Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1) (31 page)

With Kane gone, Brenna’s nervousness increased. She put a hand on her knife and followed Kane’s progress down the stairs and out of the house. She prayed it wasn’t her Seer’s abilities causing her unease. She blew out the lamp and looked out the window. It was dark enough that she could barely make out the tree on the corner. Time for her to go.

She hefted her pack onto her back,
looked
for Kane and noted his progress. She stepped up to crouch in the window and she reached up and hauled herself onto the roof of the house.

She crossed to the edge of the roof and jumped across a narrow gap to the roof of the house next door. From there she stepped onto the sturdy branch of a maple tree and crept to the centre of the tree. She edged around the trunk and out onto a branch that hung out over an alley. She took a few breaths and checked the alley. Good, no sounds or movements from below. She sat down and twisted until she dangled a few feet above the ground, then she dropped and rolled. Still crouched, she scrambled to the shadow of the fence. She sat there for a few minutes and listened to the still quiet night,

She checked Kane’s location again - he was already past this alley and headed towards the two Brothers. She checked their position and started to rise - and stopped.

Something was wrong. She
reached
again for the Brothers. The old steel was there and the Brothers were the same ones she’d felt before, but there was something about them, something she could almost sense through the old steel. Brenna frowned. She prodded at them through her link with their weapons. They were there, but something was wrong. If only she knew what to trust with this magic.

“
Kane
!” She
shouted
to him through his sword and was relieved to feel him stop. “
It’s a trap
.” She felt him back up a few paces – he was close to her alley now. Brenna sprinted down to the street. Kane was around here, close, she could feel him. She heard the clash of steel on steel and she automatically
reached
through his sword. And recoiled when the sword she was attuned to bit into flesh. She heard a wet gurgle and then she
felt
the sword pull out. There was a thud as something heavy fell. She stumbled into the fence before she steadied herself against it. Kane was just around the corner. She called his name, softly. She saw a shadow in the street and then he was there, beside her. His blade was drawn and dark liquid dripped off it.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

She nodded and tugged his arm.

“This way, hurry.”

She edged deeper into the shadow of the fence and Kane followed, his eyes focused on the opening to the street. Three dim shadows paused at the entrance to their alley.

It was around here somewhere. Ah, here. Brenna toed aside a plank in a fence and eased through. Kane followed. When he was through, she gently moved the board back in place.

Her hand on Kane’s arm, she guided him to the narrow space between the two houses. She shrugged out of her pack and held it with one hand as she slid into the narrow opening. It was a tight fit, but eventually they found themselves on another darkened street, a row of houses between them and their pursuers. From there, Brenna took them through backyards and alleys for half an hour before she felt safe enough to stop.

“Barton found us,” Kane said and Brenna nodded.

“Some of his men must have,” she said. “He’s not very close by. I noticed something odd about Stobert’s men,” Brenna said. “The ones you were to meet. They felt wrong in some way, like they were nervous or conflicted or … I don’t know. It felt as though they meant you harm.”

“Apparently they did - you warned me just in time,” Kane said. “Thank you. But then you should have left. I told you to keep yourself safe.”

“And I did,” she said. “And I kept you safe as well.”

“Yes,” Kane said. “But you took a risk. I’m expendable, you are not. If you hadn’t found that loose plank in the fence …”

“You mean the loose plank I found two days ago?” Brenna hissed at him. “The one I loosened even more in case I needed an escape from that alley?” Did he think she was witless? She’d been doing this a long time. “I know that Barton is out there. I know better than you that Thorold will never stop looking for me. So I planned ahead.” And by the gods there was no way she would ever consider Kane expendable.

“Oh,” Kane said.

He chuckled.
What was so funny
? She was furious that he’d lectured
her
about how to stay safe in a city at night.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m as bad as Westley Stobert and I
know
better than to underestimate you. Next time you might want to let me know when you’ve been out creating escape routes.”

“Next time you could ask,” Brenna said. Her anger would have to wait. “Come on, let’s find Stobert.”

Stobert’s old steel weapons were easy for Brenna to locate - she’d spent enough time on the road trying to read the man through them. She led Kane through dark alleys and shadowed streets as fast as she could, but even so, it was over an hour before they stopped behind some bushes.

The small house was near the road that led north out of the city. A guard was posted at the front door.

Brenna
looked
for old steel weapons.

“It’s Stobert and his men,” she whispered. “I recognize their weapons.”

Kane put a hand on her arm and pulled her towards a clump of trees.

“We need to be sure,” Kane said. “Barton could have captured them.”

She nodded and then realized Kane couldn’t see her in the dark. She grabbed his hand and pulled him behind her as she circled away from the front door and the guard. An open window spilled lamplight out into the night and Brenna and Kane crept up to it. Soon they were huddled beneath the window in the shadow of the house.

“And what about the girl?” It was Stobert, his voice clear in the still night air. “What happened to her?”

“Dunno. When we checked the house she was gone. She didn’t leave by the door, though, we’re sure about that. We didn’t find her out by the horses neither. One of my men just got back from there.”

“Damn,” Stobert said. “I told you, Kane Rowse is nothing. It’s the girl we want dead.” There was the unmistakable slap of a hand against flesh. “And now you’ve let both of them escape.”

“Sorry, my Lord.” The reply was more muffled. “Don’t know how he knew we was waiting for him.”

“Yes, well. I’m sure your master will make you even sorrier,” Stobert said. “Duke Thorold doesn’t take failure well, does he? Now go. Tell Barton I’ll co-operate as much as I can. The Brotherhood did not wait two thousand years to follow a thieving witch. I trust that when the time comes he’ll remind his lord that some in Fallad were friends before his son became king.”

Even in the shadows Brenna could see the fury in Kane’s eyes. He motioned for them to leave and slowly, silently, they backed away from the house.

They found a small park close to the outskirts of town and huddled in some dense bushes. Based on Kane’s directions, Brenna thought they were fairly close to the horses and she wanted to at least try to get them. She’d become attached to Blaze, and some of her herbs in the saddlebags were hard to replace.

“By the gods,” Kane said. “I never thought Westley Stobert would betray the Brotherhood.” His face was tight when he turned to her. “But you did. And I didn’t believe you.”

“I was never certain,” Brenna said. “I find it hard to trust anyone.”

“And you were right not to this time.”

Brenna hoped the bitterness in his voice wasn’t directed at her. She’d lived a life where misplaced trust could mean death. She neither gave it nor received it easily.

“Right now,” Kane said. “We can’t trust any Brother from Fallad. We don’t know how deep the betrayal is.”

“Why didn’t Stobert just kill me on the road?” Brenna asked. “Why did he bring us safely to Silverdale and then split us up?”

“Maybe he needed the time to make plans with Thorold,” Kane said. “And he didn’t want me around when they took you. He knows I’ll fight to the death.” Kane’s smile chilled her. “A man with nothing left to lose is an unpredictable and deadly opponent.”

Brenna took off her pack and leaned against it. Kane was willing to die for her. She stared at his profile, knowing that in the dark he couldn’t see her face. Never before had someone had so much faith in her - and she wasn’t what he thought she was. She wasn’t the heir to the prophecy. Right now she wished she
was
, wished she was worthy of his loyalty, worthy of his trust.

She was tired. It was close to midnight and they’d been on the run for most of the evening. She dug into her pack for her water skin and took a sip before she handed it to Kane. As he drank, she
reached
for old steel.

“I think we’re not much more than a mile from the horses,” she said. “It looks like there’s only one guard. At least only one guard bearing old steel.” She had to get out of the habit of assuming all Brothers wore old steel. It wasn’t true and it could get them killed.

Kane put a hand on Brenna’s arm and motioned for her to stop. The stable was quiet. Light spilled out of the open door and a single guard stood out front. He needed to draw out any others.

Kane straightened up and stepped into the light.

“Meaker,” Kane said. “I’ve come for the horses.”

“I heard you got away,” Meaker said. “You and the witch.”

“You mean the Caller?” Kane asked. Meaker glanced down at his sword, his old steel sword. So the man had doubts.

“She is the Caller,” Kane said. “I was there.”

“But Lord Stobert says she’s not.”

“How long has your family been in the Brotherhood?” Kane asked. “A thousand years? Two Thousand?”

“Two,” Meaker mumbled. “Right from the start.”

“And in those two thousand years do you think anyone ever came across someone who could do this with old steel?” Kane hoped Brenna was listening. He drew his sword. Good. His sword glowed brightly enough to illuminate the growing confusion on Meaker’s face. 

“Lord Stobert says she’s just a witch, like them from Aruntun.” Meaker lifted his chin. “How do I know they can’t magic old steel?”

“Two thousand years and the Brotherhood have never come across anyone, including an Aruntian witch who could manipulate old steel,” Kane said. “If we had, we would have written it down.”

Meaker snorted. “You got that right,” he said. “We write down what we ate for breakfast.”

“Yes,” Kane agreed. “We do.” Kane held Meaker’s gaze until the other man looked away.

“It never did feel right,” Meaker said. His shoulders slumped. “I seen what she can do with my own eyes. I won’t help you, but I won’t get in your way either.” Meaker stepped away from the door. “The packs are in the side room with the tackle. I think it best if I head out and see to my family.”

It only took a few minutes for them to get the horses saddled and the packs sorted out. Within half an hour Kane led them northward, away from the city. He planned to keep off the main road as much as possible. Better if they could ford the river and keep it between them and the route any pursuers would take. Stobert might not follow them, but Barton would.

“Do you think Stobert even spoke to Duke Ewart about meeting you?” Brenna asked. They’d stopped to refill their water skins and allow the horses to drink.

“At this point, I doubt it,” Kane said. “I wouldn’t even count on Ewart being in the city.” He felt foolish. And he was furious. With Westley Stobert and his men, of course, but with himself as well. He should have tried harder to find out if Ewart was in Silverdale. Such a simple mistake, all because he’d assumed no Brother could refuse the Call.

“Can we trust Duke Ewart?” Brenna asked.

“Yes,” Kane said. “At least with the issues regarding the king’s council. I’m not sure he’d understand about the Brotherhood and the prophesy.”

“Isn’t his estate on our way?” Brenna grunted as she heaved herself up onto Blaze.

“Yes, it is,” Kane said. He mounted Runner. “It’s a couple of hours ride from here.”

“And don’t you think he’d appreciate a visit from his old sparring partner?”

Kane laughed for the first time all evening. It felt good.

“I don’t think he’d forgive me if I didn’t stop by,” he said. “I spent a summer here when I was fourteen, I should be able to find it without using the road.”

twenty

Kane and Brenna sat outside the kitchen door to the ancestral estate of the Duke of Fallad. They’d come around the back to the kitchen - Brenna had assured him someone would be up despite it being an hour until dawn. The baker’s helper had opened the door when they knocked. The youth had stared at them bleary eyed and then had gone to get the housekeeper, who in turn had woken up the steward. Kane was sorry they had to disturb so many people, but Brenna assured him the chain of command in the household had to be followed.

The steward had recognized Kane and had gone to rouse his master, but in his haste he’d left them outside the kitchen door.

“Maybe we should have come later,” Kane said. He rubbed his temple. “We could have found someplace to rest.”

“No,” Brenna said. “No one saw us arrive in the dark. We don’t want Thorold to know about this visit, remember?”

“Right.” That was one of his reasons for asking Lord Stobert to arrange a meeting. He’d thought the man would keep it a secret from Duke Thorold. Turned out he’d kept secrets from Kane and Brenna instead.

The back door opened and the steward poked his head out.

“Begging your pardon, please come in,” the steward said. “His Lordship will be down directly. He asks that you wait in his study.”

Brenna followed Kane and the steward through the kitchen and down a very long hallway. Brenna counted seven doors before they finally stopped. The steward opened a door and ushered them inside.

A boy with tousled blond hair was lighting the many lamps in the large room. Through three tall windows she could just see the sun edging over the horizon. A massive wooden desk spanned the far end of the room, a chair pushed in behind it. In front of the large fireplace, a stuffed settee and two matching chairs faced each other, a small table in between. The boy, now finished with the lamps, bent down to start a fire.

The steward indicated that they should sit, and Brenna and Kane sat side by side on the settee. Once the fire was lit the boy hurried from the room. He almost bumped into the housekeeper as she entered with a tray. She set the tray down on the table in front of the fire.

“My Lord Duke will join you shortly,” the steward said. He followed the housekeeper out and closed the doors behind him.

“This is peaceful,” Brenna said. Wearily, she ran a hand through her hair. She was exhausted. Now she had to impress Ewart Wortley, Duke of Fallad, her blood kin.  Kane wasn’t even sure they could trust him.

She leaned over the table and pulled the tray closer to her. Maybe she’d regain some energy if she ate.

“Kane look,” she said. “There’s biscuits and heavy cream with blueberries.” She transferred a biscuit to one of the small plates and spooned first blueberries then thick cream on it. Carefully, she picked it up and took a bite.

“This is wonderful,” she mumbled. Duke Ewart’s staff hadn’t skimped on their meal. This was probably what the Duke and his family would break their fast with. Kane poured tea into two delicate cups and handed her one. Her plate balanced on her knee, she took a sip.

“So far I like this friend of yours very much,” she said.

“I hope that doesn’t change now that we’re to meet.”

Brenna spun towards the voice. A man in a trim white shirt and black breeches closed the door to the hallway and turned to them.

Kane rose and strode over to the door.

“Ewart,” Kane said. “It’s good to see you. I hope you don’t mind the early hour.” He slapped his friend’s shoulder.

“Not at all,” Duke Ewart replied.

Brenna winced when he punched Kane’s arm, but Kane barely seemed to notice.

“It’s been what, two years since we’ve seen each other?” Ewart said. “I think I can miss a few hours of sleep after so long. Although I will not forgive you for the gray hairs your arrival has caused. I think I aged ten years when my butler said you were here. And at the kitchen door, at that.” Ewart smiled at Brenna and walked towards her, his hand outstretched. “And who is this?”

Brenna stood up shook his hand. He had a good firm grip and she liked the way his blue eyes sparkled when he met her gaze. Other than her mother and Thorold, this was the first blood relative she’d ever met.

“I’m Brenna,” she said.

“Well met, Brenna. Kane.” The duke’s voice was rich with humor. “You seem to have better taste in traveling companions these days.”

“I have no complaints,” Kane said. “Brenna, meet Ewart Wortley, Duke of Fallad. Ewart, meet Brenna Lightfingers.”

“Trewen,” she interrupted. “Brenna Trewen.”

“Two last names,” Duke Ewart said. “You are sounding more mysterious by the moment.” He dropped her hand and gestured to the settee. “Please, sit. We need to talk but there’s no reason we can’t be comfortable.”

Brenna and Kane sat back down on the settee while Duke Ewart took one of the chairs opposite. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a biscuit before he settled back and looked at Kane.

“So, my friend,” Duke Ewart said. “I can only assume that having you show up on my door so early means all is not well in the kingdom. I received word from Duke Thorold not two days ago that you resigned from the Kingsguard over poor behavior regarding a thief.” He sent Brenna a pointed look and she shrugged. “I received another note from your uncle stating somewhat different circumstances. I would like to hear the truth from you, if I may.”

“It’s true that I did resign,” Kane said. “And it’s true that Brenna is, was, a thief.”

Ewart turned his blue gaze to her and Brenna nodded. She didn’t see any disdain in his face, and she liked him for that.

“I believe the future of Soule rests with her,” Kane said. “And my uncle agrees with me.”

Ewart stared first at Kane and then at Brenna. “If it was anyone else I’d think you’d been knocked on the head once too often.” He shook his head slowly. “What do I need to know?”

“Since we left Kingsreach we’ve been set upon twice,” Kane said. “First, by Thorold’s men in Comack, then by your own people. We had reason to trust Lord Westley Stobert, but he betrayed us to Duke Thorold. He’d promised to arrange a meeting with you, but it was an ambush. We later overheard him admit he wanted the two of us dead.”

Ewart’s face darkened. “Stobert’s lands are adjacent to Thorold’s. His betrayal of you is a betrayal of me. Does he think to align himself with Thorold?”

“Perhaps,” Brenna said. “The king is dying and Stobert seems to have made a choice. In one year, two at the most, Thorold will control the throne. It could even be sooner if all Thorold’s plans are in place.”

“Do you realize what you’re saying?” Ewart asked. He set his tea down and leaned back into his chair.

“Brenna says the king has been poisoned,” Kane said. “It’s been done slowly, over the past several years. We have no proof it’s Thorold, but he has certainly gained the most by the king’s illness.”

“Yes, his son Beldyn is heir - an unfortunate choice for king,” Ewart said.

“Unless you happen to be Thorold,” Brenna said.

“Thorold will rule Soule,” Ewart said. “My father always told me that Fallad needed to remain neutral. He felt the best course was to make no enemies, but I think he was wrong.” Ewart sighed and picked up his tea again. “I need to go to Kingsreach.”

Kane nodded. “My uncle’s role as captain is temporary. The king does still listen to reason, but Thorold has the council in hand.”

“Yes, he and that sniveling High Bishop,” Ewart said. “And whoever the new captain is. You’re right. Fallad has neglected its duty for too long.”

“The best way you can help your own people is to be there,” Brenna said. “Thorold has been twisting the laws in his own duchy, and I believe he’ll do the same in all of Soule when he has the ability. For years he’s been indenturing people with no legal grounds and without any real hope of release.”

“How do you know this?” Ewart asked.

“He did it to me and my mother,” Brenna said.

“That must have been terrible for you,” Ewart said, concern in his eyes.

Brenna relaxed. She’d been worried that he’d look down on her because she’d been a servant, but he hadn’t. He’d not shown any contempt at her being a thief or an indentured servant. She made a decision.

“There’s more,” Brenna said. Kane wouldn’t like it, but she felt that Duke Ewart needed to know. “I’m related to both you and Thorold. Through Alastair Embrey, Duke Thorold’s first born. He was my father.”

“Alastair was my cousin,” Ewart said. “You’re the healer’s daughter, aren’t you? Always thought you were Thorold’s brat - least that’s what he always told Father.”

“That’s what he thought, as well. Only my mother and I knew the truth.”

“We thought the worst when we’d heard your mother was dead and you were gone,” Ewart said. “Beldyn took it very hard.”

Brenna nodded. “I used to let him tag along with me. We’d climb onto the roof and hide from his father.” She grinned. “Rain or snow.”

“That sounds a little dangerous,” Ewart said. “But Thorold often bragged you were his, so I’m not surprised Beldyn wanted to play with his big sister. I’m amazed Thorold would allow it, though.” Ewart sipped his tea and regarded her steadily.

“Who says he allowed it?” Brenna said. “There’s more that you should know, but it’s Kane’s story to tell.” Kane glared at her and she glared back. “Although I’ll tell it if I have to.”

“It will take too long,” Kane said.

“Then we’ll delay our journey a bit,” Brenna said. She smiled sweetly at Kane and then looked at Duke Ewart. “Do you want to hear it?”

“I certainly do,” Ewart said and smiled. “I’m also intrigued to see my former sparring partner outmaneuvered.”

“It’s something I’m getting used to,” Kane said. He sighed. “Since Brenna insists, here it goes. This story goes back two thousand years. When Soule was new and Wolde sat the throne, he split the land into the three duchies for his three younger children, as his eldest son would inherit the crown.”

“A history lesson Kane?” Ewart asked.

“A bit different than you’re expecting,” Kane said. “When Wolde was well into his old age, Aruntun had a vision that prophesied Soule would falter if any but one of the direct line of kings held the throne. She also Saw that one would come in whom the blood of Wolde would be reunited. That one must hold the throne if Soule is to survive. A secret society called the Brotherhood of the Throne was formed to watch for this one, and to listen for the Call.”

“It’s true then?” Ewart looked from Kane to Brenna and back to Kane. “When I was small my father used to tell me stories about a secret society waiting for a king. They were stories he’d heard from his father and so on back to the beginning.” Ewart looked back at Brenna. “King Mattias’ death will break the direct line of kings. That must make Brenna the one reuniting the blood of Wolde’s children.”

“Yes,” Kane said. “The Brotherhood has declared her the one we’ve been waiting for. She must be protected at all costs.”

“And Duke Thorold must not be allowed to rule,” Brenna said.

“That I agree with,” Ewart said. “I’ve been worried ever since Beldyn was named heir. I’ll leave for Kingsreach as soon as I can. It’s past time I sat at the king’s council. Can I offer you some shelter for a day or so?”

“Thank you,” Brenna said. “But no. We’ve stayed longer than we should have already.”

Mid-morning found Brenna and Kane mounted, bellies full and saddlebags replenished, riding away from Duke Ewart’s estate. They traveled east towards the Seven Sisters mountain range. They planned to skirt the mountains and enter Aruntun from the north. Cottle Village, where Sabine was from, should be easy to find. Kane had warned her that the area was sparsely populated. The fields that led up to the foothills contained Falladian farms and only a few shepherds lived in the foothills.

Thorold watched with satisfaction as Feiren Rowse, his hands tied behind his back, knelt before the king. The king’s wine steward had been easy to break. In just a few hours High Bishop Valden had extracted the details of Rowse’s deception from the man. The High Bishop had been truly sorry he’d failed to convert him to the One-God before his death.

Thorold had been surprised that Rowse had been slipping actual poison into the king’s wine. Then Fridrick did some research and Thorold had been alarmed. Zarid, the poison Feiren Rowse had used, was a little known antidote for the drug he himself had been giving Mattias for years. No one had accused him, but someone knew. No doubt it was the witch. Another reason why she needed to die.

Thorold passed a critical eye over the gathering. King Mattias looked better than he had in weeks. After just a few days of zarid the king’s skin was less yellow and he was able to stand for longer periods of time. He doubted the king even noticed.

King Mattias’ head was bowed and he frowned down at Feiren Rowse. Two Kingsguardsmen stood behind the kneeling prisoner. Thorold had expected Kane Rowse’s second in command to attend, but the man had disappeared. There had been no sightings of him since Feiren was taken. Thorold narrowed his eyes - once he was through with the old man, Dasid Addems was next.