Thief Read online

of blood well up. Then Thorold had killed her mother and Brenna had escaped, had become free, just as her mother had always hoped. She would never be anyone’s slave again, she promised herself as she absently smeared her blood along the stone wall of the cell.

  It was just after dawn when the outer cell room door opened. Stretched out on her blanket, Brenna peered through lowered lids as her two overnight guards left and the jailer entered with two more Kingsguard. She knew, even before she saw him, that one of them was Kane Rowse. He was wearing his sword - the one that had lit up at her touch. She could sense it, somehow – that same connection she’d felt yesterday. She closed her eyes and concentrated. It was almost like seeing something from the corner of her eye. She knew something was there, but she couldn’t catch more than a vague impression of it. And the more she concentrated, the more elusive it was. She wondered if Kane Rowse could feel it too.

  “All right Jervis,” Kane said. “The paperwork is all in order. Here’s the seal of the clerk for the payment of the bond and here’s the order to release the prisoner to her bond holder.”

  Brenna quit feigning sleep and stood up and stretched. The jailer examined two pieces of paper. It must be Eryl. Let it be Eryl who’d come for me.

  “Looks all right Captain. A bit unusual to have the bond paid up so fast like, but mayhap she were missed last night, if you catch my meaning.” The old jailer cackled as he trudged over to the cell door. The keys jangled as his fingers searched through them.

  Her cell door swung open and Kane took her arm. Brenna definitely felt a tingle from the sword reach her through his hand, and when she looked up at him she saw a flicker of puzzlement in his blue eyes.

  “This way,” Kane said.

  His grip tight on her arm, Brenna had no choice but to match his stride as they walked quickly away from the jail. They climbed one short flight of stairs and passed two sets of guards before they reached an arched wooden door flanked by two more guards.

  Kane nodded and a guard pulled the door open. Then she was out into the morning, squinting against the bright glare of the day.

  “Your friend was here at first light in order to pay off your bond,” Kane said and released her arm.

  Brenna blinked in the early morning sunlight. Then she saw him.

  “Eryl, thanks be to Jik.” She hugged him with a surge of relief. “I was hoping you’d come.”

  “Course I’d be here, Brenna. I gave you my word years ago.” Eryl stepped back and gave her a worried look. “Are you all right?”

  Brenna’s chest tightened and her heart raced. Did he see her eyes? But no, instead of shock or fear, all she saw on Eryl’s face was concern.

  “I’m fine,” Brenna said. Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Brenna let herself be swept along with him as he steered them away from the castle gate and into the quiet dawn streets of Kingsreach. With a last glance back she saw Kane Rowse, face turned away, re-enter the castle.

  Brenna and Eryl made their way towards the Crooked Dog. She didn’t much like the Dog. The tavern was one of the more run down establishments in Thieves Quarter, but Eryl never was one to pay too much for a bed and a roof over his head. When they’d been bedmates Brenna had paid for their room from her share of their takings, insisting on a clean place to sleep. As soon as they parted ways Eryl had taken a cheap room at the Dog and he’d been there ever since.

  They took a winding path through the early morning city streets, sidestepping merchants who were opening up their shops and carts. Anxious, Brenna looked behind, afraid she’d see the blue uniforms of the Kingsguard, but as they traveled further from the castle and the shops became smaller and closer together, she started to believe she really was free. She stepped over a drunk who’d either fallen or been tossed into the street the night before. A cart owner was trying to dislodge him but he simply waved his hand and muttered as he lay face down on the dirty cobbles.

  Despite the increasing grime in the Quarter Brenna’s shoulders loosened and her hands unclenched as she walked the familiar streets. Now that she was back in her own territory she felt in control. A few blocks from the Dog and she finally stopped worrying about the Guard.

  She followed Eryl through the rough wooden door, past the dingy tavern room and up the stairs. Once inside Eryl’s room she collapsed on the bed with a huge sigh. She looked up when he held out a parchment to her. She quickly opened it and read the few lines. Her heart sped up and her eyes widened. So much!

  “Keep it, it’s yours,” he said.

  Brenna took the parchment – her bond – and flattened it before she tucked it into her vest, next to her pounding heart. Two hundred gold crowns! How could she ever repay that?

  “By the gods Eryl, I’m sorry. I have some coin set aside but the rest I’ll have to pay off over time. Were you able to barter?” She couldn’t remember a higher bond price being paid. And if he’d bartered them down? Brenna felt fear clutch her guts. How much was that cursed knife worth anyway?

  “You don’t owe me nothin’ Brenna,” Eryl said. “Weren’t my crowns that bought you out. It was the noble who made the original contract. He came by late last night saying how his patron felt responsible. Before I could say anything he ups and gives me a purse with the full amount of your bond - I can’t say how he knew the exact amount - and tells me to go get you at dawn and not to barter. I have to tell you,” he shot her a wry grin. “That’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m sure I could’ve talked them down forty or fifty crowns. I hate leaving coin on the table like that.”

  Brenna’s stomach unclenched a little, but her fear didn’t disappear completely. She didn’t like being important enough for someone to pay two hundred crowns for and she didn’t like feeling obligated to someone she didn’t even know. Was this more meddling by the Brotherhood?

  “It doesn’t make sense. Why would someone pay two hundred gold crowns to get me out of jail? They were only paying thirty crowns for the knife - and now they don’t even have that. Did they tell you why?”

  “The noble, Arlott he calls himself, implied that the circumstances had brought his patron more benefits than expected. My guess is they uncovered some information they don’t want no one else to know. If they make sure you aren’t indentured then whatever they found is more secure. You got any idea what that might be?”

  Brenna kept her face as still as possible even as she remembered the glowing sword.

  “Who is this patron?” she asked.

  “I’ve only dealt with his man Arlott,” Eryl said. “I’ve not heard bad about him, but not much is known in the Quarter. And nothing about his patron, if he exists at all. Don’t seem like trouble, though.”

  “Except he paid two hundred crowns to give me back my bond.” Brenna looked at Eryl but he simply shrugged.

  She needed to find out more on her own. She needed to get home, where she felt safe, to think about it. Did this mysterious patron know what had happened when she held the knife and the sword? Only the two Kingsguard had seen that - and the priest. Brothers! The last thing she needed was the church after her. They had a nasty reputation of getting what they wanted and an even nastier one of leaving dead nonbelievers around. And what about what Kane, the Captain of the Kingsguard had said to her? What was this Brotherhood and why would she be under its protection?

  Abruptly she rose and headed for the door. “I have to go Eryl. Thanks again. You know where to find me.” She quickly left his room and the Dog, heading back out into the streets of Thieves Quarter.

  She planned on keeping her head down for a good while. She’d concentrate on her respectable business, healing teas and poultices and such. It didn’t bring in a lot of coin so she’d need to dip into her savings but she needed to keep off the streets for at least the next few weeks. Most importantly she needed to find out more about this Brotherhood and their weapons. And how Duke Thorold fit into this. Everyone seemed to want the same old weapons, but why? r />
  Kane tensed his legs and then relaxed them. He’d been standing for over an hour while the High Bishop’s complained about the lack of justice for the church. After he’d seen to Brenna’s release he’d sent word to his uncle. Then he’d had to attend the king in his council chambers.

  Despite the early hour he’d found King Mattias at the mercy of High Bishop Thomas Valden. The High Bishop seemed to have forgotten yesterday’s agreement that the matter of the thief was to be left with Kane and was trying to get the king’s assent to have Brenna turned over to the church. With heartfelt thanks to the old gods that he’d already seen her safely freed Kane, had stepped in to remind the two of their previous agreement. When he’d mentioned that the thief had already had her bond paid in full and been released the High Bishop had been almost apoplectic.

  As he stood in front of King Matthias and High Bishop Valden, who were seated at the round council table, Kane silently cursed his uncle. When he’d been Captain of the Kingsguard, Feiren Rowse had begun the practice of standing during council sessions. He claimed it reminded the other council members of his position as an active soldier, responsible for the safety and security of king and country. As well, he’d told Kane, it was his own reminder to never relax.

  “And so I insist we deal with this