Mistborn #03 The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson Read Free Book Online Page B

strategic necessity. Or, that's how I see it—perhaps I'm just more calculating than others."
    Sazed eyed the stocky man. Breeze was a Soother—in fact, he was the most brazen, flagrant Soother Sazed had ever known. Most Soothers used their powers with discrimination and subtlety, nudging emotions only at the most opportune times. Breeze, however, played with everyone's emotions. Sazed could feel the man's touch on his own feelings at that moment, in fact—though only because he knew what to look for.
    "If you will excuse the observation, Lord Breeze," Sazed said, "you do not fool me as easily as you believe you do."
    Breeze raised an eyebrow.
    "I know you are a good man," Sazed said. "You work very hard to hide it. You make a great show of being callous and selfish. Yet, to those watching what you do and not just what you say, you become far more transparent."
    Breeze frowned, and Sazed got a little stab of pleasure at surprising the Soother. He obviously hadn't expected Sazed to be so blunt.
    "My dear man," Breeze said, sipping his wine, "I'm disappointed in you. Weren't you just speaking about being polite? Well, it's not at all polite to point out a crusty old pessimist's dark inner secret."
    "Dark inner secret?" Sazed asked. "That you're kindhearted?"
    "It's an attribute in myself that I've worked very hard to discourage," Breeze said lightly. "Unfortunately, I prove too weak. Now, to completely divert us from this subject—which I find far too discomforting—I shall return to your earlier question. You ask if we are doing the right thing? Right thing how? By forcing King Lekal to become a vassal to Elend?"
    Sazed nodded.
    "Well then," Breeze said, "I'd have to say that yes, we did the right thing. Our treaty will give Lekal the protection of Elend's armies."
    "At the cost of his own freedom to govern."
    "Bah," Breeze said with a wave of his hand. "We both know that Elend is a far better ruler than Lekal could ever hope to be. Most of his people are living in half-finished shacks, for the Lord Ruler's sake!"
    "Yes, but you must admit that we bullied him."
    Breeze frowned. "That's how all politics is. Sazed, this man's nephew sent an army of koloss to destroy Luthadel! He's lucky Elend didn't just come down and wipe out the entire city in retribution. We have bigger armies, more resources, and better Allomancers. This people will be far better off once Lekal signs that treaty. What is wrong with you, my dear man? You argued all these same points not two days ago at the negotiating table."
    "I apologize, Lord Breeze," Sazed said. "I . . . seem to find myself feeling contrary of late."
    Breeze didn't respond at first. "It still hurts, does it?" he asked.
    That man is far too good at understanding the emotions of others , Sazed thought. "Yes," he finally whispered.
    "It will stop," Breeze said. "Eventually."
    Will it? Sazed thought, looking away. It had been a year. It still felt . . . as if nothing would ever be right again. Sometimes, he wondered if his immersion in the religions was simply a way of hiding from his pain.
    If that were so, then he'd chosen a poor way to cope, for the pain was always there waiting for him. He had failed. No, his faith had failed him . Nothing was left to him.
    It was all. Just. Gone.
    "Look," Breeze said, drawing his attention, "sitting here and waiting for Lekal to make up his mind is obviously making us anxious. Why don't we talk about something else? How about telling me about one of those religions you have memorized. You haven't tried to convert me in months!"
    "I stopped wearing my copperminds nearly a year ago, Breeze."
    "But surely you remember a bit," Breeze said. "Why don't you try to convert me? You know, for old times' sake and all that."
    "I don't think so, Breeze."
    It felt like a betrayal. As a Keeper—a Terris Feruchemist—he could store memories inside of pieces of copper, then withdraw them later. During the time of the Final Empire, Sazed's kind had suffered much to