“Yes,” Codenames said. “Our agent didn’t put that together, but yes. From the shipping manifests here … Why are they taking in so much, if they’re not making anything?”
“Because those aren’t supplies for the factory,” Moonlight said, meeting Marasi’s eyes. “They’re stockpiles of food and arms for the cavern underneath. This is our incursion point.”
“I agree,” Marasi said. “There has to be an entrance to the caverns there, and maybe it will be less guarded than the central spire. We strike here.”
“We can get there quickly by rail,” Moonlight said. “The section leading from here to there is finished and running.”
“Wait,” TwinSoul said. “How urgent is this threat?”
“We have reason to believe,” Marasi said, “that the Set has developed a bomb capable of wiping out Elendel. Harmony is blinded, and we know the Set have been developing a device capable of delivering their bomb from a great distance.”
“They have a dark god breathing down their necks,” Moonlight added. “Demanding results. They were supposed to put their plan into motion weeks ago. And with Marasi and her friends getting close … well, they have every incentive to launch that bomb the moment they can. It could happen at any time.”
“By the first aether…” he whispered, glancing at Codenames, whose eyes had gone wide. “Moonlight. We should contact the master.”
“You’re right,” Moonlight said. “I hate delaying, but … Codenames, is your special friend nearby?”
“Upstairs,” she said, scrambling out of the room. “I’ll go grab him.”
“The master?” Marasi said. “You mean…”
“Yes,” Moonlight said. “It’s time to talk to Kelsier.”
40
Codenames’s “friend” turned out to be a glowing sphere of light the size of a child’s head — though perfectly symmetrical and marked at the center with an arcane symbol.
It floated over to Marasi, then bobbed in the air and spoke with a soft masculine voice. She didn’t understand the strange words.
“Was that … some kind of spell?” she whispered to Moonlight.
“He said he was pleased to meet you,” Codenames said. “And complimented your hair.”
“Oh,” Marasi said, transfixed by the glowing orb. Nothing held it up; it simply floated, shimmering with a pure white glow, tinged with mother-of-pearl.
Codenames spoke to the sphere in the same language, and it bobbed again, then began to shift and change. It melded into the shape of a person’s head — a man with strong, angular features. She was shocked to find that most of the paintings and statues of the Survivor were accurate. Except for the spike through his right eye — a feature that was replicated in the light, same as the rest of his head and hair.
“I’m not surprised to hear from you,” he said. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
“Maybe?” Codenames said. “Honestly, we’re not certain, Kell. But TwinSoul said we should contact you.”
“Is he there?” Kelsier asked.
“Present, my lord,” TwinSoul said, bowing his head to the reproduction of the man’s face — though Kelsier didn’t seem to be able to see him. “Also present is Moonlight, and … a visitor. One Marasi Colms.”
The Survivor’s image cocked an eyebrow at that. “Marasi Colms. We’ve been watching you.”
Marasi stammered. This man was the center of her religion — she’d prayed to him as a child. And while she wasn’t as observant as Steris, it was still … daunting to meet him.
He didn’t express anger that she was there. Another indication that Moonlight had been playing up that aspect, perhaps to make Marasi feel she was getting away with something.
“Report?” Kelsier asked.
“Dawnshot is in Bilming,” Moonlight said, “and thinks the Set is moving soon. Within the day.”
“Harmony is blinded, Lord Survivor,” Marasi said, piping up. “He admitted it to Wax. He can’t see anything, but … sir … he’s frightened.”
“Damn,” Kelsier said. “I’m twelve hours away, moving quickly via airship.”
“That … may not be soon enough, Kell,” Moonlight said.
“My lord,” TwinSoul said, “Moonlight has recovered some disturbing intel. It appears that the Set has discovered the relationship between harmonium and trellium. Beyond that, they’ve been experimenting with long-range delivery devices. They’re prepared to do something stupid.”
“Not so much stupid as desperate,” Kelsier said. “They know that Autonomy has declared this entire planet anathema. The Set is fighting for survival the only way they know how: by trying to destroy Elendel, to prove to Autonomy they can rule the planet. I thought we had more time though. Why now?”
“No idea,” Moonlight said. “But there’s talk of a new ashfall. I’ve never heard that before. Plus, we have a photo here of a destroyed city. Maybe … they tried it out somewhere else, and photographed the results? At any rate, it implies something more than bombing Elendel.”
“There have always been two plans,” Codenames said. “Autonomy wants to do something catastrophic to the entire planet — the ashfalls could be their plan for that. But the Set is hoping to prove it can dominate the Basin, and that the more extreme measure isn’t needed. Like cutting off a finger to prevent the infection from spreading.”
The room fell silent, Marasi feeling overwhelmed. They spoke of the end of a planet, her planet, as if it were something that they’d known was a possibility for some time. But then again, she was literally in a conversation with the Survivor … so …
“Sir,” she said. “Um, Lord Kelsier? I believe they are close to launching this bomb. I intend to stop them, but I’m just one woman. I wouldn’t mind help. Anything you can offer.”
“I don’t have the luxury of holding back,” Kelsier said more softly. “I shouldn’t have left for the South. I thought Saze would stop it before it got this far … We need to do what he cannot. Miss Colms, you have our help. Codenames, how many full Ghostblood agents do we have in Bilming?”
“Um…” Codenames said. “Only us three. Everyone else is in Elendel or on assignment elsewhere in the field.”
“How quickly can we get the Elendel agents to Bilming?” Kelsier asked.
“Not quickly enough,” Moonlight said. “They’re all embedded, so we’d have to use dead drops. We could have them roused by early evening, maybe late afternoon, but they would still be several hours away in Elendel.”
“Send them to my sister,” Marasi said. “She’s trying to facilitate an evacuation via the Elendel government.”
Kelsier sniffed softly. He didn’t seem to have much respect for the Elendel government. “Codenames, you take Dae-oh and see to it. I doubt the field team needs a philologist for this mission. Also alert our members around the Basin. Shri Prasanva, I hate to pull you from your quiet evenings of scholarship, but I fear we’re going to need your help.”
The elderly TwinSoul stood up straight, then bowed to the floating head. “We are eager to serve, my lord. Silajana sends his regards, and wishes he could send more of his aetherbound to aid in your fight.”
“I appreciate the sentiment,” Kelsier said. “You and Moonlight are to assist Miss Colms. In fact, I think it is time to do something drastic. Take the stores of purified Dor. The Command is ‘Respect.’ Authorize the other cells to access theirs as well, and pass the Command to them.”
Codenames gasped. Marasi had no idea what purified Dor was, but even Moonlight seemed impressed.
“Do what you can,” Kelsier said. “I will try to accelerate my arrival, but the truth is that I don’t know how much I can do. I’m traveling over water, and so can’t go much faster than I currently am. Dropping things to Steelpush off doesn’t do much with an ocean underneath you.”