Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne)

by Jane Glatt

  “She didn’t do anything,” Beldyn whispered. “She was innocent.”

  “Oh my boy, she was a prostitute, I’d hardly describe that as innocent. I will say that the High Bishop eventually came to the conclusion that she didn’t know anything. Not even who you are.” Thorold stood and walked over to the quivering mass of bloody flesh that once had been a woman. “But what she is now is a lesson.” He flipped her hair back to show the bloody and burnt holes where her eyes had been. Letting her hair fall back over her face, he stepped away from the stench of burned flesh to stand in front of his son.

  “You will tell me who you were visiting and why.” His voice shook with anger but Beldyn didn’t flinch. Stepping back, Thorold nodded to Barton. “Kill her.”

  The captain took his knife and quickly slit the woman’s throat.

  “Captain, to fully regain my trust you must find out who was in that inn and bring them to me, dead or alive. Do whatever it takes. You,” he turned to his son. “Will be spending time with the High Bishop if you don’t tell me who you were meeting. Until then you will be confined to your quarters and guarded.” Thorold stepped back towards the door, careful to avoid the pooling blood. “Have someone clean this up.”

  Even though she’d just woken up, Brenna was exhausted. Her lungs literally ached from trying to breath. Still in her bedroll, she rummaged through her pack for a libo nut. She chewed it slowly, trying to get as much benefit as she could. She stopped herself when she caught herself spelling it to work better. Sighing, she climbed out of her bedding and bundled it up.

  The rest of the camp looked almost ready to travel. Dasid waved her over to a fire.

  “Here’s your tea,” he said as he handed her a steaming mug. “Drink up and then we’ll be off.”

  She took a sip and grimaced. You’d think she’d get used to the foul brew by now but she still had to force down each mouthful. It did help and between the tea and the libo nut she was able to take a reasonably deep breath.

  “We’ll reach the peak today, won’t we?” she asked.

  “This morning, by my figuring,” Dasid said. “Then it’s downhill. From the map it looks to be a fairly sharp drop. Tonight’s camp should at a lower elevation than this one. Are you going to be all right?”

  “Yes.” Brenna nodded. She drained her mug and squared her shoulders. “I have to be, don’t I? After all, this was my idea.” She flashed a grin at Dasid and he smiled back before turning and heading back to the wagons. Brenna found Pater and climbed up to sit beside him on the wagon seat. She should feel more rested tomorrow than she felt today. They would be passing close to Blackwall the next day and coming so close to the town made her uneasy, especially since she had so little energy for magic.

  It was pitch black when he opened his eyes. Kane froze – he wasn’t at the Dog - then he remembered. They were in a tunnel, one of the Brotherhood’s tunnels that he’d played in a as a boy. Kane fumbled for the candle stub and flint and soon a small pool of light bathed the tunnel. He looked over and met Eryl’s open eyes.

  “I’ve been thinking about how to get the word out,” Kane said. If it was one of Brenna’s visions he’d shared last night they might not have much time. “We’ll start with Marcus. You’ll need to go. We don’t know if Thorold is looking for you but we can be pretty certain that he’s looking for me.”

  “I know where to find Marcus.”

  “And then the inn owners,” Kane said. “What was the name of the woman who owned the inn the healer was killed in?”

  “Mistress Mundy at the Wheat Sheaf,” Eryl said. “But I doubt she’ll believe me.”

  “She’ll believe me,” Kane said. “She met me when I was still Captain of the Kingsguard.”

  “She never much cared for me,” Eryl said.

  “I helped Brenna - I think she’ll trust me,” Kane said. “I just need to get to her. We’ll wait until we think it’s night before we leave the tunnel. Afterwards we should each find a safe place to hide or a way out of the city, if we can. We can meet up at Ewart’s in Silverdale.”

  The candle didn’t last long. After only a few hours it sputtered and went out, leaving Kane and Eryl in darkness. Finally, when Kane guessed that enough time had passed, they felt their way to the entrance. They stepped out into dusk on a crisp fall night.

  Kane touched Eryl’s arm and the two of them slipped quietly down to the riverbank. The trees, still in full leaf this far south, would provide some cover as they headed back towards Thieves Quarter.

  Kane peered through the underbrush at the narrow lane. As he’d hoped, the service lane was empty this late in the day. He watched for another half hour before he motioned to Eryl.

  “This is where we part,” Kane said, leaning in close. “Go north. This lane will take you to the merchant’s district.”

  With a quick nod, Eryl was off. Kane watched the thief’s shadow edge along the lane for a few moments before it disappeared from his sight. After another quarter hour Kane rose and crossed the lane, heading east. Getting back into Thieves Quarter would not be easy.

  In the end his opportunity came during the guard change. Kane was appalled by the lack of discipline in the Kingsguard even as he thanked Jik for it. He’d found a doorway to huddle in as he surveyed two guards at the end of a street. After eyeing the roof tops and wishing for Brenna’s ability to climb and travel unnoticed above the city, he’d settled in to wait for his chance. Half an hour before he thought the guard change would happen, they had surprised Kane by walking away from their post.

  He was so startled that it took him a moment to react. Then - his heart in his throat - he’d sprinted past the corner where the guards had been stationed before edging into an alley. He held his breath as the next pair of guards walked past his hiding place to take up their positions.

  Carefully, Kane backed down the alley and entered a small courtyard. After a quick survey of the area he opened the door to what looked like a small stable and slipped inside. Amid the stale odors of horse piss and manure, he gingerly felt his way in the dark until he found an empty stall. He propped himself up against the back of the stall with the door in his sights and waited for daylight.

  Brenna thought she felt when they started travelling downhill. The road they were following wound through rocky outcroppings and they’d been traveling up and then down for almost half of the day. Now, nearing noon, she felt a subtle difference.

  “I think we’re on the way down now, Pater,” she said.

  “That’d be a good thing fer all of us, you especially,” Pater replied. “Do you need to stop and have some more tea?” Brenna grimaced and Pater laughed. “Well, it ain’t so pleasant for those of us sittin’ aside ye, so I imagine it ain’t pleasant to drink.”

  “You never said my breath smelled,” Brenna said, holding her hand up to her mouth. She blew into it and wrinkled her nose at what she smelled.

  “Pah. Ye saved my life. What’s a little bad breath? Asides, we all know it can’t be helped.”

  “But it can be helped. Does everyone know about my breath?” Brenna was mortified. How could they just let her walk around like that? “I can chew on mint,” she said as she rummaged through her pack. She found the small packet of mint leaves and quickly pulled a couple out. “Pater, how could you let me walk around smelling so badly?”

  “Well, it wasn’t like we want ye to smell, or we was happy ye smell,” Pater said. “But we all agreed, leastaways me and Dasid did, that ye needed to take yer medicine. We didn’t want to say anything that might make ye hesitate on that.”

  “Next time don’t assume I don’t know what I need to do.” Brenna glared at him. “I’m a healer. I know the importance of using remedies. Including ones for bad breath.” She rolled the mint leaves around in her mouth, feeling them soften and release the tangy flavour onto her tongue. Another couple of these and her breath should be much more pleasant.

  “Sorry, we forgot that, Dasid and me,” Pater said. “We was jes worried, is all. An
d that mint is already havin’ an effect, I can tell you.” Pater drew in a big breath and grinned at her. Brenna couldn’t help smiling back. After all, she should be through the worst of the altitude illness.

  As the afternoon wore on, Brenna’s breathing became easier and easier. They made camp when it was near dark. After drinking her tea and chewing on two more mint leaves she rolled up in her bedding to sleep. She fell into a deep sleep, feeling better than she had in days.

  It was early evening by the time Kane rounded the corner of the inn and headed to the back gate. Even the Wheat Sheaf was quiet, though the smells of cooking wafting through the kitchen door made his stomach rumble. It had been almost twenty-four hours since he’d last eaten and the only water he’d been able to snatch was what he’d found in a stable.

  The kitchen door opened and a shaft of light spilled out into the yard. When he recognized the solid form of Mistress Mundy pumping water into a bucket, Kane stepped forward.

  “Mistress Mundy,” he said quietly.

  She stopped pumping and turned to stare at him. Her hands start to shake and Kane rushed forward to grab the wooden bucket before it could drop to the hard-packed dirt of the yard.

  “I won’t hurt you, I promise,” he said.

  “But you’re Kingsguard, I remember,” she said, backing away slightly.

  “I was,” Kane corrected, saddened by her fear of the Kingsguard. “And a friend of Brenna’s.”

  “Yes, that’s right. You helped her when the church was after her,” Mistress Mundy said. “Do you know where she is? Is she all right?”

  “She’s fine,” Kane said.

  Mistress Mundy let out a breath and relaxed. “I heard rumours that she’s to be queen. That she’ll come save us from Duke Thorold and the church. I only wish it were true.”

  “It is true,” Kane said. “But we can’t talk about it out here.” He looked towards the kitchen door and then back at Mistress Mundy.

  She met his eyes, then nodded nervously. “I suppose if I’m wrong about you it’s too late for me anyway,” she said as she turned towards the kitchen door. “And I’m so tired of not trusting anyone. At least I know you helped Brenna and she is someone trust.”

  Kane followed her into the kitchen and placed the half full bucket on a table near the door. He gestured to the door that led from the kitchen into the tavern.

  “Is there anyone out there?” he asked.

  “No.” Mistress Mundy sat heavily on a chair. “Business has been poor enough lately, but after the Kingsguard closed off the Quarter last night folk have holed up where they can. I’ve not had one customer all day.”

  “Are the doors barred?” Kane asked.

  “No, I’ll do it now though.” Mistress Mundy rose and headed to the tavern. “Help yourself to some stew. It’s not like I have any paying customers and you look like you could use it.”

  Kane wasted no time grabbing himself a bowl of stew. He was halfway through it by the time the innkeep returned with two mugs of ale.

  “Now, get yourself some more stew if you want.” Mistress Mundy set the mugs down on the table.

  Kane took a swallow of ale before he got up to ladle more stew into his bowl. Mistress Mundy pulled out a loaf of bread and sliced two thick portions off it and placed them on the table, along with a crock of butter.

  “Thank you,” Kane said as he sat to finish his meal. “I know you don’t know me but I appreciate it.” He picked up a slice of bread and sopped up some gravy. “Brenna always said the stew here was the best in the Quarter.” He ate in silence. Once he was finished he took his empty bowl and placed it on the table beside the bucket.

  “All right, Mistress Mundy,” he said as he sat back down. “I owe you an explanation.”

  “I have some of it figured out,” she said, surprising him. “I know Eryl has been living at the Crooked Dog. Now I never did like Eryl but I’ve been hearing things lately that have made me change my mind some. Eryl’s been helping folk leave town and get food and such. Rumor has it there’s been another young man staying at the Dog with Eryl - a man Duke Thorold would dearly like to get his hands on. So much so that he raided the Dog and closed down the whole Quarter.”

  Kane paused to sip his ale before replying “And by coming here I’ve placed you in danger.”

  “The Quarter takes care of its own,” Mistress Mundy said. “I’m ready to help Brenna in any way I can - I think that means helping you. Besides, I can’t do less than Eryl, can I? Nor can I have the Sheaf be less welcoming than the Dog.”

  “Thank you.” Kane relaxed, finally, for the first time in days. “I need you to get word out that everyone needs the leave the Quarter. I mean everyone.”

  Mistress Mundy gave him a slow, measured look before she answered. “For how long?”

  “I’m not sure.” Kane ran a hand through his hair, trying to remember the small glimpses of Brenna’s vision that he’d shared. “There’s going to be a fire. I don’t know how big, but a good part of the Quarter burns. It happens at night, I think.”

  “A fire, how do you know this?” Mistress Mundy’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll not help if you plan on burning the Quarter, friend of Brenna’s or not.”

  “No, it’s not me. I don’t know how it starts. It’s from one of Brenna’s visions.”

  Mistress Mundy looked up, startled. “Like when she saw that other healer die? That poor lass who died right in my tavern?”

  “Yes, a vision like that,” Kane said. “But I have no idea how soon it will happen. In the meantime we need to warn the people.”

  “Of course,” Mistress Mundy said. “I’ll start in the morning. I know just who talk to. Every man, woman and child in the Quarter will know this before midday. I imagine it’ll be best of you stay out of sight for a while so I’ll give you a room. And I might find some spare clothes for you. Yours need washing almost as much as you do.”

  “Thank you.” Kane followed her from the kitchen. “If you don’t mind, I’ll fetch some more water and have a good scrub before I put the clean clothes on.”

  A few hours later, clean and well fed, Kane lay stretched out on a bed in a room at the rear of the inn. One small window – just big enough for him to squeeze out of if he had to - looked out onto the courtyard, its curtains pulled shut against prying eyes. More than ever he wished to talk to Brenna, to make sure she was safe. They should be close to the worst of the journey for her as far as the mountains went. After the last trip into the mountains he swore he’d never let her travel up into that elevation again. He grunted and rolled over onto his side. And he’d have as much chance of changing her mind next time as he’d had this time. Finally, Kane fell into a deep sleep.

  Just after noon they reached the fork that went up towards Blackwall town and the mines. Brenna glanced along it as Pater drove the wagon past, remembering when she, Kane and Yowan had come this way in the spring. The meadow grasses had grown up alongside the road and the ruts were worn deeper with use.

  “We’ve seen no signs that these trails have been used in the past few days,” Dasid said as he pulled his horse up beside her. “I’ve sent a couple of men to Blackwall to find out any news. They’re posing as wagon guards looking for work. At the very least I hope to find out if we should be expecting company on the road to the coast.” Dasid peered at her. “You look much better today, Brenna.”

  “I feel much better, thanks. Another day like today and I’ll be strong enough to contact Kane and the others.”

  “I’d prefer another two days,” Dasid said. “Keep in mind I might need your talents along the trail. I’m sure Kane is perfectly safe in Kingsreach. He’s stayed with Eryl in the past and no harm has come.”

  As Dasid spoke, Brenna felt a chill run down her spine. She was missing something, something important. She almost knew what it was, could almost see something. She was about to reach out for it when Pater dropped his hand on her arm.

  “Take it easy lass,” he said. “I know ye want to do more but we
need ye rested.”

  Brenna nodded and relaxed, her eyes meeting Dasid’s.

  “Something’s happened, or is about to,” she said. “I feel like I know what it is but I can’t remember. I think it has to do with Kane.”

  “I know you’re concerned about him,” Dasid said. “And I’m sure he’s worried about you. But he knows what he’s doing. He’ll be fine. If you still feel well tomorrow you can contact Kane.” He held up his hand when she was about to speak. “But only Kane and only if you draw some strength from me first.”

  “Yes, I’ll do that.” Though she hated doing it, Brenna would to take energy from him in order to speak to Kane. She thought about what she was feeling - this odd sense that she’d missed something important. She sighed. It didn’t feel like Kane was in danger so all she could do was hope that she remembered what it was before she contacted him.

  They made camp for the night and Brenna sat by a fire with Dasid and Pater. She’d spread the map out in front of them and they were trying to determine their exact location. The two scouts, dressed in clothes borrowed from men from the Quarter, walked into the circle of firelight.

  “Lieutenant Addems,” one of the men said. “We were not able to reach the town.”

  “What was the problem?” Dasid asked, standing up.

  “There were too many guards at the gate, Lieutenant. At least twenty that we saw. Wearing Duke Thorold’s colors.”

  “Did anyone go in or out of town?”

  “We watched for three hours and saw nothing. The gates didn’t even open.”

  “Anything else to report?” Dasid asked and the guard shook his head. “Thank you. Please ask Wils to join me and find yourselves something to eat.” Dasid sat back down when the two guards turned and left.

  “So we won’t have any company along the road after all, not if the gates are locked up tight and guarded,” Pater said.

  “I don’t think merchants will be on the road,” Dasid said.

  Brenna looked across the map at him. “But you think others may be?” she asked.