Free Healer (Brotherhood of the Throne Book 2) by Jane Glatt Page B

that, just not around Laurel.”
     
    Brenna and Kane left Poskitt’s barn after tending to Runner and Blaze and walked back to town. There was a horse tied up outside Laurel’s house.
    “Look,” she pointed to Kane. “Maybe Laurel’s received some replies to her messages already.”
    Immediately after deciding to travel with them, Laurel had sent off a flurry of messages. Brenna wasn’t sure how quickly messages traveled, but she knew Laurel was eager for replies.
    The horse and tack were of much better quality than the usual message rider. The horse was a dappled gray, with a black mane and tail that gleamed in the sun. The saddle and bridle looked worn, but finely crafted, with tiny scrolls worked into the leather along the smooth seat.
    Brenna stepped past the horse and up to the door of the house, Kane close behind her. She could feel him tense as they entered and found Laurel in conversation with a young man. Laurel smiled at something he said before turning and rising.
    “There you two are,” Laurel said.
    Both Brenna and Kane removed their jackets and hung them on pegs by the door, as Laurel stepped over to them, beaming.
    “Brenna, Kane, I’d like you to meet the grandson of someone who was a very dear friend of mine. Eamon Spence, this is Brenna Lightfingers and Kane Rowse.” Laurel smiled fondly at Eamon. “Eamon’s grandmother was one of my teachers, Brenna, much like I’ve been teaching you. She is a fine Seer and a wonderful person.”
    Eamon bowed formally, smiling at Laurel, but Brenna could see how his eyes darted first to her and then to Kane, before settling back on her.
    “It’s an honor to meet you, Mistress Seer,” he said before nodding to Kane. “And you Master Rowse.”
    He had very nice teeth, Brenna noticed. His wavy chestnut hair was longer than the fashion in Kingsreach and almost as long as hers, and he’d tied it back with a black ribbon that matched his vest. His shirt was crisply white, and looked like he’d ridden in it no more than a few minutes. Black breeches were tucked into shiny black riding boots.
    “Call me Brenna,” she said and smiled. She took his arm and steered him back to his chair, ignoring Kane, who had tensed up behind her. She frowned for a moment. Kane couldn’t even trust her with a friend of Laurel’s? It was obvious Eamon was here to see her, and really, she had no reason to be anything other than polite and friendly. It’s not as though she was going to marry him. Brenna sat down in the chair beside Eamon and Laurel sat on the bench. Kane, with a brief nod to all, grabbed his coat and left the house. Soon she heard the sounds of wood being chopped.
    “Well, Eamon, where have you come from?” Brenna asked.
    “I’m just in from Cottle, up further into the Seven Sisters, near the Shadow River,” Eamon said.
    “Oh, Kane just came through there a few weeks ago. Is it spring there yet?” Her only time in Cottle had been a sad one. She’d been with Duchess Avery and Neal Ravershaw. At her request they’d stopped at the house where Sabine Werret grew up. Brenna had wanted to let the young healer’s mother know her daughter had died without pain. All she remembered of the town itself was a group of cottages huddled in the cold and snow.
    “It’s spring there now,” Eamon said. “The passes are almost clear, and the ice on the Shadow River broke a few days before I left. In fact, that was the sign of spring I was waiting for. Once the ice cracks like that, day or night, the whole village gets outside and has a little celebration.” He smiled.
    The door opened and Kane strode in, went immediately to the basin and washed his face and hands.
    “Kane,” Brenna turned to him as he wiped his face with a dry cloth. “Eamon’s from Cottle. Isn’t that where you stayed one night on your way here?”
    “That’s right,” Kane said. He leaned back against the table and said nothing more.
    Brenna turned back to Eamon. “We both came through