Healer (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 2) (17 page)

“That’s the only thing I could get.” Leila ran a hand through her hair. “I hope ye can do something with it, Jemma.”

Brenna lifted the cloth that covered the basket to find a chicken, its neck rung and white feathers still intact. It was small but she thought she could make it stretch to feed four.

“That will do fine, Leila. I’ll need to find some nuts to stuff it with as well as something for a pie.”

Leila sighed. “I’m not sure what I can get fer ye. That cost me most of a week’s takin’s from the inn.”

“I can find it myself. I’ll need to leave for the afternoon, though.” She should be able forage enough out in the mountains to finish the meal. “Leila, I asked Polly to help make travel rations. What we talked about yesterday, about you leaving? I think it has to be tonight. Do you remember the name we gave you?”

“The Red Anchor and Warrick Chennel, I remember.” Leila’s shoulders slumped. “I can see we need to leave. The councilmen will never leave us alone now. Sooner or later they’ll send Da to the mines and Ma and me to look after someone else’s house or tavern.”

Kane followed Brenna as she led them through the town gate and out into the mountains. If not for the worried look on her face, he could almost believe they were simply out for a walk on a fine spring day. She’d handed him the basket and hurried out the door, barely saying a word. Now she stepped off the road into the brush, leading them further away from any paths the townsfolk traveled.

“Brenna, what is it?” He reached for her arm and swung her around, troubled by the worried look on her face.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “I can’t See anything but something is going to go terribly wrong tonight, I feel it.”

He drew her close and felt her tremble. He’d never known her to be so uneasy before.

“We’ll be ready then,” he said. “I’ll talk to Yowan. What about Leila?”

“I’ve already convinced her to leave tonight - and we’ve been putting travel rations together, as much as we can.” Brenna leaned back to look at him. “I can See our trip through the mountains and the weather is clear, but I can’t See tonight.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll handle it.” Kane hugged her again. “Yowan finds us the two most determined people he’s met. We’ll find a way.” He smiled when she looked at him and nodded. “Now what in the gods are we doing out here?”

“We’re looking for nuts, berries, anything that I can use to stuff a chicken or make a pie with.” Brenna drew away from him and started scanning their surroundings. “It might take some time. I know what would be in season outside of Kingsreach and Dryannon, but not here in the mountains.” She stepped under a tree and studied the ground.

“Excellent - I’ve found some mushrooms. Kane, bring that basket over and help me pick these.”

Brenna calmly turned the chicken on the spit one final time. All her preparations were done – it was time for events unfold. Polly, Fern and Huw had all been sent home with travel rations and the advice that they should hide for a while. Now the only people in the Iron Demon besides Ma, Ox and Leila were Kane, Brenna and Yowan. Kane would be by the door to turn away any customers other than the councilmen but they didn’t expect anyone to come. Yowan had talked to a few men in town - word had spread and no one would willingly put themselves in the same room as the councilmen.

Leila nervously paced the kitchen, her gaze landing on the chicken. “Is it done?”

“Yes, it’s done. Don’t eat any.” Brenna looked at her. “There’s little enough as it is and we don’t know if they’ll bring more people.”

“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that.” Leila sat down by the fire. “They won’t, will they?”

“I doubt it but we can’t be sure. So don’t let anyone touch the chicken or the pies.” Brenna nodded to the two pies keeping warm by the hearth. She felt Kane signal her through his sword. “They’re here Leila. Go get them some ale.”

Leila scurried off, too flustered to wonder how Brenna knew the councilmen had arrived.

Brenna took the chicken off the spit and placed it on the table. She carefully scooped out the mushroom and black bread stuffing and heaped it on a plate. With her knife, she started to carve the bird. The chicken slices were piled high by the time Leila returned.

“Jus’ them four, same as before.” Brenna nodded and set out four plates while Leila grabbed a plate of bread and a pot of butter. “And they threatened to get ye fer themselves.” Brenna simply nodded again and sent the other woman out the door.

By the time Leila had returned the plates were stacked high with chicken and dressing as well as small, wild onions she’d cooked in butter until golden and more of the thin potatoes, fried crisp. Leila left with the plates and Brenna settled in to wait.

There was no more food and she figured the councilmen would want second helpings. She smiled grimly. Even the rhubarb pie wouldn’t be enough. Nothing would ever be enough for them.

She reached for Kane through the old steel, projecting patience and calm. He hadn’t liked her plan much, fearing it put her in too much danger, but she’d convinced him eventually. Now she just had to wait.

Soon Leila was back - the councilmen wanted more. Brenna cut each pie in half and sent her out with them. Leila came back again and told her they wanted to see her. Brenna nodded and rose, signaling Kane.

The four men looked up from their pie as she entered the room. One, obviously their leader, dabbed his mouth and put down his spoon.

“I’ve been told there is no more chicken,” he said sharply.

“That’s right.” Brenna nodded. “You’ve eaten all of it. I hope it met with your approval?” She looked with satisfaction as Leila gathered the empty plates. The other three continued to eat their pie.

“No it didn’t,” the councilman said. “We wanted more. That is not satisfactory.” His eyes narrowed as he looked her over.

Brenna saw Kane edge his way closer as Ma Colley placed a full mug of ale on the table.

“Here ye go, m’lord Minchen.” Ma grabbed an empty mug and headed back to the bar.

Minchen took a swallow of ale before turning back to Brenna. “I said that it was not satisfactory. What are you going to do about it?”

“What do you expect me to do?” Brenna shrugged. “There was only one chicken and you already ate it. You said it was good?”

“It was excellent, which is why we want more you insolent woman.” Minchen looked at his companions and smiled. “You should take care how you speak to me since you are now my indentured servant.”

Brenna’s breath caught in her throat. Even though she’d expected this she couldn’t help reacting to the words. “I think not.” She smiled grimly and crossed her arms over her chest. “You were a little too trusting when choosing a cook. It was quite unwise.” She looked over the three other councilmen. Yes, she could see the first subtle signs that the poisons were starting to work.

Minchen’s face paled. “Have you poisoned us? How dare you attack a councilman! We have allies who will now be your enemies.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve done no permanent harm.” One of his companions slumped to one side before sliding off his chair and onto the floor. “And I already have enemies who are much more powerful than you and your friends.”

In a few minutes all four men were unconscious. Yowan and Kane dragged them upstairs and tied them up in one of the rooms. Leila, her face immobile, stood watching while her parents cleaned up the tavern. Once the councilmen were restrained, Kane and Yowan headed to the stables to saddle the horses. Brenna and Leila entered the kitchen to pack their travel rations.

Brenna left with Leila, Ma and Ox – she wanted to make sure they got through the gate and found the road. They would travel the caravan route to the sea and buy passage south to Aruntun.

“Hopefully the councilmen will be so busy looking for us that they’ll not bother to follow you,” Brenna said. She stuffed some crowns into Leila’s hands and hugged her.

“I’m sorry,” Leila said. “It were my fault. I could only get that one chicken.”

“These men are bullies,” Brenna said to her. “They use what little power they have to intimidate and cheat hard-working folk like you and your family. What did you possibly do to deserve this?”

“Nothing,” Leila said. She looked over to where her parents stood, miserably clinging to each other. “We did nothing and they ruined us anyway.” Leila squared her shoulders. “I hope to see you at the Red Anchor someday Jemma.”

Brenna watched the three of them trudge down the road. She hoped they made it. They were good people who were terrorized for no real reason. Before she headed back to the inn Brenna searched for old steel. Eventually she found Captain Chaffer and sent him as clear a message as possible asking him to come back north and pick up Leila and her family. Having done all she could, Brenna hurried back to the inn.

Kane and Yowan had the horses saddled by the time she arrived. Brenna quickly changed into her thief’s clothes, then rifled through her pack for a small bottle. Invisible, she headed back out into the streets towards the gate to the mines. Kane and Yowan followed more slowly with the horses.

From the shadow of the wall, Brenna watched the guards on the gate for a few minutes. Once she felt that she understood their pacing, she crept closer. With her face upwind, she carefully pulled the stopper out of the bottle, covered the mouth with a cloth and splashed a few drops of liquid onto it. Holding the cloth away from her, she carefully put the stopper back in the bottle and tucked it into her pack.

One of the guards strolled closer to her and just as he turned, she stepped up to him and covered his face with the cloth. Immediately he went limp and Brenna caught him as he slumped to the ground, soundlessly pulling him into the shadows. The second guard was on the opposite side of the gate. In three steps the she’d covered his mouth with the cloth too. She laid him out beside the first guard, hiding the cloth in his boot.

Brenna unbarred the gate and slipped through it. She would meet up with Kane and Yowan later, once she had Madelay. She trotted down the path towards the healer’s small hut, her breath the only thing about her visible in the chill night air. The hut looked small, huddled against the hulking mountain and Brenna sighed in relief when she saw the smoke trailing out of the chimney - Madelay wasn’t up on the mountain tending to an ill miner. She eased up to the hut, opened the door and entered.

The inside of the hut was much like the first time she’d visited - a small fire in the hearth warmed the room and cast a faint light over the large wooden table that was heaped with drying flowers and bottles of powders and liquids.

“Have you come for me finally?”

Brenna spun towards the voice. Madelay sat in a chair beside the window, peering into the room trying to see her. Brenna dropped her invisibility and smiled at her grandmother.

“Yes, we’ve finally come for you. Grandmother, I’m Brenna.”

Madelay rose from her chair. She reached out a hand to touch Brenna, who then pulled her into a hug.

“It’s been a long wait, granddaughter.” Madelay stepped back, her face crinkled in a smile as she looked at Brenna. “But we’ve no time to spare. I’ve packed what I need - all you have to do is cover me with that spell.”

Brenna muttered the spell and took her grandmother’s hand in hers. Two shadows slipped out of the hut. She checked old steel and found Kane calmly waiting by the gate. Madelay in tow, Brenna headed that way.

She tweaked Kane’s sword as they approached the gate and it swung open. Kane peered through it and she reached for him through old steel. He nodded and the gate swung open wider, Yowan visible in the opening. Madelay stumbled and Brenna tightened her grip, keeping her on her feet. Then they were in the shadows and Brenna dropped the spell.

Madelay simply stood and stared at Yowan. In two big steps he reached her, pulling her into his arms. Brenna smiled and turned away, trying to give them as much time and privacy as possible. She went to help Kane untie the horses.

“No problems?” he asked.

“None.” Brenna looked back at her grandparents, reunited after almost forty years. She rubbed Blaze’s nose before digging into one of the saddlebags for her riding clothes - boots, warm breeches and cloak. She put them on before pulling a similar set of clothes out of the saddle bag on Patches, Madelay’s horse.

She handed them to her grandmother. “You should put these on. We need to get moving.”

“Thank you,” Madelay said. “We have much to talk about, all of us, but that must wait.” Madelay wiped her tears before bending to pull on the breeches.

Brenna led the way as they walked up the trail, Blaze’s leather lead in her hand. When they’d left the gate it was full dark - since Brenna could see the best in the dark, she’d stepped out first but now the strain of keeping them invisible as well as breaking the trail was wearing on her.

When she rounded a switchback she spied a small flat place where they could rest. She signaled to Madelay to stop and she wearily pulled Blaze over beside the rock face. She dropped the spell and gently increased the flow of blood to her head to relieve her headache. With a sigh she slumped to the ground. At the sound of boots she looked up to see Kane frowning down at her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

He passed a water skin to her and she drank, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.