Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1)

by Jane Glatt

  Ten years Thorold’s junior, Prince Mattias was a sickly young man. Thorold made sure he befriended him and the prince had been forever grateful. When Thorold’s oldest son had died, it had been easy to play on Mattias’ sympathies, just as it had been natural for Thorold to comfort Mattias when his father, King Bodan passed away. Thorold had thought his closeness to King Mattias enough to secure his way in council, but the new king had still looked to Feiren Rowse for advice.

  He’d persevered and when Feiren Rowse finally retired it was Thorold who had become the king’s most favored advisor. But he’d underestimated his control over the king - Mattias had ignored his advice and appointed Kane Rowse to the Captaincy. He’d hidden his fury and outwardly welcomed the new Captain Rowse - his plans were so close to fruition that even Kane Rowse couldn’t change things – but the man was a daily reminder of his failure to control Mattias.

  The Captain of the Kingsguard was always part of the king’s council and there had been a Captain Rowse for generations. Unfortunately the nephew had shown more subtlety and political awareness than his uncle. He was no match for Thorold though, and as soon as he held the throne he’d banish the Rowse’s from Kingsreach, or worse. He didn’t have long to wait now.

  There was a knock on Thorold’s study door and Fridrick entered.

  “My Lord. You sent for me?” the scholar asked, bowing low.

  “Yes. Get over here.” Thorold motioned and Fridrick quickly moved to stand in front of his desk.

  “I need to know what Feiren and Kane Rowse are up to,” Thorold said. “I want to know where they go, who they see and who visits them.”

  “Of course my Lord,” Fridrick said. “The Kingsguard are extremely loyal to them. I’ll need to be very cautious.”

  “Just see that you’re not so cautious you don’t find out anything. Start with the party they held the night before last. It was more than it seemed, I’m sure of it.” Thorold grabbed a paper from his desk and held it out. “This has some details. I need to know more.”

  “Yes my Lord.” Fridrick shuffled forward, grasped the paper and stuffed it into the wide sleeve of his robe.

  “On a different matter,” Thorold said. “What else have you found out about this Brotherhood?”

  “My Lord,” Fridrick said. “I’m afraid I’ve been unable to find much else. Only the one family history that references a call or saying that will trigger the Brotherhood to action. Assuming they still exist. I’ve been looking for more on Wolde’s daughter, Aruntun. Another passage refers to a vision she had of a new king.”

  “What about names? I need to know who belongs to this Brotherhood.” Thorold clenched his fists. “I don’t care if they’ve been dead for a hundred years. I need names.”

  “I apologize my Lord,” Fridrick said and nervously bobbed his head. “I have not yet come across any family names, but I have hopes for a section of books in the Collegium library. They were found in a vault in the castle a short time ago and sent to the library. Apparently they’ve not yet been read and catalogued by the library clerks. I’ll be looking into those very soon.”

  “Do it now. I have no time to wait.” Thorold sat back as Fridrick scuttled from the room. No doubt the scholar was on his way to the Collegium even now. Good. What he’d told the man was true; he didn’t have time to wait. King Mattias’ health was deteriorating quickly, maybe even more quickly than he wanted, and he needed the information on the Brotherhood before the king died. If he could find the saying that triggered them, Beldyn could use it to solidify his power. Or more precisely, his father’s power.

  The moon was only at the quarter and hung low in the sky when Brenna exited the tunnel. This exit was one she’d used often in the past. It opened up into a dark yard near Collegium. She checked again for old steel. Good, there was none close by. She hunched her shoulders and entered the street, trying to look like another student hurrying to the library for some last minute studies. Her pack was slung over her shoulder, a small lamp tucked inside and her knife was belted at her waist. She pulled her shirt down to cover it.

  Two streets later she walked along a wider, grander thoroughfare. She was now on the grounds of the Collegium. The large buildings were made of gray stone from the quarries in the Godswall Mountains. The fronts of the buildings were imposing with high columns flanking massive wooden doors. Stone steps worn by the feet of generations of scholars led into each of the five main Collegium buildings.

  Originally each building had been dedicated to the discipline of one of the five old gods. Brenna could still make out the worn symbols of each god carved in stone along the roofline. A sheaf of wheat and a mortar and pestle for Ush the god of health and plenty; a scale and sword for Jik god of balance and order; the moon and fire for Anu, god of community; an open palm for Simi, god of understanding, and there, over the library, was the open book of Toru the god of knowledge. Even though students didn’t necessarily worship the old gods they still learned their respective disciplines inside the buildings. The building marked with Ush was where healers were trained and every time she passed it Brenna wondered what potions and treatments could be found inside. No doubt many of the remedies that were common knowledge to the students would be new to her.

  She entered the library through the double oak doors. With her head down she made her way to the section that held the plans and drawings of many of the old houses. Randell was seated a few tables away and she quickly slid behind a shelf of books. Seeing her alive could put him in danger.

  After a few moments she peeked around the shelf. Randell had not moved so she edged to the end of the shelf farthest from him, then wove her way among shelves until she finally found the room she sought. A single lamp illuminated the room but it was empty except for the smell of musty books and furniture wax. She stopped beside one long shelf.

  She hoped to recognize a book she’d seen before – one that detailed Duke Thorold’s city estate. She’d glanced through it when she’d first come across it, of course, but with her new knowledge of Feiren’s house she thought she’d have a better chance of deciphering it now. Her eyes settled on a faintly familiar book and she grabbed it from the shelf.

  Brenna rubbed her eyes. She’d been at this for hours and had yet to find anything useful. She’d checked every book that had seemed even slightly familiar, with no luck. Frustrated, she’d starting choosing books at random but she still hadn’t found the book she was looking for and the library would be shutting its doors soon. She sighed and emptied a spot on one of the lower shelves and folded herself into it. She needed more time so she’d have to wait until the library was closed for the night. She grabbed a few books and hid herself as best she could. A short while later she heard steps and then the lamp in the room went dark. She peered out from behind a book and watched the glow of lamplight fade down the hallway.

  It was dark when Brenna set aside the books she’d hidden herself behind. Her eyes had adjusted to the level of light and she could dimly make out the shapes of the shelves. She concentrated for a moment and then flinched. Her head banged the shelf above her and she smothered an oath.

  Instead of just listening she must have reached for old steel, because she’d found something. She reached again. Yes, there was definitely something there. It didn’t feel the same as old steel weapons - similar, but not exactly the same. On her next search she found two more pieces of old steel, but these somehow felt purer than any old steel she’d felt before. They were close to the other object but not with it - and they pulled at her with an intensity that surprised her. Now that she knew they were there, she found it almost impossible to ignore them. When she finally managed to shut them out, she longed to open herself back up to them.

  Brenna unfolded herself from the book shelf and stood up. She rolled her shoulders and stretched her arms above her head. She should keep to her plan but the old steel called her. She had to retrieve these three items. She padded over to the door. No lights showed in the hallway, nor could she hear
anything. The library was empty.

  Brenna reached for the old steel and followed it past stacks of books and tables to the very back of the library. It was the same section Randell had taken her to when he’d found the book with the passage about the Brotherhood. She’d disliked the layout of the room then and liked it even less now, in the dead of night. There was only one door into the room and no windows. She stopped. All her instincts told her not to do this, to leave and come back another night. But the pull from the old steel objects was so strong it was almost physical.

  She sighed and stepped into the room. The shelves loomed large and dark in the gloom and there was just enough light for her to keep clear of the table and chairs. One of the objects was close. She mentally nudged it so it would glow but it was so faint that it took a few seconds before she saw it. She took a step and let her hand drift up to the top shelf.

  It was a book, a very small book, and one likely to be overlooked by most any scholar. Splotches on the cover glowed dully before she clamped down on the light. Without a second thought she put the book in her pack. This was not what called her so insistently. On impulse, she whispered her mother’s concealment spell over her pack. If it could hide her eyes maybe it could hide this book.

  She checked for the other two objects and her breath caught at the strength of their pull. Her heart racing as though she’d run a few blocks, Brenna steadied herself and took a few calming breaths. She’d just grab these two items and go.

  As she inched forward, she tried to locate the two pieces of old steel. They were a few paces in front and to the left. She tried to make them glow so she could find them, but the room remained dark. They should be right here, on the bottom shelf. She moved some books aside. Nothing. She tapped the wall. There. Did that sound different? The old steel was behind this wall. She sat down on the library floor. There must be a way to get these items out.

  Footsteps echoed in the hallway outside of the room - someone was coming. Brenna clambered to the top shelf and wedged herself as far back against the wall as she could. She grabbed a few books to try to hide herself with, hoping no-one looked too closely at the top shelf.

  A light glowed from the corridor outside of the room and she heard the sounds of conversation. Brenna’s heart sank. Brothers, they were coming here, right into this room!

  “Master Fridrick, this is most unusual,” a voice said.

  That was Randell and he sounded flustered. He should be at home with his nose buried in a book.

  “Yes, but I’m on important business for Duke Thorold,” the stranger with Randell said.

  “And of course you understand that the duke’s business is confidential, don’t you?” Brenna recognized the threat in the man’s voice. She peered around a book and saw Randell nod.

  The other man was older than Randell. His bald head shone in the glare from the lamps. He was dressed in the long robes of a scholar and his face was hard and cold. Brenna shivered. She’d known men like him when she was a servant in Thorold’s household. Men made mean by the duke, his tight grip on them twisting them until they’d do anything to try to loosen it, including hurting others.

  Randell swallowed and looked towards the door. Brothers, there was a third man. From the size of him he must be the guard for this Master Fridrick. For the second time that night Brenna whispered her mother’s spell, hoping that somehow it would keep her from being discovered. And for the first time since she’d come under the Brotherhood’s protection she wondered if losing her trackers was always the best idea. Right now she’d welcome the presence of a few well-armed men who were sworn to protect her.

  Brenna reached for old steel to see if any from the Brotherhood were close and was surprised that the third man carried a piece, a sword. Was he Brotherhood? But something didn’t feel quite right, somehow and tentatively she probed the sword, like a sore tooth. She shuddered. The pairing of Thorold’s man and his old steel weapon was very discordant. The song was raw and out of tune. Brenna quickly clamped down on the old steel to make sure it didn’t react to her presence.

  “Well, get on with it,” Fridrick said impatiently. “You must have some idea of what’s here.”

  “Yes sir, there’s something in this book,” Randell said.

  She heard a book drop onto the table.

  “Here it is, sir,” Randell said. “This passage, right here.”

  “Move over.” Feet shuffled for a moment.

  “Ah, yes. ‘And as King Wolde came unto his dotage he became ever fearful that his line would weaken and so plunge Soule once again into the chaos of war and conflict he’d raised it from.’”

  This was the exact same passage Randell had found for her some weeks ago! What in the gods names was Duke Thorold doing looking for information on the Brotherhood?

  “Very good. This is most helpful,” the scholar said. “What else is there?”

  “Nothing else my Lord.” Randell sounded frightened. “I’ve not had a chance to fully sort through this section. These books only recently came from the king’s storage. And I’m sorry my lord, but you can’t take that book with you.”

  “Really? You’re telling me that I cannot take a book to my master? How do you think Duke Thorold would react if he heard that?”

  Brenna shivered at the coldness in the voice. Let him have the book Randell, she prayed.

  “Oh, of course not, my Lord. Of course the duke can have the book. He can have it as long as he wishes, of course.”

  “That’s better. Now, I will be back late tomorrow. I expect you to have catalogued every single passage in every single book in this room by then, am I understood?”

  “Yes my Lord. Of course my Lord.”

  “Good. I suggest that you start now. Guard!”

  Footsteps retreated down the hall and light dimmed. The bastards had even left poor Randell in the dark! She could hear the sounds of his erratic breathing. After a few minutes there was the rustle of feet and a thud and a muffled grunt of pain as poor Randell bumped into something on his way out of the room.

  Brenna slowly moved her limbs. She’d spent more time wedged into book shelves than she’d spent searching them tonight. She quietly lowered herself to the floor and edged around the table to the door. She’d wager Randell would be back with a lamp as soon as he could. Cataloguing this section would take a long time. She hoped Randell could find enough about the Brotherhood to keep Thorold’s men happy.

  She’d have to come back for the old steel items later. They still called to her, but right now she had to get back to Feiren’s. She needed to talk to Kane right away.

  eleven

  “You did what?” Kane couldn’t believe it. He sprang from his chair and paced his uncle’s study. “Brenna …” he stopped. What to say to her? At least she had the decency to look guilty. He looked at Uncle Feiren, who only shrugged. Kane turned back the Brenna. “What were you thinking?”

  She looked up at him defiantly. “I was thinking that a visit to the library late at night was the safest time for me to do it.”

  “But you could have been caught.” Or worse, he thought. The orders for the Brothers who were watching her were going to change. The minute she stopped moving he wanted to know about it.

  “But I wasn’t,” Brenna said, and when he glared at her she lifted her chin a little.

  Oh, his orders would change - even if it meant he was woken up multiple times every night.

  “You are too important to risk this way,” Kane said. She’d been so close to real danger and she didn’t seem to understand. Or care. “Brenna, the Brotherhood has waited two thousand years for you.”

  “Oh yes, the precious Brotherhood.” Her voice was bitter. “What about me? Ever since I met you and your Brotherhood my life has not been my own. I’m shut up here for almost two months with no contact with anyone I know because they all think I’m dead.”

  “Brenna, you know that’s for your own safety,” Feiren said and Kane sent him a grateful look.

 
“Someone tried to kill you,” Kane said. “And I might add, the Brotherhood has been protecting you ever since.”

  “I know, I really do understand,” Brenna said. “You believe I’m the one prophesied about and that I’m destined to sit the throne. Except we already have a king. What am I supposed to do while I wait for him to die? Sit here and play games with the youngest members of the Brotherhood?” She glared up at him, brown and green eyes daring him to disagree with her.

  Kane sighed and sat down in the chair seat beside her.

  “All right,” he said. “You need something to do. But you have to stay safe. Maybe we can send you down to the training school. Jik knows you can use some more work with the sword and staff.” A thought struck him. “Do you know how to ride?”

  “A horse? No,” Brenna said. “I’m not sure I want to be put in a training class with students ten years younger than me.”

  “I hope you could help train them as well.” She sent him a puzzled look. “You’re helping to train the Brotherhood right now.” He smiled at the disbelief on her face. “Some of them are becoming very good at tracking in the city because of you.”

  “But I check for old steel whenever I leave.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Kane’s smile widened at her puzzled look. “Which is why some don’t wear old steel weapons. For the last three weeks I’ve had fewer reports of you being out of sight. I have detailed reports of where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing.” Suddenly Brenna went very still. That was interesting. He’d need to look at the reports again and see if he could find out what she was up to.

  “Sorry Uncle Feiren.” Kane looked up at his uncle. “I didn’t feel that it was my place to tell you Brenna was going out at night.” Uncle Feiren looked at him for a few seconds before he nodded.