Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne)

by Jane Glatt

  Brenna was so excited that she barely noticed falling against the cabin walls half a dozen times as she stumbled to the captain’s cabin. She knocked once before flinging the door open.

  “Dasid, Jemma’s in Silverdale,” she said as she stepped into the room. On her second step the deck wasn’t where she thought it should be and she felt herself pitch forward. Dasid grabbed her and she slid to the floor, grinning. “Jemma’s in Silverdale!”

  “So you said.” Dasid lifted her back to her feet, looking confused.

  “I can contact Jemma,” Brenna said.

  Understanding lit Dasid’s face. “You can contact Jemma, in Silverdale. Then let’s do it.”

  It took some time but eventually Jemma, in contact with Brenna, was at Duke Ewart’s front door.

  “Should I just knock?” Jemma asked. “Wouldn’t it be better if I went around back?”

  “No, no, go ahead and knock. Ask to speak to Neemah, she’ll know who’s around,” Brenna said and she waited nervously until Jemma finally replied.

  “All right, they’ve gone to fetch her. What should I tell her when she comes?”

  “Tell her you’re in the Brotherhood and that you know me and Kane,” Brenna said. “Then tell her you’re in contact with me right now. She’ll know who to find after that.”

  “She’s at Duke Ewart’s. They’ve gone to fetch Neemah,” Brenna said out loud.

  Dasid smiled when she mentioned the other healer. Brenna sat in the hammock in Captain Filbee’s cabin while Dasid stood beside her. Wils and Captain Filbee were seated at the table looking on with interest.

  “Oh, I think Neemah’s there,” Brenna said. “Jemma?”

  “I’m here Brenna. I like this Neemah. I told her what you said and she brought me into a fine room and then hurried off calling for folk to come quick.”

  “Neemah’s not one to waste time. Who’d she call for?” Brenna asked, hoping Ewart was in town.

  “She was calling for Duke Ewart,” Jemma said and Brenna sighed in relief. “And someone by the name of Gaskain.”

  “Gaskain,” Brenna said aloud, her voice breaking. “Jemma, are you sure she said Gaskain?”

  “Is he a soldier, about middling height, youngish, not more than twenty-five?” Jemma asked.

  “Yes.”

  “That sounds like him. Least he says he’s Gaskain.” Jemma paused. “Says he was afraid you were dead.”

  “I thought he was dead. I thought I killed him,” Brenna said, hardly daring to believe she hadn’t. “Gaskain is alive,” Brenna said out loud to the men in the cabin. “Jemma is talking to him right now.” She said a quick prayer to thank the old gods and then she smiled, feeling a weight lift off her.

  “Neemah says it was a close call,” Jemma broke in. “You nearly did kill Gaskain. Said it took some days for her to nurse him back to health but he’s fine now. But after, his sword was brittle and it shattered. That’s why they couldn’t contact you. Gaskain’s sword was gone.”

  “Tell him I’m sorry,” Brenna said. “Tell him I never meant to hurt him.” He had to know she hadn’t meant to use him so badly, he had to.

  “Gaskain says he was only worried that you were hurt, not about himself,” Jemma said. “He’s your sworn man to use as you need.”

  Brenna choked back a sob. It was a precious enough gift to have someone swear to give their life for you, but to have almost died and to still feel the same way? She had to take better care of those who had pledged to her.

  “Neemah wants to say hello to Dasid, and Duke Ewart asks what the devil is his cousin up to now?” Jemma said and Brenna laughed.

  “Neemah says hello,” she said to Dasid. She smiled when she saw his face redden slightly. “And Ewart is there as well.”

  “Here’s what’s happened in Silverdale,” Brenna said, pushing her hair off her face. She’d joined the three men at the captain’s table once she’d finished talking with Jemma. She was tired - it was almost midnight and she’d been in constant contact with Jemma for over four hours. Her head ached and she gratefully accepted the brandy that Captain Filbee slid her way.

  “Neemah and the guards arrived safely with the prisoners. Gaskain met up with them at the border without seeing any sign of Duke Thorold’s militia. Gaskain says the army is ready to march. He sent a note to Marcus Brunger to let him know but he’s had no word back yet. I’ll contact Kane in a moment.”

  “Tomorrow,” Dasid said sternly but Brenna shook her head.

  “No, tonight. Just a brief message to let him know that Gaskain is alive and that we can communicate with Silverdale again.”

  “You’re exhausted, Brenna, leave it until tomorrow.”

  “No. This is important and it won’t take much energy,” she said. “It’s easy for me to contact Kane. I’ll do it when I’m settled for the night.”

  Dasid frowned but really, he didn’t have the ability to stop her. Brenna would talk to Kane tonight, she needed to.

  It took her another half hour to relay all the Silverdale news to Dasid and then finally she headed back to her cabin. Lying in her hammock she reached out to Kane.

  “Kane, are you there?” she called. She heard a grumbled response and then she felt his presence through the old steel.

  “Brenna, are you all right?”

  “I’m fine. Good actually, with good news,” she said. “I’ve been in contact with Jemma. She’s at Duke Ewart’s estate in Silverdale.”

  “Jemma, of course,” Kane said. “And she’ll be able to relay information?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s excellent,” Kane paused. “Are you all right? You feel different tonight. Exhausted but happy. Is there more news from Jemma?”

  “Yes.” Brenna smiled and took a deep breath. “Gaskain is alive. I hurt him and destroyed his sword, but he’s alive.”

  “Thanks to Jik,” Kane said. “Thank you for letting me know. I can feel how tired you are so get some sleep. We can talk about what your news means tomorrow.”

  Kane stretched and shifted in the chair. He’d been so relieved that they could once again communicate with Silverdale, that after saying goodnight to Brenna, he’d fallen into a deep and restful sleep. Eryl had come in early this morning and they’d had a quick chat, but afterward Kane had fallen right back to sleep.

  When Brenna contacted him later today he would get more detailed information from Ewart and Gaskain – Gaskain who was still alive. He’d have Gaskain bring the troops closer to Kingsreach. Beldyn would name his heir tomorrow – the men couldn’t be here in time to free Beldyn before that - but they’d be just two days away.

  “Eryl,” Kane said. “We need to know more about the ceremony for Beldyn to name his heir.”

  Bleary-eyed, Eryl squinted at him before he finally rolled off the pallet. It was just after noon, early by Eryl’s standards but Kane needed more details before he talked to Brenna.

  “I know, you told me last night,” Eryl grumbled. He fumbled around for some water and a piece of left over bread. “I’ll let Marcus know to expect some news from Silverdale. He’ll be happy to hear that one of his merchants is being useful,” he said.

  Kane laughed. Marcus and Eryl had an ongoing argument over who had the best spies - Marcus and his group of widely traveled merchants or Eryl and his snitches and thieves.

  “Find out what else is happening in town – changes in Kingsguard schedules, food shipments, unusual Church activity. I need to know if Thorold has any new resources,” Kane said. “And try to find out what’s been done to Beldyn. I’m still not sure we shouldn’t try to rescue him before he names an heir.”

  “I told you what Marcus thinks Thorold would do if the king went missing,” Eryl said.

  “Yes. And we don’t want that, we don’t want to put the Quarter at more risk than it is.” Marcus’ opinion was that Thorold would torch the Quarter if Beldyn was missing even if he had no proof that anyone there was harboring his son. And he wouldn’t care if Beldyn died or not, at least
not after Liam had been named heir. He might even welcome the chance to dispose of Beldyn without having any blame fall directly on him. “I’ll ask Duke Ewart for his advice tonight. I’d hate to see Beldyn get hurt or worse.”

  “Aye, he seems a nice enough lad and bright enough to know he doesn’t want to be king. At least not with his father at the helm.”

  “And I think not at all,” Kane said. “I don’t blame him. Brenna doesn’t want it either.”

  “And she’s as smart as they come,” Eryl said. “I’ll be back after dark.”

  He grabbed his coat and left Kane to think through their options for rescuing Beldyn. None of them seemed realistic and none of them made any sense for their cause but he didn’t like leaving Beldyn at the mercy of his father - and worse, the High Bishop.

  By the time Eryl returned Kane had decided that Beldyn had to stay where he was. He would still discuss it with Ewart, but as long as Beldyn followed his father’s orders there seemed to be little real danger. He would suffer at the hands of High Bishop Valden but he wouldn’t be killed or seriously injured, at least not yet. After the ceremony they would have to re-assess based on Thorold’s actions. If they thought Beldyn was in grave danger they would do their best to get him out of the city. But they needed more time – Gaskain and his troops were at least two or three days away from Kingsreach.

  Eryl had little more to tell about the ceremony. It would be held in the square near the church in three days, at midday. The full force of the Kingsguard would be out so some of the good folk of Thieves Quarter were hoping to find opportunities in less-watched parts of town. Eryl had even heard of one petty thief who planned on breaking into Duke Thorold’s estate. Kane thought back to the times he’d been inside and wished the man luck, for surely he’d need it. Thorold had always had his own guards and now the rumors were that he was taking the best from the Kingsguard for his household.

  Finally, Brenna contacted him.

  “I’m here,” Kane replied. “I have news.” He described the ceremony that would see Beldyn name his heir and his own thoughts on the young king’s tenuous position. “I would like Ewart’s opinion,” he said. “Is Beldyn safe for a few more days?”

  He sat back to wait as Brenna relayed his information to Jemma, who was sitting in the kitchen in Duke Ewart’s Silverdale home. Kane smiled - they’d spent a lot of time in that kitchen pouring over maps of Soule. He could almost smell bread baking in the oven.

  “Kane,” Brenna said. “Ewart agrees that you should wait. He feels that Thorold still needs Beldyn too much to risk hurting or killing him unless Beldyn publicly rebels against him. As Ewart put it, there’s still the matter of King Mannel’s daughter. He wants her wed and Beldyn is the only choice.”

  “Then we’ll wait,” Kane said. “And we’ll watch Beldyn. If his situation becomes desperate I’ll be told. And the army, it can move out soon?”

  “The day after tomorrow, Gaskain says. He and Ewart will both go with it, Jemma as well. And Kane, Jemma had a very difficult time with the discussion about Beldyn.” Brenna paused. “It took me a while to calm her down after she learned he’d been taken to the High Bishop.”

  “I didn’t realize they were that close,” Kane said. “Will it affect her ability to relay information?”

  “I’m not sure. She says no but I might need to modify information about Beldyn before I pass it along,” Brenna said, and he could feel her sigh.

  “You do as you see fit,” Kane said. “I’ll continue to give you all the information I have. Now, what do I need to tell Marcus? And what about your own plans, when do you expect to meet with King Mannel?”

  Brenna finally set her knife aside. Again she’d opted to sit in the hammock in Captain Filbee’s cabin. The gentle swaying soothed her and it she didn’t have to contend with the lurching deck.

  “Kane plans on being at the ceremony to name Beldyn’s heir,” Brenna said with a frown. “He was confident that the crowd would be large enough that he’ll be in no danger, but all it would take is one Kingsguard recognizing him.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Dasid said. “He’s done this before.”

  “Yes,” Brenna agreed. “But I don’t like it.” Then she pushed away her concerns. They had other plans to formulate today. “He was pleased to hear we’d made such good time and would be putting into Whitehaven later.” And she wasn’t lying, really. He had been pleased about that but he’d also been worried about her. She’d talk to Dasid. Kane wasn’t sure they should trust Captain Filbee on the strength of his word alone. He was a Langemorian, despite what he’d said about being of the sea first.

  “Aye, I should be able to get word to King Mannel and arrange a meeting in a few days,” Filbee said. “I’ll be proud to help, just as Captain Chaffer said I should.”

  “We need Brenna’s identity kept a secret,” Dasid said. “No one else can know she’s here. We have no proof that Thorold has men stationed Langemore but it’s a safe bet he has at least one spy - one with instructions to get rid of anyone with ties to Brenna or Ewart.”

  “Yes, yes,” Filbee said. “I know just who to approach. It will all be very discreet, I assure you.”

  Brenna nodded and slipped from the hammock.

  “Thank you Captain Filbee,” she said. “I’ll leave that in your capable hands. If you’ll excuse me, I have a few things to do before we land.” As she headed down the hallway, she touched her hand to her knife.

  “Dasid,” she called to him. “Meet me in the cabin. We have our own plans to make.”

  The city grew larger as the ship was towed in to the harbour. Not as big as Kingsreach, Whitehaven was nevertheless a good-sized city. Warehouses and shipyards sprawled along the edge of the sea and blocky, white houses led up toward the low hill the castle stood on. Brenna smiled when the setting sun hit the castle towers, bathing the walls a deep shade of pink. She waited until they were almost at the dock before she headed back to her cabin.

  “It’s time,” she sent to Dasid and Wils. “I’ll look for an inn where we can meet and let you know how to find me.”

  “We’ll come if we’re able,” Dasid said.

  They were worried that once Brenna was gone Captain Filbee might not be so eager to help. He seemed genuine but with so much at stake, Brenna couldn’t afford to trust someone she hardly knew. She’d learned that lesson with Westley Stobert.

  Brenna jammed her clothes and jacket into her pack and tied it closed. Just in case, she recited a spell to keep the water out before slinging the pack over her shoulders. She didn’t plan on getting wet but she couldn’t chance ruining her healing supplies. She whispered the invisibility spell and her vision dulled as the spell settled over her.

  Instead of risking her unsteady sea legs, once up on the deck, Brenna dropped to her knees. She had to dodge a few sailors but she was able to crawl to an empty section of the railing.

  Two dinghies were towing the Swiftsure to the dock and she slipped over the railing and grabbed a hold of a thick tow rope that stretched down to one of the dinghies. She swung her legs up and inched out over the water down the rope. She almost fell when the rope was transferred from the dinghy to a group of men waiting on the dock. They heaved on the rope and the bow of the Swiftsure nudged towards the dock.

  Just when Brenna thought she couldn’t hold on any longer, the dock was under her. She dropped down to the wooden planks with a soft thud and scuttled out of the way of the men pulling in the ship. She stood up and turned to look back at the ship. She could clearly see her companions lined along the railing.

  “I’m on the dock,” she signaled to Dasid.

  She grinned when she saw him raise a hand. Then, her excitement building, she turned and walked into Whitehaven.

  Brenna smiled as she picked her way among the crowd. It was dusk, her favorite time of day - that transition period when vendors packed up their goods and headed off for their homes and the night folk were just starting to come out. She stepped back as a pie cart was push
ed past her. A lone prostitute watched the vendor with a bored flick of her hair. Turning a corner, Brenna found a quiet spot and lifted the invisibility spell before heading back to the busier street.

  “Excuse me,” Brenna asked, holding up a coin. “Do you know where I can find a decent inn?”

  “Do I look like I stay in a decent inn?” the woman turned to Brenna.

  Eyes lined with kohl widened when she saw the coin that was being held out to her. Brenna pulled the coin back when the prostitute reached a hand towards it.

  “You look like you know where some one can get a clean bed and good food for a decent price, yes,” Brenna said.

  “Aye.” The other woman looked her over. “That would be the White Whale, two streets over and left along the back alley.”

  “Thank you,” Brenna said. She held out the coin.

  The prostitute snatched it and tucked it into her clothing before she turned and wandered down the street.

  Brenna headed in the opposite direction. A few minutes later she stopped at the mouth of an alley. Halfway down a worn sign painted with a white whale, the white paint peeling away to reveal weathered wood beneath, hung over a solid wooden door. Brenna eased back into a shadow and crouched down to watch the entrance to the inn.

  Brenna stood up and stretched. Her limbs and muscles ached from sitting still for a quarter hour, something she’d been able to do without any trouble as a thief.

  The pub connected to the inn was doing a very fine business for supper - there had been a steady stream of men and women entering and leaving. Each time the door had opened the noises from inside had sounded jovial and friendly - not once had she heard anything that sounded like a fight or even a voice raised in anger. Time to contact Dasid.

  “Dasid, I’ve found an inn,” she said. “Does Captain Filbee know I’m missing?”

  “Brenna,” Dasid replied. “Yes the good captain knows you’re missing. He’s displeased but only because you don’t trust him. He’s made no efforts to detain us. He has in fact restated his offer of a place to stay, and I’ve accepted. All but Wils, Pater and I will stay there. He’s also agreed to help them search for the prisoners from Kingsreach.”