Contents
Chapter 5
Overview
After routing a koloss army, Elend and Vin examine a fallen Inquisitor with unprecedented speed and extra spikes, deepening fears about their hidden foe. They seize Vetitan, uncover a vast Steel Ministry cache, and find a map to the final store near Fadrex. A secret warning reveals the enemy can read spoken and written plans, forcing Vin to rely on thought alone.
Summary
On the battlefield, Elend and Vin inspect a slain Inquisitor. Vin notes the creature’s extraordinary late-fight speed and an extra pewter spike driven through its heart, implying new and more dangerous alterations. They remove the spike, plan to check the stomach for atium, and worry that the unseen force directing Inquisitors anticipates their moves.
Elend commands the captured koloss and addresses Vetitan’s leader, Fatren, crediting the city’s soldiers for helping turn the koloss. Entering the city with a single koloss porter and the Inquisitor’s corpse, they head to the Steel Ministry building, open a concealed trapdoor, and descend to a ransacked cellar. Using iron and steel, Elend and Vin Pull open a hidden Allomancer-locked stone door to reveal a massive storage cavern of food and supplies.
When Fatren objects, Elend asserts imperial authority but offers protection, order, and continued local rule under him. Afterward, Elend privately laments abandoning idealism for necessity; Vin reassures him that realism is required to keep people alive. They reflect on the Lord Ruler’s foresight in building and rotating the caches and what it implies about hope against the Deepness.
At a steel plate in the cavern, they read notes identifying malatium (the Eleventh Metal) and a method to control koloss and kandra by several Soothers Pushing together. More importantly, the engraved map marks the final cache near Fadrex, strengthening Vin’s belief it holds the Lord Ruler’s hidden atium. Elend remains cautious, valuing the information and supplies regardless of treasure.
They debate strategy: armies and caches are short-term against worsening ash and mists, yet Elend insists defense is vital while broader solutions are unclear. They decide Vetitan must be evacuated toward Luthadel for safety. As Elend goes to organize guards and cataloging, Vin finds a tiny hidden warning: the enemy can hear speech and read writing—only thoughts are safe. Realizing plans must be kept in mind, Vin resolves to outwit the force she freed.
Who Appears
- VinMistborn; kills the Inquisitor, identifies extra spikes, opens the cache, pushes for Fadrex, discovers the secret warning, resolves to plan in thought.
- Elend VentureEmperor and Mistborn; captures and commands koloss, asserts control over Vetitan, secures the cache, weighs realism vs. idealism, plans move on Fadrex.
- FatrenLocal leader of Vetitan; challenges Elend’s claim but accepts protection and helps secure and catalog the cache.
- Steel Inquisitor (unnamed)Enemy slain by Vin; exhibited unprecedented speed and bore an extra pewter spike, hinting at evolving threats.
- The Lord Ruler (Rashek)Posthumous presence via inscriptions and caches; reveals malatium note, koloss/kandra control method, and hidden warning about speech and writing.