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

“Sir!” I shouted. “I beg you, please listen to us. We need to go to the Kuiojia Empire as quickly as we can.”

“Leave,” came the gravelly voice, only this time from behind me. I wheeled to see no one there.

Spraggel frowned and stepped forward to join me on the stoop. “Good man,” he said. “Will you please stop with the parlor tricks. You’re scaring the young ones.”

“Then maybe you should be scared. How do you know I’m not a ghost, and I’m trying to capture your soul.”

Spraggel snorted. “Not very likely. All you’re doing is opening up tiny portals and speaking through them.”

Suddenly, swords and spears appeared sticking up from the ground around us. And from their base, blood began to seep from the ground.

“Now leave before I take your blood too.”

Spraggel rolled his eyes. “Please. At least be a little more original. You pushed those weapons through a portal. And the red water is likely from the nearby ironworks.”

Suddenly a naked man appeared in front of us, with his feet hovering at about head height. “Oh really, then how do you explain the apparition before you? Now leave before I eat you!”

Spraggel waved a dismissive hand. “Another parlor trick. You’re just teleporting between you standing somewhere and being in the air. You’re just doing it so fast you’re not falling. And put some clothes on dammit. We’ve got ladies here.”

The naked man disappeared. A few moments later, the front door opened and slowly swung inward. The previously naked man came out wearing a worn cloak. He looked to be even older than Spraggel, and I thought Spraggel was ancient.

“That was most disappointing. All that work and you saw through all of them.” He examined Spraggel closer. “Do I know you?”

“Spraggel van Deviante,” he gave a short bow. “You’ve transported me several times over the years.”

Oddfrid nodded. “I remember now. You pissed off that myst user, and she transformed you into a cat.”

Spraggel nodded sheepishly. “That would have been me.”

He considered Spraggel for a moment longer and then harrumphed. “She should have left you.” He turned back to us and straightened. “But none of this changes anything. I won’t help you. My days in service to the kingdom are long past.”

I was starting to get a little miffed. “I noticed you said won’t, not can’t.” I marched down the path to where the rest of my party stood and took Zofie’s hand. I led her forward. We stopped in front of the man. “This is Princess Zophia. Now tell her that you won’t help. That you won’t help her get her mind back.”

Oddfrid ignored her. “I told you I won’t get involved in the affairs of nobles ever again. I don’t care if she is the princess.” He glanced her way and then immediately looked again. His expression softened. He then leaned forward and gently pushed back her hood. She stared at him blankly.

“What happened to her?” he asked softly. “The last I heard, she had reclaimed the throne.”

“She did,” I said. “However, a Dark Avenyts put a charm on her leaving her like this. Her intelligence, her personality, are just not there.”

Oddfrid reached for her hand and pulled it toward him. Her sleeve fell back to reveal the charmed bracelet. “This must be the culprit. It’s quite a bundle of twisted threads. Far beyond my ability.” He turned troubled eyes in my direction. “I can see a powerful curse on her already, which is why the charm.” He gently lowered her hand. “Dark Avenyts, you say? That’s impossible. What really happened?”

Spraggel brought Cabrina forward. “Oh really. Take a look at this one.”

Oddfrid turned unbelieving eyes toward the girl and then shook his head. “Her curse is indeed extremely complex, but I can’t say for sure it’s a Dark Avenyts.”

I frowned. “Maybe we should let her possess you so you can see for yourself.”

He took an involuntary step back. “No, I don’t think that is necessary.” He sighed. “Assuming I were to help, what exactly do you want of this old man?”

“We need you to open a portal for us to the Kuiojia Empire. We have spoken with a myst user there who says he can remove the charm.”

His eyebrows went up in surprise. “That’s quite the distance. I haven’t done a long-range portal that far since...” he paused for a moment, looked up at us, and then seemed to think better of what he was going to say. “Since before you were born.”

Spraggel stepped forward. “You’re the only wayfarer left in the kingdom. Without your help, we’ll have to make the trip overland, and you know how dangerous that is, even in the best of times.”

He considered us for a moment. “I can’t open a portal into the empire. No one can. It is protected by their huge myst barrier, which stops all curses and portals. The best I can do is place you at its border. And even then, it will take at least three portals with a minimum of one day rest between. Which means I have to come with you at least that far.”

I grinned. “We would be most appreciative. If you can get us to the borders, we’ll figure out something from there.”

He glanced again at Zofie. “I can’t believe she’s all grown now. I remember when she was just a baby in her mother’s arms. Seems like it was only yesterday.” He sighed and looked back to me. “I assume you’re in a hurry?”

I nodded. “We have one more item we need to collect before leaving. And I’m praying it won’t take that long.”

He paused and looked at each of us in turn. He finally gave a deep sigh. “I’ll help you. Just this once.” He glanced at Zofie. “Come back this evening and be prepared to