“I ask of you your lives,” Elend said, voice echoing, “and your courage. I ask of you your faith, and your honor—your strength, and your compassion. For today, I lead you to die. I will not ask you to welcome this event. I will not insult you by calling it well, or just, or even glorious. But I will say this.“Each moment you fight is a gift to those in this cavern. Each second we fight is a second longer that thousands of people can draw breath. Each stroke of the sword, each koloss felled, each breath earned is a victory! It is a person protected for a moment longer, a life extended, an enemy frustrated!”There was a brief pause.“In the end, they will kill us,” Elend said, voice loud, ringing in the cavern. “But first, they shall fear us!”

“That's why we get annoyed by you Idrians. So high, so certain that what you do is right. If your god asked you to give up your Breath—or even the Breath of your child—wouldn't you do it? You give up your children to become monks, forcing them into a life of servitude, don't you? That's seen as a sign of faith. Yet when we do something to serve our gods, you twist your lips at us and call us blasphemers.”

“The first step is to care, Tukks’s voice seemed to whisper. Some talk about being emotionless in battle. Well, I suppose it’s important to keep your head. But I hate that feeling of killing while calm and cold. I’ve seen that those who care fight harder, longer, and better than those who don’t. It’s the difference between mercenaries and real soldiers.It’s the difference between fighting to defend your homeland and fighting on foreign soil.It’s good to care when you fight, so long as you don’t let it consume you. Don’t try to stop yourself from feeling. You’ll hate who you become.”

“Elend shook his head. "We can survive this. But, the only way that will happen is if our people don't give up. They need leaders who laugh, leaders who feel that this fight can be won. So, this is what I ask of you. I don't care if you're an optimist or a pessimist—I don't care if secretly, you think we'll all be dead before the month ends. On the outside, I want to see you smiling. Do it in defiance, if you have to. If the end does come, I want this group to meet that end smiling. As the Survivor taught us.”

“Regardless, you ask why Idid not greet you. Well, let us assume that I had acted as you suggest Ishould. Upon your approach, you would have had me gush over you?”“Naturally.”“You would have me point out how stunning you appear in that gown?”“I wouldn’t complain.”“Mention how your dazzling eyes glisten in the fireworks like burningembers?”“That would be nice.”“Expound on how your lips are so perfectly red that they could leave anyman breathless with wonder, yet drive him compose the most brilliant ofpoetry each time he recalled the moment?”“I’d be flattered for certain.”“And you claim you want these reactions from me?”“I do.”“Well blast it, woman,” Lightsong said, picking up his cup. “If I’mstunned, dazzled, and breathless, then how the hell am I supposed to greetyou? By definition, won’t I be struck dumb?”She laughed. “Well, then, you’ve obviously found your tongue now.”“Surprisingly, it was in my mouth,” he said. “I always forget to checkthere.”

“You're getting better, my lady.""Don't patronize me.""No, really, Your Highness. When you started painting five years ago, I could never tell what it was you were trying to depict.""And this is a painting of . ."Ashe paused. "A bowl of fruit?" he asked hopefully.Sarene sighed in frustration._______________________________"Beautifully—which is more than I can say for the painting." He paused for a moment. "It's a horse, right?"Sarene scowled."A house?" he asked."It is not a bowl of fruit either, my lord," Ashe said. "I already tried that." "Well, she said it was one of the paintings in this room," Lukel said. "All we have to do is keep guessing until we find the right one.""Brilliant deduction, Master Lukel." Ashe said.”

“Vin,” he said flatly, “did you just suggest that we attend a ball being held in the middle of a city we’re besieging?”“You think it’s a good idea,” Vin said, smiling impishly.“It’s a crazy idea,” Elend said. “I’m emperor—I shouldn’t be sneaking into the enemy city so I can go to a party.”Vin narrowed her eyes, staring at him.“I will admit, however,” Elend said, “that the concept does have considerable charm.”