by Jane Glatt
“Hush child, be quiet. You’ve had quite an ordeal. Pater, fetch some of that tea I have over the fire. And ask Cook to hurry with some broth.”
Brenna closed her eyes and drifted for a few moments. The aromatic scents of rosemary and sage wafted to her.
“Drink this,” Madelay ordered.
Brenna propped herself up to sip at the hot liquid. At first it stung but after the second sip her throat felt soothed.
“What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“Why you sent for me, Brenna.” Madelay smiled and winked. “Well, you sent for Russel but it didn’t seem right for the lad to travel alone. And you know I always wanted to travel.”
“And Kane?” she asked and Madelay’s face grew serious.
“Dasid sent some men to Kingsreach for news. It will take some time for them to get there though, now that the weather has turned.”
“I think he’s all right,” Brenna said concentrating on Kane. She tried to reach out to old steel but found nothing - no sense of old steel weapons, no sense of the Brotherhood. But the coronet sang to her loudly from her pack in the corner and the mortar and pestle hummed in satisfaction from a table.
“You’re using the mortar and pestle,” she said to Madelay.
“Yes, I hope you don’t mind. I wanted as much help as I could get for you.”
“They seem very content - I think you should keep them.” She smiled at her grandmother then she turned serious. “How long has it been?”
“More than two weeks. I was worried about you. What happened? Dasid said you could feel Kane but could not reach him and then you fainted. He said your body got very hot. You actually steamed when they put cold compresses on you to keep you cool. They kept you cool that way for a full day, until your body cooled off. You’ve been unconscious ever since. I arrived three days ago and you haven’t stirred much until now.”
“I’m not surprised my body was hot,” Brenna said. She’d become a being of light, after all. “Two weeks? So long?”
“Yes,” Madelay replied. “Dasid has a lot of questions if you’re feeling strong enough.”
The door opened and Pater came in, smiling at her tenderly.
“Ye gave us quite a fright lass,” he said as he carefully placed a tray on the table beside the bed. “It’s good to see ye awake.” He bent over and kissed her cheek and she reached up and hugged him tight.
“It’s good to see you too Pater,” she said. Had Martyn been found, she wondered? Had he truly betrayed Eryl? What would that do to Pater? Brenna closed her eyes for a moment then she smiled up at Pater. She didn’t need to think about that yet.
“Thank you, Pater,” Madelay said. “Please tell Dasid that Brenna will speak to him after she’s had some broth and another rest. Then he can have a few minutes.”
“Yes Mistress,” Pater said and winked at Brenna. “She’s a tough one yer grandmother. Just like you.” Pater left the room, closing the door gently on his way out.
It took Brenna a long time to finish the beef broth and by then she was exhausted. Madelay took the tray and empty bowl with her and left, telling her to sleep as long as she wished. Dasid could wait, she said, and Brenna needed her strength. Brenna lay back down to comply. She did need her strength. She needed it because as soon as she could she was leaving for Kingsreach. And Kane.
Brenna was just finishing a bowl of oats. Her first solid meal, Madelay had called it and Brenna had laughed when she’d seen the watery gruel. There was a knock on the door and Madelay entered.
“You have a visitor,” she said beaming. “Let me take that.” She scooped up the bowl and tray and left, leaving Brenna to wonder if Dasid was finally come to ask her questions.
Kane walked through the open door.
In two steps he was at her side holding her, finally, after two long weeks of not knowing, of barely eating or sleeping as he pushed himself to get here. He winced as she touched his left shoulder.
“You need a bath,” Brenna said and kissed him.
He let out a big breath and gripped her tighter. He’d been so afraid that what she’d done to herself, that what she’d become in order to free him, had destroyed her.
“And you need some meat on your bones,” he said. He eased her back onto the pillows and sat there, staring at her. She looked fragile and there were dark circles under her eyes but the spirit in them, the part that was Brenna, shone out brightly at him. He slipped his boots off his feet and settled himself on the bed, Brenna cradled against his sound shoulder, and felt all the worries of the past two weeks drain out of him.
A knock on the door startled him and he looked up into Madelay’s smiling face.
“Brenna needs another tea and you need to get cleaned up,” she said. “And Cook has a hot meal for you.”
“Thank you,” Kane eased off the bed. He kissed Brenna’s forehead and her eyes opened sleepily.
“You’re really here,” she said. “I was worried I dreamed you.”
“I’m here. Your healer needs some time with you and as you told me earlier I need a bath. I’ll be back later.” He kissed her again and left the room.
As soon as he was in the hallway Pater stepped away from the wall.
“Good to see ye Kane. Come this way.” He led him through a door just a short way down the hall. The large room was filled with fine furnishings and a steaming tub of water sat in front of the lit fire.
“Pater,” Kane said. “I have news for you, for you and Brenna.” He had to tell them about Eryl and Martyn. He wasn’t looking forward to it.
Pater nodded. “It’s not good, I can see that in your face. A few more hours isn’t gonna change the bad to good. You get yourself cleaned up and fed.”
“All right,” Kane said. He gingerly started stripping off his travel stained clothes. He sucked in his breath when he partially pulled the dressing off his wound.
“You’re hurt,” Pater said. He peered at Kane’s shoulder and shook his head. “I’ll make sure Madelay takes a look at that shoulder.”
“I don’t want to bother her,” Kane said. “Not when she has to care for Brenna.”
He winced as he completely peeled the dressing off. The wound was puckered and red and surrounded by the yellow of a healing bruise, but it wasn’t infected. The worst had been when they’d finally pulled what was left of the arrow shaft out. Between them, Thorold and Valden had pushed and prodded the shaft so much that Kane’s shoulder had felt like it was on fire. The hot bath would help. He stepped into the hot water and with a sigh sank into it.
“She’ll make time,” Pater said. “Asides, ye don’t want to cross her, that Madelay.”
“No, I don’t want to cross her,” Kane agreed. He settled back into the tub, carefully submerging his wounded shoulder. “How understanding is King Mannel now that we have well and truly taken over his household? First Brenna, Dasid and you, then Madelay and Yowan. And now me. What has he said?”
“King Mannel - he’s a smart man,” Pater said pulling open a wardrobe. “There’s clean clothes in here for ye. He likes Brenna and she was taken ill at his home so he’s done his best fer her. But Mannel sees as soon as Madelay gets here that he don’t stand a chance against her. Asides,” Pater grinned at him. “They brought that young lad with em. Russel. He’s been keeping company with Mannel’s daughter and I suspect that’s worth more to him than having a few guests underfoot.”
“Russel is here?” Kane asked.
“Brenna set it up. Seems Princess Evlan wants to get married. The only reason Mannel even considered dealing with Thorold was that he was promised Beldyn as a suitor for his daughter.” Pater laughed. “Like I said Mannel is a smart man. He knows he don’t stand a chance against his daughter. I’ll meet ye downstairs when yer finished up in here.” Pater nodded and left the room.
Once he was clean and dressed, Kane followed the smells of food to the kitchen. He poked his head into the bustling room.
“Can I help you Master?” a woman asked dr
ying her hands on an apron.
“Yes please. Madelay said Cook would have something for me to eat.”
“Ah, you must be the new arrival then,” the woman smiled at him. “If you just make your way to the small breakfast room, through that door there, I’ll bring it in.”
Just as Kane was finishing the second of two excellent fish pies, Pater, Dasid and Wils found him. Cook cleared the remains of his meal and kindly supplied them with a large pot of tea.
“You told me that both Thorold and High Bishop Valden are dead then,” Dasid said. “Do you know how?”
Before he’d been allowed to see Brenna, Kane had given Dasid a very brief account of what had happened in Kingsreach.
“Brenna killed Valden. She somehow used the magic of old steel to get to Kingsreach. Has she talked to you about it?”
“No, she’s been too ill,” Dasid said.
“She saved me,” Kane said. “Valden was torturing me when this being of light came. It was Brenna. She could talk to me the same as she’s been able to talk to me through the old steel, but it was different some how. It was as though she was old steel.” He looked up at Dasid’s face. “And when Valden attacked her she killed him.”
Pater grunted. “Bout time somebody got ‘im.”
“What about Thorold?” Dasid asked. “Did Brenna kill him too?”
“No,” Kane shook his head, glad that Brenna hadn’t killed her own grandfather. “It was Carolie Brunger. She knifed him as he tried to get away.”
“Carolie, what by the gods was she doing there? You were at Thorold’s estate weren’t you?” Dasid asked.
“Is she all right?” Pater asked and Kane nodded. “Good. I can guess what she was doing there, although Thorold’s victims are usually from the Quarter.”
Dasid and Wils look at Pater in confusion.
“He liked to use women hard,” Pater said grimly. “Sometimes so hard they didn’t live through it.”
“Did you know this Kane?” Dasid asked and he shook his head.
“I would have found a way to stop him if I’d known,” Kane said. “As Pater said he chose his victims carefully. But by spying for the Brotherhood Carolie put herself in his sights and apparently he took notice. From what Carolie told me Thorold’s real plans for her were for later that night. He called what he’d done to her so far ‘playing’. She was covered in bruises and had a black eye. I don’t think he had any intention of letting her live through it.”
“So she killed him. Good for her,” Pater said. “Her father chose well when he picked her for the Brotherhood.”
“Yes he did,” Kane agreed. He looked over at Pater. He’d chosen someone for the Brotherhood as well. “Pater.” He waited until the older man met his eyes. “I’m sorry, but Martyn is dead.”
“Dead.” Pater slumped down into his chair. “Poor lad. Does his mother know?”
“She’s dead too,” Kane said.
Pater covered his face with his hands. He seemed to age in front of Kane’s eyes. He wouldn’t tell him the rest, not unless Brenna asked him to.
“How did it happen?” Pater asked.
“It was after the riot,” Kane said carefully. “The Guards rounded up Martyn and his mother and gave them to the witch haters. Their bodies were collected by the Brotherhood and they were given a proper burial.”
“Thank you,” Pater said. “Brenna heard that Eryl was killed during the riot. Is that true?”
“Yes,” Kane replied. “Eryl died along with half a dozen others. Without their help I never would have been able to rescue Beldyn.”
“And what of the Brotherhood,” Dasid asked. “What losses did we take?”
“Twelve men were killed and another thirty were injured,” Kane replied. “But all the old steel weapons in Kingsreach shattered that night. Gaskain said something flew past them and lit all their weapons. The light streamed out from the weapons into the sky and then the blades simply fell to pieces.”
“My blade shattered as well,” Wils said.
“It was Brenna,” Kane said. “She used up the magic that had been forged into them. It was a good thing that Thorold’s troops scattered when the news of his death spread.” Kane said. Larkly and Millen, taking over from Eryl, had sent runners out to all parts of the city with the news. “Gaskain’s men lost over half of their weapons.”
“And what of Beldyn?” Dasid asked.
“He’s recovering and is still in Kingsreach. He’s agreed to hold the throne until Brenna can get there,” Kane said. Now that he knew she was alive he wasn’t going to mention their discussions about what would have been done if Brenna was dead. “Duke Ewart and Guild Master Brunger are advising him.” Kane looked up when Madelay appeared at the door. “She’s awake?”
“Yes, you can have fifteen minutes, that’s all.” The four of them rose and followed Madelay to Brenna’s room.
Brenna sat up in bed and her heart lifted as the men filed into the room but she only had eyes for one of them. She gestured to Kane and he came over. She sighed when he sat down and she slid into his warm embrace.
“Fifteen minutes,” Madelay said and closed the door.
“I’ll start then,” Kane said reaching for her hand. He recounted what had happened, starting with the death of the High Bishop, which she knew, and Duke Thorold, which was not unwelcome news.
“How did Beldyn take the death of his father?” she asked.
“I think he knew his father was lost to him a long time ago. When I told him he just nodded and asked if there was anything he could do for Carolie. Who is fine,” Kane said when she would have asked about her. Brenna shuddered. Even she’d had no idea how evil Thorold had become.
“Ewart and Gaskain are staying in Kingsreach?” she asked.
“As well as Jemma,” Kane said with a smile.
“She’ll be very good for him.” Brenna nodded, happy for the two youngsters. “She’ll help him revive trade in Comack.”
“And you know about Eryl,” Kane said. Brenna nodded and clutched his hand. “And Martyn.”
“He’s dead?” Brenna looked at Pater, who seemed to deflate, just a little.
“Yes,” Kane said gently. “We found his body, along with his mother’s.”
“He was a good lad,” Brenna said. And she meant it. He was a good lad, no matter what he might have done at the end. She looked up and met Kane’s gaze. He nodded and she sighed. It was true, what Larkly had said, Martyn had betrayed Eryl. She would talk to Pater later, when they were both stronger. He deserved to know what had really happened.
“And now for Dasid’s tale,” Brenna said. “I haven’t heard it yet myself.”
“There’s not much to tell, really,” Dasid said. “Brenna seemed to fall into a deep sleep. Then our old steel weapons flared red hot before they shattered. It was a bit of a surprise to King Mannel, as well as us, but he allowed us to stay when it became clear that Brenna wasn’t waking up. A few days ago Madelay arrived with Yowan and Russel in tow. Thankfully Madelay took charge of Brenna’s care.”
“All the old steel shattered?” Brenna asked. “That could be why I don’t feel any, other than the coronet and the mortar and pestle.”
“All the old steel shattered,” Kane confirmed. “Gaskain tells a similar story. Their weapons flared to life and then the light streamed towards the sky.”
“I remember,” Brenna said. “I was concentrating on finding you and I reached out for all the old steel. The magic - the blood magic in the old steel - I called and it came. That’s how I was able to get to Kingsreach, that’s how I was able to kill the High Bishop.” She looked around the room at the four men who were part of the Brotherhood. “Without the old steel magic I have no direct connection to the Brotherhood.”
“I think the Brotherhood has been disbanded,” Kane said. “The goal has been achieved - Brenna will sit the throne of Soule and restore Wolde’s full bloodline to power.”
Brenna patted her horse’s neck. It had taken them four weeks to
get here since they couldn’t travel across the mountains - the passes were closed by snow and in any case Brenna was still too weak to chance the elevation.
Two of those weeks she’d been forced to spend on Captain Chaffer’s ship, the Sea Sprite, but Kane had been at her side, helping her stay on her feet. Since landing at Dryannon, in Comack, they’d traveled towards Kingsreach at a leisurely pace. She still tired easily but not from either her ordeal or the travel. She smiled. Neemah would probably realize the cause of her morning queasiness soon enough. But enough time later to tell Kane he would be a father.
“Are you ready?” Kane pulled his horse up beside her and she smiled at the fine figure he cut, his gray uniform showing his trim form.
“I’m a little nervous, but yes, I’m ready.”
“Then let’s go meet your subjects Queen Brenna.”