Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne) (29 page)

“The High Bishop is involved?”
Mannel asked. “That I can believe. He was always a mean little man.”

“You know him?”

“Oh yes. He spent some years in
Whitehaven as an acolyte. He has since broken with the church in Langemore.
Prelate Callistus never liked the man but he was King Mattias’ choice for High
Bishop of Soule.”

“I think it more likely he was Duke
Thorold’s choice,” Brenna said.  “He tortures those not of the church of the
One-God.”

“He always was intolerant of those
not in the church, and so cruel a man that I am not surprised to hear he
tortures. All in the name of saving their souls, no doubt.”

“That it what he claims.”

“Well, Queen Brenna,” Mannel said.
“You’ve given me much to think about but I will make no decision at this late
hour. Join me for supper tomorrow and we can speak further. I would like to
meet some of your companions as well.”

“I would be happy to,” Brenna said,
rising to her feet. She shoved the coronet and mortar and pestle back into her
pack and slung it over her shoulder. “Oh no, I’ll leave the way I came,” she
said as King Mannel moved to open the door. Swinging the window wide, Brenna
reached out and grabbed the rope. She was up and onto the roof before Evlan’s
head appeared out the window, looking down.

“Up here,” she called quietly as
she coiled her rope. With a wave she edged back into the shadows.

It took less than an hour to find
her way back to the White Whale. When she entered the window and her eyes
adjusted to the dim light, she found Dasid propped up in a chair, watching her.

“Everything all right?” he asked. She
nodded. “Good, do I need to know anything right now?”

“We’ve been asked to dine with King
Mannel and his daughter tomorrow. The rest can wait until morning.”

“Then get some sleep Brenna,” Dasid
said before he rose and left her room.

Exhausted, Brenna stripped off her
clothes and slipped into the crisp clean bedding. Wondering what she had that
she could wear to dine with the King of Langemore, she fell asleep.

Flanked by four Kingsguard, Duke
Thorold, resplendent in a rich, dark green, velvet robe, his gold chain of
office glittering around his neck, entered the church. With three hours until
the ceremony, the church was already crowded with Guardsmen and priests.

“High Bishop,” Thorold called when
he spotted the black silk robes and skullcap of Thomas Valden at the front of
the church. “A moment, High Bishop.”

High Bishop Valden turned towards
him, a wide, serene smile on his face. “Of course Duke Thorold, the church
always has time for her followers.” The High Bishop knelt and bowed his head towards
the altar before he moved in Thorold’s direction.  “The preparations are almost
complete,” the High Bishop said. “We will accept the king and his heir back
into the church after the ceremony for their blessings.”

“And before the ceremony?” Thorold
asked. He was to deliver Beldyn and Liam into the hands of the High Bishop
shortly - after he made sure they understood their roles and the consequences
they faced if they didn’t follow his directions.

“They will need to meditate with me,”
Valden said

 “We cannot have any marks on
either of them,” Thorold admonished. “And they must be able to stand for the
ceremony.”

“Of course. I will minister to them
personally before the ceremony. They will be ready to perform their duties.”

“See that they are,” Thorold said. “If you’ll excuse me I have a few things left to do.” He turned to one of
his guards. “Please have Captain Barton join me.”

Thorold
picked a chicken drumstick from the platter and bit into the tangy meat.

“Eat something, your Majesty,” he
said to Beldyn. “You are looking rather pale.” In fact, the boy looked
terrified. “Fainting will not do, I insist you eat.” Beldyn picked up a slice
of black bread, then put it back down. Instead, he sipped tentatively at his
tea.

“I’m eating poppa, see?” Liam held
up a piece of cheese.

When Thorold turned to watch him he
shoved the whole piece into his mouth.

“Yes, that’s fine Liam, very nice.”
Thorold looked away, wishing the boy’s mother had been allowed to come, or
better yet, a dutiful nursemaid. But they both needed to be seen as adults -
the king and his heir. A nursemaid would not indicate that. He frowned at
Beldyn, who sat staring at his untouched plate.

“If you eat, the visit with the
High Bishop will be up here, rather than down in his rooms,” he said.

Alarmed, Beldyn looked up at him.

“It’s imperative that you be fit to
get through the ceremony.” Valden wouldn’t be happy but he’d let him have the
boy after the ceremony, when Beldyn’s value was lessened. Right now he had to
make sure that nothing hampered his plans, including Beldyn fainting. Liam
must
be named heir today.

“All right, I will eat,” Beldyn
said. He bit off a piece of bread and chewed slowly.

“And some chicken,” Thorold said.
“At least one piece.”

Beldyn nodded and chewed
methodically. By the time High Bishop Valden came to collect them Beldyn had
eaten half of what was on his plate and his color was a little better.

“High Bishop,” Thorold said. “You
must minister to my sons up here. The air is much better and I fear for Beldyn’s
health if he’s enclosed in your rooms.” Valden’s lips narrowed slightly but he
nodded. “You will have plenty of time with them both at the blessings
afterwards.”

“Of course my Lord. Your Majesty,
Liam, please come this way. It will take just a moment to ready altar.”

The preparations were made quickly
and soon both Beldyn and Liam were kneeling in front of the High Bishop. Bored,
Thorold looked away as High Bishop Valden’s voice intoned the service. He
caught Captain Barton’s eye and nodded. All was ready. There were enough Kingsguard
present to surround the platform and protect his sons from the crowd, as well
as secure the square. Thorold wasn’t certain that Kane Rowse would attend this
ceremony but Captain Barton had advised his men to watch for him and his
lieutenant, Dasid Addems. The man who captured either one would be well
rewarded.

Finally the High Bishop finished
speaking. Thorold smiled - it was time. Captain Barton and some of his men
formed a line. Beldyn, followed by Liam stepped into the line behind them. The
great oak doors of the church were pushed open and he heard a cheer rise up from
the crowd. He fell into line behind Liam and the procession made its way outside
where the sun beamed down on a crisp clear fall afternoon.

Kane scratched at his beard. He’d asked
Eryl to find him a realistic disguise but now he wasn’t sure he could last the
length of the ceremony like this. The beard glued to his chin was bad enough
but the fleas that inhabited it were worse. Already there were places where he’d
scratched his skin raw. And the smell. Both the beard and the clothing were
ripe but the beard was real hair cut from a man who apparently didn’t believe
in washing. Kane had spent the first few minutes wearing it trying to keep down
what little breakfast he’d eaten.

He felt better now that he was out
in the square where a cool breeze blew his own stench away from him. The
citizens who stood downwind of him, however, had edged as far away from him as
they could in a crowd this size.

Kane searched the crowd again,
looking for familiar faces. He’d spotted Guild Master Brunger and his daughter
Carolie earlier, close to the platform near the section roped off for the
nobles. He’d also recognized a few members of the Brotherhood along with some
men he’d dealt with in his days as the Captain of the Kingsguard. Those he
stayed well away from - he didn’t want to test his disguise that fully. He
hadn’t seen Eryl. He was disguised too, of course, but Kane knew what the other
man was wearing.

The crowd at the front started to
cheer and Kane looked towards the church. The doors opened and Barton came out.
Kingsguardsmen in the familiar navy uniform filed out after him. Then he saw
Beldyn. The lad’s face was pale and his shoulders were squared as he walked woodenly
through the crowd. Beldyn kept his eyes on the back of the Guard in front of
him, not once glancing at the throng that was cheering for him, not even as he
was led up the stairs and onto the platform.

Kane didn’t see the other boy until
he was halfway up the stairs. Liam it must be - the one who would be named
heir. Unlike Beldyn this boy smiled and waved to the crowd, obviously delighted
with the attention.

Duke Thorold and the High Bishop
mounted the platform and Kane’s lip curled in disgust. The duke took a place
near the back, his hands folded in front of him and the High Bishop strode to the
centre. A second line of Kingsguard encircled the stage, facing out, hands on
their sword hilts. Kane ducked behind a merchant’s hat. He knew one of those
Guards. It was no surprise that he was part of Thorold’s personal escort - the
man had never met Kane expectations for integrity and honesty - but he was
well-trained. He wouldn’t be lax in searching the crowd – not like some of the
newer Guard. Kane had to keep out of his line of sight.

“People of Kingsreach, people of
Soule,” the High Bishop shouted. His voice carried out across the square and the
noise of the crowd rippled and then fell silent. “Your Majesty, lords and
ladies, good citizens, we are here for a very serious matter. We are here to
ensure the continuity of the throne and preserve it for the future. On this
day, with you good people and the One-God as witnesses, King Beldyn will name
his heir.”

A cheer went up and Kane shouted along
with the rest of the crowd. For a moment Beldyn looked impassively look over
the throng. Then the lad closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath and
stepped over to the High Bishop.

“King Beldyn, is it your intention
to name an heir this day?” The High Bishop asked.

“It is,” Beldyn replied. His voice was
faint and Kane had to strain to hear him.

“Then repeat after me. I, Beldyn
Embrey of Comack, King of Soule.”

“I, Beldyn Embrey of Comack, King
of Soule.”

The crowd fell silent in order to
hear their King’s words.

“Solemnly and with great
deliberation,” intoned the High Bishop. “Do appoint my brother, Liam Embrey of
Comack as my only true heir.”

“Solemnly and with great
deliberation do appoint.” Beldyn paused, and then he stepped to the edge of the
platform, raised his head and looked out across the square. “I, Beldyn Embrey,
King of Soule!” Beldyn repeated, shouting now. “Solemnly and with great
deliberation do appoint Brenna Trewen, as my only true heir!” Beldyn’s chest
heaved and he balled his fists.

The High Bishop stood behind him, his
mouth open in surprise.

Kane closed his eyes and sighed. He
hoped Beldyn lived through this day. He looked up at the King. Even now Thorold, red-faced, stormed toward his son.

“If anything should happen to me,
Brenna Trewen will be Queen. You are all my witnesses,” Beldyn shouted at the
crowd just as Thorold reached him. He flinched when his father raised his hand
but as on the night of the fire, Duke Thorold managed to refrain from striking
his King in public.

After an initial cheer, the crowd fell
silent, eyes focused on the platform. Kane eased himself to the back of the
square as Beldyn and his father glared at each other. He could see Thorold talking to his son but Beldyn simply shook his head and raised his chin. Kane took
one last look back to see Beldyn being escorted away by Kingsguard.

He hurried back to the hideout, already
thinking about what he needed to do now. They had to rescue Beldyn as soon as
possible - that was the first priority. Thorold may not kill him right away but
he could make it so that he would do anything, say anything, in order to die.
Including recanting naming Brenna’s his heir. If he did, Kane feared that
Beldyn would never be seen alive again.

“I’ll kill you for this,” Thorold
said quietly as soon as the door to the church was closed.

Beldyn paled, then swallowed and
nodded. “Yes, I imagine you will,” he said. “Or you’ll have your lackey Valden
do it for you. But when I die, Brenna will be Queen. There’s nothing you can do
to change that. Half of Kingsreach heard me name her as my heir. You can’t kill
all of them.”

Thorold stared at his son,
his
betrayer
, for a long time. “I won’t kill you today but I will let the High
Bishop have you. I don’t think you’ll be seen in public for a very, very long
time.” He waved at a guard. “Take him to the High Bishop. Tell him I need him
alive and able to speak but other than that, I don’t really care.” The guard
grabbed Beldyn’s arm and spun him around. “And Beldyn, my King, you are wrong.
I will do something about this. I will.” As Beldyn was led to the High Bishops
rooms below the church, Thorold called for Barton.

“Shut the gates,” he said to the
captain when he arrived. “I don’t want anyone to leave or enter Kingsreach. We
must stop this news from spreading.”