Assassin of Curses: (The Coren Hart Chronicles Book 3) by Jessie Eaker (best novels in english TXT) 📕

Just as I turned away, I heard the guard’s breathing change. I immediately turned to hide, but Fumiko reacted faster and covered us in shadow. We watched as the guard suddenly came alive and went into the dungeon. I quickly got Fumiko to climb on my back, and I carried her up the stairs to the empty corridor. I put her down, but she staggered and fell to her knees.

“This is not going to work,” she mumbled while holding her side. She closed her eyes, and I felt myst gathering. She glowed briefly and then straightened. The pain on her face lessened, and her movements seemed smoother.

“What did you do?” I asked, puzzled.

“I used some of my myst to reinforce my body.”

“You healed yourself?”

She shook her head. “No, I have no such power. I just made it so I no longer feel the pain of my injuries. But I have to be careful with it since they’re still there.”

I frowned. “That can’t be good for you.”

She gazed at me a moment and then turned away to point down the corridor. “That way,” she said. “And quickly. He will know I escaped in only a few moments.”

“Dammit, Fumiko. You’re hurting yourself, aren’t you. You can’t do that.”

She glared at me. “Coren, I love you dearly, but you are not my keeper. I do what I choose. So don’t lecture me.” She bounced her finger on my chest. “Yonge has killed or hurt everyone I cherished. And now he’s done it to Zofie. I will not allow it to continue.” She stood and held out her hand to me. “Now, are you going to follow me to the Forever Nexus Shadow, or do I leave you behind?”

I sighed and took her hand. “You’ve been taking lessons from Zofie.”

One corner of her mouth curled up. “Maybe. We have been comparing notes.”

She turned, and I followed her down the corridor.

I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it had to be early morning. As Fumiko led us carefully through the corridors, we had to occasionally hide from a few yawning servants as they made their way to their stations. There was one peculiar one carrying quite the pile of dirty bed linens. We encountered her on three different occasions. I think she was lost. Fumiko successfully hid us in shadow each time.

Eventually, we passed into what appeared to be an older section of the palace. The walls and floor were of different color stone and looked more worn. Fumiko paused when our passage intersected with what looked like a broad corridor. She peeked around the corner and immediately drew back. She motioned me forward to have a look.

At the end of the broad corridor was a massive set of doors with two of the heavily armored guards in front of them. The doors were open, but the view inside was blocked by thick curtains just past the door.

We moved back down the corridor away from the intersection to a small alcove. We sat down to rest a moment.

“The vault is through those doors,” Fumiko whispered. “I’ve never been inside, so I’m not sure what to expect beyond them.”

“Think your shadow can get us inside?” I asked softly.

Fumiko frowned and shook her head. “The curtains are likely meant to detect entry. Even a shadow wouldn’t prevent us from disturbing them.”

I sighed. “Then what we need is a distraction. I guess I could...”

Fumiko held up a hand.

Farther down the corridor, a servant turned the corner heading straight toward us, carrying a pile of dirty bed linens. I frowned in puzzlement. It was the same servant we had passed several times before.

Fumiko ramped up her shadow to cover us, but just as the servant drew even, she paused. “Sir Coren?” she whispered. “Mistress Fumiko?”

I looked closer, and peeking out from the pile of linens, was none other than Cabrina dressed as a servant. Creator knows where she got the uniform.

“I’ve been looking for you. Do you know how many times I’ve traveled up and down this corridor? Thankfully no one questions a linen servant.” She chuckled. “Something about dirty laundry makes people squeamish.”

I blinked at her in surprise. It was definitely her, but now her hair was a much darker shade, perfectly straight, and her eyes had changed to match the shape of those from this region.

I pointed at her in puzzlement. “How?”

She brightened. “You mean my illusion? Pretty good, isn’t it? We saw Mistress Fumiko do it once and thought we might be able to replicate it. It was easier than we thought. Cabrina’s starting to get the hang of using her myst.”

I smiled. “You’re just in time. We need a distraction. Think you can handle it.”

“Coren!” interrupted Fumiko. “She’s a Dark Avenyts. We can’t let her near the Forever Nexus Shadow.”

The youth shrugged. “Then I won’t go in the vault. I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted. Now about your distraction...” She looked up at the ceiling. “What’s that?” She was listening to her host.

Cabrina smiled. “That’s an excellent idea. Do you want to lead?” She paused. “All right then. And don’t worry, I’ll be ready to help if you get stuck.” She looked over at us, wearing the expression of a mother whose child had just learned to ride a horse. No-name really was trying to help Cabrina become more confident. Maybe there was hope for the young Avenyts.

The youth’s expression subtly changed, and I knew the real Cabrina was in control. Her face was a mask of determination. “W-w-wish me luck,” she said. Then she paused. “Mistress Fumiko, how do you say, ‘I’m sorry’ in your native language.”

Fumiko said it to her, and Cabrina repeated it back perfectly—or least to my ears, it sounded that way.

Nodding once, Cabrina did an about-face and