Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1) by Jane Glatt Page B

Brenna had her grandfather’s jaw. It had been obvious, even when she was a baby that she was of Duke Thorold’s bloodline.
    Brenna sucked in a breath as her knuckle scraped along the stone and a bead of blood well up. Then Thorold had killed her mother and Brenna had escaped, had become free, just as her mother had always hoped. She would never be anyone’s slave again, she promised herself as she absently smeared her blood along the stone wall of the cell.
     
    It was just after dawn when the outer cell room door opened. Stretched out on her blanket, Brenna peered through lowered lids as her two overnight guards left and the jailer entered with two more Kingsguard. She knew, even before she saw him, that one of them was Kane Rowse. He was wearing his sword - the one that had lit up at her touch. She could sense it, somehow – that same connection she’d felt yesterday. She closed her eyes and concentrated. It was almost like seeing something from the corner of her eye. She knew something was there, but she couldn’t catch more than a vague impression of it. And the more she concentrated, the more elusive it was. She wondered if Kane Rowse could feel it too.
    “All right Jervis,” Kane said. “The paperwork is all in order. Here’s the seal of the clerk for the payment of the bond and here’s the order to release the prisoner to her bond holder.”
    Brenna quit feigning sleep and stood up and stretched. The jailer examined two pieces of paper. It must be Eryl. Let it be Eryl who’d come for me.
    “Looks all right Captain. A bit unusual to have the bond paid up so fast like, but mayhap she were missed last night, if you catch my meaning.” The old jailer cackled as he trudged over to the cell door. The keys jangled as his fingers searched through them.
    Her cell door swung open and Kane took her arm. Brenna definitely felt a tingle from the sword reach her through his hand, and when she looked up at him she saw a flicker of puzzlement in his blue eyes.
    “This way,” Kane said.
    His grip tight on her arm, Brenna had no choice but to match his stride as they walked quickly away from the jail. They climbed one short flight of stairs and passed two sets of guards before they reached an arched wooden door flanked by two more guards.
    Kane nodded and a guard pulled the door open. Then she was out into the morning, squinting against the bright glare of the day.
    “Your friend was here at first light in order to pay off your bond,” Kane said and released her arm.
    Brenna blinked in the early morning sunlight. Then she saw him.
    “Eryl, thanks be to Jik.” She hugged him with a surge of relief. “I was hoping you’d come.”
    “Course I’d be here, Brenna. I gave you my word years ago.” Eryl stepped back and gave her a worried look. “Are you all right?”
    Brenna’s chest tightened and her heart raced. Did he see her eyes? But no, instead of shock or fear, all she saw on Eryl’s face was concern.
    “I’m fine,” Brenna said. Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled. “Let’s get out of here.”
    Brenna let herself be swept along with him as he steered them away from the castle gate and into the quiet dawn streets of Kingsreach. With a last glance back she saw Kane Rowse, face turned away, re-enter the castle.
     
    Brenna and Eryl made their way towards the Crooked Dog. She didn’t much like the Dog. The tavern was one of the more run down establishments in Thieves Quarter, but Eryl never was one to pay too much for a bed and a roof over his head. When they’d been bedmates Brenna had paid for their room from her share of their takings, insisting on a clean place to sleep. As soon as they parted ways Eryl had taken a cheap room at the Dog and he’d been there ever since.
    They took a winding path through the early morning city streets, sidestepping merchants who were opening up their shops and carts. Anxious, Brenna looked behind, afraid she’d see the blue uniforms of the Kingsguard, but as they