"I mean no harm," Elend said slowly, holding up his hands (even though he refused to let go of his dueling cane). "I just came to talk."
Ham just grunted and pulled his hand out of the wall. Elend braced himself to dodge if he needed to. Which would be very likely. And he wouldn't have long to realize that he'd have to move. Seriously, thugs...
"Yeah, why should we believe you?" Ham asked, jumping forward. Elend moved to the left, hitting the side of Ham's fist with his palm and deflecting it. Barely. It still caught his shoulder and he spun around with the momentum, losing his balance and landing on his hands and knees. His jarred shoulder hurt, but it hadn't been dislocated, so he was probably fine.
Elend looked back at where Ham had turned and was now racing towards him. He threw himself into a dodge again, landing on his back and throwing his legs forward while pushing off of the ground with his hands by his head, landing a bit awkwardly in a crouch. He was awfully glad that had worked. It would have been far more than just embarrassing if it hadn't.
"Why would you attack me?" he asked.
"It's nothing personal, my boy," Breeze said from where he'd stood and was now walking towards them. "It's just that you seem to know a great deal about me, and we can't have that now, can we? Although, I would like to know who you heard of me from."
Elend didn't speak. He didn't really have anything to say to that.
"Does Straff Venture know?" the larger man asked, apparently trying a different question.
"No," Elend replied.
"Excellent. That means we can be rid of you and just chalk it up to a mugging gone wrong." Oh. Elend hadn't thought of that. This really was a different man than the one he'd known.
"My father will likely take his anger at my death out on the skaa," he pointed out, watching Ham and Breeze as the second walked up to the latter.
"But he won't know exactly who killed you, now will he? And if we frame another house..."
Right. Criminals. Elend cursed in his mind. The expletives he came up with would have impressed Vin.
What were his options? He could bluff his way out, or try to at least, but he'd never been particularly good at bluffing, and he doubted that would endear him to the men. But he had to say something. He couldn't tell them he was from the future, that information was too sensitive to say on the streets like this (or at all, really – and that's if they believed him). So what could he say?
"Too bad," Ham said. "You're a decent fighter."
"A bit inexperienced, thankfully," Breeze commented, sounding as if his agreement was being pried from him forcefully.
Elend had known they hated noblemen (although that didn't make a whole lot of sense with Breeze, but was something he'd have to contemplate later). He didn't realize that their hatred would run to the extent where they wouldn't even listen to what he had to say. He couldn't blurt out any of his information here – between his paranoia and his sense of preservation (he did have one, no matter what Vin said) that would just be ridiculous. No, they'd have to be behind walls and away from any tin burner before he could speak aloud about the information he had at all.
Ham stepped into another fighting position, and Elend, knowing he had to distract them, said the first thing that came to his mind:
"I have a question, first," he struggled to find something to say, but the only thing he could think of was how the future would be even worse off if he wasn't there to at least mitigate some of the damage. Wait, the future...
"Do you think that consumable goods or allomantic metals would be more valuable in a collapsed economy?" He knew the answer to that out of experience, but it was the best thing he could come up with off the top of his head. He was usually better than this when confronting enemies... but maybe that was the problem. Even now, he couldn't bring himself to think of the men that stood before him as enemies.
Thankfully, his question brought Ham up short. He blinked at Elend, then shot a glance at a very surprised Breeze.
"Did you... just ask me a philosophical question?"
"Not a very good one," Elend conceded a little sheepishly. He'd thought he'd be better under pressure than this. His future self sure had been. Blast.
"So, you do not just know me... but some of my compatriots," Breeze commented. "My boy, you are getting more dangerous by the minute."
"Look, before we say anything else, can you please listen to me. Inside. Somewhere else where random tin-eyes can't hear everything we're saying?"
Breeze didn't look concerned. "We've taken care of that. There's no one burning allomancy around here."
"Except you?" Elend asked.
The portly man sighed. "There's that rudeness again."
The heir felt his expression dry out. "I find attempted homicide to be far more rude."
Ham snorted and hid his mouth behind his hand. "He's kind of got a point there, Breeze."
"Oh, please. You wouldn't know good manners if they bit you."
The thug shot his friend a dry look. "Nice. Insult the man you called to back you up."
"I am paying you."
Elend was having a very hard time keeping a straight face at their familiar banter.
"I knew I shouldn't have come," Ham grumbled.
"You wouldn't leave an old friend out to be killed by noblemen would you?"
"To be fair," Elend spoke, taking his life into his hands by reminding them that he was there, "I wasn't trying to kill you. I'm still not. I just have... information that I think you should know."
The two men turned to stare at him blankly.
Ham looked confused. "You... want to sell us information?"
No, he wanted to give them information, but... they might not understand that at the moment, so he just nodded.
"Why would you need to sell information?" Breeze asked, puzzled. "You are the type of noble who needs to buy it."
"With the way you two argue, it's a wonder someone hasn't sneaked up on you both," a voice behind Elend said. He jumped and spun around. That... could have been bad. He hadn't even heard the guy. He couldn't help but feel that he was kind of lucky to not have a knife in his back right now.
The man who stood there looked familiar, but Elend couldn't place him. He was tall and broad. Not as broad as Ham, but his frame was nothing to scoff at either. He had blond hair and lighter eyes than most skaa, but Elend just couldn't place the face. He looked... tired, and too old for his body, but that might have also been the injuries. Elend could see bruises and cuts on his visible skin, and his shirt bulged slightly where there might have been bandages.
"So," the man continued. Where had he heard that voice?! "You're the kid that has Breeze there in a tiff."
"My dear man," Breeze cut in, offended, "I am not in a 'tiff'. I am merely being prudent."
"So prudent that you won't even listen to what the kid has to say?"
"He's a nobleman," Ham said, as if that explained everything. Elend had to admit, it kind of did, sadly.
"So's your friend right there," the third man said, his voice a complete deadpan, but he pointed to Breeze.
Ham shot an expression of surprise at Breeze, who just sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Did you have to do that?" he asked the third man, who just shrugged.
"I thought you were half skaa," Elend blurted, figuring that at least he could get some questions answered.
"That's what I prefer everyone to think," Breeze grumbled, shooting a dark look at the third man.
"You're trying to make me feel shame? Really?" said man asked, sounding almost amused under the tired tone.
"You're one of them?" Ham asked, hurt and anger in his voice.
"No," Breeze answered tersely. "I haven't been one of 'them' for decades."
"If you're born one, you'll always be one," Ham returned.
"Funny you would say that seeing as you were more than happy to back me up not moments ago. I haven't changed."
Ham just shook his head and reached into his vest, taking out a pouch that would likely be full of boxings by the sound of it. "No. I-"
"Please," Elend cut in, "you need to hear what I have to say. All of you." Well, maybe not the third man, but he couldn't really be picky at the moment. Who knew when an Obligator – or worse, an Inquisitor – would wander by? "After that, you can decide whatever you want." He hated how pathetic he sounded... and he really didn't want to think that he'd torn apart Ham and Breeze's friendship (well, it had really been the third man, but still, it wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been there).
Breeze's expression had returned to puzzlement. "Why are you so insistent? And why me?"
Elend sighed. "That... will take some explaining." He chewed the inside of his lip (ugh, he'd have to stop that habit again) and glanced at all three of them. "Can we please just put arguing off until we can get somewhere no one will overhear us?"
Breeze glanced at Ham, one eyebrow raised.
Ham's lips thinned, but he put the pouch back. "Fine. I'll listen. Then I'm out."
"I must admit, you have peaked my curiosity," Breeze admitted. "Should we be worried about listeners?" he asked the third man.
"People have been following this kid, and one of 'em is a Tin-eye."
Elend cursed under his breath. He'd been afraid of... Suddenly, his eyes widened. "You're a seeker?" he asked.
Then it clicked. A seeker who had known the people of Kelsier's crew before they became Kelsier's crew...
He couldn't help it, he stepped back, away from the man, hoping his face hadn't paled too much.
"Marsh?" he practically squeaked out. He'd never met the man without... well, spikes through his eyes. It was... disquieting, and yet relieving in a way to see him like this. Not relieving enough to put Elend's mind at ease though. He wasn't sure if he could only blame Vin's paranoia for that.
Then he realized that the three men were staring at him, Marsh with a narrowed gaze that no longer seemed nonthreatening. He hasn't betrayed you. He's not an Inquisitor, he said to himself. Heck, he didn't even look like an Inquisitor right now. He's not an Inquisitor!
Yet... his mind added on, and he felt a little sick.
"You've heard of me, I take it?"
Ham snorted. "Shoulda guessed you'd be scared of him."
Marsh sighed, seeming even older somehow. "So what, are you going to try and arrest me?"
Elend blinked. "What? No. Why would I do that?"
The three of them stared at him again. He was missing something here.
Oh, right. This must be right after he'd given up command of the rebellion. That... might explain the cuts, bruises and bandages.
They sat in silence for several seconds as no one seem to want to touch that subject at all.
"Well?" Elend finally asked, subconsciously straightening his back and standing a little taller. "Shall we go?"
The stares seemed to grow more incredulous. Then Ham shook his head and Marsh sighed.
"Go on without me," Marsh said, waving his hand. "Talk to me later about my payment."
Breeze eyed him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. This way."
With that, he turned and began to head down one of the streets, lantern held out before him. Ham shot Breeze an angry glare, but fell into step behind him. Elend took up the rear, wondering why they'd left him to their backs when they so obviously distrusted him.
xXx
"Mr. Ham, was it?" Elend asked, stepping up beside the other man.
Ham grunted.
"May I ask you another question?"
No response. Elend took that as permission.
"What do you think makes people who have had bad experiences with other people judge similar people as if they were that initial person?"
Ham paused for the barest moment and didn't answer. Elend was about to give up and just walk behind the other two again when the larger man finally spoke.
"I suppose humans have to judge whatever they come across from their own experiences. It's how we learn. If someone hurts us, we want to avoid that pain. Of course, it could just be a type of revenge: I can't hurt you so I hurt the people around you."
It was a good answer, and Elend was glad Ham had followed his vague inquiry. He hesitated with his next question, but decided to ask it anyway.
"Why do you think most noblemen hate skaa?"
Ham frowned, although he didn't look at Elend. "Noblemen don't hate skaa. They have to acknowledge an existence to hate it."
Elend thought about that. "No, I think you're wrong. No offense. Noblemen are raised in their situations as much as skaa are. We have expectations to live up to, just as skaa, and if we don't live up to them, we die as well. I'm sure you've heard about court politics from Breeze."
The larger man shot a glare at the nobleman in question, but just nodded. Elend took that as a response too.
"Skaa, in comparison, may not have freedom when it comes to a lot of their circumstances... but they have advantages in other ways. Who they fall in love with and marry, the fact that they can have many children... the fact that they can survive under the worst circumstances. I... don't think most nobles could. Skaa are stronger than noblemen – more able to survive – and the nobility knows it."
"And resent it," Ham muttered, conceding the point.
Elend nodded. "Most do, although they wouldn't admit it, even to themselves."
"So why do you not seem to have a problem with skaa?" The question was delivered gruffly and Elend knew he'd have to be careful.
"I don't see why we all have to be so jealous of each other. Nobility births mistings, skaa birth hardier people. I think it would be beneficial to the human race to see more interaction. Not less. Nobility struggling to maintain their hold on the far more numerous population of skaa seems ridiculous to me too. We're all human, we're all intelligent beings who are aware of themselves. Refusing to put aside our differences in the name of pride just seems... stupid to me."
"Skaa won't just be able to 'put things aside'. The nobility has a lot to answer for," Breeze commented from in front of them as he turned down another street and walked up to the door of one of the houses.
"That includes you," Ham shot, scathingly.
The portly man just looked back at the two of them and said, "My dear man, I never said otherwise."
That seemed to take Ham back a bit because his eyes widened before his brow furrowed and he studied Breeze's back as they walked into the house. Elend wondered what he was thinking exactly.
The room they entered had a couple of windows and a worn bench. Otherwise, it stood empty. It had a wooden floor, though, which said a lot about who had built the place. It looked well maintained too.
Breeze led them across the room and to another door, then into a short hallway with a couple of doors on either side, and finally to one at the back. It opened into a dark, empty kitchen that otherwise looked rather cozy and well-used.
The soother hung his lantern on one of the hooks on the walls, built for specifically that purpose, before walking over to the fireplace. He searched up on the mantle with his hands for a bit before he seemed to find what he wanted and tossed something (kindling, Elend supposed) into the fireplace.
"Lord Venture," he turned to Elend as he walked back over to the lantern, a very long wick in hand, "will you go get some logs from the woodpile over there?" he gestured towards the door at the back of the room, opposite of where they'd entered.
"Oh," Elend said, looking in the direction the older man had gestured and finding a pile of pre-cut logs stacked against the outside wall. "Sure. And, call me Elend, please." A king wouldn't say that. Blast it, Tindwell, I'm not a king! He figured it might not represent the healthiest state of mind when he ended up addressing the voice in the back of his head. His older self had been very reliant on her advice.
It took him a moment to realize that he'd probably been soothed into getting the wood, but seeing as he honestly didn't mind, he decided to let it slide this once.
He picked up a couple of wedge-shaped pieces (it was actually kind of impressive that Breeze had this much wood inside the city and spoke of his connections) before turning and bringing the lot back to the fireplace. He was a little shocked to see Breeze kneeling down and blowing on the fire himself. That almost bordered on manual labor. One glance at Ham and Elend was convinced he felt just as surprised as he that Breeze would, without complaining, do such a thing.
Then, before his eyes, Ham's entire demeanor closed down. It wasn't the long suffering look of exasperation that normally adorned his face while interacting with Breeze, but something far more raw that grew darker with every passing moment.
"Don't your servants usually do this?" Ham asked, almost nonchalant if it hadn't been for his slight emphasis on the word 'servants'. Elend raised his eyebrows and backed away a bit. Ham seemed to be better at hiding his emotions than Elend thought if his voice had come out that controlled after such an expression. "I'm surprised you even know how to light a fire."
It was unnerving. He wasn't used to seeing Ham like this. He'd seen the man angry before, but this was personal. And it seemed to trump even Breeze's soothing. Which, when Elend thought about it, was rather scary.
Breeze sighed as he moved and gestured Elend forward. There had already been a little nest that was starting to burn. Elend quickly placed the logs in a little triangle above the glowing embers as Breeze spoke.
"Nobility does not make one completely incompetent. Besides, I thought calling in a servant would offend you..." he faded off, a little too nonchalant for it to be plausible.
"You still have them," Ham returned.
"As I did before tonight, and that didn't seem to bother you. I pay them well and treat them better than any other noble you'll come across."
Elend sighed. "He's not wrong," he said as he stood and brushed off his gloves and jacket. "My father's treatment of skaa is one reason why I'm here."
"Ah, yes. You," Breeze said as he made himself at home on one of the kitchen chairs. It creaked ominously under him, but otherwise held. "What did you want to tell us?"
"And what exactly is your price?" Ham asked in a stony voice.
A price... right. They wouldn't trust this if he didn't have something he wanted in return. What did he want, though? To find Vin... but how could he phrase that? And would it raise their suspicion too much? Probably. No, as much as he wanted to find his future wife, he couldn't right now. Maybe after he earned their trust he could get them to help, but not before then, as much as he hated to admit it. So what else did he want?
A thought came to him and he wanted to bang his head against a wall somewhere. He refrained, but honestly, he should have thought of that to begin with.
"I want to remove my father from his position as the head of House Venture."
Breeze frowned and Ham snorted disdainfully.
"Lord Venture, we aren't assassins," Breeze said, a little coolly.
Elend blinked at him for a moment before shaking his head furiously. "No, no... I don't want him dead... not if at all possible. He's still my father."
Both Breeze and Ham looked a little taken back at that, but didn't say anything, so Elend continued. "It's just... his attitude. He says he'd do anything for the Lord Ruler and House Venture, but he thinks of himself as the house... so really, he'd just do anything for himself, and if that condemns the rest of the world, so be it." He didn't think that had come out too bitterly.
The two con men exchanged glances, and that alone had Elend letting out a breath, his tension easing. They'd be alright. Thank the Lord Ru... er... Preservation? Yes, thank Preservation. Those were the powers that Vin received in the future... would he have to still let that happen... to his wife?
Cross that bridge when we come to it, he told himself, forcing his mind to focus on the here and now.
"And... what, exactly, would you want to do with him?"
Elend sighed. "I don't know, to be honest. That's... one reason why I decided to seek out professionals. Your business, Breeze," he used the name intentionally, mainly because he thought that calling him 'Lord Ladrien' would likely set Ham off again, "has the reputation of being able to do anything."
"So, you want me to somehow make the head of the strongest house in Luthadel disappear without killing him, all while not getting caught ourselves," Breeze clarified.
A brief silence, then Elend nodded. "Yes."
Ham folded his arms and leaned against the wall. Somehow, it made him look more intimidating. That was probably the point though.
"There aren't enough boxings in Luthadel to make that worth it," Ham muttered.
Elend shot him an unimpressed look. "I can make it worth your while, not just in boxings."
"Ah, yes. The information you so generously promised us. What, pray tell, is it?" Breeze had tried to hide his condescending tone, but Elend knew him too well. He took a breath and let it go. Then watched the other two men for several seconds before deciding to tell them. That was the real reason he'd come here anyway.
"You know of the ten original Allomantic metals, correct?"
Breeze nodded and waved him on with one hand. "Of course."
"What if I told you there are a minimum of 13?" Well, 14, but he wasn't going to tell anyone about a metal that could turn someone into a mistborn. That information getting out could be catastrophic... and as much as he normally trusted Ham and Breeze, he just couldn't know that they wouldn't sell that information to the highest bidder right now. Not to mention, he still wasn't a hundred percent sure Ruin couldn't hear them...
The two con-men exchanged shocked glances again, and Ham unfolded his arms, standing upright as he went back to staring at Elend.
"Also, they have more properties that are useful beyond just burning them... well, one of them does."
Their eyes widened even further.
"If you promise to help me, I will happily give you whatever reward of boxings you want in the future, and I will give you at least two of the names of the other two metals right now, as a show of good faith or... think of it as a down payment."
Breeze took a moment to compose himself, but when he spoke, he sounded as bored as ever. "Why do you think we would want such information?"
Elend's smile widened. "Because one of them can stop someone from soothing or rioting another's emotions. I thought you might want to know about it."
Both men froze and the house heir sat back, letting those implications sink in. Elend hadn't gotten everything Vin knew about the allomantic metals, but he did get more information about the ones he did know. And that would be an interesting tidbit to anyone remotely involved in the information brokering business.
They sat there in silence for a long time, but Elend was more than happy to let them work through everything. There seemed to be a lot of inward hemming and hawing, both men seeming to wrestle with themselves over the proposal. They both shot glances at the other multiple times before going back to their own thoughts.
"If we do this, we are not at your beck and call," Ham finally said.
Elend didn't let his shoulders relax, choosing instead to listen to that voice and channel his inner king, but he felt instantly better. Ham had more or less accepted.
That's when he noticed Breeze looking at the other misting with an unreadable expression.
"We?" he asked slowly.
Ham shuffled a little. "I'm not happy with you. I hate nobility as much at the next skaa, but... just give me some time. I'll deal."
Elend was pretty sure he wasn't supposed to see the small, very real smile that crept onto Breeze's face, but it did more to reassure him about the others' friendship than anything else he'd seen from them that night.
"Well, if you insist," the soother finally said with a nonchalant wave of his hand, very much undermined by that still present grin. Then his expression sobered and he turned to Elend again.
"He is correct, you know. We will be contacts at best."
"Contacts who owe me a couple of favors?" Elend asked, raising a pointed eyebrow. He was not going to let them con him out of this.
"We have the choice to reject any favor you ask," Ham said.
The house heir considered that, knowing very well that they would take full advantage of a loophole like that, but eventually nodded. "Very well."
The other two men just stared at him... again. This was getting a little unnerving. Not that he'd ever show it.
"You... actually agreed to that?" Ham asked.
"You weren't placating us either..." Breeze said, his own eyebrows creeping up towards his hairline. "You honestly won't ask something of us if we refuse."
Elend frowned quizzically. "I reserve the right to argue my point and continue asking, of course. But, why not? It was a reasonable request..." It took him a minute to realize that they hadn't expected him to agree because most nobles wouldn't have agreed. He didn't huff, but it was a near thing.
"This is a partnership, not an ownership. I honestly despise the current system and how skaa are treated. I will do everything in my power to avoid falling into such pitfalls myself, and I would expect you to call me out on it if I didn't manage it. I would welcome your criticism, even. Skaa, servants, noblemen of major or minor houses... we're all human. And I will treat you as such. I simply ask that you reciprocate."
More stunned silence that made Elend want to shift uncomfortably. He didn't, sitting on the tendency very firmly. Breeze and Ham exchanged more stunned glances and seemed a bit at a loss. Elend wasn't entirely sure that was a good thing.
Then Breeze just shook his head and asked, "My boy, how in the Lord Ruler's name did Straff Venture, of all people, raise a boy like you?"
Elend blinked. "I... am not entirely sure."
Ham looked thoughtful as Breeze nodded. "I... see."
"You want to take over from your father," Ham said suddenly. "Right?"
Elend blinked and nodded. Hadn't that been a given?
"Why?" the thug pressed.
A long-suffering sigh from Breeze and Elend was sure his muttering went somewhere along the lines of 'here we go again'. Then again, of all the people Elend had met, Ham seemed to be the one who contemplated reasons the most.
"Well," Elend said slowly, "how will the system change if the people who are in power refuse to let it?"
"How would you change it?"
Well, he definitely wanted in on taking down the Lord Ruler... but if he could stop Kelsier from dying this time and help make him king, maybe they'd have a chance. Maybe Kelsier would even do well as a Lord Ruler? Although, he seemed to have his own biases... Well, Elend would think on that. He wasn't sure he really trusted anyone with that kind of power with the exception of Vin. Not even himself. He didn't much like the conclusion to that thought and returned his focus to where it needed to be.
"Change is coming, whether the nobles want to admit it or not," he finally said. "I want to prove to the entire world that treating skaa like the human beings they are is far more productive and useful to everyone than our current, oppressive system. I will pay skaa and nobles the same amount of money for the same amount of work per job. I want to change the work environments so it isn't an oppressive slavery but an actual place for skaa to learn and grow and raise their families. I want to see more skaa able to learn and to get their ideas out, and..." he paused for a moment, took a deep breath and calmed himself from his impassioned speech. Shouting about it now wouldn't help him. But he did have one more thing he wanted to say. "And I want to see the hate end."
More of the blasted silence.
Then: "My boy, I hope you realize you are quite the optimistic idealist."
Elend felt his cheeks heat up, but he refused to look down.
"I've been called worse."
Breeze snorted softly. "I'm sure."
Elend smiled a little thinly.
"Alright, I'm willing to take a chance on this," Ham finally put in. "Although, if you don't live up to your end of the deal..."
"Trust me, I am not stupid enough to cross you," he said. After all, if they belonged to the crew who had taken out the Lord Ruler, an upstart little brat of a noble house heir shouldn't be an issue at all.
"My boy..." Well, at least he'd stopped with the 'Lord Venture' annoyance, "I can't say I know whether to take you seriously or not."
Elend frowned. Hadn't he been straight-forward enough?
Before he could ask anything, Breeze smiled much like a dragon would to a goat. "Now, about those metals you mentioned..."
Elend blinked, then inwardly sighed as he nodded. So that was how Breeze intended for him to prove his sincerity. "Indeed. The first of the two metals I promised you is called Electrum: an alloy of fifty five percent gold, and forty five percent silver – the true companion to gold. While gold shows a misting their past, electrum shows a misting or mistborn their immediate future."
The two men exchanged yet another glance, looking both excited and puzzled.
"Why is it useful?" Ham asked. "Don't you already know what you're about to do?"
Elend's grin grew. "Yes, it may seem useless at first... except that while burning it, one can completely negate the effects of an enemy burning Atium."
They got the implications if Ham's open mouth and Breeze's utter blankness were anything to go by. Before they could start asking questions, though, he pressed on.
"The second is Aluminum. Again, it may seem rather useless right off the bat, and it only has a real effect on mistborn as it purges all metals from their system. However," he continued, "if one can wear aluminum on their heads, it can stop a rioter or a soother from affecting them. It completely negates the effect." At least, that was what he got from the impression of Vin's information bouncing around in his head.
"My boy," Breeze said slowly, "I believe I may have underestimated you. Which is, actually, a rather terrifying thought."
"Why doesn't anyone else know this?" Ham asked, his voice stone cold and low, even if Elend couldn't see his eyes with the angle of his head.
The house heir stiffened. He hadn't expected a negative reaction for that.
"The... Lord Ruler kept it a secret," he explained cautiously, choosing his words carefully. "Letting this out could... very well kill me and my entire house – servants included – if he traces it back to me."
"How do you know it?" Ham asked, his expression angry as he looked up at Elend again. He wasn't sure if the anger was directed at him or at the Lord Ruler... or maybe just the system in general. Not that Elend could blame him for that last one.
"I am... very well studied. I rather enjoy the oldest notes and books I can find. The older the better. I love philosophy and history and tend to be rather good at putting clues together. This one has taken me... quite a few rare books and a very long while to track down." He was glad he'd come up with an excuse before hand. It wasn't even that far off from the truth. Well... it was plausible. He planned on telling them the truth when he was confident they'd believe him about receiving memories from the future. It would have to be good enough... because he probably wouldn't be telling them any time soon.
"I also got some confirmation from my father, recently," Elend continued, noting their skeptical looks. "Once I put it together, I confronted him. Apparently, there are a few people in the know."
"The Electurm in particular won't be of any real use to us, seeing as we aren't mistborn," Breeze pointed out.
"Maybe not," Elend replied with a shrug, "but it may be useful in the future, and it shows you the kind of knowledge I have access to. My father is in charge of the Pits of Hath Sin, after all."
The two men shuddered a little, Ham more visibly than Breeze.
"In any case, I'd like to set up a meeting next week, after we've had some time to brainstorm and try to figure out a couple of answers," Elend said, as he stood slowly. "But I must be getting back soon, so I'm afraid I'll have to cut this delightful meeting off—"
The sound of the door opening and closing again had them all turning to see Marsh coming in, a black cloak hiding him from prying eyes. He lowered the hood when he noticed the three men sitting in the room.
"I took care of your tails," he said to Elend, who swallowed a bit. Even without the spikes in his eyes, this man was intimidating.
"You... didn't kill them... did you?" he asked, hoping he wouldn't have to try and cover with his father if this got back to him... when this got back to him. Straff may not confront Elend, but he would know of his son's excursion.
Not for the first (and undoubtedly, not for the last) time, he wished for his mistborn powers.
Marsh frowned. "I am in no condition to confront anyone," he said, tapping the bulge of bandages (Elend was sure that's what it was now) on his chest. "I merely set up some false trails."
"Oh, thank you," Elend replied, relieved.
The newcomer sighed. "I didn't realize the nobility knew my identity."
Elend bit the inside of his lip. What could he say to that? Well, he had to say something.
"I... don't believe they do. My source... was extremely unusual. I didn't even recognize you at first."
Marsh sent him a dry glare. It was so strange to see him with eyes. "If you know, others do too."
He... really couldn't argue that point without revealing his 'source'. So he just shrugged and then turned to Breeze. "You can send a messenger to me at any time, but make sure they cannot be traced back to you. My father will be suspicious enough as it is."
"You speak as if I don't know exactly how to be discreet," Breeze pointed out wryly.
Elend shrugged. "Just needed to make sure. I know I'm the one with the least experience here."
"Hmm," Breeze replied. "Can you make it home on your own?"
The house heir hesitated for a moment, unsure as to whether Breeze had meant that sarcastically or not. Then he nodded.
"I don't see why not. I can defend myself."
"True" Ham muttered.
"Still..." Breeze said. Then he turned to Marsh. "Will you accompany our new... partner home?"
Marsh's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't say anything. Instead, much to Elend's discomfort, he nodded.
"Very good. I believe Ham and I need to... have a discussion."
Ham gazed at Breeze before turning to Marsh and nodding. "Go. It was good to see you again."
"You as well," Marsh responded before he turned and walked out of the room. Elend nodded to Ham and Breeze.
"Good evening, Gentlemen," he said, then turned to follow the single scariest man he'd ever met.
