Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1) (19 page)

Eryl nodded and Kane smiled. He doubted there was much out there about the Brotherhood - at least not in Kingsreach – but Thorold might have come across a family history in Comack. That could be how he’d come know about the Brotherhood.

“Thorold,” Eryl said. “Is now sending his pet scholar Fridrick to verify each item before payment is received.”

“I think I can send you a few items that can qualify,” Kane said. “There is no real reason to force the duke to keep his crowns is there?” Kane would put Dasid to the task. Surely the Brotherhood had some documents that were either totally harmless or downright misleading.

“It’d be a shame to have a man lookin’ to spend his coin and there be nothin’ for him to buy,” Eryl agreed.

A few hours later Kane sat with Feiren and Dasid in his uncle’s study. Brenna was nowhere to be found and at this late hour Kane guessed she was out roaming the streets. Even after the incident at the library he hadn’t been able to discourage her - but he had to admit his efforts were half-hearted at best. He and his uncle disagreed on this.

Uncle Feiren believed that Brenna must be protected at all costs. She was the key to the future of the country. Kane agreed she was the key but she was also much more than that. As the true heir she was the catalyst that set events in motion. In the short time she’d been with them they already had more and better sources of information - and she’d found the coronet and the book on forging old steel. The Call was
look to me to save the line
. The Caller was heir to the throne
and
the leader of the Brotherhood. They had to treat her as such. And his uncle, though he would deny it, was more protective of Brenna because she was a woman.

For Kane, a major challenge would be to get the council – including his uncle - to take direction from Brenna. But it was critical that it happen. Every day he lived with the realities of a king who did not lead well - he would not be responsible for diminishing Brenna’s authority. She
must
make her own decisions. He would protect and advise her, but the decisions were hers to make. The truth of it was that he had more confidence in Brenna’s decisions than he had in King Mattias’. And a part of him hated that.

He prayed that his king lived a long and productive life, but Brenna had the potential to be a much stronger ruler. He’d sworn two oaths and he was afraid of the choice he’d have to make, because Brenna was what Soule needed, and soon.

“Uncle,” Kane said. “I’m going to have Dasid handle the contacts in the Thieves Quarter from now on. He and I have spoken about this and we both agree that with Thorold sniffing around, it’s better if we keep any Brotherhood business as far from the Rowse estate as possible.”

“Yes, of course,” Feiren agreed. “It makes sense.”

“I also want to start removing all the Brotherhood documents from the house. I don’t trust Thorold not to engineer a search.” His uncle’s smile faltered. He’d dedicated his whole life to preserving the records and to not have access would be a blow.

“I suppose that would be for the best,” Feiren said and sighed deeply. “And only what I deserve.”

“What do you mean?” Kane was puzzled.

“It’s my fault Thorold detests this house, after all. When King Bodan was alive I wasn’t always patient with Thorold. And now he’s been such a challenge for you, Nephew. So, let him come here and find a doddering old man who spends his days reading.”

“Brenna should leave as well,” Kane said. “Thorold does not know about her, but if he connects her to the dead healer and the attempted theft of the knife, we’re lost.”

Thorold slammed the papers down on the table and Fridrick flinched.

“Useless, utterly useless,” he said about the documents Fridrick had brought him.

“They are absolutely genuine my Lord,” Fridrick said hesitantly.

“I’m sure they are. But how am I to get any useful information from a one thousand year old market list?” He grabbed the top sheet and bits of paper flaked off and fluttered in the candle light. “Two chickens, one block of cheese, two barrels of beer, four loaves of bread.” He crumpled the paper up in disgust. “Where are the names?”

“The document clearly states that it’s for a Brotherhood meet, my Lord. I thought you were looking for proof that they existed.”

“What I’m looking for,” Thorold said quietly, “is proof that it exists today. For that I need names, places of residence, something, anything, which can be traced through time to someone alive now. And if it can be traced to Feiren Rowse and his nephew then so much the better. Get out of my sight and find me something useful.” Fridrick quickly bowed and left the room. There had to be a way to tie the Brotherhood to Rowse. Feiren Rowse was involved, he knew it.

Just as he’d known there was something unusual about that healer’s knife. What was her name? Ah yes, Wynne. She was quite a comely woman, and for a time, very pliant in his bed. But then she’d tried to kill him and he’d turned her own knife on her. Her very ancient knife. When he’d held it and cut her with it, it had felt alive in his hand. There had been magic in the knife that night, though he’d never felt it again. Still, he’d been collecting old weapons ever since, hoping to find the key to that magic. That had led to the discovery of documents about the Brotherhood. The two were connected somehow - the Brotherhood and the old weapons. He hadn’t yet figured out how, but he would. A hunch told him that Feiren Rowse was at the centre of it.

thirteen

At Kane’s nod, Brenna dropped her staff. It was hot today. It was summer and the markets would be filled with local food - plump berries, crisp lettuces and fresh herbs. Corn would be ready to harvest soon, with peppers not far behind. In the past Brenna had spent many summer days at Pater’s fruit cart, sampling the first of the crops as they came in.

She wiped her sleeve across her forehead. Not this summer. Instead she was stuck in this walled-in yard learning to use weapons she’d likely never need once she’d avenged her mother’s death. When that was done she wanted a quiet life in a small town somewhere, maybe in Aruntun. At least there her eyes weren’t likely to get her sent to prison. And hopefully she’d be out of the Brotherhood’s reach. Even if she was their heir, she didn’t want to rule Soule. And really, there was hardly a less likely person to put on the throne than a thief like her.

“You’re getting much better with the staff and sword, Brenna,” Kane said. He picked up her staff and settled it, along with his own, in the rack beside the door to the house. “But I think you need more time and a different teacher. You should really spend time at a real weapons training school.”

“I think you and Feiren are doing a fine job,” Brenna said. “You are both captains, what more do I need?”

“Both Uncle Feiren and I are adequate, but you would benefit from instruction by someone with a lot more experience training recruits.” Kane stopped in front of her. “I also think it would be best if you were out of Kingsreach. You could go to the new training school.”

“I’ll agree to leave Feiren’s house,” Brenna said. “But I’m not convinced I need to leave Kingsreach. And I told you, I won’t go train with a school full of youngsters. And when exactly did you decide my future?” How could he possibly believe he could simply arrange her life? She’d thought he knew her better than that. She crossed her arms over her chest and met his gaze, prepared for an argument. To her surprise, Kane nodded and grinned.

“I thought this would be your reaction,” he said. “I told my uncle that a ruler – or heir for that matter – who can’t determine their own course is no better than what we’ll have with Thorold’s son on the throne. Clean up and meet me in my uncle’s study. We need to discuss this - it really is time for you to leave this house.”

Brenna followed him inside and headed to her room to clean up and change. Kane’s reaction had thrown her. She’d expected him to tell her what she should do - instead, he’d been pleased that she’d not simply agreed with his plans. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Both men were already in Feiren’s study by the time she got there. Feiren was seated behind his desk while Kane paced in front of it. The room was quiet, but from the looks on their faces they’d been arguing. With a nod to each of them Brenna sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Kane sat down beside her and Brenna settled deeper into her chair.

“So, Feiren Rowse,” Brenna said. “Kane tells me I need to figure out my future.”

“Yes,” Feiren said. “As much as I hate to see you leave I think for your own safety you should. And sending you to continue your weapons training in the new school is ideal. I know you’ve already turned it down, but I think that would be best.”

“I appreciate all you’ve done for me Feiren,” Brenna said. “But the answer is no. I don’t even know where this training school is. I hope you haven’t built it in Comack?”

“No lass,” Feiren said. “It’s in Fallad.”

“At least you have that much sense,” Brenna said.

“We wouldn’t put it anywhere that Duke Thorold could monitor it, if that’s what you mean,” Kane said.

“He’d do more than monitor it,” Brenna said softly. “Duke Thorold controls everything in Comack, even the church. He twists the laws to suit his purpose and obtains loyalty with bribes and fear. If he thought something was even the slightest bit threatening – which of course a training school would be - he’d take it over or burn it to the ground. And it would all be legal. At least according to how the laws are used in Comack.”

Kane nodded. “I’ve received information for years that this has been happening but I have no proof. I’ve never been able to document anything specific enough to confront him with.”

“I can give you something specific,” Brenna said and leaned forward. “My grandmother was a healer traveling through Comack. She was accused of being a witch and had a bond placed on her. The man who made the accusation was a noble who then bought her bond, even though that’s not legal. Finally, the noble set the value of my grandmother’s work very low and the cost of her upkeep high. He literally enslaved her by ensuring that she would never be able to pay off her debt to him. Once my mother Wynne was born the costs of caring for her were added to the tally against my grandmother. When my mother turned sixteen her bond was sold to Duke Thorold, who promptly took her to his bed. The cycle started all over again when I was born.”

“By the gods.” Feiren said. “I had no idea Duke Thorold was committing such evil.”

“Thorold fathered you,” Kane said. “That means you carry one of Wolde’s bloodlines.”

“That’s true,” Feiren said, surprised. “You should have told us, lass.”

Both men looked at her but Brenna remained silent. She wasn’t Thorold’s bastard, but they didn’t need to know that.

“I still don’t see how Thorold can twist the laws like that,” Kane said at last. “The law states clearly that a child of an indentured servant is not to be considered indentured. They have done no wrong that requires payment of a debt.”

Brenna’s breath caught in her throat and she suddenly felt cold. Was that true? All those years and she’d never legally been indentured? Her heart twisted and she stifled a sob. Her mother had never been legally indentured either! Brenna hugged her arms tight to her body and closed her eyes.

“Charging the parent the costs of keeping a child fed and clothed is permitted,” Kane said. “But the child is free and must be compensated for any work they do.”

Brenna opened her eyes and stared at the old steel on the wall behind Feiren. If she let them, the weapons would glow red hot with her anger. Duke Thorold had much to answer for. And by the old gods he would answer to
her
.

“Usually,” Kane continued. “Wages that a child earns are applied to the cost of their upkeep. The bondholder must track the child’s wages and settle up the accounts no later than the child’s sixteenth birthday. In no way does the bond holder have the right to sell the child into servitude.”

“Can Thorold have changed the laws in Comack to allow for this?” Brenna was surprised that her voice sounded normal. She unclenched her hands and tried to relax her shoulders.

“No,” Kane said quietly. “The laws governing bonds and indentured servants can only be changed by the king and his council. That hasn’t happened yet, although Thorold and the High Bishop continue to petition the king.”

Brenna sat back in her chair. Her anger seeped away and what was left was bitter despair. Her mother should never have been indentured. Thorold had forced her into his bed and then he’d killed her and all the time he had no right, no right at all.

Brenna let the conversation swirl around her as she struggled with what she’d just learned. Oh how Thorold must laugh at the ignorance of his people. Poor lack-witted commoners didn’t know the laws and likely couldn’t read enough to learn them. Thorold must pay for this. She had to search his office soon. There had to be evidence of his treasonous agreement with the King of Langemore. And she would find it.

By the end of the discussion Brenna had refused to commit to any of Feiren’s or Kane’s suggestions. She’d made a decision of her own. After she brought Thorold down she would travel to Aruntun. She would let the other healer’s family know what had happened and try to find her grandmother’s family. For years she’d had her network searching for her grandmother, but there had never been even one word about Madelay Trewen. Brenna wasn’t even sure she was still alive.

When Dasid placed an old ledger on the desk Kane glanced up.

“Here,” Dasid’s finger pointed to a faint line of script. “This sounds about right. Healer Madelay from Aruntun, convicted of using witchcraft, is indentured to Lord Pantall of Comack. I can’t make out the bond price but it does mention more charges to apply once the child is born. This must be Brenna’s grandmother.” Dasid sat down across from Kane. “Why didn’t you ask her why she kept her relationship to Thorold a secret?”

“I can’t just force her to give me information,” Kane said. “I need her to trust me.” Kane peered over the spidery script. The Kingsguard required each duchy to send copies of all convictions and judgments to them in Kingsreach. It was rare that records as old as these were referred to, but they were all here. He and Dasid had been searching through them for hours.

“I think that’s what we’re looking for,” Kane said. “Good work. Now we need to find out about Brenna’s mother. Let’s just see if Lord Pantall recorded anything about Brenna’s mother. Her name was Wynne and she was sixteen when she went to the duke. Kane pushed the book to the side. “Trying to force Brenna to tell me anything would just make her angry - and that would not further the Brotherhood’s cause.”

“No, of course not,” Dasid said. He picked up another record book. “But I hope she decides to trust us soon.”

“So do I,” Kane said. “For the sake of Soule, so do I.”

They spent the rest of the day fruitlessly searching the records. There was no mention of a healer or indentured servant named Wynne either leaving Lord Pantall’s household or entering Duke Thorold’s. Next they looked for any mention of Brenna. Her mother had lived on Duke Thorold’s estate from the age of sixteen and Brenna must have spent her childhood there - it explained why she was so interested in Duke Thorold. Thorold wouldn’t treat his bastard kindly and Kane couldn’t imagine Brenna allowing someone to treat her poorly, not once she was old enough to do something about it. She’d probably run away.

If it was a legal indenture, which he suspected it was not, there should be a record of a runaway. But they’d found no entries about either Brenna or her mother. He could only assume that Thorold had been twisting and misusing the law in order to secure what amounted to slaves. Kane had never liked the man, but now he was thoroughly disgusted. How many others were in the same situation in Comack? Duke Thorold had to be stopped. Kane thanked the old gods that the prophecy was already in motion. If Duke Thorold gained more control much of Soule’s peasantry would find life very difficult.

Brenna rolled her shoulders to try to loosen them up. She was inside one of the walls of Duke Thorold’s estate. The servants had finished up for the night and had just gone to their quarters. Soon it would be time for her to find Duke Thorold’s study. She expected sturdy locks and clever hiding places, so tonight she wanted to do a quick survey to figure out which tools she needed to bring with her next time.

Brenna silently stretched as the household settled for the night. When the house had been silent for over an hour, she gently eased the panel open. It was time. Her eyes quickly adjusted to the moonlight that spilled into the hall from windows in adjoining rooms. She placed a small piece of twine between the panel and the wall to ensure she could get out.

As she’d suspected from her previous visit she was in a servant’s hall. Her soft-soled shoes made no sound on the wooden planks of the floors as she stepped to an open doorway and peered into a room. An office. Too close to the servants’ quarters to be Duke Thorold’s, though. She glided in and studied a few items on the desk. Accounts and orders for household goods, that was all.

The rooms only door was the one she’d come through. She took a few minutes to feel along the walls for a hidden entrance - she didn’t want to be caught by someone using a secret passageway. She made a second pass over the walls in the opposite direction. Either there was no secret entrance or it was a mechanism that she was unfamiliar with – not something she wanted to dwell on.

Brenna stepped back to the doorway. She oriented herself to her escape route before she entered a second office. She smiled when she saw what was on the desk. The old Brotherhood list sat on top of the desk, crumpled and a little worse for wear. She’d laughed when Kane had shown it to her before he’d passed it on to Eryl. Master Fridrick’s office, then. She quickly checked this room for secret entrances.

At the farthest end of the hallway was the door to the kitchen. The door was closed and Brenna wanted it to stay that way. The kitchen was the last room asleep and the first room awake in any large house.

She leaned back against the hallway wall. She’d already spent three hours in the house and it was time to go. She hadn’t gotten close to Thorold’s study, nor had she found another entrance, so she’d need to use this same one. She didn’t like it - it was too far from Thorold’s study. But Kane wanted to leave in one week and she was running out of time. She just needed to confirm where his study was.

The old steel he’d been collecting was probably in his study so Brenna
searched
for it - and sank to the floor with a small moan. 

She had no idea how long she’d been slumped on the floor before she was finally able to lurch to her feet and stumble the few steps back to the secret panel, open it, and stagger inside. Her head throbbed and she closed her eyes and leaned against the inside wall.