Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1) (7 page)

Brenna grabbed a lamp and followed the small man through a maze of laden bookcases. She’d long ago given up trying to understand the organization of the books. Randell had explained it to her more than once and she was more than capable of figuring her way around the books about plants and healing and such, but the rest of the library was an incomprehensible jumble of books, charts and hand written tomes.

Randell slowed down a little and Brenna caught up to him. He was a small, wiry man who was past his middle age, but he could still move quickly when he wanted to.

“Brenna, pull that light a little closer please.”

She held the lamp up high enough to illuminate the upper-most shelf of books. From the layer of dust all around, Brenna figured they were in one of the least used areas of the library.

“What is this section?” She pulled out a book and tried to read the inscription of the cover, but the lettering was too faint to read so she put the book back on the shelf.

“It’s not really a section, yet.” Randell gave her a sheepish look. “I need to get it sorted out but every time I try to start in here I end up taking a book away with me and reading it cover to cover. It’s where we keep all the oldest books. Many of these are from the earliest days of the Kingdom of Soule and have accounts of the first kings as well as the old gods. There was one book that contained the story of King Wolde. I think that’s where the Brotherhood was mentioned. Ah, here it is.” Randell reverently brushed the dust off the book cover and lifted it from the shelf. With Brenna still following him he stepped over to a nearby table and laid the book out. He scanned the pages as he leafed through the book.

“Yes, this is it.” Randell let his finger hover over the text as Brenna leaned over the book to decipher the ornate, hand written passage.

“
And as King Wolde came unto his dotage he became ever fearful that his line would weaken and so plunge Soule once again into the chaos of war and conflict from which he’d raised it
.” Brenna paused and leaned closer to the book.

“
It is said that his daughter Aruntun had Seen this herself, and asked her father to protect the land. And so was the Brotherhood of the Throne formed. Those closest to the King they were, noble and peasant alike - Swordsman and cook, farmer and advisor - all swore that they and their descendants would stand watch over Wolde’s bloodline. And Aruntun had another true vision that she recorded thus. “When the blood of Wolde is weakened and the line of kings is broken, one will come who reunites Wolde’s blood.” The Brotherhood of the Throne awaits the one foretold by this prophecy, who will Call in their time of need,
” she continued. “
And none but the Brotherhood and the true line of Wolde know the Call.
” Brenna finished reading. Was this Call the simple verse her mother had taught her?

“So who would have the blood of Wolde?” she asked Randell.

“Wolde’s eldest son Tustain became king after him and his other three children, Comack, Aruntun and Fallad, he created the duchies for, so it would be the ruling families of the three duchies and the king.”

Brenna shivered - she had two of the four bloodlines.

The prophecy echoing in her head, Brenna waited while Randell looked for more passages about the Brotherhood. Soon enough he’d exhausted all his likely searches, so before he started looking in the unlikely places - which from experience she knew could take days - she thanked him and headed out of the library.

She had left the Collegium behind and was deep into the adjacent streets before she noticed that she was being followed. A man was shadowing her, taking each turn she did and she cursed herself for her carelessness. It was full dark and she was in an area of town she was not completely familiar with - her inattention had put her in danger.

Brenna fought the urge to run. Instead she walked slowly and kept her actions as predictable as possible. In this unfamiliar part of town it would be easy for her pursuer to trap her in a dead end. But she had to lose him as soon as possible.

At the third intersecting street she ducked around the corner and with light feet, ran to an alley half a block down. Her breath rasped loudly in the silence of the night as she looked down the alley. A dead end, but it was empty. Brenna edged into the alley and dropped to the ground. She ignored the over-ripe scents of moldy food and instead concentrated on calming her breath as she lay in the muck.

She eased her body forward until she could see around the corner. In the middle of the street she’d just left, a man walked quickly, his head moving from side to side as he scanned the shadowed doorways of the buildings that lined the street.

No doubt he’d come into her alley. She’d need to hide, and quickly. She rose to a crouch and retreated further back into the alley but was stopped at the end by a wooden fence, warped and splintered by the elements. A board was loose and she tried to pry it up enough to squeeze through, but then her pursuer was at the mouth of the alley and all she could do was sink down into the shadows created by the wall and the fence.

Eyes half closed in case they caught the light and gave her away, she waited, heart pounding, as he seemed to look right through her. He took one step, then two, towards her and Brenna clenched her fists and rose slightly from her crouch. She’d let him take another step or two and then she’d rush him. If she caught him by surprise she might be able to slip past.

There was a noise from the street and her pursuer turned, distracted. Two drunks were walking past the mouth of the alley, singing loudly. Then one stumbled into the alley, his hands reaching towards his breeches. Brenna straightened up, ready to run, ready to take advantage of the drunk’s urge to piss. Then, just as her pursuer turned back towards her, the drunk darted forward, one hand raised towards her pursuer. The man turned and cursed the drunk and tried to bat his arm away, but he was too late. Brenna glimpsed a white cloth in the hand of the drunk and then her pursuer slid to the ground. The second drunk backed into the alley, alertly watching the street. The two of them lifted her pursuer and draped his arms around their shoulders. With him upright between them, feet stumbling, they headed back out into the street. One of the drunks looked back over his shoulder. She saw his head dip in a slight nod, and then he opened his mouth and started to sing, off key, a common drinking song. The other drunk joined in and they turned the corner and were out of view.

Brenna exhaled a long, slow, shaky breath. Their noisy singing had faded away before she relaxed and unclenched her hands. She’d been helped, but by whom? The Brotherhood? Had
they
been following her the whole time and she hadn’t noticed?

A few minutes later Brenna crept towards the mouth of the alley. At the spot where her pursuer had been grabbed, she stopped and sniffed the air. Her nose wrinkled at the acrid odor that still lingered. Essence of alegria, she was sure of it. The two ‘drunks’ had been prepared. It was a powerful potion that would render a person docile while still allowing them to remain on their feet. She resisted the urge to look around but she couldn’t suppress a shudder as she left the odor behind her. Her skin crawled with the feeling of being watched.

Brenna took her time finding her way home. She kept to back alleys and yards and by the time she reached the seamstress shop she was extremely foul smelling and dirty. But she was safe. For now.

five

Kane rubbed his hand across his eyes. The lack of sleep over the past two nights was taking its toll. He’d been at his uncle’s until the early hours again, this time in response to a message from Dasid. Brenna had been followed and the Brotherhood had had to intervene. They’d had to wait a few hours until the drug wore off the man they’d caught, but he’d seemed no more than a hired footpad. Hired by a priest of the One-God, he claimed. The priest had been disguised, but the rogue had been confident. His instructions were to follow Brenna and report her movements back to the priest in two days’ time, but he said it was clear he would be paid more if he delivered Brenna herself. And her condition on delivery wasn’t a concern.

The footpad did not know where Brenna lived and had felt lucky when he’d stumbled across her in the street. Lucky until he’d been caught by Mallen and Hollier, that is. The disguised priest’s only lead had been Eryl Fentin, as the one who had paid her bond.

But now that the church was looking for Brenna the Brotherhood had no choice - Kane would have to get her to a safe place.

When Kane entered his office he found Dasid hunched over the desk. The older man also looked worse for wear, but when their eyes met Dasid’s sparkled with excitement.

“You look like you’re enjoying this.” Kane stretched before he sat across from Dasid. “I wish I could say the same thing. I haven’t had to go this long without proper sleep since I was a recruit.”

“I’m tired as well. It’s been at least ten years longer since I was a recruit, and I am feeling every one of those years.” Dasid looked up and grinned. “But I’ll admit this takes me back to when my father first told be about the Brotherhood. I was ten at the time and all I could think of was the adventure of it all. He tried to discourage me - after all, it had been two thousand years - there was no reason to believe that anything would happen in my time. But here we are. And now we find out that it’s a fair lass we’re out to save.”

“Hah!” Kane’s answering grin belied his gruff tone. “Some fair lass.” He leaned over the table. “Don’t you know she’s a thief?” he whispered.

“Yes, but then again, the Brotherhood have never disparaged someone’s ancestors or their chosen line of work. All can be used to further the cause.”

Kane nodded his agreement. The Brotherhood had been keeping records of its member families for as long as it had existed. They had documented proof that nobles didn’t always start or end as nobles. It was as likely that a current lord was descended from peasants as it was to find the original lord’s descendants sweeping out stalls in a stable. Kane’s own family’s fortune had been up and down many times in the past two thousand years. For the past six or so generations they’d managed a legacy of soldiers and Captains in the Kingsguard, but in another six generations, Kane reasoned, they could be fisherman or farmers - or for that matter, thieves.

Kane, in his Master Arlott guise, searched the street in front of the seamstress’ shop. He nodded to Pater at his fruit stand and the old man headed his way, leaving the stand in the hands of a youth. Last night Dasid and Kane had decided it would be much better to approach Brenna Lightfingers with someone she knew, so Pater had been conscripted for the job. Kane knew the man only slightly - his attendance at Brotherhood meetings was infrequent and he usually kept to himself. Kane hoped it was simply the natural reticence of a man who lived and worked in a part of town where everyone kept to their own business.

“Pater, I trust Dasid spoke to you?” Kane touched the rim of his hat. “And I hope you’re comfortable doing the talking?”

“Yep, not sure I’d have agreed otherwise,” Pater said. “I made him tell me about the run-in over to the Collegium and everything. Brenna now, she’s a good sort, despite her being a thief and all. She’ll be all right as long as we tell her the truth.” Kane met Pater’s accusing gaze steadily. “She done all kinds of good things for the poor folk around here with her healing and such. Lots of folks can say that they’re still around ‘cause a Brenna the healer. And she don’t never charge more’n you can afford, but she always charges somethin’ so you never feel like she’s givin’ charity.” Pater grinned. “And she drives a mean barter, as well.”

Kane hid his surprise. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but a kind hearted healer wasn’t it. He had to admit, he did prefer to think of Brenna as a healer rather than as a thief. His naive idealism about the Caller hadn’t completely disappeared.

“But I’m not sure about them eyes a hers,” Pater continued. “I’ve known Brenna for years and until yesterday she’d always had two brown eyes, same’s me. And then yesterday I see she’s got one brown one and one green one. Never seen the like afore. Do you think it has somethin’ to do with her bein’ the Caller?” he asked. “When I heard about the old steel I think maybe it’s all related, like. I didn’t say anything to her about it. I figure it’s Brenna same as always, and I know she’s the Caller, but …”

“That is odd,” Kane said. “I wondered if her eyes were the reason she became a thief, but you say no one could see them before.”

“No.” Pater shook his head. “It would be remarked on. Seems like most folk don’t see the change, neither.” He looked at Kane then shrugged.

“It could have something to do with the prophecy,” Kane said. “But she didn’t go from having two brown eyes to having witch eyes. She knew about them.” But why were her witch eyes only showing now, and not to all people? “I’ll need to see what can be found out about that. But for now, let’s go find this healer.”

The two walked across the street and entered the seamstress’s shop. Pater removed his hat as he approached a middle-aged woman sitting by the light of the window doing needlework.

“Good day to you Mistress Dudding,” Pater nodded to the woman. “This gentleman here is in need of a healer. Now when he asks me, I say to him, ‘there’s no better healer in all of Soule than the one lives over the seamstress Dudding’s shop.’ So here we are. If it please, could you let Brenna know there’s someone here to see her?”

Mistress Dudding smiled and pointed to a set of stairs behind her. “Seein’ it’s you Pater, why don’t you go on up. You’ll make sure this gentleman does right by our Brenna, I’m sure.”

“Thank you, Mistress.” Pater said and Kane followed when the old man headed towards the stairs. The door was closed at the top, but at Pater’s knock, Kane heard some muffled steps.

“Who is it?” came softly from the other side of the door.

“It’s Pater, lass.”

Kane heard the bolt slide open and the door opened just enough for him to see one green eye staring out.

“Pater, good to see you.” Despite the warmth of the words the door didn’t open even another inch.

“I’ve brought a gentleman to see about some healing.” Pater leaned towards the door and lowered his voice. “It’s about his two brothers. Seems the two of them got drunk last night and ran into an old friend out by the Collegium. So now his brothers need a cure for their aching heads. ”

At the girl’s sharp intake of breath, Kane swore under his breath. Pater had no right letting the girl know they were behind the incident at the Collegium. What was he thinking? Dasid shouldn’t have even told the old man this information.

The door opened a little more and Kane watched as one green eye and one brown eye fixed on him, then widened in recognition.

“Get in here.” Brenna practically pulled him through the door. Pater scurried in and she firmly closed and bolted the door before she turned to the older man.

“What do you think you’re doing bringing the Captain of the Kingsguard here?” she hissed. “The whole Quarter will know in less than a day.”

“Calm down Brenna. Does he look like the Captain of the Kingsguard to ye?”

Brenna glared at Kane. Her eyes traveled over his well-worn cloak and battered hat. “No, I guess not.” She still didn’t look happy.

“I assure you,” Kane bowed with a flourish, “Master Arlott is a known figure in the Quarter. And none would be surprised to hear he had visited a healer here rather than one in a more prosperous part of town. It’s well known he has a patron with more ambitions than money.”

“You’re the one who wanted the knife.” Brenna’s voice was flat with suspicion. “And the one who gave Eryl my bond price. What do you want with me? I warn you, I own my bond and you can’t take it back now.”

“The lad doesn’t want any such thing, Brenna,” Pater said and her gaze flitted to the older man. “We want to make sure you are safe and free more than you know. We’ve all sworn to keep you safe.”

“You too, Pater?” Brenna asked. “You’re part of the Brotherhood?” She dragged a hand through her hair and her shoulders slumped. “I need to sit down.”

They followed her into a small sitting room. Brenna took a seat on a chair by the window and motioned for them to get comfortable as well. Pater leaned back against the table. Kane took up a position near the door and stood, relaxed yet ready, much as he did in the King’s council chamber.

“So, this is because you think I spoke this Call?” Brenna asked. “The one from Aruntun’s vision?”

“Yep,” Pater said with a chuckle. “I shoulda known you’d start to figure things out yerself.”

And Kane wondered
how
she’d known about the vision. Had it been passed down to her with the Call? That could be even more proof of who she was.

“It’s barely been two days,” Pater continued. “And already ye know some of our secrets. Aye, I’m part of the Brotherhood too. There’s more’n ye might think and from all walks of life. I’m sure the captain here could give ye more of the why’s an whatnots, he’s more at the center of the whole thing, but my family’s been a part of the Brotherhood for as long as any of them. That’s one of the reasons the captain and me have come to see ye. Ye need to know about the Brotherhood, and ye need to know that ye could be in danger.” Pater met her gaze. “Someone followed ye last night. Someone other than the Brotherhood.”

Brenna nodded. “Yes, it was over near the Collegium. I wasn’t paying enough attention, so I don’t know when he first found my trail. Then two drunks came along. Brotherhood?” She turned to Kane. When he nodded she continued. “They used alegria on him.”

“How do you know?” Kane frowned. Not more than four or five Brothers knew that.

“I’m a healer. I know the effects of many, many plants, both good and bad. And the more dangerous ones I know by smell.”

“But my reports say that you weren’t very close when they used it,” Kane said.

“I smelled it when I walked past after they left.” She fixed him with her two-colored gaze. “So, do you have any information to share with me on my pursuer? Since you’ve told me I’m under the Brotherhood’s protection, I’ll assume this other person was a threat?”

“Um, yes, well, we’ve not been able to determine for sure who this man was working for.” Kane really didn’t want to go into too much detail. His task was to keep her safe not tell all of their secrets.

“Pah, I told ye man, ye need to be honest with her.” Pater glared at him. “Brenna’s a smart lass, she’ll make the right decision.”

“I’d listen to Pater if I were you,” Brenna said. “He’s known me a lot longer than you have. He also knows I can disappear and that you won’t find me unless I want you to.”

Kane met Brenna’s gaze. Her chin lifted and she raised a single eye brow. He sighed. He recognized that look. He’d seen it on many a recruit, just before they dug in their heels and did something they regretted later. The last thing he wanted was for her to run. Not after the Brotherhood had waited so long for her. He remembered what Uncle Feiren had said, that if Duke Thorold’s son held the throne, Soule could be in danger.
That
was the root of the prophecy, after all, safeguarding the country. This meant that Brenna, as the Caller, had to trust and believe in the Brotherhood.

“We believe the Church of the One-God hired the man who was following you. That’s what he thought anyway.” Kane wasn’t sure how much to tell her, but Pater glared at him again so he continued. “The instructions were to gather information only, nothing else, but the footpad had the impression he could get a better price if he handed you over. And it didn’t seem to matter to him if you were still breathing.” He watched as Brenna’s lips narrowed into a thin line.

“What else.”

“That’s it.” He met and held her gaze for a few seconds.

She frowned and stood up.

“Get out.” Brenna unbolted the door and started to open it. “Thanks for the warning, but I can look after myself.” She waited by the door as he slowly rose from the chair. He stood facing her as she glared up at him.

“What else do you want me to say?” Kane asked. “Brenna, you are in danger, believe me.” He couldn’t let her make him leave. Two thousand years and he was about to lose her for the Brotherhood - it might take them years to find her again.

“Oh I believe you,” Brenna said. “But I don’t believe you’ve told me everything. If you want to stay then you need to tell me the rest. I will not let you or the Brotherhood use me as a tool.”

Kane looked from Brenna’s angry face to Pater’s grim one and nodded. “I deserved that,” he said. “The Brotherhood has been waiting for the Caller for so long it seems some, including me, have forgotten that you are a real person, with a life of your own. And if the prophecy is to be fulfilled then it stands to reason that you must be intelligent and resourceful.”
And be a natural leader who the Brotherhood would willingly follow.