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thief forcefully.” High Bishop Valden said. He looked expectantly across the table at King Mattias.

  “My Lord High Bishop,” Kane said. “I’m aware you feel the church has been mistreated but once again I assure you that the letter of the law has been followed. The maximum bond price was demanded and the maximum was paid in full. There was no lawful reason to keep the thief.”

  “Then we should change the cursed laws.” Valden glared at him “I find it unconscionable that a man of the church, a man who has committed his life to helping others, a man who was simply performing his priestly duties, can be victimized to the point of terror and there is no recourse except that shown to any common man.”

  “And yesterday the council agreed to look at these laws in the future and not to change the current punishments,” Kane reminded him gently, concerned now that High Bishop Valden’s hostility seemed to be directed at him. If Valden and the church took too great an interest in him, it could lead them to the Brotherhood. Now that the Caller had finally been found, they could not afford to be exposed. Kane would need to be very careful with the High Bishop. He could not put two thousand years of secrecy at risk.

  “Yes, yes,” the High Bishop said. “But I’ve been thinking of nothing else all night and I feel this case must be dealt with. I will not have my priests threatened. I demand that you pick up that girl at once.”

  “I’m sorry High Bishop,” Kane said. “I cannot. Her bond has been paid and she has been freed according to the law. As much as we all want to allay the fears of the victim, jailing her again for the same crime would break the laws I’m sworn to uphold. I’m sure you are not suggesting I do that?” Kane didn’t doubt that the priest had been terrified but it likely had more to do with the glowing knife than any threat Brenna posed.

  “Of course not,” Valden said. “I’m simply saying that victims should be allowed compensation directly from the person responsible for injuries or losses suffered. Perhaps a few years being indentured to the wronged party would help these criminals reform. We ought to change the law to reflect that.” Valden smiled smugly at the king.

  Kane withheld a sigh of annoyance. The current system was set up precisely to stop that from happening. Indentured servants had it hard enough as it was. It would be many times worse if they were forced to serve those they’d tried to cheat and steal from. And the chance for vengeance could prove too great a temptation for some of the victims. Kane had no wish to push angry or scared citizens that far. Murder was punishable by death, even the murder of someone who’d stolen from you.

  “That is of course entirely up to the King and his council.” Kane bowed to King Mattias. “As Your Majesty has already agreed.”

  “Yes, that’s correct.” King Mattias sighed and tiredly leaned forward. “High Bishop, please work with my seneschal to set up a meeting of the council to deal with this issue. Captain, I’m sure you have other duties to attend to.” Mattias looked at each of them. Valden opened his mouth to protest but instead rose and bowed to the king.

  Kane also bowed and gratefully left the council chamber. He could almost feel the waves of malevolence coming from the High Bishop as he followed him out of the council chamber. How was he going to stop Valden from twisting the laws to suit his own purposes? Kane already had unsettling reports from Comack that the process of indenturing was being used to permanently enslave the common folk, rather than as a punishment with a specific duration. He would not allow that to happen in Kingsreach.

  Once clear of the king’s formal chambers Kane headed directly to the lower part of the castle in search of Dasid. The older man was seated at the desk in what was officially Kane’s office. As the Kingsguard’s second-in-command most of the daily tasks of managing the guard fell on Dasid’s shoulders. As well, as the king’s illness worsened, Kane found himself spending more time in the council chambers. As a result he was more accustomed to sitting in the chair facing the desk, so he sat there.

  “It seems we got our girl out just in time,” Kane said. He dragged a hand across his tired eyes and slumped lower in the chair. He’d have to get some rest, and soon. He couldn’t afford to let his exhaustion cause him to miss something critical.

  Dasid looked up with a start, his green eyes worried. “Is there a danger?”

  “The High Bishop believes crimes against his priests must be considered crimes against the church and as such require more severe punishments. That would include indenturing the criminal to the church.” Kane frowned as he spoke. “But I’m not sure that’s all of it - we still have no idea why the old steel knife was being delivered to him.” Kane kept his voice low. “Has my uncle been able to come up with anything more on that?”

  “No, although he tells me he still has some ideas on how to find out more.” Dasid set aside the sheet of paper he had been working on. “I’ve put the word out to the Brotherhood about the Caller. I’ll need a little more time to work out the details and get the coverage balanced right, but until then there’ll be more Brotherhood watchers than thieves in the Quarter. I should have something more permanent to discuss with you later.”

  “Good.” Kane nodded thoughtfully. “I think in light of the church’s position I’ll check on Brenna as soon as possible. If I think she’s in danger I’ll contact her.” Kane stood to leave. “I’ll be in the city for the rest of the day. Why don’t we meet at my uncle’s for dinner and we can discuss anything else?”

  “Of course, Captain.” Dasid smiled. “Shall I inform your uncle we’ve invited ourselves to dine with him?”

  Kane laughed. “Tell him it was my idea - he’s used to it.” With that, he left the office.

  It was late afternoon when Kane finally found his way back to the Crooked Dog. The weak daylight that entered through the grimy windows allowed him a good view of the dirt and various stains that covered both the interior and the patrons. Kane wore Arlott’s customary brown cloak and hat. The clothes were worn, but, thank the gods, they were also clean. He’d have a hard time explaining how the Captain of the Kingsguard ended up with fleas.

  “Is Eryl Fentin in?” Kane asked the tavern keeper. The man nodded and gestured towards the room Kane had visited last night. Kane knocked on the door using the same pattern as before and was quickly let in.

  “Master Arlott,” Eryl said. “I’m surprised to see you again so soon. This visit may not be wise.”

  “This will be my last visit to you for some time.” Kane said. He was relatively certain his disguise would hold but the church would know Eryl had paid Brenna’s bond and might be watching him. He couldn’t afford to be recognized by the church. “I need to renegotiate our agreement of last night. I need to personally ensure safety of our mutual friend.”

  “Your patron is being unusually considerate.” Eryl leaned forward on the table. “Her bond has been paid and she’s safe.”

  “For now,” Kane said. “But I need to know her exact location.”

  Eryl’s eyes narrowed and his lips tightened as he slouched lower in his chair. “No, I can’t do that. I’ll not snitch on Brenna unless you give me a good reason.”

  “I need to find out if she’s being watched. And if she’s in danger I want to make sure she understands how much and from whom.” He held out a small purse. “The owners of a certain item my patron hoped to obtain are unhappy - they feel the One-God did not receive justice.” He met Eryl’s gaze and held it until the other man finally gave a single quick nod.

  “The church is a ruthless enemy.” Eryl said. “If I’ve put Brenna in their sights she’ll slit my throat. And since she’s the finest healer in the Quarter I’d not likely have anyone to mend me, would I? And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject of Brenna.”

  Kane tossed the purse to Eryl, who caught it and quickly hid it in his clothing. With one last tip of his hat, Kane turned and left. In a place like the Thieves Quarter he should have no trouble finding a healer named Brenna. Kane smiled as he exited the tavern. This was much safer than askin
g for a thief - anyone could have need of a healer.

  Kane watched the seamstress shop from a wine seller’s across the street. Slightly better than the Crooked Dog the wine seller had a few benches and tables set up outside. From one, he had a clear view of the seamstress shop.

  He checked the sun’s height in the sky. It was late afternoon and there hadn’t been any unusual activity around the seamstress shop. The only watcher was the Brother with the fruit cart on the corner, which was a relief. He had to assume that the church did not know where Brenna lived. Satisfied that all was quiet Kane left a copper for the serving girl and stood. If he left now he could get to his uncle’s on time

  Brenna eased back from the window and settled the heavy curtain in place. He’d finally left. She wasn’t certain that the man in the brown cloak and hat had been waiting for her, but she’d had an uneasy feeling. There was something familiar about him - the way he moved or the angle of his head. Both healing and thieving required that she notice small details that others would overlook. She couldn’t quite place him but she’d trusted her instincts and stayed inside while he sat out there.

  She’d wait another half hour, just to make sure he’d really left. And she’d keep an eye out for him in the