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"Valette," Elend interrupted "You are a liability too A very big one I won’t lie and claim that I never cared for you--I did, and I still do However, I knew frodalliance The truth is, my house needs me--and it’s more important than you are"

Vin paled "But "

He turned to go back to dinner

"Elend," she said quietly, "please don’t turn away from me"

He paused, then looked back at her "I know the truth, Valette I kno you’ve lied about who you are I don’t care, really--I’ry, or even disappointed The truth is, I expected it You’re justplaying the game Like we all are" He paused, then shook his head and turned away fro for him

"Don’t make me embarrass you in public, Valette"

Vin paused, feeling nury, too frustrated…and too terrified

"Don’t leave," she whispered "Don’t you leave o meet with my friends It was…fun"

And he left

Vin stood in the darkened corridor She felt herself shiver quietly, and she turned to stumble back out onto the ood evening to his fah a back corridor toward the keep’s living section

He can’t do this to me Not Elend Not now…

However, a voice froan to speak Of course he left you, Reen whispered Of course he abandoned you Everyone will betray you, Vin What did I teach you?

No! she thought It’s just the political tension Once this is over, I’ll be able to convince him to come back…

I never came back for you, Reen whispered He won’t either The voice felt so real--it was almost like she could hear hiainst the balcony railing, using the iron grating for strength, holding herself up She wouldn’t let him destroy her A life on the streets hadn’t been able to break her; she wouldn’t let a self-i herself that

But, why did this hurt so much s?

"Well, Valette Renoux," a voice said from behind

"Kliss," Vin said "I’ht now"

"Ah," Kliss said "So Elend Venture finally spurned you Don’t worry, child--he’ll get what he deserves shortly"

Vin turned, frowning at the odd tone in Kliss’s voice The woman didn’t seem like herself She seee to your uncle for htly "Tell hiht have a difficult ti ood source of infor things"

"You’re an infor aside her pain for the ossip?" the short wo, the kinds of things you can learn when you’re known as the court gossip People cos you toldlast week Why would you wanta bid for the weaponsthe house war? Indeed--could Renoux be behind the recent attack on the Hasting barges?"

Kliss’s eyes twinkled "Tell your uncle that I can be made to keep quiet about what I know--for a s…" Vin said nu Vin’s arm "That’s e do here at court You’ll learn eventually--if you survive Now, be a good child and deliver audy dress suddenly see a brilliant costume to Vin

"Wait!" Vin said "What was that you said about Elend earlier? He’s going to get what he deserves?"

"Huht You’ve been asking after Shan Elariel’s plans, haven’t you?"

Shan? Vin thought with rising concern "What is she planning?"

"Now that, my dear, is an expensive secret indeed I could tell you…but then, ould I have in return? A woman of an unimportant house like myself needs to find sustenance somewhere…"

Vin pulled off her sapphire necklace, the only piece of jewelry she earing "Here Take it"

Kliss accepted the necklace with a thoughtful expression "Hum, yes, very nice indeed"