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Kelsier sighed, rolling his eyes "Fine If you wanthis pack up on his shoulder and nonchalantly pulled open the door

Thicklazily across Kelsier’s body, pooling on the floor and creeping across the dirt like a hesitant anih most of them were too stunned toout into the darkpit’s coals

"Close the door" Tepper’s words were a plea, not a co the door closed and ste the flood of white mist "The mist is not what you think You fear it far too much"

"Men who venture into the mist lose their souls," a woman whispered Her words raised a question Had Kelsier walked in the mists? What, then, had happened to his soul?

If you only knew, Kelsier thought "Well, I guess thishi, too--it would have been a shame for me to leave before I shared my news"

More than one person perked up at the comment This was the real reason they tolerated him--the reason even the timid peasants would harbor a man such as Kelsier, a skaa who defied the Lord Ruler’s will by traveling froer to the entire coht news from the outside world

"I come from the north," Kelsier said "From lands where the Lord Ruler’s touch is less noticeable" He spoke in a clear voice, and people leaned unconsciously toward him as they worked On the next day, Kelsier’s words would be repeated to the several hundred people who lived in other hovels The skaa ossips

"Local lords rule in the West," Kelsier said, "and they are far froators So that happy skaa make better workers than mistreated skaa One man, Lord Renoux, has even ordered his tasks There are whispers that he’s considering paying wages to his plantation skaa, like city craftsht earn"

"Nonsense," Tepper said

"My apologies," Kelsier said "I didn’t realize that Goodman Tepper had been to Lord Renoux’s estates recently When you dined with hi that he did not tell me?"

Tepper blushed: Skaa did not travel, and they certainly didn’t dine with lords "You think me a fool, traveler," Tepper said, "but I knohat you’re doing You’re the one they call the Survivor; those scars on your arive you away You’re a trouble up discontent You eat our food, telling your grand stories and your lies, then you disappear and leave people like ive our children"

Kelsier raised an eyebrow "No, Goodman Tepper," he said "Your worries are co your food I brought my own" With that, Kelsier reached over and tossed his pack onto the earth before Tepper’s table The loose bag sluround Fine breads, fruits, and even a few thick, cured sausages bounced free

A suhtly against Tepper’s foot The arded the fruit with stunned eyes "That’s nobleman’s food!"

Kelsier snorted "Barely You know, for ahas remarkably poor taste His pantry is an embarrassment to his noble station"

Tepper paled even further "That’s where you went this afternoon," he whispered "You went to the manor You… stole froht I add that while your lord’s taste in food is deplorable, his eye for soldiers is farthe day was quite a challenge"

Tepper was still staring at the bag of food "If the taskest youto bet that it tastes a fair bit better than watered-down farlet soup"

Two dozen sets of hungry eyes studied the food If Tepper intended further arguh, for his silent pause was taken as agree’s contents had been inspected and distributed, and the pot of soup sat bubbling and ignored as the skaa feasted on a meal far ainst the hovel’s wooden wall and watching the people devour their food He had spoken correctly: The pantry’s offerings had been depressingly mundane However, this was a people who had been fed on nothing but soup and gruel since they were children To them, breads and fruits were rare delicacies--usually eaten only as aging discards brought down by the house servants

"Your storytelling was cut short, youngover to sit on a stool beside Kelsier

"Oh, I suspect there will be time for more later," Kelsier said "Once all evidence of my thievery has been properly devoured Don’t you want any of it?"

"No need," the old man said "The last time I tried lords’ food, I had stomach pains for three days New tastes are like new ideas, young et, the more difficult they are for you to stomach"

Kelsier paused The old ht His leathered skin and bald scalp made hier than he looked; few plantation skaa lived to such ages Many lords didn’t allow the elderly to res that made up a skaa’s life took a terrible toll on the elderly

"What was your naain?" Kelsier asked

"Mennis"