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

A look of horror came over my mother. “You brought her here! The princess?” Her voice squeaked. She fell to one knee before Zofie. “I’m sorry, Princess, I didn’t know you were coming. I would have prepared better.”

“Mother,” I said sadly. “She can’t answer you.”

My mother gave me a questioning look from where she knelt.

I sighed. “She’s under the influence of a charm that’s robbed her of her will. We’re on a mission to break her out of it.”

Mother slowly stood and looked at Zofie more closely. Her eyes flicked between us.

Suspicion suddenly crept into her voice. “You aren’t running from one of the lords, are you? We can’t protect you, Coren. We lost almost everything....”

I touched her hand. “No, it’s nothing like that. We need an ancient artifact, and when I cast for it, it pointed me here. I need to talk with Docila.”

Mother nodded her head toward the house. “She’s inside.” A look of concern on her face. “And please don’t fight with her. She’s had a rough time recently.” Her voice dropped. “A really rough time.”

I wondered what had happened but decided not to press it. Docila and I had butted heads the moment our households had merged. She was a couple of years older than I and thought she ruled the kingdom, while I, being an only child, had a slightly different opinion. I think she was one of the reasons I was apprenticed off so young.

We turned toward the house. The front door burst open, and a child of about seven, wearing a thick coat too big for her, ran to Mother and stood bashfully beside her. She turned big eyes toward us.

I squatted down beside her. “Hello, Floria.”

The girl looked up at Mother.

“Go ahead,” Mother urged. “You can talk to them. They’re not soldiers.”

“Hello,” she said timidly.

I grinned. “I’m your big brother, Coren.”

She digested the information but made no further comment. I couldn’t blame her. I hadn’t seen her since she was a babe.

I felt something brushing on my leg and looked down to see a rather large cat rubbing against me. I smiled. I scooped him up and scratched him behind the ears. “Hello, Mischief. I see you’re living up to your name.” He purred loudly and made sure I knew I was not to stop.

“Coren,” said Spraggel behind me. “I hate to rush, but we do have an appointment later.”

I put Mischief down. The cat gave me a displeased look before turning and sauntering off.

I stood and nodded.

Mother took Floria by the hand and turned toward the house. “Mellen has gone to try and trade a goat for some grain. The problem is that while most are more than willing to take the goat, they have little to offer in return. And the ones that do, are more likely to slit your throat than part with their coin.” She gave a soft chuckle. “Which is why I’m watching the path. We had a run-in with some people that thought our goats were free. We had to change their minds rather forcefully.”

Fumiko looked around warily. “Coren, I should probably wait outside.”

Mother shook her head. “No need for you to stay out in this chill. Come inside where it’s warm.” She turned to her child. “Floria, go watch for us.”

The young girl nodded and ran toward the back of the house. A few minutes later, she reappeared standing on the top of the roof. She knelt there, scanning our surroundings. It broke my heart that things had come to this in the kingdom.

Inside was the simple dwelling I remembered. It even smelled the same with hints of spices, bread, and simmering stew. It only had one room where the cooking, prepping, and eating occurred. And overhead was a loft where everyone would sleep, as well as another door which opened atop the hill.

In the middle of the room rested a large table with the preparations for a meal scattered across it. And behind it was a stone hearth with a crackling fire and an iron pot hanging from a hook over it. Docila stood before it with its glow framing her. She stood behind the table like one would a shield, and she did not seem inclined to come out from behind it.

She had matured since last I had seen her. Like her father, she was tall with blond hair and light-colored eyes. She wore a simple earth-colored dress with a shawl of a slightly darker hue around her shoulders. Her expression was tight—of one terrified of something yet having nowhere to run.

“Look who showed up on our doorstep,” Mother said proudly.

Docila quickly searched our faces. “I don’t...” Then she locked on me. “Coren?”

I grinned and nodded. “Hello, sister.”

She stayed where she was. “What are you doing here? We can’t take any more bad luck.” She sounded accusatory. “Aren’t you with the princess now? Her knight even?”

Mother looked at her and frowned. “Be nice. He has the princess with him.”

A look of fury came over Docila’s face. “Get out!” she yelled and grabbed up a cooking knife lying on the table. Fumiko reacted immediately and put herself in front of Zofie.

I held up my hands. “Wait! We just want to talk with you.”

Docila came slowly around the table, moving with a pronounced limp. “That’s what the soldiers said. They were the king’s soldiers. But when I wouldn’t tell them where the goats were hidden, they hit me.” Tears came to her eyes. “And when I tried to get away, they hit me some more, and tore my clothes... and... and...” She turned away and rubbed at her eyes with the heel of her hand. “I have no use for royalty. Leave me alone.”

Mother shouted, “Docila. Put the knife down. These people had nothing