Thief Read online

stew. And no payment needed, on account I’ve been sending your business away and all. Just don’t tell anyone I’m letting you eat free. Especially not Eryl.”

  “Thanks, Mistress.” Brenna took the bowl from her and grabbed a spoon and mug from the table near the door to the main tavern room. Time to talk to Eryl. She headed down the hall to the room where he usually held court and pushed open the door.

  Five heads turned her way as she placed her stew and empty mug on a scarred oak table.

  “So, what news since we last spoke, Eryl?” Brenna asked. She pulled up a chair and sat down.

  “Brenna,” Eryl said. “I thought you were going to stay out of sight?”

  Besides Eryl and his two thick-necked bodyguards, Larkly and Millen, the room contained a couple of younger lads Eryl let hang around. He nodded at the two younger boys, who then scrambled out of the room.

  Brenna grabbed the pitcher of ale on the table and poured herself a mug.

  “I got tired of staring at the same four walls.” Brenna scooped up a spoonful of stew and blew on it. “Even seeing you seemed better than more of that.” She and Eryl had been bedmates for almost two years and sometimes she could hardly believe it herself. When she’d been new to the city, Eryl had provided her with protection. Sharing his bed had seemed a very small price to pay. Looking back, she still thought so.

  She hadn’t grown up with the view that a tumble without marriage was a sin against the One-God, or that she was somehow evil and wanton if she wasn’t chaste. Her mother had taught her a practicality that was almost ruthless - you traded what you had for what you needed. There was no shame in a trade freely made, no matter what that trade might be. Brenna had always felt guilty about stealing, but she tried to balance it out with her healing.

  “Yeah, well, you need to be careful,” Eryl said. “Someone might be watching me.”

  Eryl’s expression was serious and for a moment Brenna felt guilty. She might be putting him at risk just by being here. But it was his fault. His commission had started it all. And Eryl was good at looking after himself. That was one thing she could count on. But he was right that someone, most likely the church, could be watching him. She’d need to be extra vigilant when she left.

  “I need to know about Master Arlott,” Brenna said. “I’ve got who knows how many people looking for me, including the church. I need as much information as I can get if I want to keep breathing.”

  “I told you all I know,” Eryl said.

  “But you’ve seen him since. You must know more.”

  A quick nod from Eryl sent Larkly and Millen out of the room, one through each of the two doors. “They’ll signal if there’s trouble,” Eryl said when they were alone. He met her gaze and leaned back in his chair. “Arlott hasn’t been back since he gave me your bond.”

  He was lying. She’d always been able to read him. “I know you’ve seen him,” she said. “I need to know if he asked about anything else. Was he looking for information on anyone or anything other than the weapons?”

  “Like what?”

  “The church,” Brenna stated flatly. “He warned me two days ago that the church, and in particular the High Bishop, didn’t look kindly on anyone trying to steal from them.”

  “Arlott came to see you?” Eryl looked guilty. “Bren, did he threaten you? I promise I’ll get him if he did.”

  “And why would you feel responsible if he did threaten me?” When she looked over at him, Eryl dropped his eyes to the table and slumped in his chair. “No wonder we went our separate ways.” She shook her head in disgust. “I just can’t trust you. You told him where to find me, didn’t you?”

  “No, but I told him you were a healer. He seemed safe enough.” Eryl shrugged and looked back up at her. “And he’d paid up two hundred crowns for you. I really didn’t think he meant any harm.”

  “No, I guess not. Besides, he would have found me eventually. He’s got the men behind him for it.”

  “What do you mean?” Eryl asked.

  “Arlott is the Captain of the Kingsguard,” Brenna said. Eryl’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Kane Rowse is his real name.”

  “Bren, I never would have told him where to find you if I’d known. Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure,” she said. “Think back to when you paid my bond and met me at the castle. Did you take note of the Kingsguard who brought me out?”

  “By the gods, you’re right.” Eryl said. “What’s he want with you?”

  “I know what he thinks he wants with me. It’s safer if you don’t know,” Brenna said. And it was safer for her if Eryl didn’t know about the Brotherhood. Or that she’d been caught because the knife had glowed when she’d picked it up.

  “What about the knife?” Brenna asked. “How much information did he have about it? Has he asked you to find other knives like it?” She remembered how Kane’s sword had glowed under her hand. “Or swords. Anything you can tell me might help.”

  Eryl picked up the pitcher of ale and refilled both their mugs.

  “Arlott had the information about the knife. Said he wanted to commission its theft,” Eryl said. “He told me his patron was looking for a long-term arrangement. He also wanted to know about any other old weapons I came across. I was to tell him where they were and he’d let me know which ones he wanted.” Eryl looked at her. “I wondered why he didn’t just nab all the weapons and get rid of the ones he didn’t want. Much safer than getting a look at them before hand.”

  “A matter of ownership, maybe,” Brenna said. “It’s strange enough that the Captain of the Kingsguard has commissioned any theft. I suppose he can’t steal from just anyone. Maybe he feels this patron of his has more right to the weapon than the church?” Would Kane be able to identify which weapons belonged to the Brotherhood? He’d said they were different than normal weapons - stronger.

  “Or maybe the church stole the knife in the first place,” Eryl added.

  “That’s possible,” Brenna replied. “And that’s all you know?” At Eryl’s nod she sighed. It wasn’t much, but it was more than she’d known before.

  Brenna drained her mug as Eryl got up to knock once on each door. Larkly and Millen re-entered the room.

  “So, Brenna,” Millen said. “There’s a new healer at the Sheaf. How do ye like the competition?” He loomed over her, his rank breath making her nose twitch.

  “If she wants to dose you, Millen, then I wish her all the luck in the world,” Brenna replied.

  “She’s here now if you’d like to meet her,” Eryl said and leaned back in his chair. “She’s set certain days and times when she’s available for those who need healing. I think you should meet her, Brenna. You two have more in common than just healing.” At her arched brow, he continued. “The two of you are like as two peas in a pod, ‘cept for her manners.”

  Millen grinned. “Yeah, she got manners and you don’t.”

  Brenna scowled at him. “All right. I’ll meet her.”

  “I’ll go get her,” Larkly said and left the room.

  Brenna had never had much contact with healers other than her mother. Although they all used the same herbs and potions, healers who worked in the reputable parts of the city would not appreciate her company. Those who had been Collegium trained had no trace of witch tainting them.

  Brenna looked up when the door opened - and gasped. It was the girl she’d seen at the laundry. Once again she saw the other woman’s face pale and her brown eyes go blank and lifeless. Brenna blinked and the appearance of death vanished. A healthy young woman stood before her, brown eyes worried.

  “You,” Brenna said as the girl came forward. “I saw you earlier.” She felt her stomach flip, her mutton stew now sitting like a hard lump in her gut.

  “Yes, I remember Mistress,” the other woman said, the concern in her voice apparent. “I’m Sabine Werrett.”

  “Brenna Lightfingers.” Brenna grasped the girl’s hand, thankful to find it warm and alive. Sabine’s fa
ce continued to radiate health and Brenna relaxed a little.

  Sabine sat down and glanced nervously at Eryl, Larkly and Millen, who all watched intently. Then she leaned in close to Brenna. “Did you have a vision?” she whispered as she twisted her hands together. “If it was something about me, might I please hear it?”

  Brenna started to shake her head but stopped when she looked at Sabine’s face. The other woman was terrified. “What makes you ask that?”

  “Your eyes, of course, Mistress,” Sabine said so softly that Brenna had to lean in closer to hear her. “You have Seer’s eyes, and the truest pairing, except for blue and green.” Sabine lowered her voice even more. “Although I can tell that you’ve spelled them, so I’ll not give you away.”

  Her mother’s prayer, Brenna thought, the one that helped her hide her eyes. Sabine could see through it, just like Kane could. Was Sabine right about her eyes? Seer’s eyes, she’d called them. Did that mean that what she’d seen – Sabine dying – was truly going to happen?

  “You must leave,” Brenna said quietly. “You’re in great danger here in Kingsreach. Go back home.”

  The girl swallowed and clutched Brenna’s hand. Would she do as Brenna asked? She had to, or something terrible would happen to her. Brenna’s heart raced. Why was she so certain of that?

  “I’ll leave immediately, Mistress,” Sabine said and stood up. “I’ll just go pack my things.”

  Brenna leaned back in her chair, relieved. She caught Eryl’s