Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne) (31 page)

“Really,” Brenna looked over at
Dasid. He picked up his glass of wine and took a sip. “And what might he have
told you?”

“I’m sure many of your secrets are still
safe. But it is unusual for a thief to become a queen, don’t you think?”

“I consider it very good training,
actually,” Brenna said. “After all, a thief must have patience to watch and
wait for the right opportunity rather than rushing in to an unknown situation.
And a good thief learns that not all men value the same things.”

“How so?” Mannel asked.

“Well, a merchant, for instance,
may hold his account books dearest, while a poor man may not let that gold
crown out of his sight.”

“And what might a ruler see value
in?”

“His people, his integrity,” Brenna
paused and looked from Mannel to Evlan. “His family.”

“Yes, a good ruler should value
those things very highly,” Mannel agreed.

“Which is why I ask that you not
agree to help Duke Thorold,” Brenna said. “He holds none of those things dear,
as he has shown by his actions”.

“So it would seem,” Mannel said.

Brenna was certain that the meal
was delicious but later she couldn’t remember what she’d been served. She ate
automatically, thinking about what had to be done after this meal. For the most
part she let Dasid carry the conversation, but she was aware of what was
discussed.

“Will the commitment between Beldyn
and I be honoured if Brenna does wear the crown in Kingsreach?” Evlan asked.

“No,” Brenna said loudly. “Beldyn
has no doubt been sent to the High Bishop.”

She shivered as Mannel and Evlan
watched, frowning.

“I know what’s likely to happen to
him,” she continued. “If we’re able to save him, I will not force him into
anything.”

“But he’s agreed to this,” King
Mannel said. “He should hold to his word.”

“If he wishes it, I will not
object,” Brenna said. “But I will not force him, nor will I hold him to it if
he has been … damaged.” She met Mannel’s gaze. “Nor would I hold you to the
agreement either.”

“Damaged, in what way damaged?”
Evlan asked and Brenna turned her gaze on the girl.

“After being ministered to by the High
Bishop Valden Neal Ravershaw is missing his thumbs,” she said. “He can no
longer hold a sword, a terrible injury for a life-long soldier. Who can say
what damage Thorold might let the High Bishop inflict on Beldyn? Thorold needs
no heir from him, although I’m sure you would like children out of any union.”

 “How barbaric,” Evlan said, her
face pale. “Father, Duke Thorold wouldn’t do that, would he?”

“High Bishop Valden would,” Mannel
said. “If Thorold only needs the boy alive with no requirement for him to
produce an heir Valden would have free rein. There is no telling what injuries
he would inflict.” Mannel sat back and fingered his glass. “Of course I have no
quick way to verify what you have told me but I am coming to the conclusion
that Duke Thorold can offer me nothing. I can refuse to commit anything to him
until the spring,” Mannel said. “Will that be enough time?”

“Yes,” Brenna replied. “Thank you.”
She glanced at Dasid, who nodded. “By late spring the decision will be made for
you. If I win you will have my gratitude.”

Evlan sat beside her father,
pouting and Brenna wondered just how much influence the girl held over the king.
Beldyn would not marry her, of that Brenna was certain - she’d felt both his
and Jemma’s feelings through old steel. Jemma would be his choice, if he was in
any condition to be a husband and father after so many hours with the High
Bishop.

The four of them walked back to
their rooms in silence. Wils and Pater stopped at the tavern for ales but
Brenna signaled Dasid to follow her to her room. She needed to talk to Pater,
but there were more pressing issues.

“He’ll keep his word,” Dasid said
once he’d closed the door. “We have until spring. That will hamper Thorold’s
efforts to muster the forces he’ll require to take Fallad.”

“Yes, I think so too. But Evlan
could be a problem.” Brenna sat down on the bed while Dasid took the one chair.
“She has her heart set on marrying Beldyn even though they have never met. I
don’t think Beldyn would ever agree to the match, not unless he’s forced into
it.”

“I wouldn’t if I were him.” Dasid
sent her a look. “It’s his father’s idea. Besides, I got the impression that he
and Jemma were fond of each other.”

“Yes.” Brenna remembered the girl’s
panic when she’d heard that Beldyn had been taken to the High Bishop. “If we
can save him I want him to choose for himself. I think he’ll choose Jemma.”

“And he is the heir to Comack,”
Dasid said. “You’ll need strong, legitimate support there once Thorold is defeated. Ewart said he had been approached as a match for Evlan a few years
ago. Maybe it isn’t specifically Beldyn she’s interested in.”

Brenna looked up at him. “You think
she simply wants to marry?”

“I think she’s a princess and does
not wish to settle for anyone too far below her own station,” Dasid said. “It’s
unfortunate we don’t have any more suitable young men to put in her path.”

Brenna sat up at that. “Oh but we
do.” She smiled at Dasid’s puzzled look. “I think I can produce a suitable
enough young man for her.” She laughed. “I may even be able to have him sent
here before winter sets in. That will keep her too busy to question her
father’s decision.”  

“Anyone I know?” Dasid asked.

“No,” Brenna replied. “And that’s
all I’m going to say until I know he’s agreeable. Now, I need to contact Kane,
Martyn and Jemma.” Brenna unsheathed her knife and laid it on the bed.

Thorold
watched the High Bishop trace a knife across his son’s bare chest. A thin, red
line of blood welled up on the smooth skin. Barely old enough for hair to grow on
his chest and he’s already tried to ruin me, Thorold thought in disgust. He
himself had to accept some blame, he knew. He’d chosen the boy’s mother after
all. As weak-willed a woman as he’d ever met. One of the reasons he’d married
her. That and her father’s exceptional horses and grazing lands. But it turned
out that the boy had inherited
his
strength of will and the mother had
not had the backbone to discipline him enough. It was obvious to him now that
it was too late to re-educate Beldyn. Well, he had another son.

Thorold
walked up to the rock slab that his son lay on. The bindings were tight and
Beldyn’s flesh showed purple bruises where the ropes bit into him. “Loosen
these,” he said to the priest who stood at the lad’s feet. “I don’t want him
loosing any limbs.” He turned to watch his son’s face. “Yet.” He was
disappointed at the challenge he saw in Beldyn’s eyes. “I hope you don’t expect
me to save you,” he said.

“Oh no, I expect to die,” Beldyn
said. “But it’s better than living under your rule and watching you destroy
this city and its people. I’ve done what I can to make sure you don’t succeed.
And I’d do it all again.”

“And what exactly do you think
you’ve done little boy?” Thorold leaned over him and stared into his eyes. “How
exactly do you think you’ve hurt me?”

“I’ve named Brenna as my heir.”

“A mere trifle. I think we can
arrange for you to recant that. A death bed confession to the High Bishop would
likely suffice, wouldn’t it Valden?”

“Oh yes, I think that could be
managed.” High Bishop Valden wiped the blooded blade on a clean cloth and
smiled at him.

Beldyn closed his eyes briefly. “The
people will never believe that,” he said.

“The people will believe what I
tell them to believe!” Thorold shouted, glaring at his son. “I control
Kingsreach.” Then Beldyn smiled and before he could stop himself he reached out
and slapped his son, hard. “I control Kingsreach, and Soule, I tell you.”

“You’d be surprised at how little
you do control Father,” Beldyn said. Thorold’s palm print was clearly visible
on his face. “You’ve never controlled Thieves Quarter. The Kingsguard today are
no match for a real army. Even nobles and merchants oppose you. People who have
eaten your food and drunk your fine wines have been plotting against you all
this time. Plotting to help Brenna to take her place as queen.”

“You lie, I’d know if there were
traitors in my own house.”

“Would you? The Brotherhood has
spent thousands of years watching, waiting, listening and no one suspected them
for all those years. What makes you think you’re a match for that?”

“The Brotherhood,” Thorold
sputtered. “What do you know about the Brotherhood?”

“That they are more prepared than
you ever gave them credit for. Even now Kane Rowse is raising and training an
army. What do you have? A plan to starve men into fighting for you and a
Kingsguard that is a shadow of what it was when a Rowse was captain. The old
timers say that last bit behind your back.”

Thorold
backhanded Beldyn, his ring tearing a bloody gash across his son’s face. How
dare he taunt him like this?

“High Bishop, do not do any permanent
damage but I want him I great pain,” Thorold said before leaning down to his son.
“I wish him to suffer for thinking he can best me.”

He rose and left the room without
looking back. As the door closed behind him he heard a soft grunt of pain and
smiled. Beldyn would learn to regret betraying his father. It would be his last
lesson but he would learn it before he died.

Taking a deep breath, Thorold
pushed the door open and walked into the church of the One-God. He nodded when
he saw so many faithful at their devotions, even at this late hour. The church
had greatly expanded its influence over the people and it was a useful tool.  He
signaled to his personal guards. Now for wine and perhaps a woman. One he had
no need to be gentle with.

Kane looked out from under his hood
and tried to slow his heart rate. Duke Thorold had passed not two feet in front
of him and it had taken all of his self-control to remain still and keep his
head bowed as if in prayer. Thorold’s presence meant that his fear was
confirmed - Beldyn was in the hands of High Bishop Valden. If they didn’t save
him within a few days there may not be enough of the boy to salvage.

Two Kingsguard stood beside the
door to the lower level - Thorold and Valden had learned their lessons from
Neal Ravershaw’s rescue. More Guards were probably posted on the other side of
that door and in the rooms below. The two acolytes beside Kane rose and he rose
with them, following them to the church entrance. Once outside, he melted into
the shadows and made his way back to the Quarter.

Eryl wasn’t back at the old stable yet
so Kane lit the lamp and poured himself a cup of stale water. He gulped it
down, hoping that Eryl had been able to find them something to eat. He shook
out the robe he’d worn and hung it on a nail near the door. Next he peeled the
beard off. He scratched his chin in relief, hoping he didn’t have fleas. He
pulled the chair up and sat with his feet on the bench and his hand on his
sword hilt as he settled in to wait for Brenna.

“
Kane
.”

“
Here
,” he replied. “
Beldyn
is in the hands of the High Bishop. I saw Thorold emerge from the chamber below
the church. He must have been to see Beldyn
.”

“
Just as we expected
,”
Brenna said.

He felt her sorrow through the old
steel.

“
I don’t want to leave him there
for more than two days
,” he said. “
Thorold was furious with Beldyn and I
don’t think he’ll let him live much longer than that
.”

“
He’ll want to watch him suffer
,”
Brenna replied. “
But two days may be all he has the patience for.
Dasid
believes the mounted troops can be there the day after tomorrow but the foot
soldiers are four days away
. He’ll confirm with Gaskain and we’ll let
you know
.”

“
Ask him to have some
the
men ride double
,” Kane said. “
I’d like at least one hundred and fifty
men here as soon as possible
.” The Kingsguard would have more than four
hundred men but his mounted troops were better trained. And he didn’t need to
take the city, just get Beldyn out safely.

Kane paced while Brenna contacted Jemma
to confer with Ewart and Gaskain. The door eased open and Eryl stepped through
it, his face drawn and haggard.

“It’s been a very interesting day,”
Eryl said tossing a bag on to the table.

Kane grabbed the bag, digging in
with one hand, the other still on his sword hilt.

“Thanks for the food,” Kane said,
taking a bite of a cheese. “I’m waiting for Brenna’s reply. She’s finding out how
many men we’ll have to get Beldyn out of the church.”

“He’s there then, is he?” Eryl
asked.

Kane nodded, chewing. He tore a piece
of bread off a small loaf and tossed the rest to Eryl.

“Thorold was there, most likely to
watch.”