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keeping his breathing even and quieting his racing pulse. She had rushed the words, there was no sense she’d understood the meaning at all, but the words … they were all there. When he felt under control he opened his eyes and looked at her face - a plain face that, except for one green eye and one brown, he wouldn’t notice in a crowd. Yet this woman, this ordinary, unremarkable woman, had just changed the whole course of his life. 
    Kane turned to Andel. “You know what this means?”
    “Aye, it means it’s finally come, what we been waiting for all these years.” Andel turned a lopsided grin towards the prisoner. “I’ll be truthful lass, I coulda done without this on my watch.”
    “As could I,” Kane agreed. “Even though as a boy I wanted this more than anything.” Kane turned back to the thief. From the puzzled look on her face he was sure she had no idea of the importance of the phrase she’d just uttered. Interesting that she had no idea.
    “I should introduce myself. I’m Kane Rowse, Captain of the Kingsguard, and you are?” Kane stretched his hand out in formal greeting, not sure she would actually respond. She searched his eyes at length before replying.
    “Brenna, I’m called. If you must have a last name, make it Lightfingers.” She crossed her arms and hugged them to her chest.
    Kane nodded and his hand dropped to his side. It would have to be enough for now, though there was certain to be some discussion of her real name and background. Speaking the Call and her reaction to old steel were enough for him, although he knew that after all these years, all these generations, some would need more.
    “Brenna,” he spoke to her softly, “you are now under the protection of the Brotherhood. I’m not sure this will mean anything to you so I ask that you have some faith and trust in us. Andel, I’ll have Greig and Connell take over for you later. I imagine you’ll need to swear witness at the meet. I’ll get word to you of the details once I’ve spoken to my uncle. I’ll have Dasid coordinate the guards in here. We’ll need two at all times. Ask Jervis to come let me out.” Kane sent an apologetic glance Brenna’s way. “Unfortunately we’ll need to keep you in here overnight, at the very least. Nor can we offer you more than the usual comforts, I’m afraid. We don’t want to rouse any suspicions.”
    Kane glanced at the prisoner once more before Jervis led him from the outer room. He had often, as had all youngsters first brought into the Brotherhood, dreamed that he would be the first to hear the Call. He had never once conceived of anything as unlikely as this. He must report to his uncle at once.

three
     
     
    Brenna eyed the captain – Kane Rowse, he’d said his name was – as he left the jail. Brothers! What was going on? The sword and the knife from last night- why had they both glowed when she held them? Kane Rowse had clearly had some idea of what he was looking for when he’d put her hand on his sword, but he’d been surprised by the intensity of the light. And she’d felt that tingle, that warmth, spread through her body, and after she’d felt somehow connected to him through his sword.
    She frowned and shook her head in disgust. The Captain of the Kingsguard was the last person a thief wanted to come to the attention of. She didn’t like it. And he’d been able to see her eyes! No one had ever seen through her mother’s prayer before.
    Brenna eyed the single guard as she paced the small cell. Kane Rowse had said she was under the protection of the Brotherhood, which must be the “Brothers” in her saying. But what did the old saying mean? Who’s throne? What line was to be saved? Although her mother had insisted she learn the phrase, she’d claimed no understanding. Wynne Trewen had been taught it by her mother, who had also claimed ignorance.
    She sighed and sat down on the straw, pulled the blanket over her shoulders and huddled under it, worried. Too