The Hero of Ages Page 2

Page 2

  The stranger continued his contemplation of the city. Ash fell on his beautiful white uniform, and Fatren thought it a shame to see the garment being dirtied. The newcomer nodded to himself, then began to walk down the side of the bulwark.

  "Wait," Fatren said, causing the stranger to pause. "Who are you?"

  The newcomer turned, meeting Fatrens eyes. "My name is Elend Venture. Im your emperor. "

  With that, the man turned and continued down the embankment. The soldiers made way for him; then many of them followed behind.

  Fatren glanced at his brother.

  "Emperor?" Druffel muttered, then spat.

  Fatren agreed with the sentiment. What to do? Hed never fought an Allomancer before; he wasnt even certain how to begin. The "emperor" had certainly disarmed Druffel easily enough.

  "Organize the people of the city," the stranger—Elend Venture—said from ahead. "The koloss will come from the north—theyll ignore the gate, climbing over the bulwark. I want the children and the elderly concentrated in the southernmost part of the city. Pack them together in as few buildings as possible. "

  "What good will that do?" Fatren demanded. He hurried after the "emperor"—he didnt really see any other option.

  "The koloss are most dangerous when theyre in a blood frenzy," Venture said, continuing to walk. "If they do take the city, then you want them to spend as long as possible searching for your people. If the koloss frenzy wears off while they search, theyll grow frustrated and turn to looting. Then your people might be able to sneak away without being chased. "

  Venture paused, then turned to meet Fatrens eyes. The strangers expression was grim. "Its a slim hope. But, its something. " With that, he resumed his pace, walking down the citys main thoroughfare.

  From behind, Fatren could hear the soldiers whispering. Theyd all heard of a man named Elend Venture. He was the one who had seized power in Luthadel after the Lord Rulers death over two years before. News from up north was scarce and unreliable, but most of it mentioned Venture. He had fought off all rivals to the throne, even killing his own father. Hed hidden his nature as a Mistborn, and was supposedly married to the very woman who had slain the Lord Ruler. Fatren doubted that such an important man—one who was likely more legend than fact—had made his way to such a humble city in the Southern Dominance, especially unaccompanied. Even the mines werent worth much anymore. The stranger had to be lying.

  But . . . he was obviously an Allomancer . . .

  Fatren hurried to keep up with the stranger. Venture—or whoever he was—paused in front of a large structure near the center of the city. The old offices of the Steel Ministry. Fatren had ordered the doors and windows boarded up.

  "You found the weapons in there?" Venture asked, turning toward Fatren.

  Fatren stood for a moment. Then, finally, shook his head. "From the lords mansion. "

  "He left weapons behind?" Venture asked with surprise.

  "We think he intended to come back for them," Fatren said. "The soldiers he left eventually deserted, joining a passing army. They took what they could carry. We scavenged the rest. "

  Venture nodded to himself, rubbing his bearded chin in thought as he stared at the old Ministry building. It was tall and ominous, despite—or perhaps because of—its disuse. "Your men look well trained. I didnt expect that. Do any of them have battle experience?"

  Druffel snorted quietly, indicating that he thought this stranger had no business being so nosy.

  "Our men have fought enough to be dangerous, stranger," Fatren said. "Some bandits thought to take rule of the city from us1. They assumed we were weak, and would be easily cowed. "

  If the stranger saw the words as a threat, he didnt show it. He simply nodded. "Have any of you fought koloss?"

  Fatren shared a look with Druffel. "Men who fight koloss dont live, stranger," he finally said.

  "If that were true," Venture said, "Id be dead a dozen times over. " He turned to face the growing crowd of soldiers and townspeople. "Ill teach you what I can about fighting koloss, but we dont have much time. I want captains and squad leaders organized at the city gate in ten minutes. Regular soldiers are to form up in ranks along the bulwark—Ill teach the squad leaders and captains a few tricks, then they can carry the tips to their men. "

  Some of the soldiers moved, but—to their credit—most of them stayed where they were. The newcomer didnt seem offended that his orders werent obeyed. He stood quietly, staring down the armed crowd. He didnt seem frightened, nor did he seem angry or disapproving. He just seemed . . . regal.

  "My lord," one of the soldier captains finally asked. "Did you . . . bring an army with you to help us?"

  "I brought two, actually," Venture said. "But we dont have time to wait for them. " He met Fatrens eyes. "You wrote and asked for my help. And, as your liege, Ive come to give it. Do you still want it?"

  Fatren frowned. Hed never asked this man—or any lord—for help. He opened his mouth to object, but paused. Hell let me pretend that I sent for him, Fatren thought. Act like this was part of the plan all along. I could give up rule here without looking like a failure.

  Were going to die. But, looking into this mans eyes, I can almost believe that we have a chance.

  "I . . . didnt expect you to come alone, my lord," Fatren found himself saying. "I was surprised to see you. "

  Venture nodded. "That is understandable. Come, lets talk tactics while your soldiers gather. "

  "Very well," Fatren said. As he stepped forward, however, Druffel caught his arm.

  "What are you doing?" his brother hissed. "You sent for this man? I dont believe it. "

  "Gather the soldiers, Druff," Fatren said.

  Druffel stood for a moment, then swore quietly and stalked away. He didnt look like he had any intention of gathering the soldiers, so Fatren waved for two of his captains to do it. That done, he joined Venture, and the two walked back toward the gates, Venture ordering a few soldiers to walk ahead of them and keep people back so that he and Fatren could speak more privately. Ash continued to fall from the sky, dusting the street black, clustering atop the citys stooped, one-story buildings.

  "Who are you?" Fatren asked quietly.

  "I am who I said," Venture said.

  "I dont believe you. "

  "But you trust me," Venture said.

  "No. I just dont want to argue with an Allomancer. "

  "Thats good enough, for now," Venture said. "Look, friend, you have ten thousand koloss marching on your city. You need whatever help you can get. "

  Ten thousand? Fatren thought, feeling stupefied.

  "Youre in charge of this ci1ty, I assume?" Venture asked.

  Fatren shook out of his stupor. "Yes," he said. "My name is Fatren. "

  "All right, Lord Fatren, we—"

  "Im no lord," Fatren said.

  "Well, you just became one," Venture said. "You can choose a surname later. Now, before we continue, you need to know my conditions for helping you. "

  "What kind of conditions?"

  "The nonnegotiable kind," Venture said. "If we win, youll swear fealty to me. "

  Fatren frowned, stopping in the street. Ash fell around him. "So thats it? You saunter in before a fight, claiming to be some high lord, so you can take credit for our victory? Why should I swear fealty to a man I only met a few minutes before?"

  "Because if you dont," Venture said quietly, "Ill just take command anyway. " Then he continued to walk.

  Fatren stood for a moment; then he rushed forward and caught up to Venture. "Oh, I see. Even if we survive this battle, well end up ruled by a tyrant. "

  "Yes," Venture said.

  Fatren frowned. He hadnt expected the man to be so blunt.

  Venture shook his head, regarding the city through the falling ash. "I used to think that I could do things differently. And, I still believe that Il
l be able to, someday. But, for now, I dont have a choice. I need your soldiers and I need your city. "

  "My city?" Fatren asked, frowning. "Why?"

  Venture held up a finger. "We have to survive this battle first," he said. "Well get to other things later. "

  Fatren paused, and was surprised to realize that he did trust the stranger. He couldnt have explained exactly why he felt that way. This was simply a man to follow—a leader such as Fatren had always wanted to be.

  Venture didnt wait for Fatren to agree to the "conditions. " It wasnt an offer, but an ultimatum. Fatren hurried to catch up again as Venture entered the small square in front of the city gates. Soldiers bustled about. None of them wore uniforms—their only method of distinguishing a captain from a regular soldier was a red band tied around the arm. Venture hadnt given them much time to gather—but, then, they all knew the city was about to be attacked. They had been gathered anyway.

  "Time is short," Venture repeated in a loud voice. "I can teach you only a few things, but they will make a difference.

  "Koloss range in size from small ones that are about five feet tall to the huge ones, which are about twelve feet tall. However, even the little ones are going to be stronger than you are. Expect that. Fortunately, the creatures fight without coordination between individuals. If a kolosss comrade is in trouble, he wont bother to help.

  "They attack directly, without guile, and try to use blunt force to overwhelm. Dont let them! Tell your men to gang up on individual koloss—two men for the small ones, three or four for the big ones. We wont be able to maintain a very large front, but that will keep us alive the longest.

  "Dont worry about creatures that get around our line and enter the city—well have the civilians hidden at the very back of your town, and the koloss who bypass our line might turn to pillaging, leaving others to fight alone. Thats what we want! Dont chase them down into the1 city. Your families will be safe.

  "If youre fighting a big koloss, attack the legs, bring it down before you go for the kill. If youre fighting a small one, make certain your sword or spear doesnt get caught in their loose skin. Understand that koloss arent stupid—theyre just unsophisticated. Predictable. Theyll come at you the easiest way possible, and attack only in the most direct manner.

  "The most important thing for you to understand is that they can be beaten. Well do it today. Dont let yourselves become intimidated! Fight with coordination, keep your heads, and I promise you that we will survive. "

  The soldier captains stood in a small cluster, looking at Venture. They didnt cheer at the speech, but they did seem a little more confident. They moved off to pass on Ventures instructions to their men.

  Fatren approached the emperor quietly. "If your count is correct, they outnumber us five to one. "

  Venture nodded.

  "Theyre bigger, stronger, and better trained than we are. "

  Venture nodded again.

  "Were doomed, then. "

  Venture finally looked at Fatren, frowning, black ash dusting his shoulders. "Youre not doomed. You have something they dont—something very important. "