Thief

by Jane Glatt

staring out.

  “Pater, good to see you.” Despite the warmth of the words the door didn’t open even another inch.

  “I’ve brought a gentleman to see about some healing.” Pater leaned towards the door and lowered his voice. “It’s about his two brothers. Seems the two of them got drunk last night and ran into an old friend out by the Collegium. So now his brothers need a cure for their aching heads. ”

  At the girl’s sharp intake of breath, Kane swore under his breath. Pater had no right letting the girl know they were behind the incident at the Collegium. What was he thinking? Dasid shouldn’t have even told the old man this information.

  The door opened a little more and Kane watched as one green eye and one brown eye fixed on him, then widened in recognition.

  “Get in here.” Brenna practically pulled him through the door. Pater scurried in and she firmly closed and bolted the door before she turned to the older man.

  “What do you think you’re doing bringing the Captain of the Kingsguard here?” she hissed. “The whole Quarter will know in less than a day.”

  “Calm down Brenna. Does he look like the Captain of the Kingsguard to ye?”

  Brenna glared at Kane. Her eyes traveled over his well-worn cloak and battered hat. “No, I guess not.” She still didn’t look happy.

  “I assure you,” Kane bowed with a flourish, “Master Arlott is a known figure in the Quarter. And none would be surprised to hear he had visited a healer here rather than one in a more prosperous part of town. It’s well known he has a patron with more ambitions than money.”

  “You’re the one who wanted the knife.” Brenna’s voice was flat with suspicion. “And the one who gave Eryl my bond price. What do you want with me? I warn you, I own my bond and you can’t take it back now.”

  “The lad doesn’t want any such thing, Brenna,” Pater said and her gaze flitted to the older man. “We want to make sure you are safe and free more than you know. We’ve all sworn to keep you safe.”

  “You too, Pater?” Brenna asked. “You’re part of the Brotherhood?” She dragged a hand through her hair and her shoulders slumped. “I need to sit down.”

  They followed her into a small sitting room. Brenna took a seat on a chair by the window and motioned for them to get comfortable as well. Pater leaned back against the table. Kane took up a position near the door and stood, relaxed yet ready, much as he did in the King’s council chamber.

  “So, this is because you think I spoke this Call?” Brenna asked. “The one from Aruntun’s vision?”

  “Yep,” Pater said with a chuckle. “I shoulda known you’d start to figure things out yerself.”

  And Kane wondered how she’d known about the vision. Had it been passed down to her with the Call? That could be even more proof of who she was.

  “It’s barely been two days,” Pater continued. “And already ye know some of our secrets. Aye, I’m part of the Brotherhood too. There’s more’n ye might think and from all walks of life. I’m sure the captain here could give ye more of the why’s an whatnots, he’s more at the center of the whole thing, but my family’s been a part of the Brotherhood for as long as any of them. That’s one of the reasons the captain and me have come to see ye. Ye need to know about the Brotherhood, and ye need to know that ye could be in danger.” Pater met her gaze. “Someone followed ye last night. Someone other than the Brotherhood.”

  Brenna nodded. “Yes, it was over near the Collegium. I wasn’t paying enough attention, so I don’t know when he first found my trail. Then two drunks came along. Brotherhood?” She turned to Kane. When he nodded she continued. “They used alegria on him.”

  “How do you know?” Kane frowned. Not more than four or five Brothers knew that.

  “I’m a healer. I know the effects of many, many plants, both good and bad. And the more dangerous ones I know by smell.”

  “But my reports say that you weren’t very close when they used it,” Kane said.

  “I smelled it when I walked past after they left.” She fixed him with her two-colored gaze. “So, do you have any information to share with me on my pursuer? Since you’ve told me I’m under the Brotherhood’s protection, I’ll assume this other person was a threat?”

  “Um, yes, well, we’ve not been able to determine for sure who this man was working for.” Kane really didn’t want to go into too much detail. His task was to keep her safe not tell all of their secrets.

  “Pah, I told ye man, ye need to be honest with her.” Pater glared at him. “Brenna’s a smart lass, she’ll make the right decision.”

  “I’d listen to Pater if I were you,” Brenna said. “He’s known me a lot longer than you have. He also knows I can disappear and that you won’t find me unless I want you to.”

  Kane met Brenna’s gaze. Her chin lifted and she raised a single eye brow. He sighed. He recognized that look. He’d seen it on many a recruit, just before they dug in their heels and did something they regretted later. The last thing he wanted was for her to run. Not after the Brotherhood had waited so long for her. He remembered what Uncle Feiren had said, that if Duke Thorold’s son held the throne, Soule could be in danger. That was the root of the prophecy, after all, safeguarding the country. This meant that Brenna, as the Caller, had to trust and believe in the Brotherhood.

  “We believe the Church of the One-God hired the man who was following you. That’s what he thought anyway.” Kane wasn’t sure how much to tell her, but Pater glared at him again so he continued. “The instructions were to gather information only, nothing else, but the footpad had the impression he could get a better price if he handed you over. And it didn’t seem to matter to him if you were still breathing.” He watched as Brenna’s lips narrowed into a thin line.

  “What else.”

  “That’s it.” He met and held her gaze for a few seconds.

  She frowned and stood up.

  “Get out.” Brenna unbolted the door and started to open it. “Thanks for the warning, but I can look after myself.” She waited by the door as he slowly rose from the chair. He stood facing her as she glared up at him.

  “What else do you want me to say?” Kane asked. “Brenna, you are in danger, believe me.” He couldn’t let her make him leave. Two thousand years and he was about to lose her for the Brotherhood - it might take them years to find her again.

  “Oh I believe you,” Brenna said. “But I don’t believe you’ve told me everything. If you want to stay then you need to tell me the rest. I will not let you or the Brotherhood use me as a tool.”

  Kane looked from Brenna’s angry face to Pater’s grim one and nodded. “I deserved that,” he said. “The Brotherhood has been waiting for the Caller for so long it seems some, including me, have forgotten that you are a real person, with a life of your own. And if the prophecy is to be fulfilled then it stands to reason that you must be intelligent and resourceful.” And be a natural leader who the Brotherhood would willingly follow.

  Brenna nodded and slid the bolt back across the door. Kane relaxed and smiled in relief.

  “You have one last chance.” Brenna leaned against the door and eyed him warily. “What else?”

  “Ever since you were caught the High Bishop has been looking for your blood.” Brenna nodded as though she’d been expecting it. “He’s taken it personally that you would try to steal from one of his priests. And it doesn’t help that the knife was being brought to him, at his personal request. It adds weight to one of his favourite arguments. The High Bishop and Duke Thorold of Comack are adamant that crimes against priests and nobles must have more severe penalties than crimes against others.”

  “I can imagine the duke would like to be above the law.” The bitterness in her voice surprised him. “And the knife wasn’t destined for the High Bishop. Duke Thorold’s been collecting similar objects for the past few years, but until now, I’d not seen one.”

  “How do you know this?” Kane asked.

  “Let’s just say that sooner or later
everyone needs a healer. And it’s known that I take information as a trade.” A grim smile flitted across her face. “I like to know what the duke is up to. Does Duke Thorold know about me?”

  “As far as the theft, yes. Other than that, I’m not sure.” What her interest in Duke Thorold of Comack? Did she know him personally?

  “The Brotherhood,” Kane continued. “Believed someone else was behind the church’s acquisition of old steel, but our information never pointed to anyone in particular.” At Brenna’s puzzled look, he explained. “Old steel was created long ago when only the old gods were worshipped. The Brotherhood’s records say there are specific methods to create it as well as rituals that imbue it with strength and powers beyond normal steel. From personal experience I know it will not break or shatter the same as normal weapons. Both the knife and my sword are made of old steel.”

  Brenna sent a wary glance towards his sword. He had to admit he didn’t look at it exactly the same any more either.

  “My granda said all families in the Brotherhood had old steel weapons.” Pater spoke from across the room, where he still leaned against the worktable. “But some families came on hard times, or lost the old ways and started believin’ in the One-God. Then old steel was sold off or lost. Me, I got a nice knife. Gave it to my sister’s son when we brought him into the Brotherhood. Don’t think any is made new these days.”

  “That’s