The Final Empire m-1 Read online

  Another ashfall began as Kelsier stood contemplating the city, the flakes falling lightly down upon the streets and buildings. A lot of ashfalls, lately, he thought, glad for the excuse to pull up the hood on his cloak. The Ashmounts must be active.

  It was unlikely that anyone in Luthadel would recognize him – it had been three years since his capture. Still, the hood was reassuring. If all went well, there would come a time when Kelsier would want to be seen and recognized. For now, anonymity was probably better.

  Eventually, a figure approached along the wall. The man, Dockson, was shorter than Kelsier, and he had a squarish face that seemed well suited to his moderately stocky build. A nondescript brown hooded cloak covered his black hair, and he wore the same short half beard that he’d sported since his face had first put forth whiskers some twenty years before.

  He, like Kelsier, wore a nobleman’s suit: colored vest, dark coat and trousers, and a thin cloak to keep off the ash. The clothing wasn’t rich, but it was aristocratic – indicative of the Luthadel middle class. Most men of noble birth weren’t wealthy enough to be considered part of a Great House – yet, in the Final Empire, nobility wasn’t just about money. It was about lineage and history; the Lord Ruler was immortal, and he apparently still remembered the men who had supported him during the early years of his reign. The descendants of those men, no matter how poor they became, would always be favored.

  The clothing would keep passing guard patrols from asking too many questions. In the cases of Kelsier and Dockson, of course, that clothing was a lie. Neither was actually noble – though, technically, Kelsier was a half-blood. In many ways, however, that was worse than being just a normal skaa.

  Dockson strolled up next to Kelsier, then leaned against the battlement, resting a pair of stout arms on the stone. “You’re a few days late, Kell.”

  “I decided to make a few extra stops in the plantations to the north.”

  “Ah,” Dockson said. “So you did have something to do with Lord Tresting’s death.”

  Kelsier smiled. “You could say that.”

  “His murder caused quite a stir among the local nobility.”

  “That was kind of the intention,” Kelsier said. “Though, to be honest, I wasn’t planning anything quite so dramatic. It was almost more of an accident than anything else.”

  Dockson raised an eyebrow. “How do you ‘accidentally’ kill a nobleman in his own mansion?”

  “With a knife in the chest,” Kelsier said lightly. “Or, rather, a pair of knives in the chest – it always pays to be careful.”

  Dockson rolled his eyes.

  “His death isn’t exactly a loss, Dox,” Kelsier said. “Even among the nobility, Tresting had a reputation for cruelty.”

  “I don’t care about Tresting,” Dockson said. “I’m just considering the state of insanity that led me to plan another job with you. Attacking a provincial lord in his manor house, surrounded by guards… Honestly, Kell, I’d nearly forgotten how foolhardy you can be.”

  “Foolhardy?” Kelsier asked with a laugh. “That wasn’t foolhardy – that was just a small diversion. You should see some of the things I’m planning to do!”

  Dockson stood for a moment, then he laughed too. “By the Lord Ruler, it’s good to have you back, Kell! I’m afraid I’ve grown rather boring during the last few years.”

  “We’ll fix that,” Kelsier promised. He took a deep breath, ash falling lightly around him. Skaa cleaning crews were already back at work on the streets below, brushing up the dark ash. Behind, a guard patrol passed, nodding to Kelsier and Dockson. They waited in silence for the men to pass.

  “It’s good to be back,” Kelsier finally said. “There’s something homey about Luthadel – even if it is a depressing, stark pit of a city. You have the meeting organized?”

  Dockson nodded. “We can’t start until this evening, though. How’d you get in, anyway? I had men watching the gates.”

  “Hmm? Oh, I snuck in last night.”

  “But how–” Dockson paused. “Oh, right. That’s going to take some getting used to.”

  Kelsier shrugged. “I don’t see why. You always work with Mistings.”

  “Yes, but this is different,” Dockson said. He held up a hand to forestall further argument. “No need, Kell. I’m not hedging – I just said it would take some getting used to.”

  “Fine. Who’s coming tonight?”

  “Well, Breeze and Ham will be there, of course. They’re very curious about this mystery job of ours – not to mention rather annoyed that I won’t tell them what you’ve been up to these last few years.”

  “Good,” Kelsier said with a smile. “Let them wonder. How about Trap?”

  Dockson shook his head. “Trap’s dead. The Ministry finally caught up with him a couple months ago. Didn’t even bother sending him to the Pits – they beheaded him on the spot.”

  Kelsier closed his eyes, exhaling softly. It seemed that the Steel Ministry caught up with everyone eventually. Sometimes, Kelsier felt that a skaa Misting’s life wasn’t so much about surviving as it was about picking the right time to die.

  “This leaves us without a Smoker,” Kelsier finally said, opening his eyes. “You have any suggestions?”

  “Ruddy,” Dockson said.

  Kelsier shook his head. “No. He’s a good Smoker, but he’s not a good enough man.”

  Dockson smiled. “Not a good enough man to be on a thieving crew… Kell, I have missed working with you. All right, who then?”

  Kelsier thought for a moment. “Is Clubs still running that shop of his?”

  “As far as I know,” Dockson said slowly.

  “He’s supposed to be one of the best Smokers in the city.”

  “I suppose,” Dockson said. “But… isn’t he supposed to be kind of hard to work with?”

  “He’s not so bad,” Kelsier said. “Not once you get used to him. Besides, I think he might be… amenable to this particular job.”

  “All right,” Dockson said, shrugging. “I’ll invite him. I think one of his relatives is a Tineye. Do you want me to invite him too?”

  “Sounds good,” Kelsier said.

  “All right,” Dockson said. “Well, beyond that, there’s just Yeden. Assuming he’s still interested…”

  “He’ll be there,” Kelsier said.

  “He’d better be,” Dockson said. “He’ll be the one paying us, after all.”

  Kelsier nodded, then frowned. “You didn’t mention Marsh.”

  Dockson shrugged. “I warned you. Your brother never did approve of our methods, and now… well, you know Marsh. He won’t even have anything to do with Yeden and the rebellion anymore, let alone with a bunch of criminals like us. I think we’ll have to find someone else to infiltrate the obligators.”

  “No,” Kelsier said. “He’ll do it. I’ll just have to stop by to persuade him.”

  “If you say so.” Dockson fell silent then, and the two stood for a moment, leaning against the railing and looking out over the ash-stained city.

  Dockson finally shook his head. “This is insane, eh?”

  Kelsier smiled. “Feels good, doesn’t it?”

  Dockson nodded. “Fantastic.”

  “It will be a job like no other,” Kelsier said, looking north – across the city and toward the twisted building at its center.

  Dockson stepped away from the wall. “We have a few hours before the meeting. There’s something I want to show you. I think there’s still time – if we hurry.”

  Kelsier turned with curious eyes. “Well, I was going to go and chastise my prude of a brother. But…”

  “This will be worth your time,” Dockson promised.

  Vin sat in the corner of the safe house’s main lair. She kept to the shadows, as usual; the more she stayed out of sight, the more the others would ignore her. She couldn’t afford to expend Luck keeping the men’s hands off of her. She’d barely had time to regenerate what she’d used a few days before, during the meeting with th
e obligator.

  The usual rabble lounged at tables in the room, playing at dice or discussing minor jobs. Smoke from a dozen different pipes pooled at the top of the chamber, and the walls were stained dark from countless years of similar treatment. The floor was darkened with patches of ash. Like most thieving crews, Camon’s group wasn’t known for its tidiness.

  There was a door at the back of the room, and beyond it lay a twisting stone stairway that led up to a false rain grate in an alleyway. This room, like so many others hidden in the imperial capital of Luthadel, wasn’t supposed to exist.

  Rough laughter came from the front of the chamber, where Camon sat with a half-dozen cronies enjoying a typical afternoon of ale and crass jokes. Camon’s table sat beside the bar, where the overpriced drinks were simply another way Camon exploited those who worked for him. The Luthadel criminal element had learned quite well from the lessons taught by the nobility.

  Vin tried her best to remain invisible. Six months before, she wouldn’t have believed that her life could actually get worse without Reen. Yet, despite her brother’s abusive anger, he had kept the other crewmembers from having their way with Vin. There were relatively few women on thieving crews; generally, those women who got involved with the underworld ended up as whores. Reen had always told her that a girl needed to be tough – tougher, even, than a man – if she wanted to survive.

  You think some crewleader is going to want a liability like you on his team? he had said. I don’t even want to have to work with you, and I’m your brother.

  Her back still throbbed; Camon had whipped her the day before. The blood would ruin her shirt, and she wouldn’t be able to afford another one. Camon was already retaining her wages to pay the debts Reen had left behind.

  But, I am strong, she thought.

  That was the irony. The beatings almost didn’t hurt anymore, for Reen’s frequent abuses had left Vin resilient, while at the same time teaching her how to look pathetic and broken. In a way, the beatings were self-defeating. Bruises and welts mended, but each new lashing left Vin more hardened. Stronger.

  Camon stood up. He reached into his vest pocket and pulled out his golden pocket watch. He nodded to one of his companions, then he scanned the room, searching for… her.

  His eyes locked on Vin. “It’s time.”

  Vin frowned. Time for what?

  The Ministry’s Canton of Finance was an imposing structure – but, then, everything about the Steel Ministry tended to be imposing.

  Tall and blocky, the building had a massive rose window in the front, though the glass was dark from the outside. Two large banners hung down beside the window, the soot-stained red cloth proclaiming praises to the Lord Ruler.

  Camon studied the building with a critical eye. Vin could sense his apprehension. The Canton of Finance was hardly the most threatening of Ministry offices – the Canton of Inquisition, or even the Canton of Orthodoxy, had a far more ominous reputation. However, voluntarily entering any Ministry office… putting yourself in the power of the obligators… well, it was a thing to do only after serious consideration.

  Camon took a deep breath, then strode forward, his dueling cane tapping against the stones as he walked. He wore his rich nobleman’s suit, and he was accompanied by a half-dozen crewmembers – including Vin – to act as his “servants.”

  Vin followed Camon up the steps, then waited as one of the crewmembers jumped forward to pull the door open for his “master.” Of the six attendants, only Vin seemed to have been told nothing of Camon’s plan. Suspiciously, Theron – Camon’s supposed partner in the Ministry scam – was nowhere to be seen.

  Vin entered the Canton building. Vibrant red light, sparkled with lines of blue, fell from the rose window. A single obligator, with midlevel tattoos around his eyes, sat behind a desk at the end of the extended entryway.

  Camon approached, his cane thumping against the carpet as he walked. “I am Lord Jedue,” he said.

  What are you doing, Camon? Vin thought. You insisted to Theron that you wouldn’t meet with Prelan Laird in his Canton office. Yet, now you’re here.

  The obligator nodded, making a notation in his ledger. He waved to the side. “You may take one attendant with you into the waiting chamber. The rest must remain here.”

  Camon’s huff of disdain indicated what he thought of that prohibition. The obligator, however, didn’t look up from his ledger. Camon stood for a moment, and Vin couldn’t tell if he was genuinely angry or just playing the part of an arrogant nobleman. Finally, he jabbed a finger at Vin.

  “Come,” he said, turning and waddling toward the indicated door.

  The room beyond was lavish and plush, and several noblemen lounged in various postures of waiting. Camon chose a chair and settled into it, then pointed toward a table set with wine and red-frosted cakes. Vin obediently fetched him a glass of wine and a plate of food, ignoring her own hunger.

  Camon began to pick hungrily at the cakes, smacking quietly as he ate.

  He’s nervous. More nervous, even, than before.

  “Once we get in, you will say nothing,” Camon grumbled between bites.

  “You’re betraying Theron,” Vin whispered.

  Camon nodded.

  “But, how? Why?” Theron’s plan was complex in execution, but simple in concept. Every year, the Ministry transferred its new acolyte obligators from a northern training facility south to Luthadel for final instruction. Theron had discovered, however, that those acolytes and their overseers brought down with them large amounts of Ministry funds – disguised as baggage – to be strongholded in Luthadel.

  Banditry was very difficult in the Final Empire, what with the constant patrols along canal routes. However, if one were running the very canal boats that the acolytes were sailing upon, a robbery could become possible. Arranged at just the right time… the guards turning on their passengers… a man could make quite a profit, then blame it all on banditry.

  “Theron’s crew is weak,” Camon said quietly. “He expended too many resources on this job.”

  “But, the return he’ll make–” Vin said.

  “Will never happen if I take what I can now, then run,” Camon said, smiling. “I’ll talk the obligators into a down payment to get my caravan boats afloat, then disappear and leave Theron to deal with the disaster when the Ministry realizes that it’s been scammed.”

  Vin stood back, slightly shocked. Setting up a scam like this would have cost Theron thousands upon thousands of boxings – if the deal fell through now, he would be ruined. And, with the Ministry hunting him, he wouldn’t even have time to seek revenge. Camon would make a quick profit, as well as rid himself of one of his more powerful rivals.

  Theron was a fool to bring Camon into this, she thought.

  But, then, the amount Theron had promised to pay Camon was great; he probably assumed that Camon’s greed would keep him honest until Theron himself could pull a double cross. Camon had simply worked faster than anyone, even Vin, had expected. How could Theron have known that Camon would undermine the job itself, rather than wait and try and steal the entire haul from the caravan boats?

  Vin’s stomach twisted. It’s just another betrayal, she thought sickly. Why does it still bother me so? Everyone betrays everyone else. That’s the way life is…

  She wanted to find a corner – someplace cramped and secluded – and hide. Alone.

  Anyone will betray you. Anyone.

  But there was no place to go. Eventually, a minor obligator entered and called for Lord Jedue. Vin followed Camon as they were ushered into an audience chamber.

  The man who waited inside, sitting behind the audience desk, was not Prelan Laird.

  Camon paused in the doorway. The room was austere, bearing only the desk and simple gray carpeting. The stone walls were unadorned, the only window barely a handspan wide. The obligator who waited for them had some of the most intricate tattoos around his eyes that Vin had ever seen. She wasn’t even certain what rank they implied, but
they extended all the way back to the obligator’s ears and up over his forehead.

  “Lord Jedue,” the strange obligator said. Like Laird, he wore gray robes, but he was very different from the stern, bureaucratic men Camon had dealt with before. This man was lean in a muscular way, and his clean-shaven, triangular head gave him an almost predatory look.

  “I was under the impression that I would be meeting with Prelan Laird,” Camon said, still not moving into the room.

  “Prelan Laird has been called away on other business. I am High Prelan Arriev – head of the board that was reviewing your proposal. You have a rare opportunity to address me directly. I normally don’t hear cases in person, but Laird’s absence has made it necessary for me to share in some of his work.”

  Vin’s instincts made her tense. We should go. Now.

  Camon stood for a long moment, and Vin could see him considering. Run now? Or, take a risk for the greater prize? Vin didn’t care about prizes; she just wanted to live. Camon, however, had not become crewleader without the occasional gamble. He slowly moved into the room, eyes cautious as he took the seat opposite the obligator.

  “Well, High Prelan Arriev,” Camon said with a careful voice. “I assume that since I have been called back for another appointment, the board is considering my offer?”

  “Indeed we are,” the obligator said. “Though I must admit, there are some Council members who are apprehensive about dealing with a family that is so near to economic disaster. The Ministry generally prefers to be conservative in its financial operations.”

  “I see.”

  “But,” Arriev said, “there are others on the board who are quite eager to take advantage of the savings you offered us.”

  “And with which group do you identify, Your Grace?”

  “I, as of yet, have not made my decision.” The obligator leaned forward. “Which is why I noted that you have a rare opportunity. Convince me, Lord Jedue, and you will have your contract.”

  “Surely Prelan Laird outlined the details of our offer,” Camon said.