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

“They must be close by. There was a fire in the hearth, and it had been recently tended.”

“Do you think she’s here?” asked Wort.

“I’m not sure,” answered Lilith. “Our source saw her headed in this direction. Also, there were carriage tracks on the road. Someone came here not long ago.”

Lilith turned toward the door. “Let’s go back toward the house. They likely circled back around us. Maybe we can pick up a trail.”

Mischief strolled under the bottom board of the pen and meandered in our direction.

Oh no.

The illusion of shadow surrounding us might have fooled Lilith and Wort, but Mischief had no problem with it. He walked over to the hidden blanket and began to rub on it. I didn’t dare try to shoo him away. That would out us sure as anything. I could only imagine what it looked like with him sliding against something that couldn’t be seen. I could even hear him purring.

Lilith gave one last look around the interior. My heart leaped in my chest as she glanced at the cat. But to my great surprise, her gaze moved on. After a moment, she simply walked outside, and I heard her steps recede into the distance.

I quickly yanked Mischief under the blanket. He seemed most pleased with himself as I stroked his fur.

We waited for a few minutes, and then I slipped out from under the blanket. Motioning for the others to remain where they were, I shoved Mischief at Cabrina. She stared at the cat as if it was some strange beast, but steeled herself and began to carefully stroke his fur. Mischief didn’t care whether she be human or Dark Avenyts. He just welcomed the petting and purred loudly.

I crept to the door and checked outside—no sign of them. I went back to the others and knelt close.

I turned to my mother. “Is there anywhere you can go to hide. Maybe old Fendrason’s place?”

She shook her head. “Fendrason’s burned down last summer, and there’s been some unsavory fellows hanging out in what’s left. The forest would be the best bet.”

I glanced to Zofie. Going anywhere quickly with her was going to be a problem. I sighed. “I’ll check to see if we can sneak out and hide....”

Mother cut me off. “I’m not leaving the goats. We’ve worked too hard to keep what’s left.”

I shook my head. “But there’s no way we can get all of them out, plus all of us, without attracting her attention.”

Mother folded her arms across her chest, looking quite determined. “I’m not leaving them. I’ll fight first.”

Fumiko and I exchanged a glance. I knew from experience that when my mother dug in her heels, she could be very stubborn.

“Mother, you’re...”

Fumiko abruptly stood and brushed off her pants. “Hiding here is our best option. Besides, moving the princess is slow. We’d never outrun her if she started chasing us. I’ll stay behind and keep everyone concealed.”

“Behind?” I asked.

She nodded. “While you sneak out and try to find the key.”

I frowned. “Are you sure?” She was running the risk of revealing her illusion ability.

She gazed at me levelly. “No one notices the shadows.”

I took a deep breath considering the options. None were great. “All right,” I finally said. “Just be careful. I doubt Lilith is going to give up easily.” I turned to Docila. “Can you show me where you hid the goats? I think it might hold what we’re looking for.”

Unfortunately, Docila was not taking this well. I could see fear on her face. “But what about those people?” she asked apprehensively. “My limp will slow us down, and they might see us.” I could hear her voice shaking. She was just a fingerbreadth away from balking. I had to do something.

I raised my eyebrows in mock surprise. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Unless that is, you’ve forgotten how to make yourself vanish?”

She cocked her head to one side in puzzlement. “Vanish?”

I nodded. “When I came to live here, I was certain you could. Because when it came time for chores, you were never around.”

A faint smile spread across her lips. “Only because you would disappear as soon as the topic of work came up. Wouldn’t show back up until dinnertime.”

I smiled and held out my hand. “Then it sounds like we won’t have a problem. With you vanishing and me disappearing, we will be just fine.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she took it. “I guess you’re right.”

While everyone else huddled quietly in the corner of the pen, Docila and I slipped out the door.

Moving as fast as she could with her limp, she led the way across the pasture and into the forest bordering it. During my short time living on the farm, I had frequently played and watched over the goats in the open field, but I had been forbidden to enter the woods. Of course, I had—but only the fringes. Even then, I could see how easy it would be to lose one’s way. For me, there had always been something unnerving about the tall trees.

But not so for my older sister. She fearlessly entered them to rescue some wayward goat, gather firewood, or forage for tasty mushrooms.

So it was with a bit of envy that Docila led us into the forest along a faint trail. We followed this until we reached a huge pine tree and then turned onto an even less distinct path. We made good progress, but I could tell this was costing her. Even though her limp was gradually becoming more pronounced, she didn’t complain. As I walked with her, I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she had never been the villain I had imagined as a child. Maybe, she had just needed to grow up too.

After what seemed like half an hour, Docila stopped and pointed up