Healer

By Jane Glatt

Healer – Book 2 – Brotherhood of the Throne -

On the run from Duke Thorold and the church, Brenna Trewen is granted refuge by Duchess Avery in the magic-filled land of Aruntun. While learning how to use her emerging magical abilities, Brenna receives news that the grandmother she never knew – the woman whose knowledge of healing was taught to her by her murdered mother - is alive and is still an indentured servant in Duke Thorold’s lands.
Brenna vows to save her and accompanied by Kane, she sets out for the mines of the Godswall Mountains.
After a daring rescue and a harrowing escape that almost kills her, Brenna, Kane and her grandmother find safety in the lands of Duke Ewart. A childhood friend of Kane’s, Ewart has disturbing news. The king’s health has worsened and Duke Thorold has taken control of the kingdom, proclaiming the One-God as the only god and imprisoning Duchess Avery for following the old gods.
Can Brenna, with the help of Kane and the Brotherhood, rescue Duchess Avery? And if she is the one prophesied, can she use her magical abilities to take the crown away from Duke Thorold?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jane Glatt
• Release date: Jul 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9780988029149

Jane Glatt

I love creating new worlds and causing trouble for the people who inhabit them.

Book preview

Brotherhood of the Throne

Book 2

Healer

Jane Glatt

Copyright © 2012 Roberta Jane Glatt

Jane Glatt Enterprises Inc.

www.Janeglatt.com

ISBN 978-0-9880291-1-8

All Rights Reserved worldwide under the Berne Convention. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

The author expressly prohibits any entity from using this publication for purposes of training artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to generate text, including without limitation technologies that are capable of generating works in the same style or genre as this publication. The author reserves all rights to license uses of this work for generative AI training and development of machine learning language models.

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

One

Brenna could hear them outside the tent. She could always hear them, especially at night before she dropped into exhausted sleep. A steady rumble like the sound the Upper Seven River made during an especially strong spring run off. But this was a river of voices - whispers, shouts, pleas, whimpers. And above it all, she could hear the high-pitched crying of children. She tied her hair back with a piece of twine that still smelled of lavender, a reminder of the gentle spring just past when she’d picked the flowers in the mountain meadows.

Her right arm and shoulder ached from the constant grinding and the smooth handle of the pestle was slick in her fingers. She’d been up since before dawn and had worked for nearly six hours straight making poultices and tonics. Hordes of refugees were pouring across the border into Aruntun: hungry, exhausted and many with injuries they’d gotten as they fled. Even worse, there was an outbreak of influenza and the relatively healthy needed help. She muttered newly learned spells and incantations while she worked, hoping that the combination of old steel and magic would help the medicines work faster and better, allowing their meager supplies to stretch a little further. But she knew that the medicines were the least of their worries.

The tent flap opened and Brenna glanced up to see Laurel step inside. She sent the other Seer a wan smile and bent back over her work.

I should have another dozen doses for influenza patients in a few minutes, Brenna said. After that I’ll make some more salve for infections. Use it on those with eye and mouth problems first. The feet will just have to wait.

Laurel nodded and slumped into the chair beside the worktable. Another five families just came in. This time from Kingsreach. She tiredly dragged her hand through her hair. One is a mother with five children, three of them under five. We ran out of blankets last night so I’ve doubled them up with some of the first to arrive. I don’t know how they make it this far.

People can do just about anything if they’re desperate enough, Brenna said grimly. The stories they tell are bad but I keep thinking of all the people who haven’t made it here. She scraped the contents of the mortar into a metal pot filled with water.

This needs to boil for five minutes. When it’s cooled you can start passing it around. No more than two sips per person, mind, so we can stretch it to treat as many as possible.

Laurel rose stiffly. She stretched her arms over her head and looked into the pot. If it doesn’t rain soon we’ll be out of water, she said.

Brenna looked up in surprise. I thought we had enough for another week?

We did, Laurel nodded. But we’ve almost doubled our numbers in the last three days alone.

Brenna’s heart sank and she sat down heavily. That many? It’s hard enough to try to keep them alive on the little food we have. Without water they won’t last more than a few days. Her pain was reflected in Laurel’s eyes. The babies will be first. I can’t watch that, I can’t, I can’t.

Brenna felt herself being shaken and the details of the room became fuzzy.

Brenna, get control, she heard Laurel say. Get control now.

Brenna reacted to the command in the voice and she focused. Soon her breathing leveled out and she opened her eyes to reality: the small cabin and Laurel’s worried face peering at her from across the table.

She shivered with relief and pulled the thick shawl tighter around her shoulders. Just a vision, she thought, babies aren’t dying. She looked at Laurel, as always slightly disconcerted to see her brown and green gaze reflected back by the other Seers’ brown and blue.

It took longer than it should for you to come back from it, Laurel said, concern in her voice. She let go of Brenna’s shoulders and leaned back in her chair, a puzzled look on her face. I wish we knew what family you were from. It would help us if we had some background on how your Seeings manifest, like what kind of time we have between a vision and the event so we can hopefully change it.

Brenna looked up at that. You mean there’s a chance we can’t change anything? She was horrified. She’d assumed that they could use the visions as a warning and make sure there was a different outcome. What if they couldn’t stop it from happening?

She’d had versions of this same vision every day for the past five days and each time things in the camp got a little worse. This had been the worst one yet. They had to have time, they just had to. I have a better idea of where, now. This time in the vision you said some families came from Kingsreach. That should help, shouldn’t it? In the other visions the refugees were all from Comack.

Hmm, Laurel ran a finger over the smooth wood of the chair arm. That does seem to rule out the north. No one comes to Aruntun from Kingsreach that way. She smiled at Brenna. Except you, of course.

Brenna drew her shawl tighter. Despite the warm fire the small cabin still felt cold. It must happen close by. She stood and walked to the map of Soule she’d pinned to the wall by the hearth. It was the same one she’d taken from the Collegium library so many months ago when she and Kane had set out on their flight from Kingsreach.

If we go west from here, her finger drew line from the spot on the map marked Lakeview Village. And a little south around the foothills we are at the border with Comack right here. Her finger jabbed at a spot on the map. Or somewhere around there.

Anywhere around there. Laurel joined her to study the map. Or from there to the Southern Sea.

Brenna, finger still on the map, reached out with her Seer abilities. Nothing. She always hoped that she would somehow get a sign or signal that identified the location.

Wait a minute. She paused, trying to recall more details of her vision. I think it was summer. Yes, it was summer. I was remembering how I’d picked lavender in the spring.

But is it this summer? Laurel asked.

Yes. I was using some healing spells I’d just learned and I’m to start learning magic this spring. Brenna spun around, excited. And my hair was longer, her hand rested high on her shoulder, at least two inches lower than where her hair hung to at the moment, it came down to here. I know because I tied it back. Will this be enough information for the duchess?

Laurel nodded. Yes, I think this will be enough for mother. I’ll send a message to her at once that we need to be prepared to handle refugees from both Comack and Kingsreach by summer. Laurel sighed. I wish I could See this, but my visions are about events I can affect so I have to assume I can’t stop this from happening. How many refugees should I tell my mother to plan for, five hundred?

Brenna shook her head. More, I think, a lot more - one thousand, maybe two and as many again in Fallad. Ask Duchess Avery to warn Duke Ewart to expect the same along his border.

So many? Laurel whispered, her face pale. Why can’t we See what drives them here? How can we stop it if we don’t know the cause?

Brenna spent the rest of the day fussing over her herbs. She still had most of her supply since the small village of Lakeview had only rarely required her healing skills over the past few months. Still, the one promising part of her vision had her out collecting medicinal plants in the spring. Unless this part of the future changed when Laurel contacted her mother, Duchess Avery.

She was beginning to share Laurel’s frustration about not knowing which family of Seers she belonged to. Anything to help decipher the visions would be useful.

Laurel had been teaching her how to manage and control her Seer abilities for the past three months, ever since Kane left for Fallad the week before midwinter. They assumed that she could stop her visions from coming true. Brenna shook her head. She still didn’t know why refugees were crossing the border or what they were running from. Without that information, she had no idea how to stop it. All they could do is prepare for it when it happened. At least that was something.

Brenna touched the knife at her belt and let her awareness expand outward. She rarely let herself reach for old steel, and then only gently. She and Kane had agreed not to reveal the existence of Brotherhood of the Throne or the fact that she had been identified as the heir to the prophecy until they understood how the Brotherhood fit into the politics of Aruntun. As well, Brenna’s strength with magic had caused alarm amongst their Aruntian hosts so it would be better if she simply followed their advice and let them train her to use her talents. She hadn’t yet started her magical training so she had no idea how obvious her use of magic would be. She felt safe enough passively looking for old steel, checking on her friends and companions in the Brotherhood, but she dared not contact any of them, even Kane, for fear that Aruntian witches would detect it. When she and Kane had first crossed into Aruntun she’d been considered a threat and she didn’t think that had changed.

Brenna finished retying a bundle of fragrant lemon balm and placed it in a box on top of the worktable. She absently brushed a few loose leaves off the tabletop, her hand passing over assorted burn marks and cutting scars.

This table was in the vision, she said, turning to where Laurel sat knitting by the fire. I only just now recognized these marks on top.

That’s good, Laurel replied. It means the camp is very close to here. I can’t imagine even you dragging that table very far in these hills.

Brenna smiled gently and walked over to sit in the chair across from Laurel. The cabin was small by Kingsreach standards, but it was one of the bigger houses in Lakeview. It had a large kitchen and sitting area as well as a separate sleeping chamber on the first floor. A sturdy ladder led to the loft where Brenna preferred to sleep. Most houses in the village had only a single floor and she was grateful for the privacy.

When she’d arrived late in the fall Brenna had thought the town looked small and mean. She’d assumed the lack of windows and small building sizes had meant the town was poor. It took the first snowstorm of the season for her to realize that the houses were built to take advantage of any heat the hearth gave off. Nestled as they were in the foothills of the Seven Sisters, between the high, rounded mountain peaks and the plains of rich farmland, the weather in winter was a combination of cold, dry, winds whistling north from the sea across miles and miles of flat land, and the swirling snow-laden winds that came over the mountain to dump their loads on the town.

I know you said that there are only six Seer families but could there be one that’s been missed? Brenna asked. One that died out a long time ago or one where a single person moved to Comack or Fallad? She and Laurel had been over this many times before but she kept coming back to it. Without explaining her blood ties to both the Duke of Comack and the Duke of Fallad, Brenna wanted to be certain that her Seer abilities came from her mother. That would mean either her grandmother or grandfather came from one of the six families.

No, there have only ever been the six. Laurel smiled at her. And we keep very careful records of where and who they marry. I can’t think of any Seers in over four generations who have moved out of Aruntun. Why would they? Here they are appreciated while in the rest of Soule they would be persecuted.

Can you tell from my eye colors?

I’m sorry, Laurel said. Eye colors have more to do with the strength of your gift than they do the family.

And blue and green is the strongest.

Yes. But we haven’t had a Seer with the blue and green pairing since Aruntun, over two thousand years ago, Laurel said. And we’ve tried.

I don’t understand. Brenna was puzzled. Aren’t Seers born? How can you try? As soon as she asked, she knew the answer. "You breed Seers?"

Well, it’s not quite like that. Laurel smiled gently at her. We don’t force anyone but we do want to keep the ability as strong as possible. As I said, we keep excellent records. It wouldn’t be healthy to intermarry too much but within the six families it is understood that to marry a Seer, or to produce a child who has the gift is beneficial for that family and the Duchy. Laurel caught her eye. I’ll warn you, word of a new Seer with the second strongest gift and no apparent ties to any existing family will spread quickly. She laughed. I wager there will be more than one young man on our doorstep as soon as the snow melts.

What? Brenna asked, eyes wide. But what if I don’t want them to come?

Don’t worry, Laurel said. Your suitors will all be very polite and eager to please. Who knows, mayhap one will catch your fancy? Although there is your Kane to think about. Laurel got up and headed for the kitchen.

Brenna slumped in her chair. Suitors! She could imagine what Kane would think about Aruntian suitors. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. Yes, she could imagine what Kane would think about her suitors.

Kane tugged his gloves on over his still cold hands. He’d only spent a few minutes inside the new barracks but he was late for his meeting with Dasid and the rest of the council of the Brotherhood of the Throne. He quickly strode across the practice field, eying the current crop of beginner swordsmen. Some looked like they were familiar with a sword, at least.

The Brotherhood had built its training facility in Fallad, as far from Kingsreach and Comack as possible while still being on the main trade route. They were a fifteen day march from Silverdale town but a man with a sturdy horse could travel it in less than five days, whatever the weather, as Kane had just proven.

Sergeant Murdoch, his Weapons Master when he was Captain of the Kingsguard, had accomplished a lot since he’d arrived late last summer. Kane had been told that Brothers from all over the north of Fallad had arrived to help put the school together. Woodcutters and carpenters from the Western Forest had descended on the spot bringing with them logs already cut and dressed as well as cabinets and furniture. Once the buildings were up, farmers and merchants had arrived to fill the storerooms with food and fuel for the winter and supply the lamps and bedding the one hundred recruits required. When Dasid had arrived with books borrowed from the libraries in both the Collegium and Silverdale, they had been ready for the recruits.

The first batch of recruits, mostly from Kingsreach, had arrived in late October. They’d spent four months undergoing extensive training before being sent home to make way for the current, recently arrived group.

Kane opened the wooden door that led to the offices and classrooms. He stamped the snow from his boots, closed the door on the chill air and turned down a hallway. The last door was open and he entered the room, shrugged off his cloak, pulled his gloves off and stuffed them into his belt.

Well, Murdoch. Kane hung his cloak on a hook next to four others and stepped over to warm his hands by the hearth. You’ve made a lot of progress in a few short months. The new recruits are from the north, are they? Kane looked up and met the eyes of the sergeant, a wiry soldier with close-cropped gray hair and a straight back despite over forty years in the Kingsguard.

Sergeant Murdoch nodded. Aye. All from the Western Forest. A good batch of archers, too. We sent the first lot from Kingsreach home telling them we was done for the winter, just in case any of them fall in with Westley Stobert and his men.

Good, Kane said. We need to do everything we can do to keep our actual strength and readiness from Thorold. Are the rest in there already? Kane motioned to the closed door that backed off the room and the older man nodded. I guess we should get to it, then.

When the rough-hewn door opened, all three men sitting around the table looked up.

Dasid, Kane said. It’s good to see you again.

Dasid stood and Kane gripped his outstretched hand. He hadn’t seen him since he and Brenna had left Kingsreach six months ago, and he’d rarely seen his former second in command out of uniform.

You’ve grown your hair, Kane said as he stepped back to look. Dasid’s once bristling hair now covered his head in thick salt and pepper curls.

It seems to be a good disguise. Dasid ran a hand through his hair. I’d kept it short for so long no one suspected I had such curls.

Including him, I’m afraid. Came dryly from the other side of Dasid. And Dasid won’t say it, but I’ve a feeling his hair is greatly admired by some of the ladies in Fallad.

Kane hid a smile as Dasid’s face reddened slightly. Ewart, he turned to face his boyhood friend. I’m very glad you could make it.

Yes, well, I’ll not let it be said the Falladian Dukes completely let their people down, although it seems so in the last few years.

You’re here now, and that’s what matters. Kane clasped Ewart’s hand and turned to the last man in the room.

Guild Master Brunger, well met. Kane nodded to the merchant. I apologize for being late but I wanted to take a quick look around the school. Kane expected the meeting to run late and he needed to leave early the next morning. Unless he wanted to view the barracks while it was full of sleeping recruits, this had been his only chance to look.

Shall we start? Kane asked.

He sat at the table and the others resumed their seats. Sergeant Murdoch took the chair nearest the door.

Kane looked around the room. He could still smell the new lumber the rough, wooden walls were constructed from and although the table was finely crafted, the chairs were simple and bark still clung to the legs of some of them. Maps of Soule were spread out on the table before them. Three former Kingsguardsmen, a merchant and a duke not quite a full year into his reign: this was now the council of the Brotherhood of the Throne. And though he hadn’t been part of the council before, Kane was their leader. Not for the first time, he wished his Uncle Feiren was here. And not for the first time, his heart ached at what Brenna had been forced to do when she ended the suffering Feiren had been enduring at the hands of Duke Thorold and High Bishop Valden.

Let’s begin, Dasid said, bringing Kane’s attention back to the meeting. Murdoch, your report please.

The sergeant nodded and cleared his throat. We’ve plenty of provisions to take us well into the spring, and I’ve been talking to the archery instructor and he thinks we can get the recruits out hunting soon. It would help with our supplies and give them moving targets. This batch of recruits seems to be coming along faster than the first. It’s likely a combination of us instructors knowing what we’re doing and the lads and lasses being forest and farm raised. They’re used to hard work and being outside in all weather.

Any problems training the boys and girls together? Kane asked. Stobert had betrayed Brenna in part because she was a woman: if others in the Brotherhood held similar views, they needed to root them out.

Naw, not anything I’d call a problem. Murdoch scratched his chin. You get some of them coupling up and all, but most ways they keep themselves out of trouble. There’s the odd fight of course, he said. But boys soon stop fighting over girls when they realize the girl can take care of herself.

And how many girls are there here? Kane asked.

This lot has twenty. And the best archer is a girl from up near the Langemore border. She said her eyesight was so good ‘cause of all the needlework she does. Murdoch chuckled. Never saw so many boys pick up a needle so fast in all my life. We’re going to have enough uniforms for the next two years once they’re finished.

Anything else Sergeant? Dasid asked. Murdoch shook he head. Good, thank you. Dasid made some notes and looked up at Kane. Would you like to report next?

He nodded. I was able to contact a few Brothers in Aruntun, all in Smithin, down by the Southern Sea. There aren’t many left and they didn’t seem very interested when I told them that the prophecy was being fulfilled, at least they weren’t until I told them Brenna was a Seer.

That’s important to them? Ewart asked.

Extremely, Kane said. There have been visions over the years that have touched on the Brotherhood but they’ve never been very clear or consistent. The Brothers in Aruntun claim that’s what caused most of their members to simply drift away. If the Seers can’t make sense of it, how can they believe?

But why do they care that the heir is a Seer? Dasid asked.

According to them, Kane said. Seers rarely have visions about each other and when they do, they aren’t very clear. So the heir being a Seer explains why there haven’t been any visions for so many years.

So now the Brothers there are interested in helping, Dasid said.

Yes, Kane agreed.

But there’s so few of them it may not matter anyway, Dasid said.

Oh, I don’t know. Marcus Brunger leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. If any are traders or sailors they’ll have ties into Comack, most likely just across the border in Hurly. And we know we’ve more Brothers there. Many have moved south from Dryannon since Thorold became duke.

You’re right. Dasid nodded to the merchant. And between them we may have enough to keep both towns out of the hands of Thorold. One of our Brothers in Hurly owns the largest fleet in Soule. Merchant ships, mostly, but they could be used to patrol the coast. If anyone is willing to put into Dryannon they may be able to find out what Thorold is doing in Comack.

One of the Aruntians is a captain of a merchant ship. I already put him into contact with Brothers in Hurly. We parted ways there. Kane shoved a hand inside his shirt and pulled out a small leather case. He lifted the flap and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Here’s the list of contacts. He handed the paper to Dasid.

What other news of the south? Dasid asked.

Hurly was quiet when I was there. Or rather, when Master Arlott was there. Kane said. I was able to meet with the local leaders of the Brotherhood. They have little news of Kingsreach but Thorold continues to squeeze them for taxes and labor. The mines in the Godswall are producing more ore than ever and a new vein of gold has been found. Rumor has it that Thorold has been trading heavily with Langemore, probably capitalizing on being the father of the heir to the throne.

The King of Langemore has a daughter of an age to be pledged. Ewart said. No doubt they’re hoping to make a political alliance as well as a financial one. He was after me a few years ago even though the girl wasn’t more than thirteen at the time.

She’d be a good age for Beldyn, Kane said. The Brothers in Hurly hadn’t heard about Stobert and as I traveled north from Brother to Brother, none had until I was within a two day ride from Kingsreach. It seems that Thorold has not given Stobert free rein in his land after all.

Which must madden him to no end, Ewart said. The Duke of Fallad was not happy that one of his minor nobles had aligned with Thorold.

There is one more disturbing thing I found while I was in Comack, Kane continued. The Church of the One-God has acquired a lot of power: much more than I’ve noticed before.

In what way? asked Ewart.

The Brothers I spoke to said that those who openly worship the old gods are treated poorly by followers of the One-God. Tavern keepers who have always happily served any with coin are now refusing to serve those who follow the old gods. In some cases they either won’t buy their goods or offer very poor prices, Kane said. The further north I went the more hardships I saw amongst the families of the Brotherhood. He’d taken to leaving coin with each family he came across, hoping it would be enough to carry them through the winter.

For years the members of the church of the One-God have looked down on those who follow the old gods, Brunger said quietly. Even in Kingsreach there are those who feel the followers of the old gods are witches and troublemakers, but for a merchant to refuse trade? That’s a strong stance for a man to take. I don’t like it.

Nor do I, Kane agreed. Up until now the law has always ignored a man’s faith. Kane ran a hand through his hair. I think Thorold is not only allowing the High Bishop to stir up hatred for followers of the old gods, I think he’s encouraging it. Stobert wasn’t high enough up in the Brotherhood to know much very about the members but he does know we all follow the old gods.

Of course. Hurt all followers of the old gods and you’ll hurt the Brotherhood. Ewart shook his head slowly. I believe in the One-God but I am first and foremost the Duke of Fallad. I could never deliberately allow anyone to mistreat my people. I’ll be looking at how the church is operating within my duchy as soon as I get back to Silverdale. That type of hatred will not be allowed.

Kane had little more to tell. He’d spent a few weeks in Kingsreach with Eryl, but Brunger would have more recent news and of course Ewart had better contacts in Silverdale. Kane’s report finished, they took a break and he stood and stretched. He’d been traveling so much in the past few months he was no longer used to sitting in a chair for such long periods of time.

Hot tea and a cold supper of bread, cheese and meat were brought in when they were ready to begin again.

Guild Master, what news do you have? Dasid asked.

Guild Master Brunger sipped his tea and stared down at his plate. The Kingsguard Brotherhood is in grave danger. He lifted his head and looked directly at Kane. Stobert identified some Brothers to Thorold. Thankfully Stobert didn’t know the council, or else I wouldn’t have been free to travel. And Thorold’s man Barton was named Captain of the Kingsguard just over two months ago. He’s been ferreting out Brothers within the Guard ever since. Most have fled, but a few have been imprisoned, or worse, given over to the High Bishop.

Like my uncle. Kane shook his head slowly. If they’re lucky they won’t last long. He remembered Brenna’s stricken face when she’d felt his uncle through old steel. Who has he caught?

Hollier and Connell had been given over to Valden before I left, Brunger said.

And the Guard left are loyal to Barton while he does this? Kane wanted to weep. Men who had proudly worn the uniform of the Guard were being corrupted by Duke Thorold and High Bishop Valden. He met Dasid’s eyes and saw that he wasn’t the only one