Healer (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 2) Read online

  “Shall we start?” Kane asked.

  He sat at the table and the others resumed their seats. Sergeant Murdoch took the chair nearest the door.

  Kane looked around the room. He could still smell the new lumber the rough, wooden walls were constructed from and although the table was finely crafted, the chairs were simple and bark still clung to the legs of some of them. Maps of Soule were spread out on the table before them. Three former Kingsguardsmen, a merchant and a duke not quite a full year into his reign - this was now the council of the Brotherhood of the Throne. And though he hadn’t been part of the council before, Kane was their leader. Not for the first time, he wished his Uncle Feiren was here. And not for the first time, his heart ached at what Brenna had been forced to do when she ended the suffering Feiren had been enduring at the hands of Duke Thorold and High Bishop Valden.

  “Let’s begin,” Dasid said, bringing Kane’s attention back to the meeting. “Murdoch, your report please.”

  The sergeant nodded and cleared his throat. “We’ve plenty of provisions to take us well into the spring, and I’ve been talking to the archery instructor and he thinks we can get the recruits out hunting soon. It would help with our supplies and give them moving targets. This batch of recruits seems to be coming along faster than the first. It’s likely a combination of us instructors knowing what we’re doing and the lads and lasses being forest and farm raised. They’re used to hard work and being outside in all weather.”

  “Any problems training the boys and girls together?” Kane asked. Stobert had betrayed Brenna in part because she was a woman - if others in the Brotherhood held similar views, they needed to root them out.

  “Naw, not anything I’d call a problem.” Murdoch scratched his chin. “You get some of them coupling up and all, but most ways they keep themselves out of trouble. There’s the odd fight of course,” he said. “But boys soon stop fighting over girls when they realize the girl can take care of herself.”

  “And how many girls are there here?” Kane asked.

  “This lot has twenty. And the best archer is a girl from up near the Langemore border. She said her eyesight was so good ‘cause of all the needlework she does.” Murdoch chuckled. “Never saw so many boys pick up a needle so fast in all my life. We’re going to have enough uniforms for the next two years once they’re finished.”

  “Anything else Sergeant?” Dasid asked. Murdoch shook he head. “Good, thank you.” Dasid made some notes and looked up at Kane. “Would you like to report next?”

  He nodded. “I was able to contact a few Brothers in Aruntun, all in Smithin, down by the Southern Sea. There aren’t many left and they didn’t seem very interested when I told them that the prophecy was being fulfilled - until I told them Brenna was a Seer.”

  “And that’s important to them?” Ewart asked.

  “Extremely,” Kane said. “There have been visions over the years that have touched on the Brotherhood but they’ve never been very clear or consistent. The Brothers in Aruntun claim that’s what caused most of their members to simply drift away. If the Seers can’t make sense of it, how can they believe?”

  “But why do they care that the heir is a Seer?” Dasid asked.

  “According to them,” Kane said. “Seers rarely have visions about each other and when they do, they aren’t very clear. So the heir being a Seer explains why there haven’t been any visions for so many years.”

  “Now the Brothers there are interested in helping,” Dasid said.

  “Yes,” Kane agreed.

  “But there’s so few of them it may not matter anyway,” Dasid said.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Marcus Brunger leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. “If any are traders or sailors they’ll have ties into Comack, most likely just across the border in Hurly. And we know we’ve more Brothers there. Many have moved south from Dryannon since Thorold became duke.”

  “You’re right.” Dasid nodded to the merchant. “And between them we may have enough to keep both towns out of the hands of Thorold. One of our Brothers in Hurly owns the largest fleet in Soule. Merchant ships, mostly, but they could be used to patrol the coast. If anyone is willing to put into Dryannon they may be able to find out what Thorold is doing in Comack.”

  “One of the Aruntians is a captain of a merchant ship. I already put him into contact with Brothers in Hurly. We parted ways there.” Kane shoved a hand inside his shirt and pulled out a small leather case. He lifted the flap and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “Here’s the list of contacts.” He handed the paper to Dasid.

  “What other news of the south?” Dasid asked.

  “Hurly was quiet when I was there. Or rather, when Master Arlott was there.” Kane said. “I was able to meet with the Brotherhood. They have little news of Kingsreach but Thorold continues to squeeze them for taxes and labor. The mines in the Godswall are producing more ore than ever and a new vein of gold has been found. Rumor has it that Thorold has been trading heavily with Langemore, probably capitalizing on being the father of the heir to the throne.”

  “The King of Langemore has a daughter of an age to be pledged.” Ewart said. “No doubt they’re hoping to make a political alliance as well as a financial one. He was after me a few years ago even though the girl wasn’t more than thirteen.”

  “She’d be a good age for Beldyn,” Kane said. “The Brothers in Hurly hadn’t heard about Stobert and as I traveled north from Brother to Brother, none had until I was within a two day ride from Kingsreach. It seems that Thorold has not given Stobert free rein in his land after all.”

  “Which must madden him to no end,” Ewart said. The Duke of Fallad was not happy that one of his minor nobles had aligned with Thorold.

  “There is one more disturbing thing I found while I was in Comack,” Kane continued. “The Church of the One-God has acquired a lot of power – much more than I’ve noticed before.”

  “In what way?” asked Ewart.

  “The Brothers I spoke to said that those who openly worship the old gods are treated poorly by followers of the One-God. Tavern keepers who have always happily served any with coin are now refusing to serve those who follow the old gods. In some cases they either won’t buy their goods or offer very poor prices,” Kane said. “The further north I went the more hardships I saw amongst the families of the Brotherhood.” He’d taken to leaving coin with each family he came across, hoping it would be enough to carry them through the winter.

  “For years the members of the church of the One-God have looked down on those who follow the old gods,” Brunger said quietly. “Even in Kingsreach there are those who feel the followers of the old gods are witches and troublemakers, but for a merchant to refuse trade? That’s a strong stance for a man to take. I don’t like it.”

  “Nor do I,” Kane agreed. “Up until now the law has always ignored a man’s faith.” Kane ran a hand through his hair. “I think Thorold is not only allowing the High Bishop to stir up hatred for followers of the old gods, I think he’s encouraging it. Stobert wasn’t high enough up in the Brotherhood to know much very about the members but he does know we all follow the old gods.”

  “Of course. Hurt all followers of the old gods and you’ll hurt the Brotherhood.” Ewart shook his head slowly. “I believe in the One-God but I am first and foremost the Duke of Fallad. I could never deliberately allow anyone to mistreat my people. I’ll be looking at how the church is operating within my duchy as soon as I get back to Silverdale. That type of hatred will not be allowed.”

  Kane had little more to tell. He’d spent a few weeks in Kingsreach with Eryl, but Brunger would have more recent news and of course Ewart had better contacts in Silverdale. Kane’s report finished, they took a break and he stood and stretched. He’d been traveling so much in the past few months he was no longer used to sitting in a chair for such long periods of time.

  Hot tea and a cold supper of bread, cheese and meat were brought in when they were ready to begin again.
>
  “Guild Master, what news do you have?” Dasid asked.

  Guild Master Brunger sipped his tea and stared down at his plate. “The Kingsguard Brotherhood is in grave danger.” He lifted his head and looked directly at Kane. “Stobert identified some Brothers to Thorold. Thankfully Stobert didn’t know the council, or else I wouldn’t have been free to travel. And Thorold’s man Barton was named Captain of the Kingsguard just over two months ago. He’s been ferreting out Brothers within the Guard ever since. Most have fled, but a few have been imprisoned, or worse, given over to the High Bishop.”

  “Like my uncle.” Kane shook his head slowly. “If they’re lucky they won’t last long.” He remembered Brenna’s stricken face when she’d felt his uncle through old steel. “Who has he caught?”

  “Hollier and Connell had been given over to Valden before I left,” Brunger said.

  “And the Guard left are loyal to Barton while he does this?” Kane wanted to weep. Men who had proudly worn the uniform of the Guard were being corrupted by Duke Thorold and High Bishop Valden. He met Dasid’s eyes and saw that he wasn’t the only one grieving.

  “Barton has his own men in positions of power and all those charged have been linked to Feiren, who was condemned by the king himself as a traitor.” The Guild Master paused for another sip of tea. “We need to keep Brothers in place so we know what’s going on inside the Guard but we also need a place to send those who must escape.”

  “Can we bring them here?” Kane looked at Sergeant Murdoch and Duke Ewart.

  “It would be a tight fit, but we can make the room,” Murdoch said. “I’d expect somewhere ‘round one hundred Guard. Once the thaw comes we can have them build another barracks. We’ll run short of rations, especially for the horses, but with the duke’s help and our Brothers here in the north, we can make it work.”

  “I agree,” Ewart said. “We said we don’t want to be seen building an army but we need experienced men. I could absorb some into my own militia.”

  “Good. I’ll get the word out as soon as I get back.” Brunger looked relieved. “We’ve already got some of the best trackers from the Guard working with Eryl and his gang to keep tabs on the city. Stobert and his men have been seen in Kingsreach quite often, but they’re not staying with Thorold - seems the duke doesn’t have quite so much use for him after all.”

  Kane nodded. While he was in Kingsreach he’d heard that Stobert fancied himself the next Duke of Fallad but he didn’t think Thorold had enough to gain from the Falladian noble to allow it. Without any deep connections to the Brotherhood, Stobert’s usefulness had probably already passed.

  “Eryl’s been very impressed with the quality of tracking from the Guardsmen,” Brunger continued.

  “Yes,” Kane said. “I told him he had Brenna to thank. The men got a lot of practice trying to keep up with her when she was hiding at my uncle’s house.”

  “Really? She did say she was a thief,” Ewart said.

  “And a good one,” Kane agreed. “So the Brothers left in the Guard are keeping their heads down?”

  “Yes,” the Guild Master replied. “We’re using more non Guard Brothers, including my daughter Carolie.”

  Kane could hear the pride in the man’s voice but he remembered Brenna’s comments that the girl was headstrong and spoiled. “Is that wise? She’s not very old.”

  “She is the same age as Beldyn and she’s a pretty girl. We’re not noble but she caught his eye at a dance and it seemed like too good an opportunity to pass up.”

  “The rest of us agreed to it, Kane,” Dasid said. “We need to know more about Beldyn. Is he simply his father’s pawn or would he be his own man when he’s crowned king? Carolie is never alone with him but there’s another young Brother you know who’s also been able to gain Beldyn’s confidence. Colm trained with Brenna as did Carolie.”

  “Colm, yes he seemed a competent young man,” Kane said. “I still don’t like sending children into danger.” Could he trust Carolie Brunger to look out for the Brotherhood’s best interests above her own?

  “Both Colm and Carolie will soon to be sixteen,” Dasid said. “I don’t think either of them would appreciate being called children. They both volunteered - as you would have at their age.”

  “At their age I was already in the Guard.”

  “And Carolie, head strong as she is, has been managing some of my accounts for two years,” Brunger said and shook his head. “She’s much harder to fool than I ever was.”

  “Enough, it’s required,” Kane said. They were adults, much as he thought otherwise – as he’d been at fifteen. “So what has been discovered about Beldyn?”

  “Not much other than that the heir to the throne is a very quiet young man,” Brunger said. “Carolie claims he seems not to be cowed by his father but neither does he oppose him. Generally he keeps out of his way as much as possible.”

  “A smart lad, then,” Ewart interrupted. “Rumors from the castle staff are that Beldyn is rarely in his bed at night, although none think he’s out wenching or drinking, as his father did.”

  “He’s staying in the castle? Not at his father’s estate?” Kane was surprised that Thorold would allow his son to stay beyond his reach.

  “Yes. Apparently Beldyn convinced Thorold that living under the same roof as the king would make him seem more royal.” Ewart flashed a smile. “Again, I think the lad simply wanted to be as far away from the duke as possible.”

  “Interesting.” Kane glanced at Ewart. Brenna had told them both about Beldyn following her around when he was very young. “Guild Master, we should assign some of those watchers to Beldyn. If he’s not in his bed at night we need to know where he is.”

  Kane sipped the fiery brandy, rubbing his tired eyes as he warmed himself in front of the fire. He’d been on the road for three months, rarely sleeping in the same place two nights in a row - he was exhausted and he still had another three weeks of traveling before he would see Brenna again. He’d missed her deeply. He fingered the pommel of his sword, wishing they could communicate through old steel - to feel her presence, to know that she was alive and well, would give him strength.

  Kane turned as the door opened and Dasid entered.

  “Everyone is bedded down, although both Brunger and Duke Ewart are used to much better accommodations,” Dasid said. He poured himself a brandy and sat down at the desk.

  “I’m just thankful to have a roof over my head.” Kane smiled and pulled up a chair. They’d slipped into their old Kingsguard habits, with Dasid at the desk and Kane across from him.

  They were in Murdoch’s office, the light from the hearth and a single lamp casting a warm glow over the sparely furnished room. Only two cloaks still hung by the door, Dasid’s, a thick navy woolen garment, and the one Kane thought of as Master Arlott’s cloak. It was in a finely made, but well-worn, muddy brown fabric. He would need to find a new cloak soon, Kane mused, Master Arlott seemed to be falling on harder times.

  “Thorold seized the house,” Dasid said.

  Kane stared at his glass, swirling the golden brown liquid. “So I heard from Eryl. We knew it was likely.” He had to stop thinking of it as his home and remember that his uncle was not waiting there for him. “It’s the only real home I can recall,” he said softly.

  “He’s given it to Barton.” Dasid sipped his brandy. “We were able to get everything of value out. Documents related to the Brotherhood as well as some items from both yours and your uncle’s rooms. And we sealed up all the secret entrances.”

  Kane smiled sadly. “And my uncle? After the High Bishop …” Kane stopped, unable to go any further.

  “He had as fine a service as possible, under the circumstances. He was cleaned and mended and committed to Jik, as all warriors are,” Dasid said gently.

  Kane nodded. His uncle had spent his entire life in service to the people and his king - he deserved respect even though he’d been branded a traitor. “Brenna killed him, not the High Bishop.” He looked up in
to Dasid’s startled gaze. “We were almost into Aruntun and she felt his pain through his sword, through the old steel. They were using it on him and she was able to reach through it and send him beyond the pain.” Kane paused, recalling the anguish in her face as he’d held her. “My uncle asked her to, as did I.” He gulped down the rest of his brandy and rose and headed to the door. Dasid’s hand on his arm stopped him.

  “Thank you,” Dasid solemnly looked at him. “It helps knowing he didn’t let them win.” He pulled a knife out and dropped it onto the desk. “We found Feiren’s knife. They somehow overlooked it and turned it over along with his body.”

  Kane reached out and picked it up. He unsheathed it and felt the old steel react to him. The weight was good – it felt well-balanced. He stared at the knife his uncle had worn for as long as Kane could remember.

  Without another word he sheathed the knife, nodded to Dasid and grabbed his cloak. He stepped out into the chill air and sucked in a cold breath. As he made his way to the barracks a single tear tracked down his cheek.

  two

  Brenna’s boots squeaked as she walked across the hard-packed snow. It was a clear, cold day. Her breath clouded and her eyes watered as she squinted against the sun. Finally, she was starting her magical training. She was to be taught by Mistress Oswin Utley, a tiny, frightful woman Laurel had introduced her to last week when she’d taken her to the witch’s home.

  Oh, Mistress Utley appeared harmless enough, with her sparse, white flyaway hair, ropy hands and narrow shoulders. Her thin body seemed barely able to keep her head upright, the top of which only came up to Brenna’s shoulder. But then one looked into her eyes - eyes so brown they were almost black, eyes filled with power and wisdom and a bit of ruthlessness. Brenna shivered. She felt as though Mistress Utley had looked through her and found her wanting. But even Mistress Utley’s disapproval couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm for learning. To learn magic! Brenna could put up with just about anything for that.