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

stepped to the side and knelt as instructed. She looked around in fascination. Another pack came through with some spare items, and then the portal snapped shut, leaving us in darkness. But it wasn’t total. There were gaps around the shutters letting in a little of the morning light.

The room we were in looked familiar. The exact location of the correspondor was a secret, but if I was right...

We heard steps outside the door to the small room. Fumiko pulled her knife and moved to the side of it. It opened, and her knife went immediately against the person’s throat.

Mikney de’Glougeman’s eyes went wide. I held a curse detection charm toward him. It did not react, and I relaxed. “It’s him.”

She stepped back and sheathed her knife. She gave a short bow. “Apologies, innkeeper.”

Mikney glanced at her warily before locking on me. “I should have known it would be you up to something. When I agreed to allow the placement of that myst thing in my attic, I figured you would eventually show up.” He huffed. “Is my daughter all right?”

I smiled. That would be his first concern. “She is well. One of her friends dragged her into a bit of mischief, but her involvement has been resolved. And don’t worry, it won’t affect her schooling.”

He nodded before giving the rest of us a brief appraisal. He gasped when he recognized Zofie. “Your highness. I had no idea.” He immediately dropped to one knee. Then he noticed her lack of response.

“She can’t reply,” I said softly. “She was the victim of an attack, and we’re on our way to find a way to remove it. We were hoping to get your help to speed our journey.”

He nodded and stood. “What do you need? I’ll do anything to help her. I owe you both for saving Maggie and myself from those slavers. Not to mention getting my daughter into the queen’s school. I’ll do whatever is in my power.”

“We need a barge going upriver. A fast one. And we need to keep this quiet.”

Mikney rubbed his chin in thought. “Going upriver this time of year will be difficult. So far, it hasn’t frozen solid, but the water level is down, which makes navigating it tricky.” Then he grinned, evilly. “There is someone who owes me a favor, so let me check with them first. Still, it might take a bit to arrange.”

I nodded. “We’ll wait. But the faster we leave, the safer it will be for everyone.”

Mikney turned to leave. “In the meantime, while the attic might not be the nicest room I have, it is the most isolated. Staying here until I return would be best.”

Spraggel smiled. “Then would it be possible to get some of your fine ale while we wait?”

Mikney smiled apologetically. “The last of my ale ran out two weeks ago. All I can offer you is some water.”

Spraggel’s smile faltered. “None at all?”

Mikney shook his head. “Not a drop. I don’t think you’ll find any left in all of Iron Landing.”

Spraggel’s shoulders slumped. He looked like he had just lost his best friend.

I looked from Mikney to Spraggel. I knew my old master took his ale seriously, but they were talking like someone had died.

Mikney patted him on the shoulder. “But there is hope. An old friend of mine is braving the winter seas.”

Spraggel looked up hopefully. “Southern ale?”

Mikney nodded. “The bastard is overdue, but if anyone can get through the storms, he can.”

Spraggel took a deep breath. “I’ll say a prayer for him.”

Mikney gave Spraggel another pat on the shoulder. “As will I.” And they both then bowed their head and paused in silence.

I shook my head in disbelief and glanced at Fumiko. She just shrugged.

A moment later, they both looked up. Spraggel wiped a tear from his eye, and Mikney gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze before leaving on his mission.

I knew these two took their ale seriously, but this was just a little much.

We settled down to wait, making ourselves as comfortable as we could in the cramped attic. It seemed like weeks, but Mikney returned in only an hour. Apparently, luck was with us. The innkeeper had found a loaded barge waiting on one last container that was due shortly. The barge-master said if we could come now, he would give us passage to Dunomhir.

We quickly gathered our supplies and went with him out to the river docks. The streets were bustling with people in heavy coats, but the crowd began to thin as we approached the docks. The cold air blowing from downriver was frigid and would tug and pull at one’s coat seeking warmth to steal. I shivered and turned to see my companions had also settled further into their cloaks.

As we rounded the last corner, I paused to make sure Zofie’s clothes were keeping her warm while Mikney and Spraggel went on ahead. Cabrina was so involved with looking at those around us she ran into the back of me. She blushed and looked away.

As I fussed with Zofie’s cloak, Fumiko and I scanned the few people on the streets and the surrounding buildings. The wharf itself was almost deserted, likely driven away by the cold. I saw no barges out in the river itself, but there were quite a few of them covered and tied to the wharf. It didn’t look like they would be moving until spring. Mikney and Spraggel looked to be headed toward the only one with people on it.

Unexpectedly, I felt something hot on my wrist. I looked down and pushed back my cloak. The charm that Cabrina had given me was hot. Not enough to burn, but warm enough to be uncomfortable. This was really odd. The last time a charm had acted like this was back before Abe had introduced