Mistborn: The Hero of Ages Read Free Page A

way. This was simply a man to follow a leader such as Fatren had always wanted to be.
    Venture didn't wait for Fatren to agree to the "conditions." It wasn't an offer, but an ultimatum. Fatren hurried to catch up again as Venture entered the small square in front of the city gates. Soldiers bustled about. None of them wore uniforms their only method of distinguishing a captain from a regular soldier was a red band tied around the arm. Venture hadn't given them much time to gather but, then, they all knew the city was about to be attacked. They had been gathered anyway. "Time is short," Venture repeated in a loud voice. "I can teach you only a few things, but they will make a difference.
    "Koloss range in size from small ones that are about five feet tall to the huge ones, which are about twelve feet tall. However, even the little ones are going to be stronger than you are. Expect that. Fortunately, the creatures fight without coordination between individuals. If a koloss's comrade is in trouble, he won't bother to help. "They attack directly, without guile, and try to use blunt force to overwhelm. Don't let them! Tell your men to gang up on individual koloss two men for the small ones, three or four for the big ones. We won't be able to maintain a very large front, but that will keep us alive the longest.
    "Don't worry about creatures that get around our line and enter the city we'll have the civilians hidden at the very back of your town, and the koloss who bypass our line might turn to pillaging, leaving others to fight alone. That's what we want! Don't chase them down into the city. Your families will be safe. "If you're f ighting a big koloss, attack the legs, bring it down before you go for the kill. If you're fighting a small one, make certain your sword or spear doesn't get caught in their loose skin. Understand that koloss aren't stupid they're just unsophisticated. Predictable. They'll come at you the easiest way possible, and attack only in the most direct manner.
    "The most important thing for you to understand is that they can be beaten. We'll do it today. Don't let yourselves become intimidate d! Fight with coordination, keep your heads, and I promise you that we will survive ."
    The soldier captains stood in a small cluster, looking at Venture. They didn't cheer at the speech, but they did seem a little more confident. They moved off to pass on . 12 201

    Venture's instructions to their men.
    Fatren approached the emperor quietly. "If your count is correct, they outnumber us five to one." Venture nodded.
    "They're bigger, stronger, and better trained than we are."
    Venture nodded again.
    "We're doomed, then."
    Venture finally looked at Fatren, frowning, black ash dusting his shoulders. "You're not doomed. You have something they don't something very important." "What's that? " Venture met his eyes. "You have me ."
    "My lord emperor!" a voice called from atop the bulwark. "Koloss sighted!" They already call to him f irst , Fatren thought. Fatren wasn't certain whether to be insulted or impressed.
    Venture immediately jumped up to the top of the bulwark, using his Allomancy to cross the distance in a quick bound. Most of the soldiers stooped or hid behind the top of the fortification, keeping a low profile despite the distance of their enemies . Venture, however, stood proud in his white cape and uniform, shading his eyes, squinting toward the horizon.
    "They're setting up camp," he said, smiling. "Good. Lord Fatren, prepare the men for an assault."
    "An assault?" Fatren asked, scrambling up behind Venture.
    The emperor nodded. "The koloss will be tired from marching, and will be distracted by making camp. We'll never have a better opportunity to attack them." "But, we're on the defensive!" Venture shook his head. "If we wait, they'll eventually whip themselves into a blood frenzy, then come against us. We need to attack, rather than j ust wait to be slaughtered."
    "And abandon the bulwark? "
    "The fortif ication