“Oh? And why did you refuse all three men who asked you to dance?”
Vin paused. The man smiled, then turned back to his book.
“There were four,” Vin said with a huff. “And I refused them because I don’t know how to dance very well.”
The man lowered his book slightly, eyeing her. “You know, you’re a lot less timid than you look.”
“Timid?” Vin asked. “I’m not the one staring at his book when there’s a young lady standing by him, never having properly introduced himself.”
The man raised a speculative eyebrow. “Now, see, you sound like my father. Far better looking, but just as grumpy.”
Vin glared at him. Finally, he rolled his eyes. “Very well, let me be a gentleman, then.” He bowed to her with a refined, formal step. “I am Lord Elend. Lady Valette Renoux, might I have the pleasure of sharing this balcony with you whilst I read?”
Vin folded her arms. Elend? Family name or given name? Should I even care? He just wanted his spot back. But . . . how did he know that I’d refused dancing partners? Somehow, she had a suspicion that Kelsier would want to hear about this particular conversation.
Oddly, she didn’t feel a desire to shrug this man away as she had the others. Instead, she felt another stab of annoyance as he again raised his book.
“You still haven’t told me why you would rather read than participate,” she said.
The man sighed, lowering the book again. “Well, see, I’m not exactly the best dancer either.”
“Ah,” Vin said.
“But,” he said, raising a finger, “that’s only part of it. You may not realize this yet, but it’s not that hard to get overpartied. Once you attend five or six hundred of these balls, they start to feel a bit repetitive.”
Vin shrugged. “You’d probably learn to dance better if you practiced.”
Elend raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to let me get back to my book, are you?”
“I wasn’t intending to.”
He sighed, tucking the book back into his jacket pocket—which was beginning to show signs of book-shaped wear. “Well, then. Do you want to go dance instead?”
Vin froze. Elend smiled nonchalantly.
Lord! He’s either incredibly smooth or socially incompetent. It was disturbing that she couldn’t determine which.
“That’s a no, I assume?” Elend said. “Good—I thought I should offer, since we’ve established that I’m a gentleman. However, I doubt the couples below would appreciate us trampling their toes.”
“Agreed. What were you reading?”
“Dilisteni,” Elend said. “Trials of Monument. Heard of it?”
Vin shook her head.
“Ah, well. Not many have.” He leaned over the railing, looking below. “So, what do you think of your first experience at court?”
“It’s very . . . overwhelming.”
Elend chuckled. “Say what you will about House Venture—they know how to throw a party.”
Vin nodded. “You don’t like House Venture, then?” she said. Perhaps this was one of the rivalries Kelsier was watching for.
“Not particularly, no,” Elend said. “They’re an ostentatious lot, even for high nobility. They can’t just have a party, they have to throw the best party. Never mind that they run their servants ragged setting it up, then beat the poor things in retribution when the hall isn’t perfectly clean the very next morning.”
Vin cocked her head. Not words I’d expect to hear from a nobleman.
Elend paused, looking a little embarrassed. “But, well, never mind that. I think your Terrisman is looking for you.”
Vin started, glancing over the side of the balcony. Sure enough, Sazed’s tall form stood by her now-empty table, speaking to a serving boy.
Vin yelped quietly. “I’ve got to go,” she said, turning toward the stairwell.
“Ah, well then,” Elend said, “back to reading it is.” He gave her a half wave of farewell, but he had his book open before she passed the first step.
Vin reached the bottom out of breath. Sazed saw her immediately.
“I’m sorry,” she said, chagrined as she approached.
“Do not apologize to me, Mistress,” Sazed said quietly. “It is both unseemly and unnecessary. Moving about a bit was a good idea, I think. I would have suggested it, had you not seemed so nervous.”
Vin nodded. “Is it time for us to go, then?”
“It is a proper time to withdraw, if you wish,” he said, glancing up at the balcony. “May I ask what you were doing up there, Mistress?”
“I wanted to get a better look at the windows,” Vin said. “But I ended up talking to someone. He seemed interested in me at first, but now I don’t think he ever intended to pay me much attention. It doesn’t matter—he didn’t seem important enough to bother Kelsier with his name.”
Sazed paused. “Who was it you were speaking to?”
“The man in the corner there, on the balcony,” Vin said.
“One of Lord Venture’s friends?”
Vin froze. “Is one of them named Elend?”
Sazed paled visibly. “You were chatting with Lord Elend Venture?”
“Um . . . yes?”
“Did he ask you to dance?”
Vin nodded. “But I don’t think he meant it.”
“Oh, dear,” Sazed said. “So much for controlled anonymity.”
“Venture?” Vin asked, frowning. “Like, Keep Venture?”
“Heir to the house title,” Sazed said.
“Hum,” Vin said, realizing that she should probably be a bit more intimidated than she felt. “He was a bit annoying—in a pleasant sort of way.”
“We shouldn’t be discussing this here,” Sazed said. “You’re far, far below his station. Come, let us retire. I shouldn’t have gone away to the dinner. . . .”
He trailed off, mumbling to himself as he led Vin to the entryway. She got one more glimpse into the main chamber as she retrieved her shawl, and she burned tin, squinting against the light and seeking the balcony above.
He held the book, closed, in one hand—and she could have sworn that he was looking down in her direction. She smiled, and let Sazed usher her to their carriage.
* * *
I know that I shouldn’t let a simple packman perturb me. However, he is from Terris, where the prophecies originated. If anyone could spot a fraud, would it not be he?
Nevertheless, I continue my trek, going where the scribbled auguries proclaim that I will meet my destiny—walking, feeling Rashek’s eyes on my back. Jealous. Mocking. Hating.
13
Vin sat with her legs crossed beneath her on one of Lord Renoux’s fine easy chairs. It felt good to be rid of the bulky dress, instead getting back to a more familiar shirt and trousers.
However, Sazed’s calm displeasure made her want to squirm. He stood on the other side of the room, and Vin got the distinct impression that she was in trouble. Sazed had questioned her in depth, seeking out every detail of her conversation with Lord Elend. Sazed’s inquiries had been respectful, of course, but they had also been forceful.