“I gave you pewter, Spook,” Kelsier said angrily, not looking at Quellion. “Will you deny me now? You must pull free a steel spike that supports this stage. Then you must take the girl and press her to your chest. Kill her with the spike, and drive it into your own body. That is the only way!” Kill her with the spike … Spook thought, feeling numb. This all began that day when I nearly died. I was fighting a Thug in the market; I used him as a shield. But … the other soldier struck anyway, stabbing through his companion and into me.

