The Alloy of Law

Wax and Steris arrive at the Yomen-Ostlin wedding at Yomen Manor. Steris analyzes the guest list, explaining that invitations are used as social weapons. She and Wax are seated with Lord Harms and Marasi. While the others talk, Wax assesses the ballroom’s defensibility and reflects on the Sliverism religion, which reveres a figure known as Ironeyes.

Wayne appears disguised as a server and slips Wax a coded bullet casing. At the table, Marasi questions Wax about the Roughs, presenting statistics showing that Elendel has fewer lawmen per capita. Wax’s anecdotes about his life as a lawman embarrass Steris, who excuses herself.

Once Steris is gone, Wayne drops his disguise and informs Wax about his investigation into the Vanishers. He reveals that the kidnapped women all share a common noble bloodline. As Wayne warns that the wedding is the Vanishers’ next target, the ballroom doors burst open.

Following Wayne’s warning, bandits invade the ballroom and begin robbing the guests. Wayne is eager to fight, but Wax refuses, afraid of harming bystanders. As the robbery unfolds, Marasi documents the bandits’ features in her notebook. Unlike the other bandits, the bandit leader is wearing a mask to conceal his face.