The Well of Ascension

OreSeur and Vin patrol the mists again, and they continue to bond gradually as Vin makes efforts to get to know him rather than focus on his Contract-enforced actions. OreSeur urges her not to be manipulated by Zane. As she watches the mists around the rising sun, she suddenly realizes that she may know what the Deepness was.

Vin interrupts Sazed’s study of the rubbings from the Conventical of Seran. Reading the transcription, she asks Sazed about the Deepness; he explains that scholars have several theories about it but that no one has come up with a sufficient explanation. Vin suggests that the mists might be the Deepness, and she explains that the famine described by Alendi may have been a result of less sunlight to grow plants. She admits to seeing the same mist figure as Alendi, and she suggests that the Hero of Ages may be yet to come. Sazed disagrees. When asked about Tindwyl, Sazed explains that Tindwyl was a Terris breeder and was forced to sleep with various Terrismen under the Lord Ruler’s breeding program to have over 20 children. She was chosen by the Synod to participate because she was a Feruchemist—the Synod worked hard to sneak Feruchemists into the breeding program meant to prevent such powers.

A skaa merchant named Philen observes the Assembly hall, watching as Elend appears with the rest of the crew. Elend does the honorable thing and nominates Lord Ferson Penrod as Assembly Chancellor while the Assembly debates whom to choose as king. Elend then gives a speech about his meeting with Straff, purposefully avoiding any mention of his removal from power to emphasize that he cares more about the safety of the city than about his role as king. When questioned about the loss of his throne, he says that he is disappointed but will not argue. The Assembly requires his knowledge, however, to understand how to find a new king, highlighting just how much the new government owes to Elend for creating their system of governance. Philen, from whose perspective the chapter is told, surprises the assembly by nominating Lord Cett, who reveals himself among the crowd.

Lord Cett speaks arrogantly to the Assembly, claiming that he would be the best king for Luthadel and not-so-subtly threatening that if they do not vote for him, he will leave them to be attacked by Straff. He says that he will spend the time between then and the vote meeting with each member of the Assembly and explain why he is the best choice; he does not hide that what he really means is to bribe them. The Assembly allows Cett to live inside the city during that period, accompanied by 1,000 of his own soldiers. Cett’s son invites Elend to meet with the leader.

Vin and OreSeur speak again on their rounds, and Vin wonders if she might be the Hero of Ages. OreSeur reveals that the kandra have their own religion, one not destroyed by the Lord Ruler. According to kandra prophesies, humans are “of Ruin” and will destroy themselves. He says that the kandra are “of Preservation,” but he does not explain further. In his descriptions, he reveals that the kandra have some sort of connection to the koloss.

Elend and Ham investigate an outbreak of illness in the city; they determine that a well in the area has been poisoned, and Elend closes it off and sets up an investigation.

Vin meets with Dockson; his identity as human or kandra is harder to test than that of Ham since he has no Allomantic power, but Vin is determined to try. She asks him about a conversation they had over a year ago about his life as a plantation skaa, believing that his memory of it proves that he is not a kandra. He shares that his position on the nobility is more moderate now but that after participating in the overthrow of the imperial system, he does struggle to see a nobleman as king. OreSeur argues that a kandra’s job is to conduct thorough investigations and interrogations, so Dockson’s knowledge of that conversation does not necessarily mean that he is not the spy. Noting Demoux acting suspiciously as he walks through the courtyard, Vin follows him. She believes that he is the spy, but his work for the night is finished, so she will have to follow him another night.

Elend scours all the documents he created for his legal system to determine a strategy to maintain his position and prevent Cett’s appointment as king; Tindwyl, Ham, Sazed, and an obligator named Noorden join him. Elend wonders if he should have allied with Cett earlier since popular opinion seems to lean toward him, but Sazed insists that Elend should not focus on the public’s opinion.

When Vin shares information about the poisoned well and learns that Elend already discovered it without telling her, she feels insecure about her place in Elend’s life. She feels less and less like he needs her. Her brother Reen’s voice pops into her head as it has in the past, suggesting that she should leave Elend before he can leave her.

Outside, Vin finds Zane, who attacks her to determine if she has atium. When she admits that she has none left, Zane tells her of Straff’s order to kill her and suggests that they go away together instead. He shares that he is Elend’s half-brother and plays on Vin’s compassion.

As Vin tries on a new gown, custom tailored to offer features beneficial for fighting, Tindwyl explains that Elend no longer needs her help. She assures Vin that he is simply becoming the person he is bound to become, just as Vin is.

Elend and Vin go to Keep Hasting, where Cett has set up his temporary home. Elend halfheartedly threatens to keep Allrianne as a hostage, but Cett seems not to care about his daughter and is confident that Elend will not harm her. Cett explains that as king, he will put the skaa back to work without emancipation or pay, just as the Lord Ruler did, angering Elend. Elend admits that they haven’t found the atium. With no atium, Cett realizes that Elend is useless as a hostage and lets them both go.

Sazed helps refugees whom the invading armies have pushed into Luthadel to put pressure on the city. Tindwyl approaches and asks Sazed to share his findings from the Conventical with her.

Moving to Breeze’s perspective, the chapter reveals how Breeze soothes everyone around him to help them feel comforted and be their best selves. He does so even for his friends, and his observations reveal that he understands people and their emotions quite well. He soothes nearly every member of the crew, but he cannot do so with Clubs since Clubs’s Allomantic power makes him immune to Allomantic emotional manipulation (as long as he burns his metal). Breeze finds some relief in being able to stop manipulating around Clubs.

Now from Vin’s perspective, the chapter shows Allrianne showing up and using Allomancy to intensify Breeze’s emotions, presumably to make him more willing to act on his attraction to her. Vin now knows that Clubs isn’t the kandra spy since he used his coppercloud against Breeze’s soothings. Vin follows Demoux and discovers that he has become a preacher of sorts for the Church of the Survivor, speaking of how Vin will save them and restore the paradise that some believe once existed on their world. He urges the skaa to ask their representatives to support Elend rather than Cett or Penrod. Vin confronts Demoux after his speech, and he shares his religious faith in Kelsier, explaining that he understands Kelsier as a deity of sorts despite having known him as a man. Vin is now uncertain as to whether Demoux is the spy.

Sazed and Tindwyl study ancient accounts of the Deepness stored in their metalminds and debate the question of the Deepness and the mist. Sazed believes that the Deepness might be a change in the mists, but Tindwyl counters his theories. She also confronts him about not standing up for his choices with the Synod, despite her earlier criticisms. She says that she should leave now that Elend no longer needs her help. In keeping with the Synod’s belief in neutrality, she should offer aid to the leaders outside the wall. Instead, she hints at her love for Sazed and agrees to stay in Luthadel.

As Elend and Ham walk the city walls, Elend still wears his crown to offer an image of power and kingship for the people. Elend is surprised to realize that he actually does want to be in charge because he believes that he is the best option for his people’s freedom and happiness. He inwardly acknowledges how much he owes to Tindwyl and begins to accept the conflicting parts of himself. He is determined not to abandon the perennially oppressed skaa, and he tells Ham that he has an idea for retaining his position.

Vin feels insecure in her worth to Elend again as he reveals that he has a secret plan for the Assembly meeting, one he did not share with her in advance but told Ham about. In his speech, he tells everyone that he has joined the Church of the Survivor, which is likely to earn him many votes from the skaa representatives. With their votes, there may be a deadlock, leaving him in power. Vin begins to feel that she is being used yet again, although she clings to her belief that this is not Elend’s intention.

A man in the crowd attacks Elend, but his training with Ham allows him to hold off the attacker until Vin arrives. She kills each of the six Allomancers, all sent by Straff. The brutality of her killing horrifies Elend, and as she passes out from using too much pewter and exhausting her body, she worries that he now sees her as the monster she thinks she is.

While Vin is passed out, Elend admits that the brutality was more disturbing than he expected. He receives a message that the voting will continue that night in a new location. When the voting reaches the deadlock that Elend hoped for, an Assembly member asks if he can change his vote. Elend is the only one who knows the laws well enough; knowing that he is signing his own removal but determined to maintain his ethics, Elend admits that the man can do so. The man changes his vote to Penrod, as does another, making Penrod the new king.