Healer (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 2) (30 page)

“He had help,” Thorold had some idea who had helped him escape, of course. It smelled of witchery. Especially since Duchess Avery had escaped from his own estate. He hadn’t felt it necessary to advise the High Bishop of that, though. His plan was far too close to fruition for him to be distracted.

Separated by just one door, the king lay dying. He was being attended by Cuthbert, his healer and a few servants. It was a matter of hours, days at the most, before the High Bishop was asked to perform final rites. Then Beldyn would be proclaimed king.

“The man must have been possessed by demons,” the High Bishop said. “I tell you, no one entered and no one exited.”

“No, Ravershaw was in no shape to walk out of there on his own,” Thorold said. “He had help.” He looked up as the door opened and Captain Barton entered. The captain walked over to him and whispered in his ear and Thorold smiled widely.

“I want every Kingsguard available at my estate immediately, Captain.” He smiled again as Barton nodded and with a bow, turned and left. “Well, High Bishop, my men seem to have caught this demon of yours.” He leaned back and chuckled. “She was caught helping Duchess Avery escape. Brenna Trewen will share her mother’s fate after all.”  Thorold settled back into his chair, deeply satisfied.

Both the High Bishop and Beldyn turned their gazes on him. Let Avery escape, let Ravershaw escape, let Aruntun close itself off from him -
he
had the witch who was trying to spoil his plans and soon he would have the crown of Soule at his command. He smiled at Beldyn who scowled and turned away. Frown all you want my boy, he thought, you know what will happen to you if you disobey. He’d killed one king slowly - he could do much the same to another.

Dasid leaned over the page and nodded when Kane’s finger pointed out a mark.

“That’s the symbol she used for a specific type mechanism,” Dasid said. “I know how to work those.”

“And what about these?” Kane pointed to another two marks on the page.

“That means she suspects a passageway but hasn’t yet found it.”

They were hunched over the original plans of Duke Thorold’s estate. According to the notations Brenna had made on this particular page Dasid had identified three working entrances - the one Kane and Brenna had used earlier, another one that Brenna had used when she’d retrieved her mother’s knife and a third as yet untried entrance.

Kane stood up and stretched. “That will have to be enough,” he said. “We leave in ten minutes.” He left Dasid bent over the book and headed out to the main room of the inn.

There were forty Brothers gathered and another twenty were keeping watch on Duke Thorold’s estate in case Brenna was moved. Sixty men should be enough to get Brenna back as long as they didn’t have to contend with the whole Kingsguard.

There were over four hundred Kingsguard in Soule and Kane estimated that half of them could be immediately moved to Thorold’s estate. And he knew exactly how quickly that many men could be mobilized - they had perhaps an hour before Kingsguardsmen started arriving at Duke Thorold’s estate to reinforce his personal guard. Within two hours all two hundred Guardsmen would be in place. They had to be out of Kingsreach, with Brenna, long before then.

“We’re off, then.” Yowan came up and clasped his arm. He was taking all of the wounded Brothers along with Madelay, Neal and Avery to Aruntun. This was their original plan so wagons were ready and papers signed assuring that all taxes and duties had been paid. “You’ll get her,” Yowan said. “She’s a tough one, she’ll be fine.”

Kane nodded. Brenna
had
to be fine. He’d tried and tried to reach her through old steel but he hadn’t heard from her since she’d been caught. He told himself it was only because she was asleep, or maybe drugged, or too exhausted, or she’d lost her knife, but he couldn’t discount the possibility that she was injured. He rolled his shoulders to loosen them up. He refused to believe she was dead - he’d know, he was sure of it. And if she was alive Duke Thorold would want to see her himself, if only to watch her die.

The small stable yard behind the Dog was jammed with Brothers.

“All right men,” Kane said. “I need three smaller groups who aren’t squeamish about the dark or fighting in tight places. The rest will be on the grounds. We’re expecting Kingsguard so be prepared to fight men you’ve bunked with.” He would lead the group through the tunnel into the basement and Dasid, wielding a borrowed sword, would take the unknown entrance. From his work on the secrets of the Rowse house he had the best chance of triggering the mechanism that opened the door. Gaskain would use the entrance by the river, the one that led to the servant’s hall. 

All the Brothers but Kane’s group melted out into the city. Kane went in search of Eryl. The thief was clearing out the rooms that had been occupied by Madelay and her patients, quickly stuffing soiled linens into a bag.

“I’ll be taking these to the river and dumping them as soon as I can.” Eryl tied the bag and slung it over his shoulder. “It’s a shame to waste good linen but if I gave it away, there would be questions.” Kane nodded. He’d trust Eryl to do what was best to keep himself alive.

“Here,” he handed a heavy purse to him. “Give whatever you feel is fair to the innkeep. I fear we may have marked him and he may need to leave Kingsreach.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Eryl said. “But like as not he’ll stay. He’ll get a lot of respect for being the headquarters for this rebellion. Thieves Quarter will look after its own.”

“You know best.” Kane smiled and clasped Eryl’s’ arm. “May the gods watch your back, Eryl.”

“And yours.” Eryl looked at him seriously. “And get our girl. It’d be a shame to lose the best thief the Quarter’s seen in a generation.”

Kane nodded and turned and left. Only the four members of his team remained outside. They quickly fell in behind him as he strode out into the predawn streets of the Quarter.

twenty-four

Even half asleep Brenna felt Kane coming closer. Now awake but still exhausted, when she looked for old steel she saw all the Brothers. She tucked her hand into her pack and grasped her knife.

“
Kane
,” she sent, feeling him start when he heard her. “
I’m in the same cell as Avery - in the cellar.
”

“
Are you hurt
?” she felt his relief through their connection and his nearness buoyed her spirits.

“
Not hurt but I have no strength left for magic
.” She sighed and then added. “
I’ll struggle just to walk.
”

Kane was silent for a few moments. “
Can you take some strength from me
?” he asked. “
Can you follow me through my sword like you did with Uncle Feiren
?”

“
You need your strength more than me
.” Even if she could draw off some of his energy she would not drain him when was walking into battle.

“
Try
,” Kane insisted. “
Either you walk or I have to carry you
.”

Reluctantly Brenna tried to follow Kane’s sword to him. “
It’s no use anyway
,” she said after she failed to find him. Then she felt something new, something pulling her along. She was in Kane’s sword - she could feel his callused grip on her hilt. Slowly, carefully, she reached to where his flesh met the steel and hesitantly drew from him. She felt him gasp and she fled back to her own body. She lifted her head with renewed energy.

“
Did I take too much
?” Had she hurt him? She would never forgive herself if she’d left him too depleted to go on. “
Kane, what happened
?”

“
I’m fine
,” he said. “
I stumbled on the stairs. We’re at the storage room
.”

“
You’re hurt
.” Her new awareness of him showed her a small flare of pain.

“
It’s small. I cut myself with my sword. You said that’s how you knew Uncle Feiren was being hurt - that his sword cut him. And it worked. We’re in the storage room. Get ready
.”

Brenna felt around her pack for her thief’s tools. She had the iron cuff off her ankle in a few moments and then she crawled over to the door and put her ear to it. In the guard room on the other side of the door, men muttered to each other about witches. How many were there? Were there too many for Kane to manage? She was the reason he was risking himself so she would do everything she could to help him.

Using her borrowed strength she spelled herself invisible and then turned to concentrate on the door. Kane would be there in a few minutes. She knew the door was barred from the other side - it started to rattle slightly as she focused on it. She heard the men in the other room talking but no one seemed to notice what was happening to the door. Her face was drenched with sweat by the time she heard the bar drop to the floor.

“Get the bar back in place,” she heard a guard say. “Do you want the witch out here with us?”

Someone shuffled to the door and then cursed.

“Can’t put the bar back. The witch done melted the metal brackets.”

Rather than trying to lift the wooden bar, Brenna had warmed the brackets that held the bar in place until they melted. The brackets would need to be replaced before the door could be barred again. She pushed the door open and slipped into the guardroom before they thought to barricade the door another way. She stepped past two guards and unlocked the outer door. When it swung open she hid behind it along the wall.

“
Kane, I’m behind the door
,” she called to him.

The sounds of steel on steel rang out from close by and one of Thorold’s militia, forced back by Kane, backed into the room.

“Duck under my sword, now,” Kane said quietly.

Brenna edged out from behind the door, dropped low and scuttled along the floor until she was behind him. She reversed the invisibility spell and felt some energy flow back into her. One of the Brothers behind Kane grunted in surprise.

“Tell all Brothers to retreat,” Kane said as he backed out of the doorway.

Brenna clasped a hand to her knife hilt and sent out as strong a message as she could. She then followed the two Brothers to the hallway junction where two more Brothers held back three of Thorold’s guards. Brenna darted past them and into the storage room. The secret entrance was open and she was about to slip though it when one Brother stopped her.

“You stay in the middle. We don’t know what’s happening outside.”

He moved into the dark passage while Kane and the other three Brothers entered the room. They shut the door and the two Brothers started to pile old furniture in front of it. Kane strode over to her and took her hand. He looked her over for a moment and nodded before he turned and entered the passage, tugging her after him.

“Kane, I can tell you where the worst of the fighting is outside.” Brenna’s voice was low in the dark stairway.

Kane heard Deeley and Wils coming up the steps behind her.

“Deeley, did they find the secret entrance yet?” he asked.

“Not yet, Captain. I can’t hear more than furniture being shoved around. I suspect these guards don’t know about the secret passages.”

“I hope you’re right.” He’d rather not have to worry about fighters coming at them from behind. “Brenna.” He stopped at the top of the stairs, crowding Shelton and Culley, who had led the way. “What’s going on out there?”

She closed her eyes and then grabbed his hand. He saw many pinpricks of light - the old steel weapons, he thought in wonder. A dozen were backed up against the wall they hid inside, trying to keep their escape clear. He couldn’t tell how many of Thorold’s guards there were but they weren’t able to force the Brothers away from the wall. Another twenty or old steel weapons were clustered further away. That would be the main group of Brothers. They must already have engaged the Kingsguard.

Kane’s view expanded as Brenna searched further. There were two smaller groups heading their way. The other teams who’d been sent inside other passages. They’d heard Brenna’s call to retreat. 

“That’s enough,” he said. He let go of her hand and the odd sensation of watching fell away. He didn’t want her to tire herself out - they had more to get through before they could relax. “Men, when we get out, we’ll be surrounded by Thorold’s militia. Looks like our boys are holding them off so we should be able to tip the fight in our favour.”

He stepped back to let Wils get in front of him and Brenna. The door swung open and he squinted against the brightness. Dawn had come - they had very little time left before the full force of the Kingsguard arrived.

Kane stepped out onto the ground - Brenna shadowed him as he worked his way into the center of the small group of Brothers. As much as he wanted to add his sword to the fight he wasn’t about to leave Brenna’s side again. Another group of men exited the wall a few paces away – Dasid’s team.

The twelve Brothers he’d seen through old steel ringed Kane, Brenna and their small group. One looked back and raised his sword. Kane signaled that the mission was successful - Brenna was out. Ten of Thorold’s guards ranged along the road out front, swords out.

“Let’s join the main group, men,” Kane shouted.

The Brothers surged forward and the guards were easily forced back along the road. After a few minutes they fled rather than be pushed into the Brotherhood’s main fighting force. Dasid met up with him as they merged with the main group.

“Glad to see you safe Brenna,” Dasid said. “Are we ready to go?”

Kane nodded. “Most of the men will try to slip away slowly and either make for Aruntun or Fallad.” He turned to Brenna. “The horses are down by the river.”

“Will these men be all right?” Brenna asked.

“Most will,” he saw her face pale at his words. “Some will die - they knew that was a possibility. A lot of these men are former Kingsguard - they’ve understood the potential cost for most of their lives, but in order for their sacrifice to mean anything you must get away.”

Tears welled up in her eyes. She brushed them away and nodded. Good, she could mourn these men later, as would he, but right now she needed to focus on escaping.

“Let’s go.” He led the way to the horses and Brenna smiled slightly when Blaze whickered at her. They mounted up and the four of them, he, Brenna, Dasid and Gaskain, rode away from the skirmish.

Getting out of the city was easier than he’d expected. Most of the Kingsguard had been pulled from duty and sent to Duke Thorold’s estate. The single guard on the gate had simply watched them ride through. Kane looked around at his companions. He couldn’t really blame the guard - now that it was light out he could see how battered and bloody they were.

They reached the ferry at midmorning. Once across they took some time to wash the worst of the blood off themselves. Cleaner and slightly refreshed, they settled in to a better pace.

Even though they were in Comack, they met up with one of Duke Ewart’s patrols late in the afternoon.

Brenna would have fallen if a young militiaman hadn’t caught her when she slid off of Blaze.

“Thank you,” she mumbled. She turned to try to grab her saddle bag.

“Let me,” the soldier said. He quickly untied her bag and handed it to her. “Don’t worry about your horse. I’ll make sure she gets taken care off.”

Brenna smiled gratefully and let him lead Blaze away. She clutched her bag to her chest and wandered over to a tree. Since someone was already getting a fire going she was going to mix a big batch of a restorative tea. She untied the left pocket of her saddlebag and stuck her hand into it. She smiled. Madelay, she thought. She pulled out a cloth bundle and unwrapped it to find the mortar and pestle. Nestled inside the mortar was a small packet. Brenna opened it up and sniffed - ginseng and lemon balm. Madelay had even prepared a tea. She looked around. Kane was talking to Dasid and the corporal from Ewart’s militia. She should be there as well but all she could think of was how tired she was. She grabbed her pot and the packet of tea, found some water and put her tea on to boil. When it was ready, she took a mug to both Kane and Dasid. She took a third mug to Gaskain, who was slumped against his saddle watching some Brothers rub down their horses.

Finally, she took her own mug back to her tree. She leaned back and she sipped the warm liquid. Once her tea was gone she closed her eyes.

Brenna stretched her arm but stopped when it came into contact with something soft and solid. She opened her eyes to find Kane’s face inches from her own. The light of a fire illuminated his smile.

“Did I miss dinner?” she asked. Her stomach growled noisily.

“I saved you some.” Kane reached one hand past her head and returned with a wrapped bundle.

She sat up when she smelled the rich yeasty odour. She took the bundle from Kane and sniffed it.

“Bread,” she unwrapped it and took a bite. There was butter slathered on the bread and she groaned with pleasure. “Where did this come from?”

“It’s close to fresh,” Kane said. “Ewart’s men brought it - it’s from an inn they stayed at last night.” He smiled. “The same one we’ll be staying at tomorrow. We should get there by early afternoon.”

“A bath.” Brenna wrinkled her nose. “For both of us.” She took another bite of bread and leaned against Kane’s chest.

“No arguments here,” he said.

The bath was pure luxury. If poor Kane hadn’t been waiting for his turn Brenna would have happily stayed in for hours. As it was she’d left Kane downstairs cleaning his weapons over an hour ago. She put on some clean clothes, tied her wet hair back with a string, and headed down to the tavern. Duke Ewart’s men had commandeered the entire inn so they were the only ones there.

She slid onto the bench beside Kane and poured herself a mug of ale before she noticed the silence in the room.

“What’s happened?” she asked. The faces of the men surrounding her were solemn. Puzzled, she looked at Kane.

“We’ve just had a runner from Kingsreach,” Kane said. He grasped her hands in his and she stared down at them. “King Mattias is dead and Beldyn has been proclaimed king.”

Brenna looked up into his face and nodded. It was soon, much sooner than they’d expected. She wasn’t ready, not yet, but she had no choice.

“And so it starts,” she said. She looked around the room. All eyes were on her. The Brotherhood had waited for this moment for a very long time - now was when their real test would start. Her eyes met Dasid’s and she watched him solemnly raise his mug.

“The king is dead, long live the Queen.”