Queen (Brotherhood of the Throne) by Jane Glatt Page A

from your calling forever.”
    From the shadows, an old
woman took two steps towards them. Brenna, her eyes adjusting to the gloom of
the shop, saw the old woman’s nose point in their direction and twitch.
     “Been doing well for
yerself, Neemah. Neither one of you smell like ye’ve been living around here.
Light a lamp girl, you know where it is.”
    Neemah moved to the
counter and soon a small lamp illuminated the shop. Rows of bottles lined
wooden shelves and bunches of dried herbs hung from low rafters. Brenna looked more
closely at the old woman, nodding to herself at the white film that covered the
woman’s eyes. Mother Lyran had no need of the light herself - she’d been blind
for many years.
    Brenna stood still as the
old woman reached a papery hand out to her.
    “I feel like I should know
you, lass. What’s your name?”
    “Brenna Trewen, Mistress
Lyran.”
    “Call me mother. I’ve been
no man’s mistress for more years than you’ve been alive.” Mother Lyran
chuckled. “Trewen is it,” Mother Lyran asked sharply. “Are you a healer?”
    Brenna nodded but then she
realized the old woman couldn’t see her. “Yes. Taught by my mother, who was
taught by her mother,” she said.
    “Trewen. Well, that brings
to mind an old story, one told about the Duchess of Aruntun’s family.”
    Mother Lyran’s eyes
settled on Brenna and she had the uncomfortable feeling that blind or not, the
old woman saw much more than most folk.
    “You heard of that tale
Mistress Trewen?”
    “Yes, I have.” Brenna was
reminded of her teacher Mistress Utley and her ability to draw the truth out of
her, despite what she wanted to say.
    “I thought so.” Mother
Lyran turned to Neemah. “Tell me Neemah, does your friend have two different
colored eyes?”
    “Yes Mother, one green and
one brown, though she hides them somehow.”
    “One green and one brown.”
Mother Lyran turned back to Brenna, her wide smile showing her yellowed and
cracked teeth. “That’s a good strong pairing, strong enough for the True One I
expect. I’m glad you’ve come, I’ve been waiting a long time.”
    Stunned, Brenna watched as
Mother Lyran turned and calmly shuffled to the back of the shop. The last thing
she’d expected to find in Silverdale was a woman who knew the legend of the
True One, a story told only in the Duchess of Aruntun’s family.
    “How do you know that
tale?” she asked.
    “I know many tales,”
Mother Lyran replied. “I dreamed about the True One but I knew it to be a real
dream. You are the heart of Soule, young Brenna Trewen, and it’s good that you
have come. The people have need of you.”
    Brenna shivered as the old
woman spoke and she felt a vision begin. It was brief, no more than a quick
flash, but enough to once more see Thieves Quarter engulfed in flames. She
shivered again as the vision receded.
    “But you know this
already,” Mother Lyran said. “I will aid you in any way I can. Come, I have
much to show you.”
     
    Brenna walked slowly as
she and Neemah made their way back to Duke Ewart’s house. It seemed that Mother
Lyran had truly been waiting a long time. The woman had amassed an
extraordinary amount of healing supplies along with soft cloths for bandages
and compresses. When she’d shown them her collection of mortars and pestles,
Brenna had almost wept. She could outfit over three dozen healers with such
supplies. Mother Lyran had also offered to help teach healers and even now she
was contacting those who had some skills. For the first time since she’d
started thinking about training healers, Brenna had hope that it could be done
before they went to war.
    “Thank you for taking me
to see Mother Lyran, Neemah,” Brenna said as they crossed the square to Ewart’s
house. “She will be incredibly valuable.”
    “She’s old and blind and
don’t go out much anymore, but Mother Lyran, she still sees more than most.”
    “Yes she does,” Brenna said
as they entered the house. The old