“I passed the gun emplacements at the city perimeter,” Daal said. “I’ve been told about those. The maximum range straight up is what, a thousand feet? Maybe two?”
Wax didn’t respond. It was a little more than that, but… honestly not much, at least not straight upward, despite what propaganda would claim. And though the skimmers that had been delivered to the Basin had a maximum altitude of around fifteen hundred feet, he knew that some Malwish ships could sail so high that the air grew thin and men would die if they remained there too long.
“One wonders,” Daal said, “what would have happened if our people had met during a more… warlike era. Why, one quick bombing campaign and your city would fold like an old flag.”
“Fortunate,” Wax said, “that we met now instead.”
The admiral turned toward him, eyes peeking out through metal-encrusted holes. “What would you have done?” he asked. “If we had simply attacked?”
“I don’t know,” Wax said. “But I think you’dhave had a harder time of it than you believe.”
“Curious, how often your papers repeat the same lines,” Daal said.“Boasts about the kandra assassins and Allomancer soldiers. When I know that your demon immortalscan’tkill. And your Allomancers? Tell me, how did you reach this ship? By your own power, or…?”
What a delightful individual.
“Of course,” Daal said, “we don’t live during such… brutal times. I am not here to start a war, Honored Twinborn. Do not look so offended. But I represent many among us who feel your people have taken advantage of our… lenient nature. In particular with the Bands of Mourning. They are ours, and should reside with us.”
Wax wanted to leap to arguments. Explain the Bands had been found inBasinterritory. That they’dbeen created by someone from the North, not the South. That a deal had been fairly agreed. But this man was baiting him, and—whatever he’ddone in the past—Wax didn’t speak for Elendel. He was only one representative out of many.
He refused to be goaded. “Then,” he said, “that is a discussion you may have with the governor and our legislature. And perhaps with God.”
The masked admiral regarded him, saying no more. But rusts, if tensions were getting worse…
This is the absolute worst time,Wax thought with frustration. With the Supremacy Bill passed, there was a real chance the Basin would crumble as a political entity. How would the South respond to that? Daal said he didn’t want war, but what if the South saw the Basin as easy pickings?
Their initial encounters had wowed the Southerners. A northern land full of Metalborn and walking myths? But the longer they’dinteracted, the more each side had recognized the ordinary nature of the other. Myths became men. And every society knew how to kill other men.
Max finally came out, holding up his wet hands to prove he’dwashed them. Daal marched them back down the corridor, where Wax strapped his son into the harness again.
“It is good to meet you, Ladrian,” the ambassador said. “Good for me, yah? It shows which stories I should believe.”
“And which are those?”
“The true ones, of course,” Daal said, and gestured for one of his airmen to open the doors, revealing the city below. “I trust my time here will be profitable. Good day, Senator.”
With a sigh, Wax threw himself out of the airship—accompanied bya whoop from Max, who seemed to consider this encounter the highlight of an absolutely wonderful day.
Wax slowed them carefully with some Pushes, then sent them through a series of quick leaps back to Ahlstrom Tower. The penthouse had a landing platform, and moments later the two of them burst into their suite—Wax carefully locking the door behind them.
Steris was putting Tindwyl down for her nap, but walked out to the front room a short time later—to find Max playing with a puzzle while Wax mixed himself a drink.
“Mother!” Max said, looking up. “I got topoopon anairship!”
“Oh!” she said, with the enthusiasm for the topic only a mother could muster. “That’s exciting!”
“I got some strange toilet paper!” he said, lifting it up. “It’s white instead of brown! Traded for it just like Uncle Wayne says!”
“Oh. And what did you leave in exchange, dear?”
“Well,” he said, “you know…”
“Right. Of course.” Steris joined Wax behind the bar, slipping her hand around his waist. “What happened?”
“New ambassador,” Wax said. “Doesn’t much like us. Wants the Bands back. Made some vague threats.”
“Delightful day for that,” she said.
“You were right about the unification timetable,” Wax said. “The ambassador will announce a new consortium of states under the Malwish banner.”