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Chapter Twenty-Seven (Includes Hidden Spoilers)

I like this scene for its return to task. The team is refocused, and re-energized, working toward their goal with renewed devotion. And lots of other ‘re’ words.

Anyway, there’s a good feel to this scene, and I think a lot is accomplished quickly. I also like how Vin finally confronts Kelsier about the Eleventh Metal. Right here, I guess the reader has to decide whether or not Kelsier is lying. Either he really did find legends about the Eleventh Metal, and he believes in it, or he didn’t.

The ninth metal. It was difficult to decide what this one would do. I wanted something opposite, yet complimentary, to the power of atium. So, I decided that it would give a kind of skewed perspective of the past, kind of like atium gives a limited view of the future. Obviously, this will come back into the plot later.

I do worry that it took too long to get to this scene. You’ve probably been wondering for quite a long time what the ninth metal did–and that concerns me, because if you wonder it, you’ll also wonder why Vin herself didn’t get around to figuring out what it was.

The problem is, this really is the first place I could work it in. Allomancy is a very complicated magic system, and I wanted plenty of time for you to get used to it before I delved into its more odd aspects.

Oh, and I hope you didn’t forget about Marsh. Those of you who are clever probably figured out about the tattoos–it would be the only way for him to sneak into the Ministry’s ranks.

To his credit, Marsh is as dedicated as Kelsier. More, perhaps, because Marsh doesn’t care about acclaim or fame.