Thief

by Jane Glatt

Trewen.”

  “Two last names,” Duke Ewart said. “You are sounding more mysterious by the moment.” He dropped her hand and gestured to the settee. “Please, sit. We need to talk but there’s no reason we can’t be comfortable.”

  Brenna and Kane sat back down on the settee while Duke Ewart took one of the chairs opposite. He poured himself a cup of tea and took a biscuit before he settled back and looked at Kane.

  “So, my friend,” Duke Ewart said. “I can only assume that having you show up on my door so early means all is not well in the kingdom. I received word from Duke Thorold not two days ago that you resigned from the Kingsguard over poor behavior regarding a thief.” He sent Brenna a pointed look and she shrugged. “I received another note from your uncle stating somewhat different circumstances. I would like to hear the truth from you, if I may.”

  “It’s true that I did resign,” Kane said. “And it’s true that Brenna is, was, a thief.”

  Ewart turned his blue gaze to her and Brenna nodded. She didn’t see any disdain in his face, and she liked him for that.

  “I believe the future of Soule rests with her,” Kane said. “And my uncle agrees with me.”

  Ewart stared first at Kane and then at Brenna. “If it was anyone else I’d think you’d been knocked on the head once too often.” He shook his head slowly. “What do I need to know?”

  “Since we left Kingsreach we’ve been set upon twice,” Kane said. “First, by Thorold’s men in Comack, then by your own people. We had reason to trust Lord Westley Stobert, but he betrayed us to Duke Thorold. He’d promised to arrange a meeting with you, but it was an ambush. We later overheard him admit he wanted the two of us dead.”

  Ewart’s face darkened. “Stobert’s lands are adjacent to Thorold’s. His betrayal of you is a betrayal of me. Does he think to align himself with Thorold?”

  “Perhaps,” Brenna said. “The king is dying and Stobert seems to have made a choice. In one year, two at the most, Thorold will control the throne. It could even be sooner if all Thorold’s plans are in place.”

  “Do you realize what you’re saying?” Ewart asked. He set his tea down and leaned back into his chair.

  “Brenna says the king has been poisoned,” Kane said. “It’s been done slowly, over the past several years. We have no proof it’s Thorold, but he has certainly gained the most by the king’s illness.”

  “Yes, his son Beldyn is heir - an unfortunate choice for king,” Ewart said.

  “Unless you happen to be Thorold,” Brenna said.

  “Thorold will rule Soule,” Ewart said. “My father always told me that Fallad needed to remain neutral. He felt the best course was to make no enemies, but I think he was wrong.” Ewart sighed and picked up his tea again. “I need to go to Kingsreach.”

  Kane nodded. “My uncle’s role as captain is temporary. The king does still listen to reason, but Thorold has the council in hand.”

  “Yes, he and that sniveling High Bishop,” Ewart said. “And whoever the new captain is. You’re right. Fallad has neglected its duty for too long.”

  “The best way you can help your own people is to be there,” Brenna said. “Thorold has been twisting the laws in his own duchy, and I believe he’ll do the same in all of Soule when he has the ability. For years he’s been indenturing people with no legal grounds and without any real hope of release.”

  “How do you know this?” Ewart asked.

  “He did it to me and my mother,” Brenna said.

  “That must have been terrible for you,” Ewart said, concern in his eyes.

  Brenna relaxed. She’d been worried that he’d look down on her because she’d been a servant, but he hadn’t. He’d not shown any contempt at her being a thief or an indentured servant. She made a decision.

  “There’s more,” Brenna said. Kane wouldn’t like it, but she felt that Duke Ewart needed to know. “I’m related to both you and Thorold. Through Alastair Embrey, Duke Thorold’s first born. He was my father.”

  “Alastair was my cousin,” Ewart said. “You’re the healer’s daughter, aren’t you? Always thought you were Thorold’s brat - least that’s what he always told Father.”

  “That’s what he thought, as well. Only my mother and I knew the truth.”

  “We thought the worst when we’d heard your mother was dead and you were gone,” Ewart said. “Beldyn took it very hard.”

  Brenna nodded. “I used to let him tag along with me. We’d climb onto the roof and hide from his father.” She grinned. “Rain or snow.”

  “That sounds a little dangerous,” Ewart said. “But Thorold often bragged you were his, so I’m not surprised Beldyn wanted to play with his big sister. I’m amazed Thorold would allow it, though.” Ewart sipped his tea and regarded her steadily.

  “Who says he allowed it?” Brenna said. “There’s more that you should know, but it’s Kane’s story to tell.” Kane glared at her and she glared back. “Although I’ll tell it if I have to.”

  “It will take too long,” Kane said.

  “Then we’ll delay our journey a bit,” Brenna said. She smiled sweetly at Kane and then looked at Duke Ewart. “Do you want to hear it?”

  “I certainly do,” Ewart said and smiled. “I’m also intrigued to see my former sparring partner outmaneuvered.”

  “It’s something I’m getting used to,” Kane said. He sighed. “Since Brenna insists, here it goes. This story goes back two thousand years. When Soule was new and Wolde sat the throne, he split the land into the three duchies for his three younger children, as his eldest son would inherit the crown.”

  “A history lesson Kane?” Ewart asked.

  “A bit different than you’re expecting,” Kane said. “When Wolde was well into his old age, Aruntun had a vision that prophesied Soule would falter if any but one of the direct line of kings held the throne. She also Saw that one would come in whom the blood of Wolde would be reunited. That one must hold the throne if Soule is to survive. A secret society called the Brotherhood of the Throne was formed to watch for this one, and to listen for the Call.”

  “It’s true then?” Ewart looked from Kane to Brenna and back to Kane. “When I was small my father used to tell me stories about a secret society waiting for a king. They were stories he’d heard from his father and so on back to the beginning.” Ewart looked back at Brenna. “King Mattias’ death will break the direct line of kings. That must make Brenna the one reuniting the blood of Wolde’s children.”

  “Yes,” Kane said. “The Brotherhood has declared her the one we’ve been waiting for. She must be protected at all costs.”

  “And Duke Thorold must not be allowed to rule,” Brenna said.

  “That I agree with,” Ewart said. “I’ve been worried ever since Beldyn was named heir. I’ll leave for Kingsreach as soon as I can. It’s past time I sat at the king’s council. Can I offer you some shelter for a day or so?”

  “Thank you,” Brenna said. “But no. We’ve stayed longer than we should have already.”

  Mid morning found Brenna and Kane mounted, bellies full and saddlebags replenished, riding away from Duke Ewart’s estate. They traveled east towards the Seven Sisters mountain range. They planned to skirt the mountains and enter Aruntun from the north. Cottle Village, where Sabine was from, should be easy to find. Kane had warned her that the area was sparsely populated. The fields that led up to the foothills contained Falladian farms and only a few shepherds lived in the foothills.

  Thorold watched with satisfaction as Feiren Rowse, his hands tied behind his back, knelt before the king. The king’s wine steward had been easy to break. In just a few hours High Bishop Valden had extracted the details of Rowse’s deception from the man. The High Bishop had been truly sorry he’d failed to convert him to the One-God before his death.

  Thorold had been surprised that Rowse had been slipping actual poison into the king’s wine. Then Fridrick did some research and Thorold had been alarmed. Zarid, the poison Feiren Rowse had used,
was a little known antidote for the drug he himself had been giving Mattias for years. No one had accused him, but someone knew. No doubt it was the witch. Another reason why she needed to die.

  Thorold passed a critical eye over the gathering. King Mattias looked better than he had in weeks. After just a few days of zarid the king’s skin was less yellow and he was able to stand for longer periods of time. He doubted the king even noticed.

  King Mattias’ head was bowed and he frowned down at Feiren Rowse. Two Kingsguardsmen stood behind the kneeling prisoner. Thorold had expected Kane Rowse’s second in command to attend, but the man had disappeared. There had been no sightings of him since Feiren was taken. Thorold narrowed his eyes - once he was through with the old man, Dasid Addems was next.

  A scribe sat off to one side, quill scratching furiously as he recorded the charges against Rowse - treason and attempted regicide. As members of the king’s Council he and the High Bishop stood to the right of the prisoner. He could feel the High Bishop trembling in anticipation of ‘converting’ Feiren Rowse. He had no intention of letting Valden kill the man before he found out about his role in the Brotherhood, but after that, he could do what he wanted. Stobert in Fallad was willing to tell what he knew and he had confirmed that Rowse was at the center of it all.

  “Feiren Rowse,” the king’s voice echoed in the almost empty audience chamber, “you are found guilty of both charges laid