The Bands of Mourning Read Online Free PDF Page B

with a Steelpush.
    Steris paced in the foyer, wearing a sleek white dress that had been chosen because the magazines said it was fashionable. With her hair braided and her makeup done by a professional for the occasion, she was actually quite pretty.
    He smiled when he saw her. His stress, his nervousness, melted away a little.
    Steris looked up as soon as he entered, then hurried to his side. “And?”
    “I didn’t get killed,” he said, “so there’s that.”
    She glanced at the clock. “You’re late,” she said, “but not very late.”
    “I’m … sorry?” She’d insisted he go on the raid. She’d planned for it, in fact. Such was life with Steris.
    “I’m sure you did your best,” Steris said, taking his arm. She was warm, and even trembling. Steris might be reserved, but unlike what some assumed, she wasn’t emotionless.
    “The raid?” she asked.
    “Went well. No casualties.” He walked with her to a side chamber, where Drewton—his valet—waited beside a table spread with Wax’s white wedding suit. “You realize that by going on a raid on the morning of my wedding, I’ll only reinforce this image that society has of me.”
    “Which image?”
    “That of a ruffian,” he said, taking off his mistcoat and handing it to Drewton. “A barely civilized lout from the Roughs who curses in church and goes to parties armed.”
    She glanced at his shotgun, which he’d tossed onto the sofa. “You enjoy playing with people’s perceptions of you, don’t you? You seek to make them uncomfortable, so they’ll be off balance.”
    “It’s one of the simple joys I have left, Steris.” He smiled as Drewton unbuttoned his waistcoat. Then he pulled off both that and his shirt, leaving him bare-chested.
    “I see I’m included in those you try to make uncomfortable,” Steris said.
    “I work with what I have,” Wax said.
    “Which is why you always have bits of rat in your stew?”
    Wax hesitated in handing his clothing to Drewton. “He said that to you too?”
    “Yes. I’m increasingly convinced he tries the lines out on me.” She folded her arms. “The little mongrel.”
    “Not going to leave as I change?” Wax asked, amused.
    “We’re to be married in less than an hour, Lord Waxillium,” she said. “I think I can stand to see you bare-chested. As a side note, you’re the Pathian. Prudishness is part of your belief system, not mine. I’ve read of Kelsier. From what I’ve studied, I doubt he’d care if—”
    Wax undid the wooden buttons on his trousers. Steris blushed, before turning around and finally putting her back to him. She continued speaking a moment later, sounding flustered. “Well, at least you agreed to a proper ceremony.”
    Wax smiled, settling down in his undershorts and letting Drewton give his face a quick shave. Steris remained in place, listening. Finally, as Drewton was wiping the cream from Wax’s face, she asked, “You have the pendants?”
    “Gave them to Wayne.”
    “You … What? ”
    “I thought you wanted some disturbances at the wedding,” Wax said, standing and taking the new set of trousers from Drewton. He slipped them on. He hadn’t worn white much since returning from the Roughs. It was harder to keep clean out there, which had made it worth wearing. “I figured this would work.”
    “I wanted planned disturbances, Lord Waxillium,” Steris snapped. “It’s not upsetting if it’s understood, prepared for, and controlled. Wayne is rather the opposite of those things, wouldn’t you say?”
    Wax did up his buttons and Drewton took his shirt off the hanger nearby. Steris turned around immediately upon hearing the sound, arms still folded, and didn’t miss a beat—refusing to acknowledge that she’d been embarrassed. “I’m glad I had copies made.”
    “You made copies of our wedding pendants?”
    “Yes.” She chewed her lip a moment. “Six sets.”
    “ Six? ”
    “The other four didn’t arrive in time.”
    Wax grinned, doing up the