Brandon Sanderson
As ash falls from the sky from the ash mounts that erupt regularly, Lord Tresting watches over his skaa workers he leases from the Lord Ruler in the field of brown crops. He talks to an obligator (stand witness for noblemen’s deals; tattooed around the eyes to show rank) about a deal. The obligator says there are some rumors of how Tresting treats the female skaas, but he is not concerned after seeing his discipline. As the obligator gets ready to go back to Luthadel (capital city), Tresting notices a defiant skaa staring at him. He calls for Kurdon, but looses sight of the man. He has Kurdon beat a few skaa randomly. When the red sun sets and the mists start to settle in for the night, Kelsier sits in the skaa hovel with the workers from Tresting’s plantation. The skaa leader, Tepper, isn’t impressed with the news of payments the traveler (called the Survivor) brings them. Kelsier shares food with them he stole from Tresting. Tepper worries that the rebellious skaa will only bring them trouble. An older man, Mennis, warns him to pick his battles. The screams of two women are heard from a distance. Kelsier draws on the tin he swallowed earlier to enhance his Allomantic powers. The skaas talk about Jess having a pretty daughter and she will pay for it. Tresting will kill the girl in a few weeks to keep the Inquisitors away. Where most skaas are terrified of the mist because of stories and legends, Kelsier walks right out into it. Mennis wakes up in the morning and decides to get up rather than stay in bed to be killed with any other skaas that are too old or sick to get up. Jess and her daughter are in the hovel. Jess assures them that her daughter was in the sun and cannot be a mist wraith. They smell the smoke, much stronger than what usually comes from the ash mounts. Kelsier killed all the people in the plantation and saved Jess‘ daughter. Mennis realizes that Kelsier is starting a revolution and not giving them a chance in being part of it. Mennis tells them they will have to leave and go to the caves in the east.
Vin is hiding alone when her friend, Ulef summons her for Camon. The crew leader has a complicated job for the skaa thief and is nervous, especially after Tresting’s plantation was burned and everyone killed. their job will be more difficult with the aristocrats more alert. Camon smacks Vin for being late. She uses a bit of her luck to calm him down, but she knows she must save it. Camon will be acting like a noble down on his luck and trying to get contracts. Theron, Camon’s alliance for the job, tells him the obligator is near. Vin warns him the servants’ clothes are too fine for him to appear poor. He acts annoyed, but follows her suggestion. When Laird arrives, he says that the council refused Camon’s (playing Lord Jedue) offer. Camon renegotiates and Vin can tell the obligator is suspicious. She uses the luck (no one else seems to have this ability) to calm Laird so the con (5 years of work from Theron) won’t fall apart. Laird agrees to take the new offer back to the council.
Kelsier (half skaa, half noble) arrives in the city of Luthadel (home of the immortal Lord Ruler) a few weeks after killing Lord Tresting. His friend, Dockson, meets up with him and they walk the streets dressed as middle class nobility discussing their plan. They will meet later that night with a group made of many differently skilled people. Kelsier asks about his brother, Marsh, who refuses to be part of the rebellion, and decides he will have to convince him to infiltrate the obligators. Fist, Dockson has something to show him. Vin tries to hid in a dark corner of he safe house from the rest of the crew. most women in her position became whores and she tries to avoid that. Camon keeps her pay to make up for her brother, Reen, betraying them both. He searches the room and when he finds her, he says it is time. Vin isn’t sure what he is talking about. They end up at the Canton of Finance where Camon is told he can take only one servant with him. He chooses Vin, who realizes that Camon is betraying Theron. He plans to meet with the obligator, get the contract, and use the advanced payment to make his own transport ships. When the Ministry uses the service, Camon’s men will rob them. They are called into a room and meet High Prelan Arriev, who has a lot of tattoos around his eyes to indicate his status. The obligator asks Camon to convince him to accept the contract. Vin feels like something isn’t right and refrains from using her luck until the end of the meeting. She doesn’t use much before Arriev agrees to the contract. Vin looks back as they leave the room and sees the High Prelan smiling, which is a bad sign. Dockson takes Kelsier to watch Vin at the Canton of Finance. Kelsier knows that she is at least a Misting (and possibly Mistborn). He plans to free her of Camon and wants to especially punish him for the bruises on her. The High Prelan of Finance steps out of the Canton with a Steel Inquisitor (steel spikes through the eyes). They have been trained to sense Allomancy and are tailing Camon. Kelsier sends Dockson to follow the crew while he distracts the Steel Inquisitor with a chase. He drinks a vial containing several minerals in a solution and reaches out to the inquisitor who immediately turns to him.
Vin has a bad feeling after getting back to the safe house. She debates leaving and decides to ask Ulef to go with her. She goes to the sleeping quarters to grab her meager belongings and when she returns, Ulef is next to Camon. The crew leader comes at her furiously. He has been drinking and is ready to kill her for trying to leave. Kelsier busts his way into the safe house with Dockson. He uses Allomancy to calm everyone and Vin realizes it is the same as her Luck. Kelsier demands payment for saving their lives from the Steel Inquisitor. Meliv offers him the three thousand boxings they received from the Ministry. Kelsier gives him back 100 boxings to make camon suffer and the use of their safe house. He instructs them to leave and dispose of the ministry bodies outside. Kelsier says that he needs to have a talk with Vin. She is apprehensive at first and Kelsier is surprised when she pushes away the calmness he tries to use on her. He tells her that nobles were given the gift of Allomancy, but it is rare for them to have more than one skill (Mistings). Some skaa have one of the eight skills if they are half bloods, but it is also rare. Kelsier gives her a vial wit mental in an alcohol mixture. She drinks half only after Kelsier drinks some. Vin is amazed at how much Luck she has. After she demonstrates it for him, Kelsier asks her to try to excite his emotions. She notices a second pool of something else and is also able to use it. Kelsier explain that she is a Mistborn, like him, and can use all the elements of Allomancy. They are the only two skaas he has ever known to be Mistborn.
What is left of Camon’s crew is allowed to return to the safe house. They talk about Kelsier, the only person to survive and escape the Pits. They wonder what job he is planning and asks vin for more information. They think that she is the twixt (go between for Misting and non-Misting crews on a job). Vin doesn’t tell them anything. she is unsettled by how Kelsier and Dockson seem to trust each other so easily, especially after hearing that Kelsier and his wife were betrayed and sent to the Pits. After the crew leaves, Kelsier’s Misting crew starts to show up slowly. Breeze and Hammond (Ham) are the first to arrive. Vin finds herself liking Breeze and goes to get him a drink when he mentions he is thirsty. Ham scolds him for pushing her emotion and Vin refuses to bring him the wine she poured. Breeze explains that he can push (Soothe) not pull (Riot) emotions. Ham is considered a “Thug.” He uses pewter to make himself stronger. Clubs, the “smoker” arrives and sits apart from the others. His job is to them from being caught by the Inquisitors. Yeden arrives next and has obvious mutual disdain for the others present. He spends his time trying to take down the Final Empire, but his team, the skaa rebellion, isn’t very success. Kelsier explains that Yeden is their employer. The others are surprised because Yeden generally holds them as selfish immoral thieves, but he needs them for the job. Kelsier goes on to explain they are going to destroy the Final Empire. Yeden starts to have second thoughts and Kelsier points out that he already paid them. The payment is about enough boxings to pull off the job. The real reward is the Lord Ruler’s stash of atium - a very rare metal that the Lord Ruler controls the distribution. THey will need to neutralize the Luthadel garrison (police) and cause chaos so that Yeden can march an army in and take over the palace. ONce they have the Lord Ruler’s main source of income (the atium) he will have trouble gathering troops. Ham mentions the koloss, but Kelsier thinks the creatures would be too risky for the Lord Ruler to release on the city. He asks the men if they are in. Only Clubs leave and Kelsier lets him go freely. vin is surprised when he asks her. She accepts the job, knowing that she has to learn more about Allomancy. Kelsier continues , explaining that he knows where the atium mines are - the Pits of Hathsin. He also tells them that he intends to use a piece of the eleventh metal (8 basic, 2 higher) to kill the Lord Ruler As suggested by the legends in the north. Vin thinks he is crazy.
After everyone else leaves, Kelsier pours wine for Vin, Dockson, and himself. he tells Dockson that he will need more atium. Dockson isn’t sure it is possible, seeing as the last batch took eight months to steal. Clubs returns to tell Kelsier he is in. He wanted to make sure his emotions weren’t being swayed by Breeze. Kelsier knew it was unlikely for him to pass up the job. He tells Vin that her crew can have their safe house back. he is going to the roof because he needs atium. Vin and Dockson are nervous on the roof because of the mist. Kelsier puts on his Mistborn cloak and equips himself with glass daggers. He asks which noble family is the best guarded. Dockson tells him where Lord venture’s safe should be located in the house and says he and Vin will meet him at Clubs’ shop. Kelsier takes off, throwing coins to push off of to send him into the air and pulls on metal fixtures to travel to Venture Keep. He burns tin to increase his senses and quickly takes out all the guards he meets until he finds the safe. He strengthens himself by burning pewter and pulls using iron to get the safe out of the wall. Two guards hear the disturbance and come in. Kelsier kills them quickly and makes his way to leave. Eight hazekillers arrive with no metal for him to manipulate. They fight with their dueling canes. Kelsier uses iron to find metal and uses an ingot to fight them off. He kills two before the Allomancers arrive. He jumps out a large window and pulls at the safe. He hangs in midair against the house until the safe falls. he uses it to land and the safe smashes. He finds atium as well as gemstones and letters of credit. Pleased with his hull, he makes his way to Clubs’ shop.
Vin wakes up in Clubs’ shop, which seems like an inn once past the store front. She feels odd bing in a room all by herself. Dockson catches her peeking out of the door and tells her to bathe and dress for Kelsier's meeting that afternoon. When everyone is present, Kelsier starts making a list of all their obstacles. They decide to split up the nobility with a house war (to deplete their resources), get rid of the garrison by attacking the Pits of Hathsin (the Lord Ruler’s supply of atium), and then using an army of skaa to take the city. They determine that Breeze will do the recruiting of skaas for the army as well as help influence a noble war. Ham will find men to train the new soldiers. Yeden will start working on how to rule the city as a politician if they succeed, as he is supposed to lead the army into the city. Kelsier has already replaced the powerful Lord Renoux with an impostor to ship weapons north to the army that will be forming in the caves. Vin will be acting as a noble to spy on them. When the Ministry is brought up as their last challenge, Kelsier says his brother will handle it. March is in the doorway and states his uncertainty with joining them. He asks to speak to his brother alone. Vin acts like she is going to go back to her room, but ends up listening at the door.
Marsh is upset that Kelsier is using the skaa rebellion as one of his jobs. When Marsh ran it, Kelsier showed no interest in the cause. Marsh had given up that life and now runs a shop. He doesn’t believe that Kelsier is just after the atium, but agrees to listen to the plan. As his brother leaves, Kelsier sees a shadow move beneath the door. He reaches to find the person has metal on them and knows Vin has been listening in. Kelsier goes to get Vin from her room, but she will not admit to eavesdropping on his conversation with Marsh. He has her come with him so they can start her training. Before they leave Clubs’ place, he gives her a Mistborn cloak of her own. He takes her to a place quiet enough to practice. Even if they are caught out in the mists, people would assume they are high born nobles and ignore them. Kelsier explains the metals work in pairs. He skips over brass and zinc, which push and pull emotions respectively. He moves on to the physical metals pewter (strength) and tin (senses). He has Vin flare her pewter to show how quickly it burns. He has her continue to burn tin to get used to the enhanced senses. She chooses another metal that allows her to see blue lines, but Kelsier says they will come back to that pair. Next, Vin uses bronze to detect Kelsier’s Allomancy. When he burns copper, the humming that Vin hears stops, hiding his allomantic presence. He explains that burning copper will keep from swaying her emotions as well as hide her identity as a Mistborn. They start walking to a different area and vin’s curiosity gets the better of her. She ends up using iron to pull a rusty nail that comes flying at her. Kelsier stops it from hitting her and explains that there are consequences for everything they do. He then explains the blue lines show sources of metal, and she can burn steel to push and iron to pull. He then tells her that they are going to use those principles on small coins. She pushes the coin through the air until it hits a house and she starts going backwards (demonstrating that weight of the object compared to hers will determine what is moved). He uses steel to push himself over the city wall and she soon follows.
Vin shots up and hangs in the air at the top of the wall. Kelsier, who is already on the wall, tells her that she will stay balanced as long as she doesn’t move too much. He then helps her onto the wall and tells her to go down and push against the ingot to slow her fall. She eventually gets the nerve and starts falling, but she is moved off course and is no longer directly above the ingot. She tries to right herself, but only makes it worse. After Kelsier helps her down, he explains that pushing and pulling metal is very dangerous. He continues to lead her further away from the city. Vin hears someone following them and he explains it is a mist wraith - a creature that takes body parts and organs from whatever corpses it finds and discards what it doesn’t need. Eventually they meet up with Sazed, a Terrisman, who has a carriage to take them to Fellise, where the impostor Lord Renoux resides. Vin still doesn’t trust Kelsier. She thinks that he is holding back telling her about the last two metals to keep her strung along. He offers to take her back to Luthadel and gives her the money he took from Camon. She agrees to stay on his team (even though she thinks they’ll fail) because she wants to see what happens. When they arrive at their destination, the fake Lord Renoux leads them inside the pristine manor and servants bring them food at Kelsier's request. Lord Renoux asks to speak to him in private and Kelsier asks Sazed to keep Vin company. The Terrisman stands behind her as she picks at her food. when she asks him not to, he makes a joke of taking a few steps to stand beside her. Vin is surprised Sazed has a sense of humor when Terrismen are supposed to be stiff, perfect servants of the Lord Ruler. She starts to ask how he came to be in Fellise and he explains that his beliefs are different from the Lord Ruler’s and led him to the rebellion. When Kelsier and Lord Renoux return, they come up with Vin’s backstory for the plan. Sazed will help train her to act like a noblewoman. On the way up to the guest rooms for the night, Kelsier apologizes for excluding Vin from Renoux’s personal matter before they go their separate ways. Vin reaches her room and asks Sazed if Kelsier is a good man. He tells her he is the best he has ever known.
Vin chases Kelsier through the mist using her Allomancy. She uses a few tricks, but eventually they end up in a pushing match with a coin between them. Kelsier knocks her over and warns her about pushing matches with people who weigh more than her. He takes off for one of his raids and Vin returns to the house. A servant, Cosahn, cuts Vin’s hair. Sazed tries to suggest a religion that could give her something to believe in (this is the fifth), but Vin isn’t interested. They go over her lessons until Kelsier asks to speak with Sazed. He wants to know how Vin is progressing. Sazed says she is a quick and intelligent girl, but can’t be sure if she is ready until she is in a real situation that isn’t controlled. Kelsier asks Sazed to act as Vin’s servant and watch out for her. He feels guilty about not having enough time to properly train her.
Back in Luthadel, Vin makes her way to a kitchen for skaa workers. She slips into a back room where Breeze is waiting. Kelsier is having the Misting crew members each teach her their skill. Ham comes in and starts an ethical debate on whether or not they are doing good by trying to overthrow God’s corrupted will, the Lord Ruler. Vin is not as interested in the topic as Ham and Breeze refuses to acknowledge the question. Kelsier arrives at the kitchen to talk to men about joining the skaa army. Breeze explains that people have several emotions at once. The trick is to subtly invoke the right feelings at the right time. He uses serving girls dressed in different colors to tell his soothers and Rioters what emotions to enhance. Vin tries to feel the Allomancy, but can’t because Clubs is hiding it. She allows herself to be subject to the manipulation to see how it works. Breeze is concerned they won’t be able to raise an army of ten thousand if they can only get twenty men at a time. Back at Clubs’ shop, Kelsier is on the roof contemplating. Sazed joins him and Kelsier asks him to tell him another religion. He tells him about a simplistic religion that was wiped out because they were loyal to a fault, but does not ask Kelsier if he wants to convert because it doesn’t fit him. Sazed says that the Keepers have some sort of power of their own (not Allomancy) and the Lord Ruler fears them. The entire crew meets to discuss progress and obstacles. Breeze’s men will be split in two so they can also recruit from areas surrounding the city. Ham has found a few soldiers to help with training. Vin comes up with an idea to sneak Marsh into the Ministry using Theron as a contact for the ships. He could pose as an acolyte that is going to finish his training in the city. One of Ham’s men comes to tell them Camon’s safe house was found by the Ministry.
Vin is with Kelsier, Dockson, and Sazed inside her old crew’s lair while Ham makes sure they are secure. She looks around at the mangled corpses, not really sad, but wishing they hand’t died like that. They Inquisitor that was after Vin still has her scent and found the place. Vin wonders why Kelsier let Sazed come along so easily when most of the other Mistings had to stay at Clubs’ place. Sazed says a prayer and then explains o Vin that he believes all the religions he knows serve a purpose. Vin listens in to Kelsier conversation with Dockson, who tells Kelsier where to find someone. Kelsier sends everyone else back with Ham. Kelsier walks down a few streets and notices Camon isn’t among the beggars. He burns tin and smells blood coming from an alley where he finds Camon hung by a hook (a death reserved for those who misuse Allomancy). Vin appears and he realizes that she is soothing his emotions very subtlety. He explains what happened and hopes that no one will recognize her while she is dressed like a noble woman.
Vin and Sazed are headed to her first noble event, when Kelsier drops in. She is nervous and uncomfortable in her dress. Kelsier reassures her they need a spy among the nobility and that she will do fine. He will be listening in close by. Vin arrives and Sazed stays with her until after she eats. he then leaves for the servants’ dinner and tells her to refuse dances because she is too nervous about being at her first ball. After four refusals, she gets bored and starts studying her surroundings. She sees a familiar obligator and realizes it is the man her brother, Reen, had pointed out as their father. She notices a balcony and decides to go see the room from above. A young man, Elend, asks her to move slightly so that he can use a light to read a book. She asks why he doesn’t participate int he socialization and he tells her he has attended several hundred balls and doesn’t dance well. He points out that she turned down several offers as well. Sazed returns and starts looking for her and she goes to him. She tells him what happened on the balcony. They decide to leave and Vin turns back to get a look at Elend, who she thinks might be watching her.
Sazed has Vin recount everything she can about her conversation with Elend. When Kelsier and Renoux arrive, they explain that Elend is the heir to House Venture and is too far above her station to have a relationship with. Kelsier doesn’t seem too worried and leaves. Vin sneaks out and follows him, but he moves too fast and she looses him. She discovers bronze bars on the ground that make a sort of Allomantic highway. She uses them to get back to Luthadel, but Kelsier is already too far ahead. She finds herself on a roof near Venture Keep and spots Kelsier a few houses down. When he takes off, she follows, but he knows someone is behind him and confronts her. She points out they are better off having two Mistborns. He gives her a small piece of atium and has her burn it. It allows her to see a second Kelsier that shows her what he is going to do before he does it. He then burns his own atium reserve to counteract hers, showing multiple possible courses of action at once. He agrees to take her to the palace, Kredik Shaw, with him and warns her that it will be extremely dangerous.
Kelsier and Vin make their way into the Lord Ruler’s palace. Vin notices that she feels different and Kelsier explains that the Lord Ruler is constantly Soothing the whole place. After they kill several guards, they make it to a small building inside the palace. Kelsier goes to open the door, but the Inquisitor that has been after Vin grabs him. There are two more to the side. The Inquisitor wants to know who her father is, and Kelsier tells her to run. Shock finally recedes and Vin takes off. One of the Inquisitors follows and catches up easily. She has to use her atium to get past him and several guards, using a think leather book as a shield. She turns a corner and is stabbed by the other Inquisitor. She uses pewter to heal herself and then pulls herself up to the spires on top of the palace. The first Inquisitor, who had kelsier, comes after her and corners her on a roof. She is hoping that burning copper will hide her, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Someone with a much kinder face than Kelsier comes to rescue her.
Kelsier returns to Clubs’ shop. He thought Vin had made it out, but no one has seen or heard from her. Sazed carries her in and tells Clubs to get his bag for him. He used an entire metal mind to get to Luthadel once he found vin was gone. After he patches her up and she is unconsciously burning pewter, he tells Kelsier about the book he found. It is written in a language spoken in the Lord Ruler’s original homeland. He will need to rest before he an attempt translating it and goes upstairs. Dockson asks if knowing what the Lord Ruler is hiding inside the building inside the palace is worth it. Kelsier thinks it might be and they will have to kill the Lord Ruler to win.
Vin wakes up and Clubs’ apprentice, Lestibournes (renamed Spook by Kelsier) goes to get Dockson. He tells her that she has been out for two weeks and everyone is off working. She asks about Sazed saving her,but Dockson thinks it would be best to let the Terrisman explain. The next time she is awake, Kelsier is by her bed. He informs her they nearly have a deal to get Marsh onto a ship to impersonate an acolyte. He apologizes for letting her go with him and almost getting her killed. After she accepts, he explains they made a story about her being sick to the nobility. When she can, she will return to Fellise and be seen by the public eye. Vin realizes she isn’t invincible. Lord Renoux’s carriage is seen going around Luthadel, supposedly with Vin inside. However, it doesn’t pick her up until it stops at Clubs’ shop. She makes sure to look out the window as it continues to go through Luthadel and back to Fellise. She immediately seeks out Sazed to thank him and inquire about his powers. He admits that he is not an Allomancer, but something different. He uses metal to create memories to keep (religions, languages, etc). His people scare the Lord Ruler, so the males are castrated shortly after birth to control the population of all Terrismen. They are a weak people and seek out servitude. Even Sazed works for Kelsier. Vin retires, still exhausted from trying to heal.
Lord Renoux had to hire some workers that don’t know about the plan to avoid suspicions. Vin is bored having to stay in character and be pampered all the time. Kelsier, Dockson, Breeze, and Yeden arrive to hold their weekly meeting. Vin asks for an update and to get back to work. Dockson points out there is a ball she really should attend that week. Sazed gives an update on the book translation and tells them it is the Lord Ruler’s journal from before he ascended. The rest of the crew wants to read it when he completes it. Later that evening, vin is picking out a dress for the ball when she sees Kelsier on the balcony and joins him. He says that the world is wrong and shows her a picture of a flower his wife, Mare, used to have. Vin asks about Mare’s betrayal. Kelsier still doesn’t know if it was her, but he still loves her and wouldn’t have given her up (including the betrayal). He tells Vin how Mare’s death at the Pits of Hathsin caused him to Snap (an event that allows an Allomancer to start using their powers). He warns Vin to be careful.
Vin arrives at Elariel Keep with Sazed for a ball. Right after she is seated, Elend Venture spreads his books over her table and sits down. She asks him what he is doing and he makes a big deal about not doing what is expected of him - such as bing accompanied by Lady Stase Blanches at the current ball. He asks about why she came to Luthadel and is very interested in skaa. When Elend leaves briefly, Sazed warns her that he is using her to annoy his father. When Elend returns, Vin ignores him. She smiles at a boy to encourage him to ask her to dance, which he does. The boy, Liese, is nervous so Vin talks to him. She tells him Elend has been showing her around the city and is like a brother. After the dance, Liese tells his friends the story and more young men ask her to dance. Back at her table, Vin is exhausted and decides to read the books Elend left behind to avoid more dancing. Lady Shan Elariel (Elend’s formerly betrothed) has her Terrisman summon Vin to her table. Lady Shan shoos the other girls away and tells Vin that she should be happy that someone higher up wants to use her, let alone two high nobles. She says that she will give further instructions if Elend keeps using her. Vin sees Lady Shan’s Terrisman over by her table and makes an excuse to get back quickly. The Terrisman leaves and vin notices one book that isn’t open like the others. She starts reading and finds out it critiques the Final Empire. She puts it back just before Elend returns to collect his books before leaving to meet with friends. Sazed returns and vin asks who Elend is leaving with. He names two men,, Lord Jeste Lekal and someone from House Hastings, both members of rival houses. They make their way to leave. While waiting for the carriage, Vin witnesses a skaa boy get his throat cut open for begging.
Kelsier goes around the city causing more trouble for the nobility. After dumping the body of Lord Charrs Entrone into House Tekiel’s garden, he goes to meet a skaa informant dressed as a nobleman in one of Dockson’s disguises. The man doesn’t have any information about Lord Renoux (which is good), except that he seems to have dealings with Lord Venture (which is bad). He pays the man and takes off for his next meeting. He covers himself in ash and meets with Lord Venture himself. Kelsier gives him some information, but Venture is more concerned about the Survivor of Hathsin starting a skaa rebellion and the eleventh metal. Kelsier says both are just rumors. Once Venture leaves, Kelsier makes his way back to Fellise. Vin is frustrated that all the information she collected was already known. Sazed tells Kelsier about Elend’s strange pairing with Hastings and Lekal. The Mistborn starts to go to bed and Vin follows, asking to talk. She tells him about Elend having a book that criticizes the Lord Ruler. Kelsier mentions that he may have other books they could use to get him executed. Vin is hocked and he can tell that she is falling in love with Elend. He reminds her that he is just using her and is still nobility. If she continues to hang out with him, she will put the entire crew in danger.
On her way back from a luncheon in Luthadel, Vin is annoyed with how much time she has to spend in a carriage. Kelsier has been limiting her Allomancy practice because she isn’t fully healed. She is bored. When she arrives back at Renoux Mansion, Kelsier and Renoux are outside overseeing the packing of supplies that will be sent to the rebellion army. marsh is on his way and Kelsier wants his brother to teach Vin about burning bronze. When Marsh arrives, he sends vin to the balcony to wait fro him. When he arrives he has her start burning bronze. She can sense two sources of Allomantic power - one from Marsh and one from Kelsier. she can tell which is pushing and which is pulling, but can’t tell which metals are bing used. Vin Soothes March into talking about his hatred for the obligators. They took his mother and that was when he snapped. He realizes what she is doing and tells she first Soothed him in his shop, she was instinctually burning pewter and tin as well. He tells her not to do it again. They talk about Kelsier and how he needs to be anonymous for a while to calm the nobility. vin is surprised that Marsh doesn’t hate kelsier like she does Reen. She sense that Marsh is jealous of his little brother since he got he rebellion rolling and he got the girl. Vin shares the Reen saved her from her mother, who killed their baby sister.
Kelsier reads the Lord Ruler’s journal on his way to take yeden to the hidden skaa army. As soon as they arrive, Kelsier is very careful about his words and actions. At the entrance to the caves, he tells them that the crack in the ground reminds him of the Pits, but that he has overcome his fear. He checks the guards on duty. He explains to Ham that all possible entrances must be guarded. Some of the men are loosing faith and want to leave. Kelsier stirs up emotion at the feats to pit a large man with considerable skills agains a smaller man Ham promoted because he trusts him. Kelsier uses Allomancy to help the smaller man win. He also lets the men think that he can transfer his powers to them. Ham is upset that he lied to the men, but Kelsier points out they need to have desire to stay and fight.
Vin dreads reading the log book, bored by the descriptions of how the world used to be green, but uses it as an excuse to ask Sazed about his powers. He is reluctant at first, but she points out that she might miss important information if she doesn’t understand the text. Sazed explains that he is a Feruchemist. Instead of burning metal, he uses different pieces of metal jewelry to store certain attributes. They can use up store up certain attributes (age, strength, etc.) by spending time in a weakened state and then use the reserve at a later time. Vin asks about Sazed’s people’s religion. He is getting his first ideas from reading the logs. Vin asks why Spook gave her a handkerchief when he came to tell her Dockson had arrived. Sazed explains it means a man seriously wants to court a woman. Vin takes some time to talk to Dockson about his past. He was a plantation skaa and fell in love with a girl, Kareien. The Lord, Devinshae, slept with her one night and killed her (as law dictates to prevent half breeds). Dockson left the plantation that night. Vin wonders if all the noblemen are as bad as Dockson says. She wonders about Elend.
Vin attends a ball at Keep Hastings accompanied by a boy named Milan. The people at her table discuss nobility politics and she excuses herself. A girl named Kliss (a known gossip) recaptures Vin’s attention by talking about skaa thieving crews being caught and executed on site. Shan approaches and drags Vin away. She wants vin to tell her what books Elend reads. As Vin walks back to her own table, she sees Elend Venture. She asks him why he has been avoiding her, and he explains that he didn’t want to make life difficult for her among the nobility. Vin starts crying and asks if he has ever slept with a skaa woman. Elend admits that he did when he was 13 and his father said it was time for him to become a man. He had no idea the woman would be killed and hasn’t done it since. Vin believes him and tells him that the skaa are just like the nobility. she says she knows from hiding runaways at her plantation. Elend gives her his handkerchief to fix her makeup, and when she tries to return it, he tells her to keep it. He goes off with his friends. When Sazed arrives, Vin asks to follow Elend using Allomancy. He agrees and she takes off. Vin listens to him and his four friends talk about changing the nobility. She is surprised to find Kelsier nearby also listening in and back from his trip. He has spied on the little group a few times an promises to fill her in. He also promises that he will not kill them.
Back at Clubs’ shop, Vin finds herself enjoying the company of the rest of the crew. Kelsier plans to have Breeze eventually replace Yeden with the army. Vin asks to go with Ham when he goes to talk to his contacts in the garrison. ONe their way, Ham explains that power won’t always win in a fight. ALong with skill, a Thug needs to know when to burn his pewter. He has been working in Luthadel to save up to move his family (living in another city) far away to live out the rest of their lives together. If the Lord Ruler knew he was a Misting, he would kill Ham’s children too. WHen they arrive, Ham talks to recently promoted Captain Sertes. A skaa rebellion has been discovered near the caves and the Lord Ruler is sending them to take care of it. Ham agrees to go with them, but has to take vin back first.
Kelsier and Vin are going to warn the army and will have to constantly burn pewter to get there in time. He tells Ham to go with the garrison. Ham says he will not turn on the men if he goes with them. Kelsier asks him to try not to kill their men either. Everyone involved is being warned and Dockson is left in charge. Kelsier and Vin make it out of the city in their mistcloaks. She is surprised at how well she is doing running at such incredible speed. Kelsier warns her that she will not feel the same in 16 hours. When they are close to the caves, Kelsier stops to look down on a battle from a hilltop. Vin has to stop him from trying to save what is left of their army from slaughter, which would probably get him killed. They go to the caves and Kelsier thinks they are empty. vin finds Demoux and about two thousand men that stayed behind because they thought Yeden was wrong. Kelsier tells them the army is dead and they need to get them out of there. That night, Mennis approaches Kelsier. He tells him that the generals wanted to give the army battle experience. kelsier feels responsible for giving them too much hope. Mennis tells him to be happy that he accomplished the greatest strike against the Lord Ruler in Centuries and to give up. Kelsier isn’t done yet.
Breeze expresses his concern that Kelsier is only worried about his reputation. Kelsier has them all attend a public execution and they watch from a rooftop. The Lord Ruler arrives in a carriage and Soothes the entire crowd. Kelsier works to Riot their crew against it. As random skaa are killed four at a time by the Inquisitor’s axes, Kelsier points out that the garrison is mostly out of the city and will be hunting the rest of the army for months. THey still have time to build up their numbers within the city and continue on with plan even though Yeden is dead. He tells them to leave if they want out, but he plans to continue.
With everyone in agreement to continue, Kelsier’s crew decides how to proceed. The remaining two thousand men from the army will be split up among the city and each troop will be told they are the only one not disbanded. Ham and Breeze will continue recruiting. Vin will need to focus on House Venture being brought down to make the economy unstable while Breeze and Dockson use their aliases to cause their own havoc among the nobility. Sazed arrives and has a message from Marsh. Kelsier is taking Vin to meet with him. As they wait Kelsier teaches Vin about the ninth metal - gold. She burns it and is able to see a version of herself that could have been if she had made different decisions. When the gold is burnt up, she feels odd and decides that she won’t burn gold ever again if she can help it. Kelsier also explains that burning other metals or incorrectly mixed alloys can make them sick or kill them. Vin realizes that is why he hasn’t tried the eleventh mental yet. They finally meet Marsh, who is now training to be a low level obligator. He has the tattoos on his face and has gained favor at the Canton of Inquisition. He is on his way to one of the Ministries’ many posts where Mistings are constantly Soothing the skaa. Marsh is going to try to get them a list of all the locations. He also found out that the Inquisitors do eventually die of old age and generally start out as Mistborns.
Vin attends a ball at Lekal Keep and starts spreading lies about some of the houses. Lady Kliss is over excited at the news that the Hastings are thinking about leaving the city. Vin meets with Elend and he is fairly public about his affection for her. They go for a walk and he asks her to leave the city. She refuses and warns him about Lady Shan’s intentions. Elend tells her that House Venture only appears strong. They secretly deal with the Lord Ruler’s atium - which is why their house is on top. She asks if he is looking to overthrow the Final Empire and he explains that he wants to change it. When Elend leaves to meet with his friends, Vin goes to Shan . She tries to give her an update,but Shan sends her away. Elend meets with his friend sand they accuse him of being distant because of Vin. They try to warn him, but he won’t listen. He makes his way home and his father, Straff, a tineye, tells him to stop seeing Vin and go to lunch to make an alliance with another house to take out Hastings. Elend refuses both orders and starts towards his room. A servant takes him to his waiting friend, Jeste. He had Vin’s carriage followed and found that she wasn’t in it when it left the city. He thinks Vin is a spy from another house. Elend doesn’t want to believe it. He makes a deal with his dad - he will go to lunch if he can borrow a few spies.
After reading the latest translation of the log book Sazed gave her, Vin is curious about what happened at and after the Lord Ruler reaches the Well of Ascension, especially since his travel companion, Reshek, is furious that the man named Hero of Ages isn’t a Terrisman (even though that is what the prophecy foretold). She finds Sazed to see when the next section will be ready, and he tells her it is the end of the log book. She is frustrated and they go for a walk in the garden. Vin is sad that whether they succeed or fail, things are going to change. She likes her life and doesn’t want her current relationships to end. Vin asks Sazed if she can try burning metal he has stored something in. He gives her a small pewter earring and she swallows it. She can see the reserve, but can’t access it. Sazed explains that is how it appears when trying to use someone else’s stored attributes. She cannot use it because it isn’t hers. Kelsier has to sneak into the Renoux Mansion for their meeting. The impostor lord, a kandra, is present, but tires not to get too involved if he can help it. Marsh sent a map showing all the Soothing stations throughout the city as well as where the Inquisitors have hit. They plan to hire several crews to take out three stations each to hurt the ministry. Kelsier asks Vin if she has any information on how to take down House Venture. She says no and he can’t tell if she is lying or not. The next ball is at Venture Keep. Kelsier has trouble sleeping that night. Sazed comes to let him know that a guard spotted him on the balcony. He moves inside and asks Sazed to tell him about a religion. Afterwards, Kelsier asks to hear about the longest surviving religion after the Lord Ruler’s reign began. The Vallas kept going even after their leaders were dead. This gives Kelsier hope.
Vin and Sazed arrive at the Venture Keep to a packed ballroom and realize that something has happened. Sazed goes to the servants’ dinner while Vin goes to mingle. Two tables ignore her so she makes her way to Elend’s reading spot on the balcony. She sees that he is sitting with his family. Sazed finds her to tell her the other houses have announced they will not be hosting balls for a while: the war is starting. Vin sends him to tell Kelsier. She goes to get Elend’s attention. He gives her a few minutes alone where he tells her he has to think about his house and he knows she is a spy. He leaves to meet with his friends. Kliss thinks that she has vin figured out and antagonizes her into buying information about Elend being assassinated that night. Vin takes off and uses her Allomancy (knowing she’ll have to pay for Kliss’ silence later) to search for the assassins. She gets a very small sense of something while burning bronze. She approaches them to find two Mistborns (one is Lady Shan) and several Mistings (including a smoker, two coinshots). Vin is able to take out the Mistings and distract the Mistborns. She starts pushing and pulling off whatever metal she can find until she is able to trick one of the Mistborns into knocking himself out of the air. It comes down to a one on one fight between Vin and Lady Shan. Vin uses her atium, but Shan has her own. Vin stops burning her to throw Shan off and then flares it to help a wooden arrow into Shan’s chest. It isn’t quite enough, but luckily, the archers keep shooting and Vin is able to use another arrow and Shan dies. Vin hopes Elend is okay and takes off.
Everyone at Clubs’ shop is shocked is shocked when Vin comes in half naked and cut up. She explains that she killed Shan to get away. Kelsier asks how she got into the situation and she tells them about the plot to kill Elend. When Kelsier goes to scold her for caring about a nobleman, she points out that none of them are living the life of a skaa. They are practically noblemen without the titles. She storms off and Kelsier is shamed into silence. He finds vin on the roof. She apologizes and tells him the Venture House secret. She also tells him that she thinks Inquisitors can see through copper clouds to find Allomancy users. She explains that is probably how they knew he and Mare were at the palace when they got caught. Vin admits that she did it to find Shan. She is able to demonstrate it to Kelsier as he burns different metals. When someone fell through roof of Elend’s room, he thought a spy had just gotten careless. He grabbed his books and fled in a carriage with Jeste. They meet up with his spies who tell him about Sazed going to Clubs’ well protected shop. They think Vin is part of a skaa thieving crew. He is relieved and curious. Back home, his father tells him Shan was leading an assassination attempt on him. Elend is shocked and notices his father is not. He goes to bed thinking about Vin.
Vin goes to the roof to talk to Spook while she waits for Kelsier. She tells him that even though Elend broke it of with her, she still loves him. SHe asks to keep his handkerchief and he agrees. vin asks for any tips on using tin. Spook tells her to weed out distractions and really focus on one thing. Kelsier arrives and Vin takes off with him to meet with Marsh. Since she help him realize Mare might not have betrayed him, he says that Elend might have dismissed her to get her to leave the city. They make a stop to visit some skaa as Kelsier does often to keep spirits high. Eventually they make it to where they are supposed to meet Marsh, but they notice blood under the door. They find a body flayed and dismembered with the head crushed. Vin has to get Kelsier’s attention to get him out of there before the Inquisitor that did it comes back. She finds a piece of paper in a table leg and grabs it before the y take off out a window. Back at Clubs’ shop, Dockson reads the letter Vin grabbed from Marsh. The Inquisitors were on to him. Kelsier goes out into the mists planning to hit the Final Empire where it hurts, just like they did to him. A man named Walin crawls down through the Pits of Hathsin looking for a geode so that he can live another seven days. He finds a crystal and smashes it open with his fist to grab the geode inside. He climbs back up to the top to find a man (Kelsier) in his mistcloak. He tells Walin that most of the guards are dead. He needs to leave and sell the metal inside the geode to become a survivor like him. Once most of the slaves are gone, Kelsier reaches out with iron to pull on the atium. It shatters from the Allomancy (which is why the Lord Ruler needs slaves to mine it). Kelsier is ready to try to destroy the Pits.
What is left of the crew huddles in a three room cellar to wait for Kelsier. Spook has been sent to help Lord Renoux evacuate his house from Fellise before he is suspected. They believe that the job is over and their efforts were worth the risks. They will go their separate ways and possibly join Kelsier again if he starts a new job in the future. Just then, Kelsier comes in and tells them that he destroyed the Pits of Hathsin - they will not produce atium for several centuries. Breeze is impressed that Kelsier single handedly took out the economy. Vin worries about Elend. Kelsier says they will continue planning the next day. Early the next afternoon, one of Clubs’ tineyes comes to tell them that people are gathering in the square. Kelsier leads the crew (besides Clubs and Sazed) to go watch. He hears the prisoner carts going by and goes up onto the roof. The others follow. Kelsier sees Spook and Renoux and decides he has to try to save them. Vin tries to stop him, but the entire crew stands behind him. They take off. kelsier jumps into the middle of the soldiers and pushes them away by their breastplates. He frees the prisoners and is then face to face with a Steel Inquisitor. Dockson pulls Breeze into an alley and Vin follows. They realize it was a trap. Kelsier dodges the Inquisitor, who asks where Vin is. The guards come after him as well and he decides that he will do whatever he can to free the prisoners. Suddenly, Ham arrives with their own soldiers. Breeze Soothes the Empire guards and Vin realizes that is how she can help. Kelsier starts trying to lead the Inquisitor away as the rebels free the prisoners. Elend is making his way through the crowd looking for Vin. The Inquisitor starts killing fleeing prisoners until Kelsier decides to face him straight on. Kelsier downs two vials of metals at once and pushes to clear a space for the Inquisitor and himself.
Kelsier continues to fight the Inquisitor while trying to help the skaa army and prisoners. At one point, he makes an incredible dodge of an empty cage cart that even the Inquisitor finds impressive. Archers come out and Kelsier is able to spin bars of metal to deflect most of them. Eventually Ham is able to get to the front cart to free Renoux and Spook. It isn’t long before the Inquisitor puts an axe in Renoux’s back. The impostor looks at Kelsier, who nods before the kandra falls to the ground. Eland is looking for vin and doesn’t realize the Inquisitor is about to kill him. Kelsier launches himself at the Inquisitor until he is on top and strangling it. Kelsier realizes Inquisitors can be killed. Since he has already lost everything, he decides to try. Vin climbs up onto a roof to see if she actually saw Elend int he crowd. She doesn’t see him, but is able to update Dockson on what is happening. Kelsier uses small bits of metal to block the Inquisitor’s atium vision and distract him with hits until he is backed up against a cart. Kelsier grabs a cobblestone and uses it to drive one of the Inquisitor’s steel spikes into the wood. He then grabs its obsidian axe and buries it in his neck. The crowd (mostly skaa) start to get excited the Kelsier killed an Inquisitor, but the Lord Ruler arrives and immediately dampens their spirit. A few of Ham’s men run up to the Lord Ruler and stab him with spears, but he doesn’t seem to notice. Inquisitors quickly come to kill them as the Lord Ruler approaches Kelsier. He smacks the Survivor across the face and then stabs him through the chest with one of the spears he pulls out of his own body. Chaos ensues as the Lord Ruler departs and Vin runs to Kelsier, unable to believe he is dead. Ham has to drag her away.
Vin is upset that Kelsier left her, just like Reen said everyone would. Sazed explains that everyone plans to leave the city and he must travel alone to his own land to teach all that he has learned to a new generation. Suddenly they hear people gathering in the streets. Skaa are no longer afraid of the mists. Sazed gets the others and tells everyone the Kelsier often asked what the longest lasting religions had in common. He had worked to make himself a god. At Vin’s request, Dockson leads them to a warehouse where Kelsier stored weapons for distribution and instructions for each of them. Renoux shows up, but now he looks like Kelsier. He explains that a kandra is a grownup mistwratith, and Kelsier hired him to do this from the start. He hands Vin a bag before leaving them to finish his own chores left before Kelsier. Vin opens the pouch to find atium, the eleventh metal, Mare’s flower picture, and a note. Kelsier asks her not to be angry for leaving her. He couldn’t figure out the secret of the eleventh mental, but knows it is safe to burn. She realizes that Kelsier meant for her to be an assassin, but he didn’t know how. Vin decided that she is going to get into the room in Kredik Shaw that Kelsier couldn’t make it into twice.
Vin convinces a few palace guards to join the skaa rebellion before making her way to the building inside the building. There are two Inquisitors guarding. Vin uses metal with stone arrowheads as a projectile weapon. The Inquisitor can stop the metal, but not the stone arrows that already have momentum. She uses pewter dust to bind and slash at the second one before making it into the small building. She looks around and eventually see the lord Ruler as an old man. The Inquisitors come for her and ask to keep her for study. Meanwhile, Vin uses the eleventh mental and sees two additional versions of the Lord Ruler - one in furs, the other a merchant. The metal wears out and the Inquisitors knock her out. Elend wakes up to find his father in a panic over the skaa rebellion and the mess at the atium pits. He tells his father he is staying. Lord Venture is more than willing to let his son take the fall and leaves Elend with most of their soldiers before he takes off. Elend tells the captain to take all but five men to Lekal Keep (their enemies) to offer service for protection. He plans to take his five men and turn himself in. Vin wakes up in a cell and an Inquisitor makes her swallow a strange metal. he tells her to burn it and it removes all her reserves. She is taken in front of the Lord Rule as proof that the Ministry shouldn’t be run by corruptible men. Vin is so overcome with sorrow from the Lord Ruler that she admits the High Prelan is supposedly her father. He is given over to the Inquisitors. One of them asks to question Vin to try to locate her Misting friends.
Elend is brought in front of Dockson. He says he can help them if they are willing to stop attacking the nobility and focus on the Ministry and Lord Ruler. He suggests Vin vouch for him, and Dockson tells him she was captured. Vin is alone in her cell thinking about the eleventh metal. She wonders if it is the true pairing for gold and there is another metal that actually pairs with atium. She wonders about the if there many other metals that Allomancers can burn, but are unaware of. The Inquisitors return to put Sazed in the cell next to hers. They say her brother died screaming that she was dead, but promise that Sazed will go more slowly. The Inquisitors leave and Sazed reveals that he was caught on purpose to help her. He uses strength he stored in a ring he swallowed to get them out. As they are leaving, palace guards find them. Elend, his men, and the guard Vin had convinced to switch sides arrive to help. Sazed tires to get Vin out, but she refuses. She finds her clothes and mistcloak. Luckily, there is still a vial of metal left and she uses it to defeat the guards. She tells Sazed to get Elend to safety while she goes after the Lord Ruler, knowing it is the rebellion’s only hop.
Vin bides her time among the spires of the palace as the Lord Ruler makes the announcement that Kar, one of the Inquisitors, would be taking over leading the Ministry. Kar is very pleased with himself and the years of planning he has put into this moment. Everyone leaves the room except the Lord Ruler and Kar. That is when Vin attacks. It isn’t long before Kar is on her and vin realizes she doesn’t have much of a chance. However, Marsh arrives as an Inquisitor and pulls a steel spike out of Kar’s back, killing him like he did the other Inquisitors. Marsh then rips the Lord Ruler’s shirt, but is disappointed when there are no spikes. Vin sees that in addition to wearing many metal rings, the Lord Ruler also has other jewelry up his arms, some that pierce the skin. Suddenly, Vin realizes he is using Feruchemy (genetically passed through Terrismen) and Allomancy in conjunction. The Lord Ruler is not the Hero of Ages from the log book, but the Terrisman Reshek, who was upset one of his own wasn’t chosen to save the world. Vin uses her power to pull the metal off him and pushes it out the the window. He starts to age quickly and warns them that the world will be doomed without what he does. Vin stabs him through the heart.
Vin, Sazed, and Marsh discuss how the Lord Ruler must have been a Feruchemist and an allomancer to crate his immortality. They are still unsure if he gained the allomancy at the Well of Ascension. vin worries about his final words - where he implied that he is still doing something to keep the protect the world, possibly from the Deepness he saved it from. Unfortunately no one really knows about the Deepness. marsh knows there are other Inquisitors throughout the world, but refuses to say how they are made. he tells them they have twelve connected spikes in their bodies and separating the top ones from the bottom ones will kill them. He will work with the ministry to help everyone accept the new King - Elend. Vin debates going to see him. It isn’t until she remembers that her brother died protecting her that she goes to him. She is actually happy.
QUICK REFERENCE:
Iron - Extermal - Physical - Pull - Metal
Steel - External - Physical - Push - Metal
Tin - Internal - Physical - Pull - Senses
Pewter - Internal - Physical - Push - Strength
Zinc - External - Mental - Pull - Emotions
Brass - External - Mental - Push - Emotions
Copper - Internal - Mental - Pull - hide Allomancy
Bronze - Internal - Mental - Push - find Allomancy