Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne) (34 page)

“We did my Lord. We had half a
dozen Kingsguard in the basement as well as four weapons-trained priests in the
church. Rowse was able to get past them. They had a sizeable force that
surrounded and then entered the church.”

“A sizeable force. How did they get
into the city? And what about the Kingsguard?” Thorold asked. “Where were they
during all this?”

Barton paled and looked away.  

“There was a riot near the castle
my Lord, over two thousand men, women and children looking for food. Most of
the Guard were keeping the crowd under control. When we heard about the
disturbance at the church it took us too long to regroup.”

“It was planned!” Enraged, Thorold
jumped to his feet and stood glaring into Barton’s eyes. “The riot to keep the
Guard busy was a ruse. And you fell for it Captain. You’ve failed me again.” He
stepped back from the man, sure that if he’d been wearing a weapon Barton would
be dead at his feet by now.

“We knew about the riot in advance,
my Lord,” Barton said. “We were out in force to capture the ring leader, a
thief by the name of Eryl Fentin.” Barton looked up. “We’re told that he was very
close to Brenna Trewen. Your previous orders were to capture or kill anyone
close to her.”

“But not at the cost of losing my son!
Who told you about this riot?”

“A fruit peddler from Thieves
Quarter, my Lord. His mother was being readied to go to the mines. He told us
about the riot and promised to point out Eryl Fentin in exchange for her
safety.”

“And did you think to ask him why
they were rioting?” Thorold asked.

“No my Lord,” Barton said. “An
error on my part.” He held a knife out to him, hilt first. “This belonged to
him.”

Thorold
snatched the knife from Barton’s hand. As soon as he touched it he knew what it
was. He flung the knife at a mirror - it smashed the glass and fell to the
floor. “The Brotherhood,” Thorold spat. “You let yourself be tricked by the
Brotherhood.”

“I’m sorry my Lord,” Barton said.
“But the information about the thief was correct. He was exactly where we were
told he would be.”

“So he gave us the thief but not
the witch or Rowse,” Thorold said. “And Beldyn is gone. Where is the thief
now?”

“He’s dead my Lord,” Barton said.
“He refused to surrender and my men had no choice.”

“And the fruit peddler?” Thorold asked. “I trust you didn’t reward him.”

“No my Lord,” Barton said. “Both he
and his mother have been handed over to the witch haters.”

“That should suffice for them,” Thorold said. “I’m sure the witch haters are very unsettled tonight. And Captain, I will
not allow you to fail me again. You must retrieve my son.” He jabbed a finger
at Barton. “Or better yet, bring me Kane Rowse. With him I can get that witch.
Yes, bring me Kane Rowse.”

“Yes my Lord. I will do that.”
Barton turned to leave the room.

“Have the High Bishop sent here.
The church obviously can’t be defended and I see no reason to put myself in
danger by visiting him there.” 

“Yes my Lord,” Barton said and left.

Thorold sat back down. After the
mistakes he’d made, if Barton didn’t find Rowse, he’d be wise to die trying. But
for now he had to dress for his discussion with the High Bishop. Unfortunately
that sweet he had in his bedroom – what was her name? ah yes, Carolie –
unfortunately she would have to wait. And he’d barely begun to play with her.

Someone would pay for tonight’s failure.
He would prefer it to be Kane Rowse but the girl would help take the edge off
his anger.

nineteen

Brenna stared at her plate and
tried to concentrate on what King Mannel was saying but her thoughts kept
returning to Eryl. It didn’t seem possible that he was dead. She wanted someone
to tell her it was a mistake, that Eryl was playing a joke on her. Thieves
Quarter wouldn’t be the same without him -
she
wouldn’t be the same
without him. And Martyn! What could have made him betray Eryl when he was
helping the Brotherhood? The Brotherhood that Martyn had been so proud to be
part of? She shook her head and looked up to find five sets of eyes looking at
her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She felt the
warmth of her blush creep over her face. “I’m a little tired this evening. You
were saying?”

“I was just asking if you had come
up with any young men my daughter might want to meet,” Mannel said. He smiled
over at Evlan, who looked back at her father, pleased.

“I think so …oh,” Brenna gasped in
shock and clutched at the burning pain in her left shoulder. “Kane,” she said
as she reached for her knife. She ignored her body as she slid from her chair
to the floor and she sent all her awareness, all her energy, through her knife
to find Kane.

“
Kane
,” she called out,
searching for him. There, she found him, a small light amongst all the other
lights she could see. She tracked him for a few moments, still feeling pain in
her shoulder then suddenly, he wasn’t there.

Kane winced against the pain and
leaned close over his horse as it galloped between two trees.

“Keep Beldyn in front,” he yelled
to the gray-clad soldier riding ahead of him. The man nodded and Kane slowed
his horse. His shoulder burned. When he looked over he saw a full foot of the
shaft of an arrow sticking out, the sharp point red with his blood. He had to
break it off, he thought looking at the dense trees in front of him. If the
arrow got caught in the brush it could rip half his shoulder away. He leaned his
head as close to his shoulder as he could and bit down on the wood. He gripped
the shaft with his right hand and snapped the arrow off at his teeth. He closed
his eyes against the pain and straightened in his saddle, spitting out wooden
splinters. He tossed the shaft away before he turned to look behind. His lips
thinned when he saw the dark shapes of his pursuers.

He, Beldyn and Gaskain’s troops had
made it out of Kingsreach safely. They’d been less than a mile away from Gaskain
and the rest of his forces when their pursuers had found them. He looked ahead
along the path in time to see the horse in front disappear behind some bushes. Kane
nodded. Beldyn would be safe as long as
he
didn’t lead them to him. He
flicked the reins of his horse and veered off to the left. If he was lucky he’d
meet up with more of Gaskain’s men. If he wasn’t lucky … he’d worry about that
later.

His horse dodged a tree and Kane’s shoulder
brushed a branch. He gritted his teeth against the pain and sucked in his
breath. It was all he could do to control the reins with one hand - he’d never
be able to wield a weapon, even if there was room in the dense forest.

His horse scrambled up a steep hill
and Kane leaned over the saddle. There was a shout from the top and Kane saw a
silhouette of a mounted soldier wielding a sword. A few strides closer and he
could just make out the dark uniform of the Kingsguard. Desperately Kane wheeled
his horse around. It slipped on the steep incline and twisted wildly, trying to
stay on its feet. Kane desperately clutched at the saddle but he felt himself
sliding off his horse. He landed on his injured shoulder - there was a searing
burst of pain and then, mercifully, nothing.

“Kane,” Brenna sobbed. “Kane.” She
rubbed her hands across her forehead, hoping to ease her pounding headache.
When she searched for Kane she almost passed out again.

“Brenna, draw some strength from
me.” Dasid leaned over her and she shook her head wildly.

“We have to find out what happened
to Kane, lass.” She looked up into Pater’s worried face. He placed a cool cloth
on her head and she felt some relief. “If ye won’t take it from Dasid then take
energy from me.”

“No, you don’t understand,” she
said weakly. “I can’t.” I’ll kill you, she finished in her head, too drained to
speak. She’d use them up, she knew. In her need to feel Kane, hear Kane, find
Kane, she’d forget everything else including the people who were helping her.
The last thing she remembered was Dasid pleading with her.

When she woke again her mouth was
dry and her headache had subsided a little.

“Here, lass,” Pater said.

She opened her eyes to find him
holding a glass of water. He helped her sit up and she sipped the liquid
carefully, slowly, until it was gone.

“And I’ve yer pack here as well.”
He put her leather pack on her lap and opened it up. “Just tell me what to do
and I’ll do it for ye.”

She sighed and leaned back as he
rummaged through the various herbs and salves. She nodded when he held up two
small packets. Pater left and she closed her eyes, trying not to think about
Kane.

“Here it is, Brenna,” Pater said.
He brought the steaming cup toward her. “I hope I made it all right.” He helped
her sit up again and she sniffed at the tea. She’d had him grind ginseng and lavender
and then add them to a strong tea made with lemons, if they could be found. She
sipped at it, the tart lemons making her mouth pucker. When it cooled she
gulped the rest of it down, hoping it would work quickly.

“Where are Dasid and Wils?” she
asked. For the first time she looked at the room she was in. It was a small sitting
room and a warm fire crackled in the hearth. She was propped up on a settee, a
soft woolen blanket pulled over her.

“They’re with King Mannel and his
daughter,” Pater said. “But they’re both very worried. About you and Kane.”

“I’m worried about Kane too. As
soon as I have enough energy I’ll try to contact him.” Brenna tested her
abilities and fell back against the settee. “I’ll want another tea in half an
hour Pater,” she said. “But this time add more lavender.”

“Ye’d let me know if I was givin’
ye too much, I hope,” Pater said with a sigh.

After two more teas Brenna felt slightly
better. She settled herself back on the settee, unsheathed her knife and
reached out for Kane. It took more than ten minutes but finally she felt a
spark - faint and distant, but Kane was there.

“He’s alive,” she said to Dasid and
Pater. “I don’t have a strong connection but it’s Kane. I’m going to try to
contact Jemma and find out what Gaskain knows.”

“Take care, Brenna,” Dasid said.
“We need to help Kane but we need you healthy more.”

She nodded and closed her eyes
calling for Jemma.

“
Brenna, thank the gods
,”
Jemma said. Brenna felt Jemma turn away for a moment. “
Do you know where
Kane is? The Kingsguard caught up to Kane and Beldyn. Kane was last seen when
he told a soldier to make sure Beldyn stayed ahead
.”

  “
I don’t know where he is
,”
Brenna said. If the Kingsguard had him … “
Jemma, he’s alive but I can’t
reach him. I’ve used too much energy already tonight. Gaskain has to send
troops, he has to get him back
.”

“
And he will Brenna, he will
.”
Jemma’s tone soothed her. “
Gaskain says he’ll send out some scouts but if
he’s been caught he’s most likely at Thorold’s estate. It’s easier to guard
than the castle
.”

 “That’s where they’ve taken him
then,” Dasid said when Brenna told him what Gaskain had guessed. “After tonight
Thorold won’t trust anyone to hold the church or the castle. And he’ll want
to see Kane himself.” 

“Yes,” she agreed with a shudder.
Would Thorold want to kill Kane himself or would he leave that to the High
Bishop?

“Get some rest,” Dasid said.
“Gaskain will get him out.”

“He has to,” Brenna said. She
rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head. He has to.

Thorold
gingerly pushed a toe into the prisoner’s side then, smiling, he drew his foot
back and kicked, hard. The prisoner’s body rocked with the impact but he didn’t
flinch or wake up.

“He’s been unconscious since your
men grabbed him?” Thorold asked.

“Yes my Lord. He took a fall from
his horse,” Barton replied.

“And my son? He got away?”

“Yes my Lord. I had men in pursuit
but he managed to meet up with their main force. Almost two hundred men, at
least half of them mounted. We’ll follow them if they leave, of course.”

“Oh they won’t be leaving,” Thorold said the toe of his shoe hovering over the bloodied shoulder of his prisoner.
“They won’t leave without Kane Rowse.” He stepped down onto the prisoner’s
shoulder. It was really too bad Rowse couldn’t feel pain right now. But
eventually he’d wake up - then he’d feel more pain than he had ever imagined
was possible.

“I want this house surrounded by
Kingsguard,” he said. “And close the gates to the city. No one gets in without
my permission, do you hear me Captain?”

“Yes my Lord. I’ll see to it
immediately.” Barton bowed and turned to leave.

“And Captain,” Thorold said just as
he reached the door. “Capturing Rowse was well done. See that there are no more
disappointments from now on.”

“Of course my Lord,” Barton said
and left the room.

“Make sure he’s bound well,” Thorold said to the two guards who remained. “And tell me the minute he wakes.” He turned
and left to find the High Bishop.

His shoulder burned and when he
tried to move it to ease the pain he felt ropes tighten at his wrists.

“It’ll make it tighter if you
struggle,” someone said and he opened his eyes and turned his head towards the
speaker. His heart sank when he recognized the uniform of Duke Thorold’s
personal militia.

There were two of them. One leaned
in and whispered to the other before he left the room. The remaining guard
looked on impassively as Kane tested his bonds again, wincing when he felt the
rope bite into him. Ignoring the pain, he rolled onto his right side, sighing
once the pressure was off his injured shoulder.

He was in Duke Thorold’s salon, he
recognized it from the day he’d barged in on the Duke and rescued Brenna, back
when he was still Captain of the Kingsguard. There would be no rescue for him,
he knew. He only hoped that Beldyn had managed to escape. And that Thorold
killed him quickly. Then the door opened and Thorold entered the room with High
Bishop Valden. His death was not to be quick then, Kane thought setting his
mouth in a grim line.

“If it isn’t the traitorous Captain
Kane Rowse,” Thorold said as stopped by his side. “And now you’ve kidnapped the
King.”

“Saved him you mean,” Kane said and
then grunted in pain when Thorold kicked his injured shoulder.

“Kidnapped,” Thorold repeated. “He
was being counseled by the leader of his church.”

“Ah yes. That would explain the
blood and cuts all over his body,” Kane said and he was rewarded with another
kick to his shoulder.

“All done to help him find clarity
in the One-God,” Valden said. “The more pain a repentant feels the more clarity
he can achieve.”

“As you will find out for yourself,
Rowse,” Thorold said. He turned to Valden. “Please get ready High Bishop. And
remember, I want the maximum amount of pain for as long as possible. And I want
him awake for it all.”

Two guards dragged him down the
hall to a small room and shoved him through the door. There was a single plain
wooden table centered in the room and it was bare of all other furnishings and
rugs. Kane was heaved onto the table and two more guards joined the first two. The
ropes that bound him were untied and they stripped his clothing off him and forced
him up onto the table. Spread eagled, each arm and leg was tied to a corner of
the table. The guards then silently took up positions along the walls. Thorold, the High Bishop and Captain Barton filed in. Barton closed the door and stood
with his back to it, staring straight ahead.

“Barton,” Kane said. “You must be
relieved to see me here. My guess is that if it wasn’t me it would be you.”

Barton’s nostrils fared slightly and
Kane laughed. Thorold walked over to Kane and punched his wound. Kane sucked in
his breath and gritted his teeth against the pain. He felt his wound open and blood
seep out.

“You will not speak,” Thorold said.
“Gag him.” Barton stepped forward and shoved a rag into Kane’s mouth.

“Make sure he can breathe,” the
High Bishop said. “We can take that out later when he needs to scream. Let’s begin.”

Kane looked up into the feverishly
pleased face of the High Bishop and prayed to the old gods to let him die
quickly.

I will not scream, I will not
scream. Kane repeated the words over and over trying to concentrate on them and
ignore the red clouds of pain. The pad of cloth under his head was slick, with
sweat or blood he didn’t know. They’d put the pad there after he’d slammed his
head onto the wooden table, hoping for death or unconsciousness. He sucked in
his breath at a particularly painful jab. I will not scream I will not scream I
will not scream. The words ran together as he repeated them furiously. Another
jab and he opened his mouth and screamed.