They needed to enfranchise those people, not ignore them. He still had hope. He and Steris and their allies had worked formonthsto erode support for the bill. Innumerable dinners, parties, and even—as he’dstarted doing for some of the city’s elite—some training on the shooting range.
All in the name of changing the world. One vote at a time.
The governor called for the vote, and Lady Mi’chelle Yomen cast the first one—against the bill. As it proceeded, Wax sat, as anxious as he’dever been before a confrontation with a bandit group. Rusts… this was somehowworse.Each vote was the crack of a bullet.Lady Faula and Senator Vindel. How will they break? And Maraya? Was she persuaded, or…
Two of them voted for the bill, along with multiple others that he’dbeen uncertain about. Wax felt a sinking feeling, worse than being shot, as the vote proceeded—and eventually landed at 122 for, 118 against.
The bill passed. His stomach fell further. If Wax was going to stop a civil war, he’dneed to find another way.
THE TWO SEASONS
MAREWILL 19, 348
Vol. 32, No. 247
Kyndlip Ternavyl, Editor and Proprietor
BILMING
“No Two Seasons Are Alike,” an Originators Proverb
5 clips
Handerwym Presents
NICKI SAVAGE
and
The COMPASSof Spirits
In my last letter, the Haunted Man, my two Faceless Immortal companions, and I saw the Coinshot Vila Mecant grab the Compass of Spirits and throw herself off a stone outcropping into the mists. The aluminum key that activated it, however, was still with me. Knowing Vila would be back, I entrusted the key to the Haunted Man, who used his hellguns to launch himself to another outcropping, leaving me to convince my faceless friends I had a plan… Which, of course, Idid.
Chapter 8: “Flight of the Ornisaur”
KeSun rolled her eyes. “Exactlyhowdo you expect to follow Vila and lure her out?”
“The aluminum bones we lifted from the ornisaur quarry,” I said, patting Tabaar’s giant backpack.
He groaned deep within his corpulent body. “Oh no…”
“You are incredible at imitation,” I said encouragingly. “Remember when you were Human the koloss inA Hero for All Ages?You were masterful! You can do this!”
“He can’t,” said KeSun, folding her arms. “Not without me. I’m the one with experience impersonating birds.”
Turning to Tabaar, she said, “If you are willing to yield some control to me, then we can carry Miss Sauvage across this abyss.”
“But the rest of my collection…” he said, the bag of bones shifting on his back.
“We’ll return for them,” said KeSun, with a compassion in her voice she reserved only for Tabaar. “I promise.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “Will you kindly look away?” she asked. “We’d rather you not see us when we…”
“…merge,” said Tabaar.
What followed was one of the strangest things I’ve ever encountered, stranger even than the Beast of Belmon Couture or that time when I was Allomancer Jak’s assistant.
(Continued below the fold!)