Thief (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

himself with the thought that war while he was captain was very unlikely.
    He’d assigned Andel to guard the thief. His guards were loyal to the king and to him as captain, but the Church’s hold on people, including some of his guards, had become much stronger in the past few years. Like him, Andel followed the old gods and so viewed the High Bishop’s actions more critically than the Church’s followers were wont to do.
    Kane nodded to two more guards and entered the jail proper. The outer room held only Jervis, the jailer, and a table and some chairs along one wall. A solid oak door banded with black iron was opposite the entrance that led into the room that held the cells. This door was always kept locked and there was always at least one guard in with prisoners. More guards could be assigned if needed, but it was unusual to hold anyone for any great length of time. Most prisoners for smaller crimes soon had their bonds bought out, either by friends or someone looking for cheap labor. Serious crimes, such as murder, were punishable by death.
    “Jervis.” Kane nodded to the man as he rose from a chair at the table. “I have orders regarding the thief. The one caught stealing from the priest.”
    “Aye, Captain.” Jervis said.
    “Her bond price has been set at two hundred crowns,” Kane said. “I must ask that you hold firm on the bond price. It’s very important.”
    “That I’ll do, Captain. I’ll make sure my men all understand that as well.”
    “Good. Thank you,” Kane said. Now that he’d completed that small piece of business it was time to get a good look at the thief.
    “I want to take a look at her,” Kane said. “You’ve got just the one prisoner today?”
    “Aye,” Jervis said. If he thought Kane’s request odd, it didn’t show. He simply grabbed a key from the large ring at his side and fitted it into the lock. With a twist, he opened the door for Kane.
    “And not much of a prisoner, if you ask me,” Jervis said and stepped aside to allow Kane to edge past him.
    Kane ducked through the door to enter the cell room and nodded to Andel, who stood to one side of the open door. Jervis relocked the door once Kane was inside, the click of the lock echoing in the enclosed space.
    Seven barred cells, each inset with a door, ringed the small space in which he and Andel stood. Walls and ceiling were all cut stone and seven of the cells were swept bare. Old odors still clung to the stone but the air was less rank than one might think. Kane expected the cells to be as clean as the Kingsguards own barracks, and so they were.
    In the cell on the left along the back, a layer of fresh straw had been piled against the far wall, covered with a light blanket. On the blanket sat the thief.
    She looked small, dressed all in black, with her knees tucked up under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs. She watched him warily through half closed eyes, but when she opened her eyes wide for a moment, Kane sucked in his breath. Witch eyes, they were, one green and one brown; why hadn’t anyone mentioned this? Surely the High Bishop would have used this to make his case for her death? High Bishop Valden despised those who committed crimes against his priests, but he hated witches. A blasphemy against the One-God, he called them. This despite the fact that the Duchess of Aruntun, one of the King’s councilors, was descended from a long line of witches.
    Other than the eyes there was nothing remarkable about the girl. Woman, he amended, as she looked to be past twenty. Short brown hair curled slightly around a plain dirt-streaked face. Her chin and nose were rather ordinary, as were the rest of her features, even down to the thin, slightly underfed look about her. She wore a black shirt, a well-worn black leather vest and black breeches that were rolled up to reveal slim ankles and supple-looking black leather slippers. He was amused when she deliberately looked him up and down. Her eyes flicked from his