Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne) (14 page)

Sighing, Brenna splashed
some water on her face and dressed. She needed her map. And Dasid. Between them
they’d find the best place to hide some men so they could take the wagons. And
Brenna was not going to be left behind this time. These were her people, people
she’d healed and shared tea with and yes, likely fought with. But she wasn’t
going to let them be sent to the mines. Or further, she thought as she remembered
the way the wagons full of children had been driven out of Blackwall.

“I was thinking that we
may be able to keep a force of men over here.” Brenna jabbed her finger at a
place on the map that was well within Comack’s borders. “It looks like forest -
Thorold probably doesn’t have men in place.”

Dasid leaned over to see where
her finger pointed.

“Thorold uses the land
around there for pasturage,” Ewart said from his seat across the room. “He and
his cursed horses. The man’s appetite for grassland for them is insatiable.”

When Brenna had gone
downstairs she’d found Dasid in the kitchen. She’d immediately spread the map
out and they’d been weighing the options for intercepting the wagons ever since.
Ewart’s arrival mid morning had surprised them. He’d come straight from his
country estate and had joined their discussion immediately.

“What about Stobert’s
lands?” Ewart asked. “Is there any way we can use his lands for this? After betraying
you to Thorold I’d like nothing better than to have a reason to go in there and
force him off his property.”

“It’s too far away from
the route we think is being used,” Dasid said. “Otherwise I’d be happy to
oblige.”

“He’ll be starved out by
spring,” Brenna heard herself say. She looked up to see the two men looking at
her oddly and shrugged. “Not quite a vision but a very strong feeling,” she
said.

“Fine, I’ll ignore Stobert
for now,” Ewart said. He rose and joined them at the table, leaning over the
map. “We should get Gaskain in here. He knows this country as well as anyone.”
Ewart grinned. “He’s been trying to keep Thorold’s horses out of Fallad most of
his life.”

Brenna made tea while
Dasid went to find Gaskain. She was pouring water into the pot when her hand
started to shake so much that she almost dropped the hot water.

“By the Brothers, what was
that?” she muttered.

“
Is that you Brenna
?”
The voice thundered through the old steel. Brenna tried to sever the connection
– it didn’t quite work but at least the sound was at a comfortable level.

“
Who is that
?” she
asked. She wasn’t even touching her knife.

“
It’s Gaskain
.”

Brenna felt another jolt
and then she felt Dasid’s presence through the old steel as well.

“
Dasid and I have our
new swords
.”

“
So I see
,” Brenna
replied. The difference in strength was incredible. How had previous rulers
managed it? But none of them had been the Caller, had they?

Even when she took her
knife off Brenna was aware of every step Dasid and Gaskain took on their way back
to Ewart’s house. She had to find a way to mute the effects or she’d be too
distracted to have a rational thought of her own. By the time they were walking
up the steps she at least had some peace, but she still felt each and every time
one of them touched their new weapon.

“We told Smith Innis about
your reaction and he thinks that if he changes the timing of a few stages, along
with the concentrations of blood, he can lessen the effect,” Dasid said as he
and Gaskain entered the kitchen.

Dasid’s knife and sword as
well as Gaskain’s sword flared to light, more brilliant than any other weapon
ever had and Brenna gasped. She struggled to get the old steel dimmed and
finally, shaking with the effort, she was able to darken them.

“Please ask Smith Innis to
make the adjustments,” she said. She smoothed a hand over her hair and took a
deep breath before she returned to the normal task of making tea.

“Maybe,” Dasid looked at
her thoughtfully, “that’s what the passage in the book Innis can’t decipher is
about. He says it has nothing to do with creating a weapon - it seems to be
some sort of ceremony. Perhaps we’re missing something key that binds the old
steel to you.”

“That would make sense,”
Gaskain said. “It would be dangerous if every time a new sword was created it
almost overwhelmed the Caller. I’ll visit the smith later and see if between
the two of us we can’t get a better idea of that. Now,” Gaskain turned to the
map, “I understand you need some advice about the land just over the border
into Comack.”

By early afternoon they
had decided where to place their troops. It was a few days ride into Comack and
therefore a risk, but one they all felt was warranted – especially Brenna. She
would not allow more people to be sent to the mines.

In two days, twenty men,
hand-picked by Dasid, as well as one wagon, would be on the way. They would be
bringing these people back and they would need wagons to do it. Brenna insisted
that a healer go and Neemah volunteered. She hadn’t yet told them that she was
going as well, but she wasn’t planning on giving them a choice.

Gaskain left to talk to Smith
Innis and Brenna headed over to the church to stock up on supplies. They
weren’t going all the way up into the mountains to Godswall but she wanted to
get more libo seeds just in case. She still hadn’t managed to investigate other
treatments for altitude sickness so the seeds were the best she could do.
Hopefully no one would need them.

Kane felt Brenna’s
exhaustion as soon as he touched his sword.

“
Are you all right
?”
he asked.

“
Just tired
,” she
replied. “
Dasid and Gaskain received their new swords today. Until Gaskain
found the spell that quieted them down, it was very
draining.
”

“
There was a spell
?”
Kane frowned. “
I didn’t think the Brotherhood did any magic.
” He was
relieved to feel Brenna’s amusement through their connection. She was tired but
not completely drained.

“
I’m not sure the
Brotherhood knew it was a spell. It was in the book on forging old steel and
was called a ‘binding prayer’
,” Brenna said. “
It calls on all five of
the old gods. It’s actually quite powerful. And it worked, which means I have
some peace for the first time in twelve hours. Do you have any more
information? I’m too tired to bring Dasid into this communication tonight but
he’ll be in position with twenty men in four or five days. I’ll have him
confirm exactly where with you tomorrow
.”

“
Twenty men should be
enough. Eryl has been able to find information that two separate wagon caravans
have left but none of them had more than ten or twelve guards
.”

“
I’ll let Dasid know. I’ll
contact you tomorrow with more details
.”

Brenna severed their
contact and Kane was once again aware of his small room at the Dog. Dasid would
save people from the mines – it was up to him stop the wagon caravans from
being created in the first place. He headed to the tavern. One thing he
appreciated about living around thieves - they were usually about at night.
Kane joined Eryl at his table and gratefully took the mug of ale the thief
offered.

“Will they be ready?” Eryl
asked.

“Five days or less.” Kane
nodded across the table to Larkly and Millen and sipped his ale. It was better
than the Dog's usual brew. “They’ll have twenty men. That should be a small
enough force to avoid detection by the Comackian militia and large enough to do
what needs to be done.”

“There might be twelve men
with the wagons, are you sure that’s enough?” Eryl asked.

“Dasid is choosing the men
himself.” Kane nodded. “They’ll be some of the Kingsguards best-trained
swordsmen and archers. They’ll be enough.” He sipped his ale and relaxed
slightly. He had done all he could for tonight so he might as well simply enjoy
the ale.

Kane was well into his
second mug when he heard a noise from above. Eryl stood, startled. Kane quietly
drew his knife and motioned for the thief to sit back down while he edged to
the door. There were more muffled sounds from above and then the soft tread of
feet on the stairs.

“Is there anyone else in
the inn?” Kane whispered.

Eryl shook his head and
Kane backed up against the wall beside the doorway. When the door edged open he
reached out and grabbed hold of an arm and dragged the person into the room.
Breathing hard, Kane kept hold of his struggling captive, his knife raised to
their neck.

“Don’t fight me,” he said
through gritted teeth.

Startled brown eyes turned
towards him.

“Kane, let him go,” Eryl
said. He crossed the room and stopped in front of Kane and his captive, his
hand on Kane’s knife arm.

Kane lowered his knife and
let go of the arm he held. To his surprise, Eryl made a quick bow.

“I can’t say we were
expecting you,” Eryl said. “But you’re welcome all the same.”

Kane backed away as Eryl
stepped between the two of them.

“Let me introduce you,”
Eryl said. “Though I’m sure you’ve heard about each other.”

“Kane Rowse, consort to
Brenna Trewen and member of the council of the Brotherhood of the Throne, meet His
Majesty, Beldyn Embrey, King of Soule.”

Kane’s mouth dropped open for
a moment - Beldyn seemed as surprised as he was and a lot more nervous. Kane
slid his knife back into its scabbard.

“Beldyn, well met.” Kane
held his hand out. “I apologize but I cannot call you Majesty.”

Beldyn hesitated, then reached
out and gripped his hand.

“That’s a title I’ve never
aspired to anyways.” The wry smile that crossed Beldyn’s lips surprised Kane.
“I trust it’s a title another wants more than me?”

“Not at all,” Kane said.
He laughed at the startled and worried look on the young man’s face. “But she
feels she’s burdened with it.” He turned more serious. “It’s a role she’ll
fulfill very well, for all that she doesn’t want it.”

“Good,” Beldyn said.
“Someone needs to do it well. Not like my father.”

Again Kane was surprised,
this time by the bitterness in Beldyn’s voice.

“He made me sign an order
authorizing the Kingsguard to round up men and women from Thieves Quarter.
They’re being sent as slaves to work the mines and as gifts to King Mannel of
Langemore.” Beldyn ran a hand through his hair. “I thought Eryl should know. I
was hoping he could do something about it. The One-God knows I’m not able to.”

“We already know,” Eryl
said. “Kane and I are figuring out how to save them.”

“Brenna’s been working on
things from where she is,” Kane said.

“Brenna? You’ve heard from
her?”

The hope in Beldyn’s face
reminded Kane that Brenna had been his only friend and ally while he was
younger.

“Yes, I heard from her not
much more than an hour ago. Come on,” he slid his knife back out of its
scabbard. “Let’s see if she’s still awake.” Kane gripped his knife by the
pommel and blade down, held it out to Beldyn. “I know you and Jemma were able
to do this.” Beldyn’s hand hovered over the knife and then he rested it gently
on top of Kane’s hand. “I’ll warn you, she was very tired when I talked to her
so we might not be able to contact her.”

“
Brenna
,” Kane
called as loudly as he could. “
Are you awake
?”

“
Go away. It can’t be
morning yet
.”

“
Brenna, wake up, I’ve got
someone here who wants to talk to you
.” Kane caught Beldyn’s eye and
nodded.

“
Brenna? It’s me,
Beldyn
.”

“
Beldyn, what are you
doing there. Kane
?” Brenna’s voice was strong and clear - no doubt she’d
grabbed her own knife

“
He came to give Eryl
some information
,” Kane said. “
I think he came by one of your favourite routes
.”

“
One of my … Beldyn,
did you sneak into the Dog
?”

“
Through a window on
the second floor
,” Beldyn said. “
I’ve come in that way before
.”

“
Well done
,” Brenna
said and Kane felt Beldyn’s pleasure from those two small words. “
Not that
any one I know has had a reason to sneak into the Dog, but it’s not easy to
manage it. I saw Jemma just the other day. Should I tell her that I talked to
you
?”

“
Please
,” Beldyn
said. “
She’s safe
?”

“
Yes
,” Brenna said.
“
She’s found her father
.”

“
Good
,” Beldyn
said. “
I couldn’t let my father
…”

Kane felt Beldyn’s shame
and anger through the old steel link. “
It’s not your fault
,” he said.