin asked. “Of course they did. What else would they sound like?”
“Well, you know what the Ministry teaches.”
She didn’t. However, if it was regarding the skaa, it probably wasn’t flattering. “I make it a rule to never completely believe anything the Ministry says.”
Elend paused again, cocking his head. “You’re … not what I expected, Lady Valette.”
“People rarely are.”
“So, tell me about the plantation skaa. What are they like?”
Vin shrugged. “Like skaa everywhere else.”
“Are they intelligent?”
“Some are.”
“But, not like you and me, right?” Elend asked.
Vin paused. How would a noblewoman respond? “No, of course not. They’re just skaa. Why are you so interested in them?”
Elend seemed … disappointed. “No reason,” he said, sitting back in his chair and opening his book. “I think some of those men over there want to ask you to dance.”
Vin turned, noticing that there was indeed a group of young men standing a short distance from her table. They looked away as soon as she turned. After a few moments, one of the men pointed at another table; then he walked over and asked a young lady to dance.
“Several people have noticed you, my lady,” Sazed said. “However, they never approach. Lord Venture’s presence intimidates them, I think.”
Elend snorted. “They should know that I am anything but intimidating.”
Vin frowned, but Elend just continued to read. Fine! she thought, turning back toward the young men. She caught one man’s eye, smiling slightly.
A few moments later, the young man approached. He spoke to her in a stiff, formal tone. “Lady Renoux, I am Lord Melend Liese. Would you care to dance?”
Vin shot a glance at Elend, but he didn’t look up from his book.
“I would love to, Lord Liese,” Vin said, taking the young man’s hand and rising.
He led her down to the dance floor, and as they approached, Vin’s nervousness returned. Suddenly, one week of practice didn’t seem like enough. The music stopped, allowing for couples to leave or enter the floor, and Lord Liese led her forward.
Vin fought down her paranoia, reminding herself that everyone saw the dress and the rank, not Vin herself. She looked up into Lord Liese’s eyes and saw, surprisingly, apprehension.
The music began, as did the dancing. Lord Liese’s face took on a look of consternation. She could feel his palm sweating in her hands. Why, he’s just as nervous as I am! Perhaps even more.
Liese was younger than Elend, closer to her own age. He probably wasn’t very experienced with balls—he certainly didn’t look like he’d danced much. He focused so much on the steps that his motions felt rigid.
It makes sense, Vin realized, relaxing and letting her body move in the motions Sazed had taught. The experienced ones wouldn’t ask me to dance, not when I’m so new. I’m beneath their notice.
But, why is Elend paying attention to me? Is it simply what Sazed said—a ploy to annoy his father? Why, then, does he seem interested in what I have to say?
“Lord Liese,” Vin said. “Do you know much of Elend Venture?”
Liese looked up. “Um, I …”
“Don’t focus so much on the dancing,” Vin said. “My instructor says that it will flow more naturally if you don’t try too hard.”
He blushed.
Lord Ruler! Vin thought. How fresh is this boy?
“Um, Lord Venture …” Liese said. “I don’t know. He’s a very important person. Far more important than I am.”
“Don’t let his lineage intimidate you,” Vin said. “From what I’ve seen, he’s pretty harmless.”
“I don’t know, my lady,” Liese said. “Venture is a very influential house.”
“Yes, well, Elend doesn’t live up to that reputation. He seems very fond of ignoring those in his company—does he do that to everyone?”
Liese shrugged, dancing more naturally now that they were talking. “I don’t know. You … seem to know him better than I, my lady.”
“I …” Vin trailed off. She felt as if she knew him well—far better than she should know a man after two brief encounters. She couldn’t very well explain that to Liese, however.
But, maybe … Didn’t Renoux say that he’d met Elend once?
“Oh, Elend is a friend of the family,” Vin said as they spun beneath a crystalline skylight.
“He is?”
“Yes,” Vin said. “It was very kind of my uncle to ask Elend to watch over me at these parties, and so far he’s been quite a dear. I do wish that he’d pay less attention to those books of his and more attention to introducing me, though.”
Liese perked up, and he seemed to grow a little less insecure. “Oh. Why, that makes sense.”
“Yes,” Vin said, “Elend has been like an older brother to me during my time here in Luthadel.”
Liese smiled.
“I ask you about him because he doesn’t speak much of himself,” Vin said.
“The Ventures have all been quiet lately,” Liese said. “Ever since the attack on their keep several months back.”
Vin nodded. “You know much about that?”
Liese shook his head. “No one tells me anything.” He glanced down, watching their feet. “You’re very good at dancing, Lady Renoux. You must have attended many balls back in your home city.”